KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 - In naming Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its Malaysian of the Year, The Malaysian Insider touched off a firestorm with many questioning the selection and putting up their own picks for the award.
Let's put the record straight. It is not a popularity contest nor is it about who or what is the greatest Malaysian for the year. It is about someone or an organisation that has made the greatest impact for the year, for better or worse.
The numerous comments made about Dr M as Malaysian of the Year has not only vindicated our choice but showed that most, if not all, Malaysians share the same traits as the strongman who helmed the nation for 22 years.
These traits include pride, prejudice, brooking no dissent or opposition, that one is always in the right and anyone opposing you is wrong, are all reflected in the comments and also part of Mahathir's personality.
But the octogenarian, who took us kicking and screaming into the 21st century - and whom most of us are kicking and screaming against now - has used this self-same traits against his successor, against the opposition and anyone in the way of his legacy.
Reader Ronald Quay commented, "I could not disagree more with your vile choice of Mahathir Mohamed (sic) as your Malaysian of the Year. What an unintelligent choice," while another reader,Harris, put it succinctly, "MI readers are looking for heroes. You all just want to hear what you want to hear."
Just like Dr M, whose selection elicited 61 comments, drew lots of comments, some as nasty, if not as elegant, as those he had made in the past. The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, said it best in Beyond Good and Evil, Aphorism 146, "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."
Clearly, in his own way and without most admitting it, the country's fourth prime minister has had a profound and great impact on our collective psyche, for better or worse.
More so in the year 2008, when changes blew through and nearly swept out the ruling Barisan Nasional from Putrajaya.
Who made that happen? The people? Who made the people make that happen? Anwar? Raja Petra Kamaruddin? Who made them make the people make that happen? Dr Mahathir?
Yes, we did not run a poll to determine the Malaysian of the Year. But a subsequent poll that began on New Year's Day and ended today that asked the readers' choice, showed that Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin garnered the most votes, followed by the Rakyat and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Dr M came in fourth place with just 10 per cent of the 2,653 votes.
Ultimately, it is a difference of opinion.
Something that we all can respect in each other.
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Then again, perhaps I should just shut up since I, too, couldn't resist commenting on the post! :P
Happy New Year to one and all.