Veteran journalist Abdul Kadir Jasin said he views the idea of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wielding significant executive power to be a terrifying prospect.
Commenting on the formation of the current government, he said Anwar justified appointing people facing court cases, such as Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, using the “innocent until proven guilty” argument.
“Our concern is that the argument will become a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’. Meaning, the person using the argument may want his opinion to come true.
“And as prime minister, Anwar (above, right) has enough executive power to make what he wants to happen (actually happen). A terrifying prospect,” he claimed in a post on Facebook today.
Ironically, Kadir (above, left) was viewed as a staunch supporter of ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose iron-fisted rule involved the closure of newspapers and detention of political opponents without trial.
Mahathir did this while commanding an overwhelming majority in the Dewan Rakyat, a much more dominant position than the one Anwar occupies now.
Kadir, a former group editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times Press (NSTP), was also appointed as Mahathir’s special advisor on media and communications in 2018.
He said whatever government is led by Tambun MP Anwar, good characteristics should be prioritised instead of an unbalanced government in terms of party representation or the selection of problematic characters as ministers.
“The losers are appointed ministers. The winners are sidelined. Injustice can dissolve goodwill and unity.
“The unity government, coalition government, or whatever name is given, not only must satisfy the prime minister, the ministers and their supporters, but it must have integrity,” he explained.
Kadir said the government should satisfy or at least appease the feelings of the 14.82 million ordinary people who went out to vote.
“Unfortunately, on the grounds of the unity government, the controversial appointment that was avoided by the governments of Muhyiddin Yasin and Ismail Sabri Yaakob was made,” in an apparent reference to Zahid’s new post of deputy prime minister.
In addition, Anwar also holds the finance minister portfolio, although that move was criticised by Pakatan Harapan during the administration of Najib Abdul Razak. - Mkini
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