Ahmad Farouk, founder of the Islamic Renaissance Front, said the opposition coalition’s failure to agree on even the basic matters, and its constant infighting has caused the public to doubt their efficiency should they come into power.
“If the infighting had actually happened while they were running the country, the whole government would collapse,” he told FMT.
The opposition should come to an agreement on a shadow Cabinet which would allow people to see how they differed from the ruling government.
His comments were in response to women’s activist Irene Xavier who said at a public forum that the people could only rely on themselves to the fight for the country they longed for.
Irene, one of those detained under the Internal Security Act in 1987, said the people could not count on the opposition parties as they were too focused on their own individual interests rather than the nation’s.
Ahmad Farouk also said opposition parties should look towards moving to a new kind of politics, post Islamism, in which equality and good governance were given priority over other matters. He cited Tunisia and Turkey as examples.
Post-Islamism would have the state taking the benefits and interest of the whole public instead of just one specific group, for example by relocating a mosque in order for a road to be built.
“Some may say this is blasphemy but the concept here is that a road can be used by everyone of all faiths rather than just the Muslims.”
Bersih 2.0 Chairman Maria Chin Abdullah meanwhile said the public should stop hoping for a politician in shining armour to come and rescue them. She said voters have waited for such an individual for years but it is yet to happen.
“The problem we are facing is so huge that we have to come together and do something about it. The only ones who can save us is ourselves.”