'Dr M as PM again is a betrayal to Reformasi supporters'

For nearly two decades, a generation of students, professionals, educated middle-class, right to the average man in the streets, have believed and supported the Reformasi movement initiated by Anwar Ibrahim when he was expelled as the deputy prime minister after a fall out with former premier  Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

They have braved themselves, travelled miles, risked their safety and security to join massive street demonstrations. They have taken to the streets to face tear gas, chemical-laced water and bludgeons, and multiple arrests (some even carrying their near infant children with them) in the belief that their sacrifices will be able to bring much needed social, political and economic reforms to the nation.

For the very first time, the country saw the Malays, Chinese and Indians, fight together against the preferential treatment of cronies, the use of state funds to bail out prominent conglomerates and the lack of transparency under the perceived “tyrant” rule of Mahathir.

Many leaders and supporters were also locked up, arrested and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for participating in the movement, in the belief that this multi-racial unity and uprising of the middle class will end all abuse by the group of elitist lead by Mahathir and cronies, who had manipulated the political and administrative system to their favour.

Slogans such as “Undur Mahathir”, "Mahazalim", "Mahafiraun" etc were used to drum up support to end the 22 years of authoritarian rule under the Mahathir regime.

Muslims NGOs such as ABIM put aside racial and religious divide in an ideological call for reform against the multiple mega scandals and abuses of power by the much hated and resented Mahathir regime.

The Reformasi movement was seen as an iota of hope to bring reform based on values and social justice and Anwar was seen as the “Renaissance Man”.

The desire for reform and social justice was a natural political calling for these largely idealistic youngsters and educated middle class who had craved for a cleaner political and administrative system for the future of the nation.

Many have broken out from the comfort zone of their homes, campus and workplaces in the belief that their sacrifices would suffice to bring about the much-desired change to a political-legal system that has been destroyed by Mahathir’s rule.

To these believers, it is not about Anwar alone but a means and an opportunity to end the two-decade rule of Mahathir, a man much hated and feared by politicians, judges, government servants etc.

Now after two decades and lots of murky water having flowed under the bridges, things have changed! Suddenly there is an air of despair and a sense of having been cheated when Pakatan Rakyat, which was founded on the people’s movement referred to as “Reformasi”, was changed to Pakatan Harapan to accommodate Mahathir’s racist party Bersatu.

The People’s Pact (Pakatan Rakyat) has suddenly been changed to a Pact of Hope (Pakatan Harapan). It sounds more like a “pack” of hope for Mahathir and Anwar. What about the rakyat’s hope?

Adding insult to injury, Mahathir was made the chairperson of the transformed opposition front.

Either Mahathir has been transformed or he is now a Transformer.

As if Mahathir’s self-proclamation that he is the top dog in the newly minted Harapan is not enough, now sources have conveniently leaked to the public that the man is now the nominee for the premiership in the event Harapan wins the coming election.

Is this an attempt to test the market? It was strategically revealed that the political bureau on Dec 19 had reached an agreement that Mahathir will be the prime minister again. In a further surprise to the people, it was revealed that this time Mahathir is not going to jail Anwar but instead he has agreed to release Anwar from jail.

Isn’t this pushing the Reformasi babies a little too far to the corner?

The reformist movement is a calling and a desire of the people and not about the political charades of two “old men”.

The nation had gone topsy-turvy for decades as a result of the political games of these two old men who had manipulated the rakyat.

Will this paradoxical gambit spell the end of Anwar and Mahathir politically? Isn’t it about time they should make way for younger more credible politicians with less political and personal baggage? Will these latest political trade-offs be the final straw that breaks the camel’s back?

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TI LIAN KER is the chairperson of the MCA Religious Harmony Bureau.- Mkini