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Letters | What the legal troubles of Malaysia’s former leaders tell us
- Readers discuss whether the litany of former leaders in trouble signals a Malaysia at a turning point, unease over Japan’s plan to release treated radioactive waste water, and the cause of Canada’s wildfires
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With former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad being questioned by the police over remarks that allegedly belittled the country’s monarchy, the number of the country’s living prime ministers who have seen jail time or might still do so has risen to four.
Of the six living Malaysian prime ministers, Najib Razak is currently in jail, Anwar Ibrahim used to be in jail, Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged in court and Mahathir is under police investigation.
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Even the triads likely do not have as many of their heads under investigation, prosecuted or behind bars as the heads of Malaysia’s government. What does having this kind of record say about the country?
From a glass-half-empty point of view, this kind of record is a sign that Malaysia might be close to being a failed state. If every succeeding prime minister tries to put their predecessor in jail, what guarantee is there that the prior government’s commitments will be honoured by the next one?
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From a glass-half-full perspective, though, the fact that so many former Malaysian heads of state are looking at jail time could also be seen as the country undergoing a period of reformation.
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