How exactly should we view the Melaka 4?

 

From Clement Stanley

Unbelievable!

That is how I view the statement by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim attempting to defend the actions of the four former assemblymen responsible for the collapse of the Melaka state government.

They withdrew support for then chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali, which led to the dissolution of the state assembly.

And now, the people of Melaka are encouraged to turn out in force to elect a government of their choice despite the spectre of Covid-19.

Anwar declared that the action of the Melaka four was different from that of the “traitors” involved in the Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

He would have us believe that Idris Haron, Nor Azman Hassan, Noor Effendi Ahmad and Norhizam Hassan Baktee are doing the “honourable” thing of wanting the mandate given to the PH government in GE14 to be returned to the coalition, which is now in the opposition.

If this is the case, then Anwar must tell us why the DAP has insisted that Norhizam, who was the DAP assemblyman for Pengkalan Batu, should not be fielded as a candidate in the coming state election.

Didn’t Norhizam do this so that the DAP along with PKR and Amanah can reclaim the state government?

Going by Anwar’s logic, Norhizam should be praised for his bold decision to withdraw his support for Sulaiman and be given a hero’s reception by PH. Right?

Instead, he is being spurned and told he is unwelcome in the PH and that he cannot be fielded as a PH candidate. So what is what I ask? Can anyone explain this?

Anwar says these assemblymen cannot be viewed as “traitors” under the current circumstances.

But what does one make of PH which signed a historic bipartisan agreement with the government led by Ismail Sabri Yaakob of Umno to pave the way for political stability and institutional reforms on Sept 13?

With the signing of the bipartisan agreement being applicable to the running of the country,  PH conceded that the politics of consultation is far better than the politics of confrontation. It was signed in the interest of the people and the nation, we were told.

It is pointless therefore for the likes of P Ramasamy of the DAP to declare that Budget 2022 “ignored PH’s MoU” with the government. You know the score and if barking for the sake of barking is a futile exercise, then don’t bother to bark.

Let the “political stability and institutional reforms” agreement run its course. That is what you signed for. That is what you get. - FMT

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.