Was A Kadir Jasin, the spokesman for the Council of Eminent Persons, pushed, or did he jump, so as to safeguard the interests of this select group?
The problem with the veteran journalist and one-time editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times, who regularly writes in his blog, and a column in Sinar Harian, is that he makes people think. Sadly, the truth is unpalatable to many people.
There are allegations that Kadir is Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's mouthpiece, but to suggest that he was pushed from the Council of Eminent Persons is disingenuous. Kadir removed himself, so that there can be no question of his actions compromising the council members.
We know that Umno-Baru will use anything, and everything in its power, to discredit Pakatan Harapan. We know that, and they (Umno-Baru) know it, too. The three "Rs" (race, religion, royalty) are used as their modus operandi to destabilise Harapan.
Umno-Baru still fails to understand that this is the new Malaysia, where there are no Malays, Indians, Chinese, Orang Asli or East Malaysians. We are all Malaysians, the loyal subjects of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. There is no cherry picking of who can, or cannot, be a ruler's subject.
Kadir regularly posts articles which are thought-provoking. It is up to the reader to judge the merits of what he writes and to question it.
If it is claimed that he erred in his estimation of the money which the Agong had spent, his critics should request him to prove the veracity of his source. And if he was wrong, they should provide the actual figures.
Knowledge of the news can be scant
To the average Malaysian, whose knowledge of the news can be scant and patchy, Kadir's exposé of the royals would raise many eyebrows. Some may even consider the write-up to be seditious.
Seditious, perhaps, for people who are ultra-sensitive, and who are not used to reading articles which exercise the brain. Surely, in the new Malaysia, one should not be allowed to return to the dark days of Umno-Baru, when thoughts were censored.
For those who are unaware, two days after Malaysians went to the polls in GE-14, Mahathir, as prime minister, formed a group of "eminent" people to advise the government.
Their expertise, in their respective fields, is crucial to the research and preparation of papers for the cabinet, during the setting-up of the various ministries. The Council of Eminent Persons will remain no longer than the 100 days, which Harapan said would be required to implement its manifesto.
Anwar Ibrahim's dig at Kadir did not do him any favour, and somewhat dented his reputation. Has he forgotten his familiar catch-phrases of meritocracy, accountability, transparency, integrity, democracy and freedom of speech?
He may, or may not, be aware, as he was in prison at the time, but in the early hours of the morning of May 10, when it was clear that Harapan had won, the Election Commission was still reluctant to announce Harapan as the winner. Meanwhile, Najib, who was holed-up in his fortress in Langgak Duta, surrounded by his inner circle, and was in denial and disbelief.
Malaysians wanted to see their new PM, Mahathir, sworn in, so he could start work rebuilding Malaysia. However, it was a good 20 hours before the swearing-in ceremony started.
The rakyat should not be blamed for their impatience and concern. Sixty-one years and the unwarranted 20 additional hours is a very long wait.
The Malaysian public knows that the PM runs the show. The Agong merely rubber stamps his decrees. This is stated in the Malaysian Constitution.
People now more aware of their rights
In the new Malaysia, people are more aware of their rights. They demand to know how their taxpayers' money is spent. Will it be spent on a needy rural clinic, or another Umno-Baru mega-project and white elephant? Is it wrong for them to demand answers and scrutinise the itemised bill?
Education is a good leveller of people. With education, people will learn about the roles of the government, royalty and we, the people, in nation-building.
Umno-Baru will attempt a come-back, but even today they cannot decide on whether to be a multi-racial or a "Malay only" party.
They used the three "Rs" to divide the nation, and in GE-14 the people rejected them. Sadly, Umno-Baru failed to recognise the most important fourth "R" - the rakyat.
Umno-Baru and some other groups of people in Malaysia claim to protect the interest of the Malays and safeguard Islam. In the end, they failed to protect all of Malaysia from corrupt politicians and extremist Muslims. So, why should the rakyat believe them?
Be vigilant, because there will be more attempts by Umno-Baru to destabilise Harapan. We do not want to have busted our guts, shed blood, sweat and tears, but fail to change Malaysia for the better.
Kadir did the right thing. Freed from his shackles, he can promote more incisive and thought-provoking articles to make us think harder.
After all, why should we leave all the work to Dr Mahathir and his cabinet? Forming the new Malaysia is a team effort and we should not leave all the hard work to them.
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