Many may not be aware of this fact, but former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is an avid photographer.
Three editors, namely Zin Oo Ko, Dr Mahathir’s daughter, Maizura Mahathir, and Razlan Rashid, have come up with a coffeetable book depicting the former prime minister’s personal snapshots.
Titled “Though My Lenses”, the book contains over 300 personal photographs captured by Dr Mahathir during his time in office and after he had stepped down as prime minister.
It also illustrates visuals and views from his camera lens during his travels in Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine, Japan, China, Indonesia, Turkey, Dubai and destinations in Malaysia.
The book also offers handwritten captions for the photographs by Dr Mahathir, explaining what they mean to him or what he might have thought as he took them.
Asked to comment on the book, Dr Mahathir said there were too many fond memories in the photographs and it was hard for him to point out his favourite.
“Sometimes, I can’t remember where I took the photos,” he said after the launch of the book by his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali here today.
On the book, Dr Siti Hasmah hoped it would provide readers another view of her husband’s personal life.
“I hope you will enjoy viewing through his lenses, the scenes and pictures, just as much as he enjoyed photographing them,” she said.
With over 10,000 photographs to choose from, the editors describe “Through My Lenses” as a book of photographs, but stress it is not a photography book.
“Rather, it is a channel used to communicate with the thoughts of Dr Mahathir, and that is the factor that makes this book unique,” they said.
“Through My Lenses” is available at major bookstores and retails at RM99. — Bernama
This site is dedicated to unbiased discussions about the ex-PM of Malaysia, his achievements & blunders.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
UMNO and Pakatan slammed Dr M's senile argument
Umno, Pakatan slam Dr M’s Malay theory as ‘far-fetched’
In a rare show of unity, Umno and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s argument that the Malays could end up being a minority.
They called the former prime minister’s theory “far-fetched”.
Umno’s Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said statements like these from Dr Mahathir had resulted in the Malays being even more split and unable to assert dominance.
“He (Dr Mahathir) is giving a far-fetched scenario, without really properly looking into finding a way to give out a proper message that young Malays could understand. He is scaring the Malays into becoming more Malay,” said Nur Jazlan.
Dr Mahathir suggested yesterday that future government leaders could open the immigration floodgates to dilute the number of Malays in the country.
He said in a posting on his popular blog that the current national leadership appears to believe that the Malays would continue to account for 60 per cent of the country’s population.
“He’s just being Dr Mahathir. Immigration polices would only be amended to allow more immigrants if the country desperately lacked labour and needed the input a lot.
“Bear in mind that even if immigrants come, they cannot vote. So how are they going to affect the Malays’ position?” Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.
He said that it was “not right” for the former PM to assume that the Malays were constantly under siege and could not compete with the other races.
“He should realise that it was from his own industrialisation policies which have resulted in the Malays being more progressive. The Malays today are competitive, strong and capable of direct competition,” said the Umno man.
He claimed that the reason why the Malays were not united in the first place was because of Umno’s own policies.
“It is the questioning of Umno’s own policies. If Umno wants their support it has to fight for them. Get them to be on our side,” said the Pulai MP.
“Dr Mahathir is just doing it for Perkasa. Perkasa is not taking off, Ibrahim Ali sounds racist when he opens his mouth. With Dr Mahathir’s position, he hopes to attract moderate Malays.”
But Nur Jazlan admitted that Dr Mahathir’s remarks would still have an “effect on the more rural Malays, who still regard him as a national icon.”
Another Umno member, Johor Baru MP Datuk Seri Shahrir Samad, said that while Umno could take heed of Dr Mahathir’s advice, he personally felt it was too speculative.
“I think that it is purely speculative. I’m not too worried about his remarks.
“He is basing his theory on a perception of Semenanjung Malaysia, on what had happened to Malaya. But we have to view his arguments in the context of Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak,” said Shahrir.
The former chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) told The Malaysian Insider that it would be highly unlikely that the government would open the immigration floodgates in the future, because Sabah and Sarawak would not be “agreeable” to that.
“We will take note of what he says. It will only happen if Sabah and Sarawak encourage such a policy. They would also have to agree, and for now I don’t see why they should. Decisions like these are made on a federal level, not just peninsular.
“And don’t forget, would PAS and PKR even approve of it?” said Shahrir.
He also said he understood what Dr Mahathir was trying to say.
“He is saying that BN would not do well if Umno does not command Malay support, and if the Malays remain divided between PAS, PKR and Umno.
“I think Umno has to work harder and be more mindful of the reversals of policies that how we have suffered from it. But Umno is still strong, we just have to build on our base,” added Shahrir.
Former Umno deputy president-turned PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that Dr Mahathir’s views were the actual obstacle for the Malays.
“I think that ideas like his are an obstacle, and will create even more insecurity among the Malays.
“He (Dr Mahathir) is oblivious to the fact that the new generation of Malays are more assertive, and confident of their abilities and position,” Anwar told The Malaysian Insider.
But Dr Mahathir’s one-time blue-eyed boy stressed that the Malays must also not be marginalised and that equal opportunity be given to all.
“We cannot take his views and position about non-Malays as he did during the 1950s. The second and third generation of non-Malays are as much citizens of the country as the Malays.
“I appeal to young Malays to be confident and move on with the future,” Anwar said.
Dr Mahathir’s latest remarks mark a continuation of a more strident right-wing tone adopted by the former prime minister in recent months in his push for a siege mentality among the Malays.
Last month, he argued that the community’s political leaders are now under the thumb of “the others” and need to be united again for the sake of its future.
He illustrated his argument by referring to the fall of the Perak PR government which he characterised as being “led by a Malay (but) a certain race considered it the fall of a government belonging to their race”.
Dr Mahathir has been stepping up his rhetoric in recent months to lobby for the current Umno leadership to respond to disquiet among conservative Malays.
Backed by increasingly influential right-wing Malay groups like Perkasa, Dr Mahathir and his supporters have rattled Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform agenda.
In a rare show of unity, Umno and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have slammed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s argument that the Malays could end up being a minority.
They called the former prime minister’s theory “far-fetched”.
Umno’s Pulai MP Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said statements like these from Dr Mahathir had resulted in the Malays being even more split and unable to assert dominance.
“He (Dr Mahathir) is giving a far-fetched scenario, without really properly looking into finding a way to give out a proper message that young Malays could understand. He is scaring the Malays into becoming more Malay,” said Nur Jazlan.
Dr Mahathir suggested yesterday that future government leaders could open the immigration floodgates to dilute the number of Malays in the country.
He said in a posting on his popular blog that the current national leadership appears to believe that the Malays would continue to account for 60 per cent of the country’s population.
“He’s just being Dr Mahathir. Immigration polices would only be amended to allow more immigrants if the country desperately lacked labour and needed the input a lot.
“Bear in mind that even if immigrants come, they cannot vote. So how are they going to affect the Malays’ position?” Nur Jazlan told The Malaysian Insider.
He said that it was “not right” for the former PM to assume that the Malays were constantly under siege and could not compete with the other races.
“He should realise that it was from his own industrialisation policies which have resulted in the Malays being more progressive. The Malays today are competitive, strong and capable of direct competition,” said the Umno man.
He claimed that the reason why the Malays were not united in the first place was because of Umno’s own policies.
“It is the questioning of Umno’s own policies. If Umno wants their support it has to fight for them. Get them to be on our side,” said the Pulai MP.
“Dr Mahathir is just doing it for Perkasa. Perkasa is not taking off, Ibrahim Ali sounds racist when he opens his mouth. With Dr Mahathir’s position, he hopes to attract moderate Malays.”
But Nur Jazlan admitted that Dr Mahathir’s remarks would still have an “effect on the more rural Malays, who still regard him as a national icon.”
Another Umno member, Johor Baru MP Datuk Seri Shahrir Samad, said that while Umno could take heed of Dr Mahathir’s advice, he personally felt it was too speculative.
“I think that it is purely speculative. I’m not too worried about his remarks.
“He is basing his theory on a perception of Semenanjung Malaysia, on what had happened to Malaya. But we have to view his arguments in the context of Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak,” said Shahrir.
The former chairman of the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club (BNBBC) told The Malaysian Insider that it would be highly unlikely that the government would open the immigration floodgates in the future, because Sabah and Sarawak would not be “agreeable” to that.
“We will take note of what he says. It will only happen if Sabah and Sarawak encourage such a policy. They would also have to agree, and for now I don’t see why they should. Decisions like these are made on a federal level, not just peninsular.
“And don’t forget, would PAS and PKR even approve of it?” said Shahrir.
He also said he understood what Dr Mahathir was trying to say.
“He is saying that BN would not do well if Umno does not command Malay support, and if the Malays remain divided between PAS, PKR and Umno.
“I think Umno has to work harder and be more mindful of the reversals of policies that how we have suffered from it. But Umno is still strong, we just have to build on our base,” added Shahrir.
Former Umno deputy president-turned PR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed that Dr Mahathir’s views were the actual obstacle for the Malays.
“I think that ideas like his are an obstacle, and will create even more insecurity among the Malays.
“He (Dr Mahathir) is oblivious to the fact that the new generation of Malays are more assertive, and confident of their abilities and position,” Anwar told The Malaysian Insider.
But Dr Mahathir’s one-time blue-eyed boy stressed that the Malays must also not be marginalised and that equal opportunity be given to all.
“We cannot take his views and position about non-Malays as he did during the 1950s. The second and third generation of non-Malays are as much citizens of the country as the Malays.
“I appeal to young Malays to be confident and move on with the future,” Anwar said.
Dr Mahathir’s latest remarks mark a continuation of a more strident right-wing tone adopted by the former prime minister in recent months in his push for a siege mentality among the Malays.
Last month, he argued that the community’s political leaders are now under the thumb of “the others” and need to be united again for the sake of its future.
He illustrated his argument by referring to the fall of the Perak PR government which he characterised as being “led by a Malay (but) a certain race considered it the fall of a government belonging to their race”.
Dr Mahathir has been stepping up his rhetoric in recent months to lobby for the current Umno leadership to respond to disquiet among conservative Malays.
Backed by increasingly influential right-wing Malay groups like Perkasa, Dr Mahathir and his supporters have rattled Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reform agenda.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tun Dr Mahathir - the musical show
Tun Dr Mahathir is now a musical
July 08, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Tun Mahathir The Musical, which depicts the life journey of Malaysia’s fourth prime minister, will surely evoke sweet memories to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah as the play includes efforts from their children.
The play’s storyline is determined by Datuk Mukhriz, who is Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, while Mazhar, a student at the National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara), will feature in a supporting role.
Istana Budaya director-general Mohamed Juhari Shaarani said the performance was proposed three years ago by Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, to honour the statesman.
“When we asked Tun Dr Mahathir for his consent (to stage the play), he approved on condition that the musical’s storyline was based on facts,” he said during a news conference, here today.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, who is patron of the musical.
To be staged from Sept 24 to Oct 4, the play will star popular local artistes such as Esma Daniel, who will be acting as the adult Dr Mahathir, Erra Fazira (Dr Siti Hasmah), Zizan Nin (Dr Mahathir in his teens) and Idola Kecil 2008 finalist Mohd Shafeiq Shazwan (Dr Mahathir as a child).
The musical theatre, to be jointly carried out by Istana Budaya, CRTA Production, the Information Communication and Culture Ministry and the Malaysian Women Writers Association (PPWM), will be directed by the dean of Aswara’s Theatre Faculty, Rosminah Mohd Tahir, while its script is written by Ismail Kassan.
Meanwhile, CRTA Production producer Siti Rohaya Attan said the musical will depict Tun Dr Mahathir’s life as a child to his days as a doctor serving the people, and the ups and downs he experienced as a politician.
“The dilemmas and achievements throughout his 22 years as Prime Minister will be portrayed through dialogue, songs and dance suited to facts approved by Tun Dr Mahathir himself,” she said.
Siti Rohaya, whose name is not new to the world of theatre, has produced and directed several musicals such as Assyura (1997), Taman Baginda (1998), Kereta Kencana (1998), Lantai T. Pinkie Musical (2000), T.Pinkie Musical (2006), Ibu Zain, The Musical (2008) and Gamat the Musical (2009).
Tickets priced between RM30 and RM150 can be obtained from Istana Budaya or www.ticket2u.biz.
July 08, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — Tun Mahathir The Musical, which depicts the life journey of Malaysia’s fourth prime minister, will surely evoke sweet memories to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah as the play includes efforts from their children.
The play’s storyline is determined by Datuk Mukhriz, who is Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister, while Mazhar, a student at the National Arts Culture and Heritage Academy (Aswara), will feature in a supporting role.
Istana Budaya director-general Mohamed Juhari Shaarani said the performance was proposed three years ago by Information Communication and Culture Minister, Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim, to honour the statesman.
“When we asked Tun Dr Mahathir for his consent (to stage the play), he approved on condition that the musical’s storyline was based on facts,” he said during a news conference, here today.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife, Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman, who is patron of the musical.
To be staged from Sept 24 to Oct 4, the play will star popular local artistes such as Esma Daniel, who will be acting as the adult Dr Mahathir, Erra Fazira (Dr Siti Hasmah), Zizan Nin (Dr Mahathir in his teens) and Idola Kecil 2008 finalist Mohd Shafeiq Shazwan (Dr Mahathir as a child).
The musical theatre, to be jointly carried out by Istana Budaya, CRTA Production, the Information Communication and Culture Ministry and the Malaysian Women Writers Association (PPWM), will be directed by the dean of Aswara’s Theatre Faculty, Rosminah Mohd Tahir, while its script is written by Ismail Kassan.
Meanwhile, CRTA Production producer Siti Rohaya Attan said the musical will depict Tun Dr Mahathir’s life as a child to his days as a doctor serving the people, and the ups and downs he experienced as a politician.
“The dilemmas and achievements throughout his 22 years as Prime Minister will be portrayed through dialogue, songs and dance suited to facts approved by Tun Dr Mahathir himself,” she said.
Siti Rohaya, whose name is not new to the world of theatre, has produced and directed several musicals such as Assyura (1997), Taman Baginda (1998), Kereta Kencana (1998), Lantai T. Pinkie Musical (2000), T.Pinkie Musical (2006), Ibu Zain, The Musical (2008) and Gamat the Musical (2009).
Tickets priced between RM30 and RM150 can be obtained from Istana Budaya or www.ticket2u.biz.
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