Gelombang Merah - in five waves

COMMENT | All governments that are in power over an indefinite period of time, have a tendency to develop their own vested interests. Thus goes the story of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Instead of leaving on account of the RM14.4 billion that cannot be recovered from 1MDB, he tries to prolong his stay.

Ibn Khaldun averred in his book ‘Muqadimah’ that almost no tyrant can avoid the laws of history. If they hang on to their office, the aim is not to govern with justice any more, but to luxuriate in the trappings of high office. Such is the story of Najib.

However, Ibn Khaldun also argued that no powerful monarchs, warlords, and feudal chieftains, can remain in power forever - even if they are habituated into a life of luxury and sheer comfort.

Very soon, the extent to which they receive public adulation and worship will cause them to degenerate in their will to govern ethically and morally, thus paving the way for other tribes and groups to go for the jugular in exposing the corruption and hedonistic lifestyles to which they have become accustomed to.

In this cyclical pattern, Najib, together with the minions of Umno in supreme council and the 191 divisional heads who shield him, have reached the point where they are not looking at the interests of the people but of themselves.

Be it in the Umno supreme council, or the divisional level, the office-bearers in Umno have become the equivalent of parasitic agents.

Instead of serving others, they are lapping up the contracts, concessions and licences for themselves - before outsourcing them to those beneath, if at all.