Reform begins once PM ousted, Dzulkefly tells Anwar

Amanah man disagrees with Anwar Ibrahim who advised those seeking reform not to focus solely on ousting Najib Razak.

KUALA LUMPUR: The fight to reform the country has to start from somewhere and that somewhere is when Prime Minister Najib Razak is finally unseated, says Dzulkefly Ahmad of Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah).

He said this in response to an open letter by former Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim yesterday, in which the incarcerated politician advised those fighting for reform to avoid focussing solely on ousting Najib.

Anwar in the letter published by Malay Mail also said the crisis faced by the country was not caused by Najib alone, but by the failure of the entire system and hence, a systemic change was required if any semblance of reform was to take place.

“Anwar is perfectly right in making that statement. A systemic change is what we need and are striving for, but we must begin somewhere. Ousting Najib could very well be the beginning (of reform), but not an end in itself,” said Dzulkefly in a statement.

He also said it would be a disaster to think reform had been accomplished once Najib was successfully removed, as another “autocrat” from Umno could very well replace him, and render the situation in the country very much like jumping out of the frying pan, into the fire.

To avoid facing such a risk, the strategy director for Amanah said that a plan for wide-ranging reform had to be set in motion.

“We must galvanise the entire rakyat cutting across ethnic, religious and political divides. There must be institutional reforms and leaders too must change, to embrace the timeless values of integrity, honesty and trust.

“Leaders must enhance their competency and must have the passion and be willing to ‘walk the extra mile’ in the struggle to achieve ‘a better Malaysia for all’.

“We can’t allow the rakyat to suffer any longer. We must not allow the nation to be damaged beyond redemption.”