Anwar’s dilemma: push for change or stay in power

 

From K. Veeriah

Heading a motley collection of political parties, including those carrying unsavoury baggage, Anwar Ibrahim is obviously navigating a minefield in appeasing his political partners, and yet striving to bring about meaningful transformation of the existing socio-economic and political system.

It would be naive to expect the current unity government, which is not a Pakatan Harapan administration mind you, to bring about changes in its short term.

Anwar is left with very limited space: advance the ideals of a holistic transformation of the existing system, including political patronage, at the peril of being dumped, or adopt a guarded approach premised upon the need to sustain the unity government.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Anwar has to walk the tightrope with utmost care. He cannot be expected to right the wrongs so ingrained in our decades-old political landscape overnight.

Anwar must be tearing his hair (nothing much to spare, though) in seeking solutions to the challenges facing his government.

One would not be faulted to hold the view that there is an urgent need to address the economic challenges confronting the nation and the people.

While that is the reality, the race-religious-centric polemics propagated by those seeking to dislodge the current administration would have far-reaching consequences on investor confidence translating to a decline in domestic and foreign investment and in creation of jobs for our workers.

If our opposition is as patriotic as they claim, they should take cognisance of the prevailing headwinds and act with a sense of responsibility. Stoking the flames of a race-religious agenda goes against the nation’s founding pillars and should not be exploited for political mileage. - FMT

K. Veeriah is an FMT reader.

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