We can count on Nurul Izzah to do the right thing

 

From Nehru Sathiamoorthy

While we cannot celebrate Nurul Izzah Anwar’s resignation, for it is no achievement, we are glad to hear that she has retreated after briefly crossing the unwritten line.

As Malaysians, we have our way. We might not have fully defined it, but it is there. Our way tells us that if you own your own company, you are free to do as you please. But if you are our prime minister, what you do must be consistent with our standards.

If Donald Trump wants to elect Jared Kushner, his son-in-law, as his special adviser, the Americans might be able to accept it, because that might be the American way. But by our standards, Anwar Ibrahim choosing Nurul Izzah as an adviser is not consistent with our way.

We should not disrespect the transgression of Nurul Izzah and Anwar by calling it the result of some inadvertence.

We have heard enough from Anwar and Nurul Izzah over the years to know that they surely knew better.

All we can remark about this regrettable episode is that we understand the reason behind this transgression.

It is not always the case that what is right to do is aligned with our self-interest. Don’t we all struggle to do the right thing when our self-interest is on the line?

We have seen Nurul Izzah’s struggle for over two decades. We know this is not a life that she chose. We know that this is a life that chose her.

It was sad to see that on the occasion of her father’s victory last November, she ended up losing in Permatang Pauh as its MP.

To realise that she had nothing to show, on the occasion of a great victory, must indeed be a very difficult thing to bear for her and her team. She had served on the front lines of the battle by giving two decades of her life.

I personally do not feel fit to be too critical of this transgression for I too am not without flaws.

All I can say is that while I understand why Nurul Izzah might have erred, I also recognise her as a person who is capable of fixing the error, instead of reinforcing it.

It is hard to fix one’s errors in a personal setting, and even more in a public setting as Nurul Izzah was forced to do. What she has done is a difficult thing. Not everybody out there could have done what she did. We should remember this.

All I can say is that I am glad that it didn’t take Nurul Izzah too long to realise her error and retreat back to the side that is right. By doing so, I see her as a person who has shown her commitment and conviction to the Malaysian way.

Our way might not be perfect, but it is a proven way that has worked well for us for many generations. If we can’t improve, at least we shouldn’t break the rules.

Instead of being the senior economic and financial adviser to the PM, Nurul Izzah has taken a new position to co-head a secretariat for the advisory committee to the finance ministry.

Her new position is not objectionable. I feel that Malaysians will not only not object to her serving in this new position but many of us will even be supportive of the role she can play in her new post.

This episode may be regrettable in many ways, but I hope that as time passes, it will be remembered chiefly as reaffirming the conviction in our way of doing things.

We can count on Nurul Izzah to do difficult things in the future when it is required. - Mkini

Nehru Sathiamoorthy is an FMT reader.

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