Anwar must now step up and prove his worth

 

Congratulations to Anwar Ibrahim on being appointed prime minister. As the English saying goes, every dog has its day, meaning everyone will be successful or lucky at some point in their life.

It’s fitting that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who put Anwar through his trial and tribulations, ended up losing his deposit when contesting the Langkawi seat. It signifies the closing of one era of mixed legacies and the opening of a new era – of spiritual renewal and “reformasi”.

Malaysia would not be that hard to govern and progress if politicians would discard their penchant for using racial and religious matters to consolidate their power and also satisfying their greed through corruption.

Pakatan Harapan was given a chance to clean up Malaysia in 2018. It has now been given the opportunity for a second bite of the cherry, through a unity government. For far too long Malaysia has succumbed to Umno warlords, political Islam and identity politics, hampering progress and driving away foreign investors.

Some leaders like former prime minister Muhyddin Yassin are still defiant despite the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s advice to form a unity government. Muhyiddin’s selfishness is a reflection of his immaturity and what’s wrong with Malaysian politics today — the feeling of self-entitlement.

The “I” has to stop and “we the people” must be in every phrase and discussion going forward.

The people who gave politicians their mandate did not give political leaders of the various blocs the right to carve out Malaysia for their own personal benefit. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong was right to follow the democratic convention that the party with the most seats should be given the first bite of the cherry.

Perikatan Nasional should acknowledge that democratic convention and follow the Westminster model that the prime minister’s support should only be tested in the Dewan Rakyat.

Our politicians need to grow up and stop running to the Agong to resolve their political disputes, and then later complain about interference from Istana Negara. Even my late mother had always told me to resolve matters among ourselves when I quarrelled with my siblings. Bless her soul.

Looking at it another way, it’s the warring political leaders who forced the Agong to perhaps go beyond the call of duty to break the impasse in order to preserve Malaysia’s economy and racial harmony.

For that, Malaysians have to be thankful to the Agong and our security forces for keeping us safe from the negative elements that threatened the country during the political struggle between the various blocs.

Voters should now be asking every elected representative whether they are representing their constituents or themselves. This is to make sure that the MPs and assembly members understand that they are to serve the people and not their own benefit, with the hope of getting ministerial posts or some plum positions in government-linked companies.

One can argue that a two-party system like in the UK or US will be more governable compared to Malaysia’s current situation where parties form blocs or factions within parties. The party-hopping law has come at the right time, preventing horse-trading or buying up rival candidates to some extent. Money politics is still evident based on video recordings on social media platforms.

Anwar has been prime minister-in-waiting for so long. It’s time for him to step up and prove his worth. The unity goodwill has already been initiated by DAP leaders who have apologised to the Sarawak leaders for degrading remarks made in the past.

Perhaps Abdul Hadi Awang of PAS can also apologise for his bigoted views about people of other races and religions and assure fellow Malaysians that PAS will not push for an Islamic state and will preserve Malaysia as a secular nation with Islam as the official religion. Failure to do so will alienate Sabah and Sarawak.

Being the party with the most parliamentary seats will mean nothing if you start to impose mundane things like dress codes, separating men from women in public spaces, banning concerts and alcohol, and limiting the freedom of the people making personal choices.

This is the time for PAS to show benevolent Islam and revive the Islamic civilisation through tolerance and respecting other races and religions.

The 60th anniversary of Malaysia’s founding comes next year. Malaysia was formed not for people of one particular race or religion, but for all who love and believe in the founding vision of a united Malaysia under one flag.

Nelson Mandela, after having been jailed for 27 years, managed to put aside all his emotion and anger with the apartheid regime when he became South Africa’s president.

Anwar spent nearly a decade in prison. To build a more harmonious Malaysia, he can similarly set up a committee of truth and reconciliation as South Africa did. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.