We now live in a post-normal world, believes PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
Once a proponent of free trade, the US now touts protectionism. In contrast, communist China now champions free trade, he juxtaposed.
“A friend of mine, a political scientist joked that even in Malaysia, the decision of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim to work together was also not normal,” he said to applause from the audience when speaking at the Al Sharq Youth Conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
Anwar said the decision to join hands with his former political nemesis in the 14th general election had been based on the common realisation of the need to stem endemic corruption and the destruction of institutions under BN.
“And it was also (based on a) commitment to support the reform agenda. It’s not just (about) toppling the old order, which can be popular,” he said.
Anwar pointed to how the previous regime changes in the world - the French Revolution, India’s independence from the British and the end of the apartheid in South Africa - had resulted in further marginalisation of the poor.
The prime-minister-in-waiting thus stressed that for any reform to last, it needed to be enjoyed by all sectors of society, particularly the poor.
“Those of us who believe in this reform and a need to change [...] must always remember that commitment to effect change must remain consistent.
“(And it) must be well understood appreciated and supported by the young,” he added.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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