'The problem in this country is the sycophantic tendency of many people to idolise certain leaders to the point of creating a personality cult'.

Mahathir musical destined for greatness?

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: I was under the impression that musicals about the life of any ‘great' personality should only be staged posthumously and not when the person is still alive and kicking.

The same with naming roads, schools and airports or erecting statues and the like (which is also un-Islamic). The Tun should just wait his turn. The problem in this country is the sycophantic tendency of many people to idolise certain leaders to the point of creating a personality cult, which is also un-Islamic and unhealthy in any democracy.

It has the tendency to create demagogues and authoritarian leaders with scant regard for justice, freedom, democracy and the rule of law. One does not hear of musicals and exhibitions about the life of Baroness Thatcher in the UK or calls to name airports and ships after her.

And yet she is well-respected as an elder statesperson and will probably be remembered as one of the UK's greatest post-war prime ministers. The jury is still out on the Tun.

VP Biden: Just make sure the rights for this musical are sold to the Cartoon Network or Comedy Channel. The kids need a real break once back from school after listening to racist statements from headmasters created by Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Biro Tatanegara.

Albert: ‘...the leadership and unique attributes of Dr Mahathir Mohamad'. In this world of make belief and falsehoods, the musical will not include the fact that as the all-powerful prime minister of 22 years of this resource rich country, there still large numbers of poor Malays and poor non- Malays.

And the huge losses suffered by the country during his leadership through MAS, Port Klang, forex trading, etc. Not forgetting the sorry state of affairs in the judiciary, police, MACC and the Attroney-General's Chambers.

And what about the RM50 billion out of RM52 billion worth of bumi equity that was disposed for quick profit during his tenure as PM, which has resulted in the 30 percent bumi equity being a contentious issue even today.

Dr Jacob George: The average Malaysian is struggling with bread-and-butter issues and Information Minister Rais Yatim is on a frolic about musical as if we cared. Talk about losing touch with reality - this is a classic example! Hello, Rais Yatim - who plays the father?

Glimmerati: I'm not going for this musical and I don't know anyone who wants to go. I guess I'm not in the company of ‘greatness'. Sigh.

Matrix: Glorifying the man who singlehandedly destroyed Malaysia's economy, democracy and judiciary for 22 years and who continues to destroy Malaysia this very moment by provoking and encouraging people like Ibrahim Ali.

When Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya, we should make a movie of the real Mahathir. We can invite Shah Rukh Khan to play him.

Geronimo: My God, how patronising and condescending can these people get knowing very well it was this character who tore the nation apart with his money politics, corruption, mediocrity, nepotism, cronyism, religious and racial politics.

With all these evil deeds stacked against Mahathir, what kind of storyline can the musical/play cover unless the producers spin the story into a fairy tale. If they could make a musical out of Mahathir, I guess anyone can make a musical out of Adolf Hitler.

Singa Pura Pura: Sometimes, musicals fail. And the critics would say that such-and-such a musical ‘failed, ultimately, but that it was a glorious failure.' Now, this one will no doubt be pronounced a startling success.

The question is, will the success, owing only to the subject-matter of the production, be an inglorious success, ultimately?

Art Chan: The only way they can get full house for this musical is to arm twist the GLCs and force sponsors to buy tickets and then give them away for free. Rais Yatim has taken the art of apple-polishing to another level.

Lim Chong Leong: Can I play Lim Kit Siang in that musical? Rais Yatim is the biggest turncoat. He said he will never in this life rejoin Umno after declaring allegiance to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Now, he is taking the lead role in singing songs of praise to Mahathir.

Voter-Get-Voters: I definitely will pay to watch this musical. I'll be glad to pay more too but with one caveat - if the musical shows the way he amassed billions, destroyed the judiciary and become the racist he was and still is.

Tailek: Rais Yatim must be joking to think that ‘Tun Mahathir, The Musical' can become a classic. If this is staged outside of Malaysia, I bet you won't even get one person in the audience... except, maybe, for Rais Yatim

Dood: Maybe it will be well-known for being a dark comedy.

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