Former PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali believes that Anwar Ibrahim deserves a shot at leading the nation and that, while it is a potentially fractious time, there is also reason to be cautiously optimistic about the future.
“Anwar deserves this position. He has waited very long.
“In fact, he was obstructed by some leaders who feared that their corruption would be exposed,” Syed Husin told Malaysiakini.
He said Anwar is not stepping into an easy situation.
“There are three important programmes which he has to tackle. He has to improve economic conditions for the people, especially by overcoming poverty and reducing the cost of living.
“He has to work towards the establishment of national unity and he must set about destroying corruption,” Syed Husin (above) added.
While there is euphoria among the PKR president’s supporters, it must be acknowledged that the party has had to grapple with internal disunity in the past.
Also, those who hope for a lot of progressive reforms must realise Anwar does not have a strong mandate to make sweeping changes, noted Syed Husin.
The former academic was detained under ISA along with Anwar following protests by farmers and students in 1974.
He accepts that this is a time of growing polarisation with PAS now the single largest party in Parliament.
“I am confident Anwar will be able to control the trends towards racial and religious extremism as well as divisiveness.
“It also helps that Umno will be part of the new government and cannot play the extreme racial line now,” said Syed Husin who was formerly president of Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) from 1990 to 2003 until it merged with Parti Keadilan Nasional to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Syed Husin contested three Dewan Rakyat elections in the 1990s but lost each time before going on to serve in the Dewan Negara for two terms from 2009 to 2015.
He said it is a positive message for the future that the prime minister hails from a multi-racial party for the very first time.
“I think it is an important step. I hope Malaysians will use this to finally overcome the baggage of racial and religious political parties,” he added. - Mkini
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