Happy Birthday Tan Sri.
I remember you as the leader who taught me to stay true to my principles despite the threats that i faced & the goodies offered to woo me away.
I remember the day when i almost left politics to focus on a better offer down in Johor & subsequently, a fully-sponsored trip to Oxford for my Masters in Public Policy.
You called me up & advised me to stay true to myself. That we will be in this together, from the beginning to the end. Your words were assuring like a father & that’s all that i needed.
You knew of the threats which my family & i received as soon as we decided to fight the good fight together. You met up with my parents and assured them that we will overcome this together.
Throughout this struggle, i didn’t expect anything from you, because i believed in you wholeheartedly. I know that deep-down, you are a good man.
I distinctly remember how your old friends in UMNO left you immediately after you lost power. You were condemned & shamed. Even some of your most loyal supporters left you as soon as they saw that their gravy train would be affected.
You braved on & i proudly followed. I followed you expecting nothing in return. I remember how my friends would think that i’m crazy for following an “outcast”.
I lost almost all my sources of income immediately. My job as a debate trainer, my job as a part time lecturer, my job as a researcher, even my students were barred from representing the university due to my role in Politics & i ended up missing my graduation ceremony because of Politics.
I remember a few UMNO Ministers who met up with me then asking, “How much you paid me?”.
I answered, “Tan Sri paid through his conviction in a better Malaysia”. That’s all that i needed.
The only money i received from you personally was through your good officer, Dr Marzuki outside of your house after we were done with a meeting. He gave me RM100 (saying it’s for Petrol), i tried to decline but he slipped it in anyway.
You entrusted me to build-up ARMADA. I took that job seriously. We did multiple fundraising events & toured all over Malaysia, until the “ARMADA” brand was picked up by many international news portals.
Again, many thought that we received millions from you and the rich “billionaires”. In reality, we were driven by your pursuit for justice & a better Malaysia. No amount of money can match that.
Do i regret this?
Absolutely not. I knew that you were the leader Malaysia needed & it was an honour to support you in anyway i could.
You are now surrounded by new friends.
Some of them, i personally know, as they were instrumental in trying to woo me away from you when you were kicked out. Heck, they even tried to convince me that you only spoke up against 1MDB because you were jealous of Najib & that you wanted power for yourself. Tan Sri, one of that persons was just appointed by you in a crucial & highly sensitive senior ministerial post. He comes from our party.
I never believed them & will never believe them. I just hope that you know who your true friends and enemies are. I know that one day, with the passing of time, you will realise this.
While we may have differing views today, my respect for you will never die out.
I wish you all the best Tan Sri. My prayers will always be with you & your family.
May Allah bless you always.
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