Reformasi needs to be proactive, not defensive

 

From Faisal Abdul Aziz

I refer to the writings of Dr Tajuddin Rasdi. I will divide my answer according to three main premises:

Bersih’s criticism is not politically motivated

When Bersih criticises, it is never directed at individuals nor based on allegiance to any political party. Perhaps Tajuddin did not notice that during Pakatan Harapan’s tenure under Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Bersih published an evaluation report that similarly criticised the government for delays in implementing reforms.

So, I am a bit confused when he says Bersih is more in favour of Mahathir over Anwar Ibrahim. Is it because we noted that reform progress under Mahathir 2.0 was better than under today’s unity government?

Perhaps he has forgotten that Bersih, in 2019, issued a joint statement calling for Mahathir and PH leaders to set a clear succession plan to ensure political stability. For Bersih, this plan meant specifying a time frame for Mahathir to hand over the prime ministership to Anwar.

Grading the government reflects high expectations

The use of a grading system to assess the government’s performance serves as a reminder of its commitment to implementing reforms. It also signals that the public’s expectation of this government, particularly of the prime minister, remains high.

People who understand and realise this will not be easily triggered. Just look at the response by Anwar in Parliament, alongside Fahmi Fadzil and Rafizi Ramli, who accepted this criticism with openness.

Having said that, I welcome Tajuddin’s comments about my performance in Abim (the Malaysian Islamic youth movement). His expectations were understandably high, given the period of heightened racial and religious tensions during my leadership such as the ICERD (International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) protests, debates over the Shariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act amendments and the tragic death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim, among other events.

With that said, I respect his stance on not favouring the grading system, although it remains a universally accepted method for evaluating the performance of individuals or organisations.

Constructive criticism strengthens the government’s mandate

Tajuddin does not need to feel that giving the current government a grade of “D” in two years is a demeaning action. In fact, what would be more demeaning is if the government fails to maintain its mandate in the upcoming general election due to unfulfilled promises. A “D” grade does not imply total failure but highlights poor performance in carrying out significant institutional reforms.

At the same time, Bersih’s report acknowledged some positive steps, such as the passage of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2023, amendments to the Audit Act 1957 and strengthening of the parliamentary special select committees, alongside other reforms still in progress.

For me, presenting this report card is one way to communicate with the government by offering both criticism and advice. As a staunch supporter of the government, Tajuddin must understand that a good government needs criticism to improve. What’s more, the government today is championing the Malaysia Madani agenda.

In my last policy address as president of Abim, I referenced Shaykh Muhammad ‘Abduh’s views on Madani governance from the book “Al-Islam wa al-Nasraniyah Ma’a al-Ilm wa al-Madaniyah “(Science and Civilisation between Islam and Christianity).

He said that a Madani government was “not separated from conditional obedience, (and) its power is controlled according to the public interest; the people are the owners of the right to control the leader, and are responsible for advising and giving warnings to straighten out the government’s deviations”.

So, if he observes the role of a Madani leader, he, as a staunch supporter of the government, will accept this form of criticism openly.

When Anwar was Abim president, he too was reminded of the importance of receiving advice from the people.

The late Professor Syed Hussein Alatas stated in his 1975 working paper, “Islam Pembangunan Jiwa (Islamic Development of the Soul)”, presented at the 4th Abim annual general meeting in Klang, that the Prophet Muhammad once said: “Religion is advice for the leaders of the community and the public. The task of advising leaders should be carried out at all times. Sometimes this advice should be given without being asked.” - FMT

Faisal Abdul Aziz is the current chairman of Bersih and served as Abim president from 2019 to 2023.

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