INTERVIEW | While Pakatan Harapan and PKR are the foundation of the coalition government, it would be wrong to ignore the signs that rebranding is needed for the future, said Segamat MP R Yuneswaran.
Responding to a suggestion that Harapan parties such as DAP, PKR, and Amanah consider a merger into a single party without the baggage of the past, to consolidate progressive, multiracial forces, Yuneswaran said the situation now has to evolve.
“We have 18 parties in the coalition government so even though the majority is strong on paper, it’s not so stable for the long term. PKR is not the biggest party and Harapan is not a dominant coalition.
“This is fragile in the long term and we must steel ourselves against the challenge of the Malay right-wing parties like PAS and Bersatu.
“We have plenty of Malay support too in the government - modern Malays with higher expectations of economic growth and reforms - but we definitely need to look at how we are going to present ourselves in the next election and beyond,” he told Malaysiakini.
Act now
Yuneswaran pointed out that the real test for the present formula will be in the 16th general election.
“But I think we should take the bull by the horns and look at presenting a strong united vision and brand for the future, instead of taking our chances or waiting until support dwindles to act,” he added.
He acknowledged that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has a balancing act to play when it comes to focusing on a Malay Muslim agenda versus broader national interests.
However, Harapan and PKR, he said, need to evolve for the future.
“We need new generations of leaders like Nurul Izzah Anwar, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Fahmi Fadzil, Lee Chean Chung, and others like Hannah Yeoh and leaders from Amanah to play a larger role.
“The coming generations need to be able to look towards us for leadership,” he added.
Yuneswaran stressed that he is a strong believer in a Malaysian agenda, however, it doesn’t mean that makes him “less of an Indian”.
“I don’t want to get caught up in talk of quotas about Tamil-speaking ministers. Where does it end? Should there be Telegu or Malayalam-speaking ministers too?
“I don’t think one Tamil-speaking minister can bring changes if that is how he primarily looks at himself. Every MP has a role to represent all Malaysians, that is our duty and our privilege,” he said.
The first-time MP also admitted that dealing with the expectations of a support base that is hungry for reform is not easy.
“No doubt the expectation is there. With Anwar, it is cumulative, 20 years of building hopes and expectations. We all need to carry the same burden and not just talk.”
Yuneswaran said it’s not just about policies as many systemic errors result in people being marginalised, and this starts with paperwork.
As an example, he cited the stateless who are genuine Malaysians losing out on schooling, healthcare, and other rights due to lack of documentation which he said the Central Database Hub (Padu) can help change.
“We don’t have details of the last guy sitting in the village to ensure the equal distribution of wealth and there is really too much bureaucracy, all this has to change.
“We have councils, state assemblypersons, and multiple agencies. In Johor, the state government is still BN, so there is also a second level of challenges,” he added.
The 36-year-old lawmaker said Malaysians are used to visible changes.
“They blame the YB for the potholes, if they don’t see improvements, they will condemn us, so we have to go all out to prove that we are different,” he said.
Institutional reforms
Yuneswaran admitted that it was very hard to change the perception of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal on 47 corruption charges.
“If Anwar is serious about reform, he must be seen to be going all out on corruption cases, and now we are seeing big names being probed.
“At the same time, having Zahid there is a big challenge for the PM as many perceive him to be tainted, yet it’s seen that his support is critical to maintaining this government,” he said.
As for electoral reform, he said there’s much to be done.
“At the moment we are using the first past the post, Westminster- system and it’s very unfair because this means that many voters don’t have a chance to be represented.
“I would like to see proportional representation being tried out. I think we should also have the local council election, maybe starting with Kuala Lumpur.
“Even an elected Dewan Negara that isn’t a rubber stamp, but perhaps with provisions for minority representation and technical leaders.”
He suggested looking to our neighbour Indonesia for inspiration.
“I would also like to follow Indonesia’s policy in which MPs don’t hold minister posts. The cabinet is completely separate from Parliament.
“I think that would allow better focus on the job and more experts heading ministries,” he said.
Most importantly though, Yuneswaran hopes to see the coalition government truly be one of unity for all Malaysians.
“More than anything else, I want this government to succeed in making us all feel like true Malaysians again.
“Enough of race and religion talk, we should be united,” he added. - Mkini
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