Back to square one after the heady days of Harapan rule

The people are angry, very angry. The political drama that unfolded before their eyes is not something that they would want to cheer. It is disheartening to see that a government elected by the people has been betrayed.

The will of the people was expressly made known when they voted for Pakatan Harapan in 2018. They rejected the BN because its leaders had failed them during their long years in power.

Even at that time, the people were kept on edge, not knowing whether BN would relinquish its seat or whether the palace would call the old doctor to take his oath of office. The suspense finally ended when the baton was handed over to the rightful victor.

The nation breathed easily and the people went back to their daily life secured in the knowledge that the country is now in good hands. Harapan did all the right things: putting on trial all those leaders charged with serious crimes, and fulfilling many promises laid out in its uplifting manifesto.

Just when the people thought all's well with Harapan came this sudden storm. All were caught up in the tale of political intrigue as the various actors played out their game of one-upmanship.

One moment there was a glimmer of hope: Harapan is still intact despite all this conspiracy and skulduggery going on. Then gloom: Harapan is finished, and with that democracy went out of the window.

Who's to blame for the downfall of Harapan? Some would point the fingers at Dr Mahathir Mohamad for acting rashly. Some would stare at Anwar Ibrahim for pushing for his turn to reign. Others would glare at Azmin Ali for wrecking his own party. Many would also upbraid Muhyiddin Yassin for pulling the rug under Harapan. Yet some others would declaim it is the palace that had played a major role.

History has been reversed and now Malaysia is back to square one. All the sweat and toil that went into the making of a new Malaysia have gone to waste, with the bad guys poised to return on the coattails of the new prime minister.

There is nothing much the people can do except to wait for events to unfold in the coming months. They can only watch in horror or in joy how the new boss is going to tackle all the issues that can make or break the country.

Muhyiddin was tapped on the shoulder to form the new government, but the fact remains that he is in Putrajaya without a mandate from the voters. It will be difficult for him to concentrate on his job, given that he is seen as having betrayed Harapan.

Can Muhyiddin then heal the wounds and be a prime minister for all Malaysians? Will he be Malaysian first and Malay second? Or will he run to Umno and PAS to garner support for sensitive policies?

Many disturbing questions will swirl in the minds of the people as the dust settles. It is up to Muhyiddin to dispel the suspicion and doubts about his style of leadership.

The reality has yet to sink that the alliance of hope is no more. This great movement was not given a ghost of a chance to prove its worth because politicians were more interested in themselves than in the country.

The change of government did not spark off massive jubilation. Instead, there is a deep sense of outrage over the way the whole affair had been managed. The voters do not deserve this treatment.

It will be tough for Muhyiddin to win the respect of the people because as far as they are concerned, he entered the prime minister's office not on a tide of popular acclaim but through the palace door.

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PHLIP RODRIGUES is a retired journalist. - Mkini