Malaysia's Wasted Decade 2004-2014: The Toxic Triad of Abdullah, Najib, and UMNO Leadership

The tragedy of state-owned Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 that disappeared without a trace over the South China Sea on March 2014 exposed to the world the gross incompetence and lackadaisical attitude of Malaysian officials, from senior ministers dismissive of pleas from victims’ families to radar operators uncurious of strange intruding beeps on their screens. Malaysians have long endured these; the surprise was that the world was surprised. These essays chronicle the continued erosion of Malaysia’s once reliable institutions, the corrosion of its economy through endemic corruption and crony capitalism, and the polarization of its citizens along race, region and religion. These are the crippling consequences of the toxic leadership of the triad of the vacuous Abdullah Badawi, rudderless Najib Razak, and the sclerotic ruling party, UMNO. Not an auspicious beginning as Malaysia enters the new millennium. Malaysia’s flagship airline MAS is an apt metaphor for the nation. Formerly blue chip, MAS is now a penny stock; likewise Malaysia. As with the mystery of Flight MH370, the nation’s myriad problems remain unresolved.