Real 'harapan' with Rafizi's Bersama?

 

PKR is more concerned about proof of when Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad joined Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) than proof of whether MACC was involved in the “corporate mafia” exposed by Bloomberg.

Nor are they interested in video proof, claiming that Anwar Ibrahim’s former aide had taken dark money to stash in Africa.

Those two examples probably sum up why we need “real reform” rather than the stale version called “refor-basi”.

I was a supporter of Anwar and PKR, believing they would bring real change. I went to their ceramahs despite the rainy weather. But after over three years in power, many, including myself, have become disillusioned with them.

Many Pakatan Harapan core supporters, especially the non-Malays, are angry that the prime minister has largely allowed racial hate speech to run free, instead of enforcing existing laws against such provocations.

We feel taken for granted, as the cynical calculation has been that we have nobody else to vote for, since PAS is worse. Meanwhile, DAP is a Dilemma Action Party caught between reform demands and Malay racial politics.

But now, Rafizi has launched Bersama, which offers a real alternative for all races. To use the lingo of cowboy movies, there’s a “new sheriff” in town.

Sky-high medical insurance

Hot racial issues have grabbed attention, but I am more worried about the creep and creepiness of big money on government policy. For example, why is medical insurance skyrocketing under the Madani government?

An overview in The Edge summed up the sad situation: government officials, private hospitals and insurance companies all blame each other. Hospitals point to insurers’ higher profits. Insurers accuse hospitals of jacking up bills. Both blame “global medical cost inflation”.

Doctors have told me that even if some of their colleagues want to be honest, private hospitals pressure them to “boost revenue” with KPI’s on ordering MRIs, CT scans etc.

Given such profiteering, we expect Putrajaya to step in as a guardian of public interest. But what if health industry towkays have made “political donations” to influence policy?

This is notorious in the United States, where big health corporations have given huge legal bribes called “campaign contributions” to ensure that medical bills stay sky high.

But surely, such a disease has not affected our “highly moral” Madani government?

Well, let’s see. A law was proposed to stop the sale of cigarettes and vapes to youths born after Jan 1, 2007. Yet, the deputy health minister admitted that lobbying by the tobacco industry killed this proposal.

Money politics

Umno is infamous for money politics, but it may have infected PKR too. Rafizi revealed there is a culture of “kepit beg duit bawah ketiak” (clutching a money bag under the armpit) when going round to buy support.

To combat this disease, he explained that Bersama will be the first party with a constitution where leadership must be based on merit and hard work, not goodies given out.

But there is a “deep state” in Malaysia of powerful vested interests which is resistant to change. Can that be overcome?

Perhaps that’s why Bersama has announced a rather modest 12-point agenda that includes free preschools for children, more government doctors to reduce waiting times and improvements in education.

These are technocratic issues and won’t really dethrone the deep state, but the 12 points will really help people. So, it's doable.

I believe Bersama has competent and committed leaders to achieve this – unlike our education minister, who rushed to start “Pendidikan Karakter” after cases of school rapes and bullying.

But can Bersama even win? Rafizi has said they are on a “kamikaze mission”, and it doesn’t matter if they all lose.

For me, what’s crucial is that we finally have a party to pressure Harapan to do more progressive reforms, rather than bending over backwards to please Umno, which has betrayed Madani in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

Kingmakers in hung Parliament?

Rafizi, Nik Nazmi and eight other PKR MPs in his camp already have 10 seats. This number could swell because the huge group called Pamu (Parti Aku Malas Undi ie non-voters) was 24 percent of the electorate in 2022.

They could be energised to go to the polls and drive Bersama to victory in say 15 to 25 mixed seats.

This will put the party in a “kingmaker’s position” because the next elections are not expected to have a clear winner, given the multi-cornered fights involving Umno/BN, Harapan, PAS and Bersatu, which has “berpecah” (broken up) with Hamzah Zainudin’s faction.

In that scenario, Bersama can insist that any coalition they join must do certain reforms, just as small groups like the Green Party of Germany have done. The party would live up to its kancil or mousedeer logo of outwitting bigger opponents.

If DAP decides to walk out of the Madani government at their upcoming July congress, they may want to ask: do they want to sink with a tainted Anwar? Or find alternatives?

Some people say Rafizi is clever but arrogant. But I prefer “sincere sombong” to “charming cunning”. Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was also arrogant, but he got the job done.

Half of Malaysians are under 31. But the leaders of PAS, PKR and Bersatu are all around 79 years old. Will they take short-term moves to stay in power, without bothering about future problems after they have passed on?

The ultimate dream is of a new wave to sweep away our worn-out politics. The launch of Bersama focused on Gen Z, Gen Alpha and new solutions.

Rafizi himself has cited how voters who wanted true change have propelled various reformists to surprising victories over the status quo. These include Zohran Mamdani in New York, Move Forward in Thailand and recently, Joseph Vijay’s TVK party in Tamil Nadu.

Do we dare to dream of something bigger than voting for the “least bad” option? - Mkini

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ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.