WAKE UP, DR MAHATHIR – FOR WHAT DO MALAYSIANS WANT YOU TO STAY ON AS PM? YOU’RE ALREADY BACK TO YOUR OLD TRICKS – TRYING TO HCLING ONTO TO PM’S POST RATHER THAN FOCUS ON NATION-BUILDING: GROUNDSWELL TO GIVE ANWAR A CHANCE GROWS BIGGER – DESPITE DR M TRYING TO PRE-EMPT CALLS TO STEP DOWN BY SHUTTING ANWAR OUT FROM CABINET, THREATENING TO ACT AGAINST HIS OWN BERSATU LEADERS WHO DARE TO CRITICIZE PAKATAN’S LACK OF DIRECTION UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP

After Pakatan Harapan’s victory last year, I was absolutely confident that my observations running up to Hari Merdeka, year after year, would be positive.

I envisioned writing about a government that kept its electoral promises, was people-friendly, focused on nipping the cost of living, worked at actually increasing minimum wages, revamped the country’s education system, promote inclusivity and the list doesn’t stop here.

After all, many of the former Opposition leaders, who currently make up the cabinet membership and were elected to Parliament, risked everything to speak truth to power.

But on the eve of Independence Day, I realise how naive this thinking was.

Today, we are not the champions of the people. In fact, people are livid and feel betrayed.

And if another general election is called now, chances are we will lose Putrajaya.

I remember May 9, 2018, as if it happened yesterday. I can still feel the euphoria of the people, who had peacefully overthrown a dictatorship government.

And more importantly, I can still hear the pulse of the people, who believed in Pakatan Harapan; who believed we will bring about the promised reforms.

But unfortunately, just a little over a year of electing us, the rakyat feel they have swapped a corrupt regime with an authoritarian government.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is adamant about a national car while Entrepreneur Development Minister, Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, is focused on a flying car project.

A total of RM 980, according to the government, doesn’t reflect poverty although this means a family of four will have eight ringgit to spend, a day.

And we wonder why the people, who voted us into power, wouldn’t feel cheated.

But despite all of this, just like everyone else, I too tinkered with the tiny flash of hope. That, however, was dashed on Thursday, when Mahathir gave a ridiculous explanation for not making space for PKR leader, Anwar Ibrahim, in a new cabinet.

The premier’s words only go to show that we are more focused on holding on to power rather than nation-building.

I am privy to the whispers on the ground. People are now willing to give Anwar a chance, fearing Mahathir is back to his old tricks.

In short, the whispers that are growing louder by the day say that Pakatan Harapan is doing everything except governing the country, in line with the aspirations of the people and its manifesto.

However bleak this reads, it’s still not the time to despair. And certainly, not the time to give up on a young government irrespective of how angry and frustrated we may be.

It’s a time to help shape the new government in the interests of its people. We have a collective responsibility in helping the Pakatan Harapan government to wake up.

We can all take pride in the fact that we haven’t given up and won’t stop trying to make Malaysia a better place for everyone.

Let’s stand up and be counted. This Merdeka, let’s stand up for Malaysia and raise voices against bad governance and poorly thought out policies.

Let’s engage the PH leadership and cabinet members, including governmental institutions, in order to create a better Malaysia.

Let’s play a part in engaging the government on living wages, quality jobs and job security, inequality, to address the cost of living issues, enable small and medium industries and manage environmental degradation.

Therefore, on Saturday lets celebrate the fact that the power is in the hands of the people. And that they are free to make choices and decisions that will benefit themselves, their future generations and the country.

Even if it means giving Pakatan Harapan the red card at the next polls.

Charles Santiago

Member of Parliament Klang

 

国庆日2019：庆祝马来西亚人之声

当希盟在去年大选创下辉煌的胜利，我对接下来每一个国庆日都很有信心，相信一年会比一年好。

我设想我会写一个坚持竞选宣言的政府，是对人民友好的，专注于降低生活成本，努力提高最低工资， 改革国家的教育体系，促进各族之间的包容性和不断的努力让国家变得跟好。

毕竟，许多前反对派领导人现在是内阁成员并被选为国会议员，他们冒着一切风险说实话。但是在国庆日的前夕，我意识到这种想法是多么天真。

今天，我们不是人民的捍卫者。事实上，人们都很生气，感觉被背叛。

如果现在召开另一次大选，我们有很大可能会失去布城。我对509还记忆犹新。我仍然可以感受到和平推翻前朝政府的人民的兴奋。

更重要的是，我仍然可以听到人民相信希盟; 也相信我们会实现改革的承诺。但不幸的是，仅仅一年多的时间，人民就觉得他们选了一个专制政府替代一个腐败的前朝政府。

首相马哈迪坚持创办第三国产车，而企业发展部长莫哈末礼端则表示生产飞行车。

根据政府的说法，一个家庭月入980令吉不反映贫困，尽管这意味着一个四口之家每天只可以花费8令吉。

然而我们想知道为什么那些投票给我们的人民感到受骗。

就像其他人一样，我感到还有一丝希望。 然而，星期四，马哈迪在一个新的内阁中没有为人民公正党主席安华腾出位置，这是一个荒谬的解释。

首相的话只是表明我们更注重权力而不是国家建设。我了解人民之间的对话。人们愿意给安华一个机会，担心马哈迪回到他的老把戏。

简而言之，日益响亮的人民心声说，希盟什么都在做除了符合人民的愿望及其竞选宣言的治国。现在还不是绝望的时候。

当然，也不是放弃这个年轻的政府的时候，不管我们有多生气和沮丧。我们有责任帮助希盟政府苏醒，并且告诉他们现在是应该进行符合人民利益的政策了。

我们都感到自豪的是，我们没有放弃，也不会停止努力让马来西亚成为更好的地方。

这个国庆日，支持马来西亚，并提出反对治理不善和不周到的政策。让我们与希盟领导层和内阁成员，包括政府机构合作，以创造一个更好的马来西亚。

我们是时候提醒政府专注在提高生活和工资，高质的工作和工作保障，减低不平等，解决生活成本问题，促进中小型工业和管理退化中的环境。

这周六让我们庆祝权力掌握在人民手中。 他们可以自由地做出有益于自己，后代和国家的选择和决定。即使这意味着在下次选举中给希盟红牌。

查尔斯·圣地亚哥