In Anwar, political secretary sees hope for a Malaysia for Malaysians

INTERVIEW | Like most PKR politicians, the 1998 sacking of Anwar Ibrahim was a pivotal moment for Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak (above).

Just 16 at the time, Farhash recalls travelling from Perak with his grandfather, a PAS member, to Anwar's home in Kuala Lumpur.

"There I saw him gave his speech, and that's when the seed was planted," he told Malaysiakini in a recent interview.

But it wasn't just Anwar's charisma that resonated with Farhash who became part of the PKR president's team nine years later in 2007. There was also something deeply personal.

"I'm very much Malay, but my father is not Malay. I saw how the system, the economic policy was not very fair towards him.

"He was a very hardworking man, he had a factory but the system broke him.He had to take in so-called Umno politicians or Umno muscle into the company and they played him out and it broke him down.

"So I believed in Anwar's needs-based policy approach [...] it gave me hope for a Malaysia for Malaysians," he said.

Farhash said the PKR president had been advocating for this since the 1970s during his days with the Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) which he noted was unprecedented for the time.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said that the Pakatan Harapan government will introduce policies based on the principle of "shared prosperity".

Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has also called for an end to bumiputera-centric economic policies, shifting instead to needs-based policies.

Farhash, who is Anwar's political secretary, believes this shift will come to fruition when his boss becomes prime minister.

"We want to get rid of all this segregationist politics. We want a Malaysia for all Malaysians.

"I think the person who has been consistent on this is Anwar, and I believe this will only come about when he is prime minister," he said.

While he personally wants Anwar to become prime minister now, Farhash said the PKR president is in no rush to replace Mahathir.

"My boss is a very relaxed person, regardless of whatever people think [...] that he is rushing. He is not rushing.

"He is enjoying his time with his family, friends, rebuilding the party, parliamentary reforms etcetera. He is not in a rush at all," he said.

He said the transition will happen after Mahathir's two years in office or when the rakyat feels it is time for Anwar to take over.

In the meantime, Farhash urged the executive branch to communicate more with the public and for government parties to discuss issues that are potentially divisive.

This, he said, is to avoid mistakes from happening.

He said this when asked to comment on the backlash the government has faced over issues such as the introduction of khat lessons for the Bahasa Malaysia primary school syllabus and the botched plan to ratify treaties such as the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd). - Mkini