Five words that can save the nation... and Dr M

In September 1998, you created conspiracies and fitnah to sack and jail your deputy, Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar had to suffer six years behind bars, not including the eight months that you ordered for him to be put in jail during the course of the trial, even before the court had a verdict.

I didn't know both of you back then, but as a human, I cannot accept the manner Anwar was treated by you. The torture and humiliation suffered by Anwar and his family because of your deed were unbearable.

Fast forward, just before the formation of Pakatan Harapan in June 2016, you went to see Anwar (above) for the first time since your inhumane treatment of him.

At that time, Anwar was serving a second jail sentence because Najib Abdul Razak's administration used your original script to imprison Anwar again after he was released during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's time in 2014. The meeting took place in a courtroom and continued at the witness room inside the building.

The agenda was clear: to invite Anwar to join you to create a bigger force in order to topple BN. You knew you did not have enough strength to do it alone.

During that time, Anwar had two choices: First, to take full vengeance and tell straight to your face that he had suffered enough because of you and he would not consider supporting a conspirator like you.

Or second, to put personal interests aside and focus on a bigger picture, joining hands with you in order to save the nation. And that was exactly what Anwar did, with a gentlemen's agreement and trust that you will hand over the prime ministership to him within a two year period. The rakyat gave full support to this partnership assuming that it will bring reform.

When you came into power in May 2018, not only did you not honour the agreement, you also did everything in your power to weaken Anwar. You spited PKR by empowering Anwar's rivals in the party by giving them powerful ministership. You even created new ministries for them to strengthen the faction.

May 2020 is the time that you were supposed to hand over the PM's seat to Anwar. But months prior to that, you came up with many excuses to stay longer in power, until the coup d'état dubbed as "Sheraton Move" (below) came.  

Now under Perikatan Nasional, we have what I describe as the weakest government in our history - the government with no directions or agendas, full of incompetent and unqualified ministers. Not to mention the entertainers with ideas of air suam (warm water), Doraemon and Tik Tok.

Politically, PN is a very fragile coalition, with very marginal numbers of MPs in Parliament. There is an open secret that you will push for a vote of no confidence in the next Parliament sitting to topple PN. 

Rumour has it, though, that if this (topple) happened you would still want to be the PM for the third time. I hope this information is not true. How many more years do you want to cling on to power?

You should know that after the Sheraton Move, majority of the rakyat who used to support you are already extremely furious at you. Some do not believe a single word you say anymore. Your credibility is now at the bottom of the drain.

May I ask, at 95 years of age, why do you still want to be the PM? Why can't you let Anwar lead and be a PM? Why are you so afraid of or worry about Anwar or having a lack of confidence in him?

Is this not the Anwar who was regarded as the best finance minister in 1996 by the international monetary organisation when he was the finance minister during your first tenure?

Is this not the Anwar who received international recognitions from highly respected figures across the globe such as Kofi Annan, Erdogan or Al Gore?

Is this not the Anwar who gathered support from top Islamic scholars such as Taha Jabir Al-Alwani or Yusuf al-Qaradawi (to name a few from a long list from each category)?

Instead, what I keep hearing from you from time to time is that Anwar is not the right person, that Anwar is incapable. Why don't you give him a chance to prove his mettle and let we, the rakyat, judge? Not you.

Tun, let's think about the nation, rather than your personal agendas and ego. PN is very weak and in a mess, directionless and has no clear plan of the economy. 

This is disastrous to the nation. You still have your last chance to save the country and your damaged credibility. What you need to say is just in five words: "I support Anwar as PM."

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ZUNAR (real name Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque) is a prominent cartoonist. - Mkini