Tun Dr Mahathir is probably the most important Malaysian that has lived, for better or worst. To be his eldest child, it was not going to be easy. Living in the shadow of Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister comes with extreme privilege, which Marina Mahathir acknowledges at the start, but it also comes with the challenges and risk.
Growing up, Marina Mahathir had found it difficult to step out of her dad's shadow. When she was 15, her dad told her she was mediocre, in hope to spun her further in life. She took that quite personally and heavily, and remembers this episode even as she is 62. Dr. Mahathir would be sorry to read this, but he'll probably won't mind, as she turned out not at all mediocre.
She became a writer and journalist after graduating from the UK. She found a role for herself in society did well later in life, especially with her work with Malaysia Aids Foundation. She didn't rest on her laurels and made herself as useful as possible.
In 2018, during the 14th General Election, Marina spoke at political rallies for the first time in her life. She describes the build-up to the election, and how her father, at the age of 92 eventually became the Prime Minister again. There was a lot of jubilation as the country rid herself of corrupted officials that abused power and plundered the nation.
2 years later, around February 2020, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government fell, upon the resignation of Dr. Mahathir as Prime Minister. In-fighting in the PH government was fierce. It shook the country, and the people, just before COVID-19 stroke. The week was supposed to be the wedding of Dr. Mahathir's eldest granddaughter, so the whole family was busy. Marina shared some unknown twist and turns behind the scenes. I wouldn't take everything she wrote, but I think majority of her views are valid.
This is a book worth reading. I am glad to read this book during my mandatory quarantine in Taiwan. Marina is a capable writer who brought her readers far and wide. She had a summer exchange in the US, and explained her days in boarding school and at the University of Sussex, UK.
I like reading biographies of people from South East Asia. These are more relatable, and inspires me to contribute more to society.
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I sometimes feel sorry for kids with super-accomplished parents. It either motivates them to achieve more, or just slack them into oblivion, always feeling entitled and lack inspiration. It normally isn't the kid's fault being pampered, wrapped in a cotton wool and stumble at the easiest of dejections. The upbringing plays a huge part, and if you spare the rod, you spoil the child.
In many ways, I feel extremely fortunate and humbled to have made my parents rather proud. In terms of life accomplishments, most of my peers from my hometown made considerable progress. Like what my secondary school mate Shane Chew said, our group of friends (known as the Atlantiz gang) managed to move up the social ladder, and are generally in a better place than our parents. This, is the same with my parents, who outdid their parents by going and passing school, despite the difficulties in life. There was no doubt that grandparents would marvel at my parent's ability to read and write in English and Malay. I suppose it is only natural that children become better-off than their parents, as parents would strive to provide the best for their kids.
My oratory skills and stress-resistance capabilities come from mom, while my principles, sense of justice and 做人的道理 comes from dad. This is a lethal combination that made the world my oyster.
Perak river - Had its glory days in the late 19th century
