Politics - addiction or responsibility?

 

Anyone who decides to jump into the world of politics has implicitly pledged to fight for, sacrifice on behalf and serve the rakyat.

The job of protecting the best interest of the rakyat has no end point for a politician, as the agenda to serve the people need to be carried out continuously. 

No doubt that there are a handful of politicians who easily give up after losing in elections or after failing to overcome internal party challenges. 

However, there are some who decide to take a break before rising again with a new spirit. Only those who really have clear objectives and direction can survive in politics. 

I was among the political figures who decided to stay active in politics but take a  break from being a people’s representative. I wished to make room for new faces who have the potential and vision to continue to serve the rakyat.

However, I have been requested to return to contest in the state polls as a candidate in the Batu Tiga state constituency in Shah Alam, Selangor. 

At first, I tried to respectfully decline the party's request, but since I still hold the position of women’s chief of Perikatan Nasional and Bersatu, it is a political obligation for me and anyone at the highest level in the party to be people’s representative.

I am aware of the mixed reactions - some agree and some disagree - but this is the strategy of the political chess makers who know what is best for the party and the community.

Therefore, I humbly complied with the instructions of PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin as well as members of the supreme council of the party. 

Being fully aware of the fact that I had lost the 15th general election for the Sepang parliamentary seat, I followed up with a strategy to ensure that the same thing will not happen again.

I see the defeat as the beginning of success; although it has frankly devastated me, it has also made me stronger and more enthusiastic to better myself. 

Those who disagree with my candidacy this time argue that the “previous candidates” should not be “recycled”.

Common tradition

Yes, maybe from one side I agree with this argument but if we look at the facts, this is a common tradition that is also practised by other political parties such as BN - which nominated Mahdzir Khalid who lost the Padang Terap parliamentary seat in the last general election.  

The same goes for Ahmad Said, the former Terengganu menteri besar who lost with a large majority in the Kemaman parliamentary seat.

The country's longest-serving prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, also lost at the hands of the late Yusof Rawa of PAS in the 1969 general election with a slim majority of 989. But in the following general election, Mahathir again contested and won. 

The victory after the defeat has indeed moulded Mahathir into the strong and visionary leader who had brought Malaysia so much progress during his term. So, losing once does not mean losing forever. As long as you have the passion to fight,  continue the struggle.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad

The decision to field candidates who had lost to return was made based on their previous experience in the past administration, especially those who had held positions either at the state or federal level. These candidates also know the needs of the community. 

I and several other politicians such as Azmin Ali were chosen as candidates again due to our experience in managing issues arising from the Covid-19 pandemic the last few years.  

During the onset of the pandemic, we were among the individuals responsible for maintaining the health of the people, the stability of the economy and the security of the country.

The success of the PN government under Muhyiddin will be more than enough to convince the rakyat why some “big names” in his administration should return to service. 

We must acknowledge that the post Covid-19 pandemic repercussions continue to this day, where people are still grappling with the ever-increasing prices of goods and traders still struggling to revive their businesses. The rich fall poor, and the poor fall deeper impoverished. 

Sadly, the so-called unity government, which had promised to restore the country's economic stability, has failed to do so. The country's economy continues to decline and the ringgit has fallen to dangerous levels.

Our demands on behalf of the rakyat such as targeted EPF withdrawals, had also been rejected outright by the government, and unfortunately politicised. 

Worried and frankly agitated by what is happening, as leaders who are experienced and understand what the people are facing in this increasingly challenging world after the Covid-19 pandemic, we are thus entrusted to return actively to the political arena.  

In fact, I am sure this is one of the factors why the “big names” from other parties who had lost in the last GE15 are back to contest in this state polls too.

We shall leave it to the rakyat to judge whether our return is due to “addiction” to power or due to our genuine and sincere concern in fulfilling our responsibilities for and to the rakyat.  - Mkini

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RINA HARUN is the Perikatan Nasional women’s chief and former minister.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.