By Zaid Ibrahim
IN the days of emperors who ruled over vast empires, servants whose testicles had been cut off were employed by these emperors as their palace guards.
The emperors required men they could trust implicitly to take care of their concubines and mistresses—some emperors had more than a thousand wives.
The emperors could not trust “normal” men to keep their mistresses “chaste” and not go looking for pleasure with the palace guards, so a generation of eunuchs—males who were rendered incapable of sexual acts by mutilation and castration—grew to serve the emperors’ special needs.
The castration was done early and because eunuchs were employed in the inner palace areas, they had the proximity and opportunity to mingle with the emperor, his concubines and key palace advisors.
The eunuchs then used these opportunities to influence the emperor and advisors on policy matters and would regularly interfere in affairs of state. This is one of the reasons why eunuchs held important positions in the empire, not to mention acquiring vast wealth and power.
I have to explain this for you to be able to explain to others (especially foreigners) why Datuk Seri Najib Razak is still all-powerful.
Najib, the great emperor of the 21st century, has done what others can only dream of doing, which is to be the wealthiest Prime Minister in the history of the Malaysia and perhaps even the world.
Najib has survived months of bad publicity in the global media and despite the recent actions of the US Department of Justice (which has detailed his modus operandi to rip off the country of more than USD3.5 billion), Najib still commands a lot of support from his Cabinet colleagues, his party, the civil service, the Police, journalists in the mainstream media and the bloggers, not to mention the judiciary and Members of Parliament.
How does one explain this phenomenon?
We cannot blame it entirely on a weakened and disorganised Opposition. It’s also unfair to expect ordinary Malaysians to feel sufficiently “outraged” to march on the streets seeking Najib’s removal when many of them are just getting by selling nasi lemak or working as manual labourers.
Life for most Malaysians is hard. Finding food and enough extra cash for the tolls must remain a priority instead of being involved in political agitation.
The real reason why Najib remains Prime Minister despite what has happened is his success at creating a long line of eunuchs to serve him. These eunuchs are different from the eunuchs of the Middle Kingdom in only one respect—their testicles are intact—but in everything else they share the same characteristics.
Najib has cut off not their testicles but something more valuable to a human being: he has removed their self-esteem and dignity; and by putting fear in them, they oblige and kiss his hands and promise to be loyal to him for ever and ever.
They will do anything and everything for him: they fear him, and feel they are nothing without his grace and blessing. Their collective defence of their “Emperor” gives them a sense of belonging—and they are well-rewarded for their zeal.
But the eunuchs of today need millions to sate their appetite and some even get titles normally reserved for those few whose service to the nation has been exceptional and long.
These eunuchs do not serve the Government or the country. They see no distinction in (nor do they understand) the modern concept of separation between the head of government and the country. They see no difference between truth and lies.
They see no need for the head of government to be accountable to anyone, since the interest of the Emperor is synonymous with that of the state, like Louis XIV of France. As such, laws are necessary but do not apply to the Emperor if he is disadvantaged or adversely affected by their application.
Our modern eunuchs are ever-willing to die for their Emperor, so it is nothing for them to lie, spin half-truths and behave as if the whole world is made up of fools.
The question is, what about us? Do we care enough about the country and do we feel sufficiently strong to stand up to these eunuchs without fear? If we do, then there is hope, but the sooner we act, the better.
Fire destroyed London 350 years ago, but the city was rebuilt by the great effort of the British people. Our country too has been destroyed, not by fire but by castration. I just hope the Malaysian people can rise to rebuild the country once again.
*Datuk Zaid Ibrahim is a former de facto Law Minister.
*The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Times (TMT).
(The Malaysian Times)