Bersatu is becoming more and more like Umno 2.0, warns Ambiga

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is worthy of praise for his efforts to combat corruption, according to Ambiga Sreenevasan, but she is nonetheless wary that his party Bersatu is becoming 'Umno 2.0'.

Speaking at the Democracy Fest 2019 in Kuala Lumpur today, the former Institutional Reforms Committee member lauded Mahathir for establishing the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP).

"Some good moves have been made where the prime minister is concerned. He is genuine about fighting corruption with the rollout of the NACP. There are changes and the narratives have changed," she said.

However, Ambiga believes that his leadership of Bersatu paints an entirely different picture.

"When it comes to Bersatu, to me it is looking more and more like Umno 2.0."

Ambiga cited two examples – Mahathir's seeming lack of concern over Bersatu leaders proffering controversial ideas, and allowing them to get away with questionable academic certificates.

"You have one of the vice-presidents saying that they believe the government should give them contracts, and he (Mahathir) did not dismiss that statement to the immediate effect. 

"To me, that is a problem, because he had actually encouraged corruption (in that instance)," she said, in a veiled reference to Bersatu vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, who mooted using government resources for partisan ends.

"All division chiefs should be given activities so that they can have the opportunity to defend their divisions," Rashid said during the party's annual general assembly last December.

Ambiga also noted that leaders allegedly lying about their academic qualifications is a huge issue.

"A lot of people said it's a small issue. To me, it's a huge issue. 

"Because when you lie about that, you can lie about anything," she said, adding that these figures were allowed to carry on with their duties without being questioned by other Pakatan Harapan leaders.

Rule of law

Ambiga, the former Bersih chairperson, also took aim at leaders fond of using the expression 'rule of law' without apparently understanding what it means.

"Everyone is talking about the rule of law. Politicians today say 'rule of law' a lot. I am not sure if they entirely understand the difference between rule of law and rule by law.

"Once they understand the crucial distinction, then we are getting somewhere," she said.

Ambiga said that it will take time before Malaysians truly understand what the rule of law means.

"When you look at the ordinary Malaysians on the street, they are more concerned with bread and butter issues than those pertaining to the rule of law, without realising that the latter is more critical than the former," she said. - Mkini