Today, the world celebrates the 100th birthday of Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, one of Asia’s most influential statesmen and Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister. Known for his sharp intellect, fearless rhetoric, and vision for a just and independent Malaysia, Dr. Mahathir’s legacy spans generations, continents, and causes.
But instead of basking in accolades or nostalgic reflections, the former Prime Minister marked this historic milestone with a searing post on Facebook titled “Collapse of Civilisation.” In it, he raises a bold and unsettling question: Have we truly advanced as a civilised society, or are we witnessing the moral decay of humanity itself?
A Voice of Conscience in a World of Silence
Dr. Mahathir opens his message with a lament on how humanity, once on a path of progressive values—abolishing barbarism, embracing human rights, and codifying justice—has now regressed into violence, hypocrisy, and moral indifference.
"We have destroyed most of the ethical values that we had built up," he writes."Now we are seeing an orgy of killing... genocide being perpetrated before our own eyes."
This isn’t just commentary. It is a moral indictment of the global order, particularly Western powers who claim to champion human rights while turning a blind eye—or worse, playing an active role—in mass atrocities.
A Scathing Rebuke of the Powerful
With characteristic bluntness, Dr. Mahathir singles out the United States of America, accusing it of perpetrating or defending the very horrors civilisation once vowed to end. He paints a harrowing picture of modern warfare:
- Children mutilated,
- Hospitals bombed,
- The weak unprotected,
- Justice buried under rubble.
It is, as he describes, a collapse of civilisation—not because we lack technology or laws, but because we have lost our moral compass.
“I feel ashame. We should feel ashame in the eyes of the animals we consider to be wild. We are worse than them.”
A Century of Experience, A Lifetime of Advocacy
This isn’t the first time Dr. Mahathir has challenged Western hypocrisy or called out international injustice. Throughout his leadership, especially during his tenure as Prime Minister (1981–2003 and 2018–2020), he became known as a champion of the Global South, an outspoken critic of imperialism, and a defender of Palestinian rights.
Yet his 100th birthday message strikes deeper than politics—it is a moral reckoning. A man who has seen a century of change is now compelled to “hide [his] face” in shame.
Will the World Listen?
Dr. Mahathir's reflections raise haunting questions for us all:
- Have we lost the essence of humanity in our pursuit of power?
- Can civilisation truly exist without compassion and justice?
- Is there still time to correct our course?
In an age of digital noise and performative politics, his words cut through like a blade of truth. At 100, he remains not just a witness of history—but a conscience for the world.
Final Thought
On this centennial birthday of a statesman, let us not merely celebrate Dr. Mahathir’s age or accomplishments. Let us listen to his warning, reflect on our collective failures, and ask ourselves:
Is this the civilisation we fought so hard to build?
Post a Comment
0Comments