Ioannis Gatsiounis

Monsoon Books, Singapore. 2008

273 pages Indexed

US $15.95

Soon after Abdullah Badawi led his Barisan Nasional coalition to a landslide electoral victory in 2004, I wrote a blistering critique of his leadership. He had hoodwinked voters, I wrote, with his slick “feel good” campaign, and that sooner or later Malaysians would see through his emptiness.

I had the piece previewed by my friend and frequent collaborator Din Merican. He suggested that I hold back and instead give Abdullah a chance. I did.

Little did I know that at about the same time (October 2004) an American journalist in Malaysia - Ioannis Gatsiounis - had written for Asia Times an essay titled Abdullah’s Honeymoon is Over in Malaysia .