What have two past prime ministers of Malaysia achieved, and what is the legacy they have left behind? While many have tried to provide answers to this enigma, few people privy to the inner circles have had the courage and determination to come forth and make their assessments post-independence administration of Malaysia in the 1970s and 1980s from a ringside observer's perspective.

The author, Ahmad Mustapha Hassan, had not only been a nationalist and socialist in his younger days, he had also been active in the student movement and in UMNO Youth. He applies his rich and variegated experience to this commentary on the plight of the Malay community. Mustapha takes the reader through the various phases of his involvement in the country's administration and in UMNO politics during the country's formative years. In particular, he focuses on the various facets of the administration of Tun Razak and that of Dr. Mahathir.

This book is unique in that it is the product of the writer's personal experiences over nearly a decade. It should appeal to anyone interested in Malaysian politics, particularly those who want fresh and critical insights into the administrations of Tun Razak and Dr. Mahathir.