WHEN you at the top, that’s when the devil comes for you.
This is a now famous quote of Denzel Washington in the advice he gave Will Smith following the shock slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars seen and heard around the world. A few minutes after assaulting Rock on stage at the Kodak Theatre, Smith would return to that very stage to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard William –the father and coach of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams – in the film King Richard.
The standing ovation he received seemed to indicate all was forgiven, although he was banned from the Oscars for the next 10 years, and studios were reluctant to associate themselves with him.
Apart from a rehash of the Bad Boys series and a slave film Emancipation, he is now reportedly selling his home and what was once one of the most solid marriages in Hollywood – his union with Jada Smith is on the brink.
The Devil did come for Will Smith in the form of a golden statute and his ego.
Those in power will be good to remember this. As we have seen in the past three years, the power has gone to the heads of some of them.
Our Prime Minister has been on a high this past week ticking all the boxes in terms of domestic approval and foreign relations.
The appreciation goodies he announced on July 23 which included RM100 for everyone above 18 years-of-age may be laughed at by the Bangsar Bubble who spend that much sitting for an hour at a café in BSC. But the Prime Minister is essentially putting over RM2 billion into people’s pockets to stimulate the economy.
The brokering of the cease fire between Thailand and Cambodia as Asean Chairman is certainly not something to downplay. Many would say he was a mere figure head – a good host – when it was the US and China essentially calling the shots.
But lets not forget this is among the few times that these two bickering superpowers sat down to engage each other. And in Malaysia’s best interest too as the US has acknowledged Malaysia’s role and reduced the tariff to 19% from 24%.
President Trump is visiting Kuala Lumpur in Oct 27 – the first by a US president since Barack Obama in 2014.
Yesterday’s tabling of the 13th Malaysia Plan receive some good reviews on the direction the country is taking in heading into high income nation status – something that Najib Razak was propagating but which got derailed by the 1MDB Scandal.
Even the rally demanding for Anwar’s resignation fizzled out. Protestors could not give a solid response to the question “Turun Anwar, Naik Siapa” (If not Anwar then who?)
The lack of non-Malay participation in the rally is also an indication that PAS which organised it has a long way to go to draw minority support.
So with all that is going on, one cannot blame the Prime Minister for feeling that he is on cloud nine and if he walks with a spring in his step. He deserves the win. Especially after all the criticisms and a bruising PKR party election that saw him lose two senior ministers.
But while one is not concerned about these successes getting into PMX’s head, one cannot say the same for some of the others in his administration or part of the Madani eco system.
Anwar is a seasoned politician who has been burnt before – taking 25 years to inch his way back to Putrajaya.
But the PM is only as effective as his team and support system. So those resting on his laurels, the tumpang glamour and bodoh sombong types need to ensure to keep the momentum set by Anwar going.
They need to deliver on the Madani promises and remain humble at the same time. Accept criticisms and suggestions. Remember you don’t know everything. Don’t tell a heart surgeon how to perform a bypass or teach a pilot how to fly a plane.
Don’t get too wrapped up in the positions that they now enjoy. Just over three years ago they were the ones on the streets, standing shoulder to shoulder with the rakyat who helped put them in Putrajaya.
PMX is on a roll. If you cannot help then get out of the way.
Prime Ministers have been brought down before due to the people around them. They need to make sure history does not repeat itself. – August 1, 2025
Terence Fernandez is Group Editor in Chief of Big Boom Media, which publishes Scoop