Musharraf: Lee Kuan Yew of the Muslim world?
April 25, 2005 | 12:00am
Whether businesses, civic organizations, religions or nation-states, the quality of the leadership at the center can make or break the whole institution and have a profound lasting impact on its future. A recent guest of the country is perhaps one of the most remarkably strong-willed, pro-business, enlightened, daring and vigorous political leaders in the entire Muslim world and Asia – Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf.
President Musharraf reminds me of other iron-willed Asian reformers who didn’t constantly seek to win popularity contests, who didn’t keep changing policies due to shifting political winds or pressures, but who yearned to change their nation’s history against all odds – like China’s late Deng Xiaoping and ex-Premier Zhu Rongji, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and Thailand’s present leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
This writer had the privilege of joining the legendary President Musharraf in his April 20 breakfast meeting at the Manila Hotel with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP). Musharraf was surprisingly candid, fluent in English, very liberal on foreign investments and he acknowledged the need for free enterprise. He was conversant in diverse topics, from geopolitics, to Pakistan's being an ally of China and an anti-terrorism partner of America, his opposition to expanding the permanent members of the UN Security Council (with arch-rival India and former hegemonist Japan both angling for a new permanent seat) to economic issues. After decades of internal political disputes and drift, Pakistan is today an emerging economic success story.
Despite his country’s impressive economic strides in recent years, Musharraf lamented that Pakistan is unjustly perceived by the world as extremist, militant or a hotbed of radical Islamic terrorists. He extended an invitation to visit his nation. He shared his policies, which guided his nation of 160 million people towards robust economic growth of six to seven percent yearly and low single-digit inflation.
President Musharraf said: "I’m sure this might come as a surprise to you, but Pakistan has the best performing stock market in the world." On terrorists who might plan to enter his country or establish operations there, he was very decisive, saying: "We must fight terrorism. I want to tell the terrorists, get out or be killed." He not only has remarkably survived several bloody assassination or terrorist attempts on his life, during his Manila visit, our authorities also got tips on new dangers. Despite the threats, Musharraf was relaxed when I shook his hand, asked his opinion and later congratulated him for his strong leadership.
Under his regime, the military general reversed his nation’s past government budget deficit, trade deficit and balance of payment deficit into surpluses. He said that his government has dramatically reduced Pakistan’s foreign debts and the level of debt servicing from 60 percent of the government budget to only 30 percent now. He cited Pakistan’s growing foreign exchange reserves, which have grown to an equivalent of his country’s 12-month imports. He said exports are at a record high, foreign investor confidence is getting stronger and international credit ratings have continuously improved.
During the breakfast, I asked his opinion on the Muslim insurgencies in Mindanao and I expected him to deflect the query by saying it’s an internal domestic issue of the Philippines. However, he obliged with a detailed and very comprehensive reply.
When asked what advice he would give President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on how to deal with the insurgency problem, especially with Muslim rebels in Mindanao, and if Pakistan would be willing to mediate to help solve this long-standing problem, he replied:
"Yes, I know that the Philippines is confronted with this problem in Mindanao with these two organizations, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In the first case, an agreement has been reached and Pakistan supports it all the way, its implementation must be followed in letter and spirit. We support the Philippine government in its resolve in trying to reach a political agreement with the MILF. Having said that, this is the right course to follow, a political solution to this problem. I would like to say that Mindanao, or the Muslims of both these organizations or other Muslims, must realize and must feel part of the Philippines with all the patriotic fervor. They are from the Philippines and they must feel part of the Philippines and resolve their dispute politically as it happens. However, one should see the deeper causes. Are these people suffering from any kind of a sense of deprivation? Are they backward? Are they economically deprived? Are they less educated? I think one should also deal with this socio-economic factor and maybe concentrate more on their development, so that they would feel they’re a part of your country., because I feel any society or any group or individual who is prosperous and when his economic well-being is assured, will always feel part of the bigger group."
What about the war against the possible spread of Islamic extremist ideas in Mindanao? President Musharraf said: "I think socio-economic development of the area needs to be concentrated on, and maybe moderate Muslim scholars need to be involved in talking to the organizations to spread the true message of Islam, to bring normalcy and tolerance to their minds. So therefore, we have to fight the battle for the minds of these individuals tending towards extremism. We have to look at the socio-economic development in that area together with the political solution of the dispute, and if at all there is any terrorism that anyone is carrying out, then my belief is very clear – terrorism needs to be suppressed with force!"
Musharraf added: "On a possible role, certainly I can play a role and I’m sure the government is handling the problem very well and should they call, anytime, it will be my honor (to help) in any way I can. I know that Malaysia is playing a role in bringing about a peace agreement with the MILF. I’m sure they must be doing a good job."
When asked how he turned around Pakistan’s economy despite its complex problems, Musharraf said he first focused on economic revival, fighting terrorism and restoring peace and order, then tackled the Kashmir problem with India, and others. He said he addressed the need to improve governance and then he tackled the issue of corruption "at the strategic level, which is at the highest leadership level, including nepotism."
President Pervez Musharraf is admired for being a nemesis of terrorists and a beacon of hope for the Third World’s impoverished masses. He acknowledges his fellow Muslims as mostly the downtrodden of the world, but he rejects religious fundamentalism. His strong personality, charisma, enlightened policies and political skills help compensate for the many previous years of political instability and weak republic of the vast and complex Pakistan. He championed unpopular but wise policies defying religious extremism in the mosques or madrasah schools of Pakistan.
It is not true that developing nations are hopeless victims of cruel fate, totally beholden to the exploitative machinations of Western multinationals or the selfish dictates of the World Bank or IMF. It is not true that impoverished Third World nations cannot possibly achieve political stability. Even in its crucial relations with aid-giver and superpower America, Pakistan under Musharaff was not a beggar or like a cheap prostitute – Pakistan never traded its national dignity or sovereignty and pride for convenience. Despite a long history of rivalry with India, Musharraf’s visit to India to be peacemaker was headline news in international media just before he arrived in Manila last week. It is not true that a formerly war-ravaged nation with four million refugees like Pakistan cannot be self-reliant, dignified and strong as a nation-state. All it takes is strong, reformist and courageous leadership at the center of the whole nation.
President Musharraf’s decisive leadership is eloquent proof of how heroic, principled, inspirational and visionary individuals can help change the destiny of even the most seemingly hopeless nations and alter the course of history.
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President Musharraf reminds me of other iron-willed Asian reformers who didn’t constantly seek to win popularity contests, who didn’t keep changing policies due to shifting political winds or pressures, but who yearned to change their nation’s history against all odds – like China’s late Deng Xiaoping and ex-Premier Zhu Rongji, Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew and Thailand’s present leader Thaksin Shinawatra.
This writer had the privilege of joining the legendary President Musharraf in his April 20 breakfast meeting at the Manila Hotel with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP). Musharraf was surprisingly candid, fluent in English, very liberal on foreign investments and he acknowledged the need for free enterprise. He was conversant in diverse topics, from geopolitics, to Pakistan's being an ally of China and an anti-terrorism partner of America, his opposition to expanding the permanent members of the UN Security Council (with arch-rival India and former hegemonist Japan both angling for a new permanent seat) to economic issues. After decades of internal political disputes and drift, Pakistan is today an emerging economic success story.
President Musharraf said: "I’m sure this might come as a surprise to you, but Pakistan has the best performing stock market in the world." On terrorists who might plan to enter his country or establish operations there, he was very decisive, saying: "We must fight terrorism. I want to tell the terrorists, get out or be killed." He not only has remarkably survived several bloody assassination or terrorist attempts on his life, during his Manila visit, our authorities also got tips on new dangers. Despite the threats, Musharraf was relaxed when I shook his hand, asked his opinion and later congratulated him for his strong leadership.
Under his regime, the military general reversed his nation’s past government budget deficit, trade deficit and balance of payment deficit into surpluses. He said that his government has dramatically reduced Pakistan’s foreign debts and the level of debt servicing from 60 percent of the government budget to only 30 percent now. He cited Pakistan’s growing foreign exchange reserves, which have grown to an equivalent of his country’s 12-month imports. He said exports are at a record high, foreign investor confidence is getting stronger and international credit ratings have continuously improved.
During the breakfast, I asked his opinion on the Muslim insurgencies in Mindanao and I expected him to deflect the query by saying it’s an internal domestic issue of the Philippines. However, he obliged with a detailed and very comprehensive reply.
"Yes, I know that the Philippines is confronted with this problem in Mindanao with these two organizations, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). In the first case, an agreement has been reached and Pakistan supports it all the way, its implementation must be followed in letter and spirit. We support the Philippine government in its resolve in trying to reach a political agreement with the MILF. Having said that, this is the right course to follow, a political solution to this problem. I would like to say that Mindanao, or the Muslims of both these organizations or other Muslims, must realize and must feel part of the Philippines with all the patriotic fervor. They are from the Philippines and they must feel part of the Philippines and resolve their dispute politically as it happens. However, one should see the deeper causes. Are these people suffering from any kind of a sense of deprivation? Are they backward? Are they economically deprived? Are they less educated? I think one should also deal with this socio-economic factor and maybe concentrate more on their development, so that they would feel they’re a part of your country., because I feel any society or any group or individual who is prosperous and when his economic well-being is assured, will always feel part of the bigger group."
What about the war against the possible spread of Islamic extremist ideas in Mindanao? President Musharraf said: "I think socio-economic development of the area needs to be concentrated on, and maybe moderate Muslim scholars need to be involved in talking to the organizations to spread the true message of Islam, to bring normalcy and tolerance to their minds. So therefore, we have to fight the battle for the minds of these individuals tending towards extremism. We have to look at the socio-economic development in that area together with the political solution of the dispute, and if at all there is any terrorism that anyone is carrying out, then my belief is very clear – terrorism needs to be suppressed with force!"
Musharraf added: "On a possible role, certainly I can play a role and I’m sure the government is handling the problem very well and should they call, anytime, it will be my honor (to help) in any way I can. I know that Malaysia is playing a role in bringing about a peace agreement with the MILF. I’m sure they must be doing a good job."
When asked how he turned around Pakistan’s economy despite its complex problems, Musharraf said he first focused on economic revival, fighting terrorism and restoring peace and order, then tackled the Kashmir problem with India, and others. He said he addressed the need to improve governance and then he tackled the issue of corruption "at the strategic level, which is at the highest leadership level, including nepotism."
President Pervez Musharraf is admired for being a nemesis of terrorists and a beacon of hope for the Third World’s impoverished masses. He acknowledges his fellow Muslims as mostly the downtrodden of the world, but he rejects religious fundamentalism. His strong personality, charisma, enlightened policies and political skills help compensate for the many previous years of political instability and weak republic of the vast and complex Pakistan. He championed unpopular but wise policies defying religious extremism in the mosques or madrasah schools of Pakistan.
It is not true that developing nations are hopeless victims of cruel fate, totally beholden to the exploitative machinations of Western multinationals or the selfish dictates of the World Bank or IMF. It is not true that impoverished Third World nations cannot possibly achieve political stability. Even in its crucial relations with aid-giver and superpower America, Pakistan under Musharaff was not a beggar or like a cheap prostitute – Pakistan never traded its national dignity or sovereignty and pride for convenience. Despite a long history of rivalry with India, Musharraf’s visit to India to be peacemaker was headline news in international media just before he arrived in Manila last week. It is not true that a formerly war-ravaged nation with four million refugees like Pakistan cannot be self-reliant, dignified and strong as a nation-state. All it takes is strong, reformist and courageous leadership at the center of the whole nation.
President Musharraf’s decisive leadership is eloquent proof of how heroic, principled, inspirational and visionary individuals can help change the destiny of even the most seemingly hopeless nations and alter the course of history.
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