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INTERVIEWS VIEWS
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member because an MP once
said PAS spiritual leader
Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and
president Datuk Seri Abdul
Hadi Awang used to be your
Tok Guru.
Yes, I was close to them. When
they came to the US, I used to
meet them. That’s why Anwar
said “this Puad, at one time he
was kissing Ustaz Hadi’s hand,
now (that) he had secured big
projects, he could not even
see Ustaz Hadi’s hands.” I was
surprised. When did I get big
projects? But, I didn’t react be-
cause he’s a politician, he can
provoke us. Sometimes when
I provoke him, he gets angry.
Like when he said to me I’m
not yet a finance minister. He
asked me recently, why are you
so fierce now? Actually, I know
him very well and am used to
his style. I was once teaching at
his school Yayasan Anda when
he was in Abim (Malaysian
Islamic Youth Movement) be-
fore he joined Umno. That was
after I graduated. I was teaching
there together with (Information
Minister Datuk Ahmad) Shabery
Cheek, (Deputy Entrepreneur
and Cooperative Development
Minister Datuk) Saifudin Ab-
dullah and (PAS vice-president
Datuk) Husam (Musa). At that
time we were close to him.
Were you a professor?
No, I was a lecturer at Universiti
Pertanian Malaysia (now Uni-
versiti Putra Malaysia), before
I joined politics. Maybe that’s
why Padang Serai called me a
professor.
When did you join Umno?
I joined Umno in 1990 but was only
active from 1998 when I became
Johor Umno executive secretary.
Then, I was political secretary to the
Johor MB. And from there, I rose
from division vice-head, to deputy,
to division head, then to Senator
from October 2004 until the March
2008 election.
Back to the boycott issue. BN MPs
also boycotted Anwar during his
2009 Budget debate.
Yes, but there was no such instruc-
tion.
But it was noticeable.
Yes, because people were unhappy.
From the start of his speech, he
stressed that the budget must be
rejected. And then he went around
that point. So they said, what else ...
and left the Dewan. But there was
no instruction to boycott. That’s
why I stayed. I was the only one (BN
MP) who stayed.
So there was no agreement on
this?
No. If there was an agreement, of
course I would have to leave too.
But I stayed and I think I stood up
almost seven times to interject.
And when Najib was winding-
up. It was not like Najib was not go-
ing to give way for him (Anwar), he
just wanted to explain the additional
measures first. But later when he
wanted to reply to the points made
by the opposition, they were not
there. And, I ended up asking the
opposition’s question (Bandar Tun
Razak MP Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s
points) on Valuecap, which (he
said) would lead to cash outflow.
I asked (Najib) because I wanted to
know the answer.
theSun | THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20 2008
Dreaming for change
A FEW years ago, I was at a vice-chancellor? I’m sure if I so that I’m not too old to do it all. But I
function where a group of On dared it would have been writ- think we all can be history makers, by
children no taller that 1m were Pointe ten in my report card that I was taking a stand, speaking up for what is
asked what they would like to quite the dreamer and needed right, for not accepting bad service, by
be when they grew up. There by Natalie a huge dose of reality. being polite, for demanding accountabil-
were the usual doctor, lawyer, Shobana Ambrose As adults we become so ity, insisting on transparency, disagreeing
engineer responses and what jaded that we forget to dream with marginalisation and taking an inter-
have you when suddenly the crowd because our dreams were quashed a est in the country that we call home.
laughed when a little girl boldly declared long time ago. We then end up being a We should not let power, class, race,
she’d like to be a zoo keeper. I bet there barrier to the young dreamers among us age or a quota system stop us from
were disapproving people around who crushing their spirit for change. dreaming, hoping and wanting change.
thought she’d make a good nurse instead There is a danger though when we As small as we may think our voice is,
of a zoo keeper. I though, just wanted to decide in our heads that our dreams our dreams still matter and carry weight.
know what wonderful parents she had are just dreams and not worth pursuing We don’t have to be an Obama to change
who allowed her to dream and be proud because of the prejudices and obstacles the world, we can start by being polite to
of her dreams. that abound or just because that’s the the foreign workers at the petrol station
In primary school, at a certain time way things work while we take on a or even to our neighbours. We can start
in each academic year, pupils have to “what does it matter” attitude. When we believing we can make a difference and
fill the “When I grow up form”. Till today, stop dreaming we stop wanting to see stop being complacent about things
I have no clue what the purpose of this change and become complacent, hope- only contributing to the Ugly Malaysian
was, except for comic relief years later. less and end up being dream catchers syndrome.
Even though I never wanted to be a – instead of dream enablers. We should be more like the mother
doctor I penned the “right” answer – I’d This year many dreams came true in the Mitch Albom book, For One More
like to be a doctor first, then lawyer at the ballot box for various countries Day, who took her young son back to
and I can’t remember what the third – dreams of change and hope for a differ- the library and rebuked the librarian for
option was. Honestly, I couldn’t care less ent few years ahead, for a better, more saying that the book her son wanted to
what I wanted to be then. I was more transparent, just, livable hopeful future. borrow was “too hard” for someone his
interested in the Care Bears, Scooby Doo This change started with a dream, a age.
and Thunder Cats (HO!) than to think of dream that for many seemed impossible Are we limiting our dreams and being
life 20 years down the line. What I really and a dream that if dreamt 20 years ago left behind while the rest of the world
wanted at that age was probably to be would have been quashed. aims much higher and achieves more
a superhero or stuff myself silly with ice I spend an hour a week with a group than we can ever imagine?
cream and cake while playing all day of awesome teenagers, hoping that they Will you dare to dream the impossible
with my cousins. continue to dream and become his- for a better you and a better Malaysia
As I think about this little zoo keeper, tory makers and I believe they already and a better world?
and how proud she was of her answer, are becoming history makers just by
I thought, what if I’d written crocodile believing in their dreams.
hunter under option three – what would Many times, I wonder where the Natalie thinks that we should all dream
have happened? What if I said I’d like dreamer in me went. Some days I think big and dream for change because
to be prime minister of Malaysia or a I’m too old to be a history maker and dreaming is free. Comment: letters@
mechanic, a rubbish collector or even maybe I should be writing my bucket list thesundaily.com