The Global Movement of Moderates sounded like an ambitious, world-changing programme when it was announced. After all, it was preceded by a speech from Prime Minister Najib Razak at the United Nations General Assembly.

It was supposed to be a platform for the silent majority to speak out. It was supposed to guide Malaysia away from extremism. And indeed, it was supposed to be a platform for dialogue between the moderates of the world.

For two years, Saifuddin Abdullah, as GMM’s CEO, worked hard to make it a credible platform for discussion, hosting figures from all over the world to speak on the importance of moderation and intercultural understanding. But the groundwork he was so carefully laying down was undermined by the government with its authoritarian crackdown on critics and its embrace of extremist logic. Of course, when we’re speaking about the government, we’re really speaking about Umno. So Saifuddin quit the party. Naturally, he also had to give up his position in GMM.

Now Nasharudin Mat Isa sits in the office once occupied by Umno’s last moderate, much to the consternation of activists and many outspoken moderates. The former deputy president of PAS proclaimed himself a moderate upon taking the seat, but his record speaks of an ultra-conservative stand on issues.

Still, for all we know, Nasharuddin may well have moved from the far right to the middle. Nonetheless, the sudden exit of The Star’s Wong Chun Wai and former ambassador Redzuan Kushairi from GMM will be taken as a bad sign for its agenda, no matter what the media statements may say about their reasons for leaving.

The loss of a prominent moderate like Wong is certainly bad for the image of the movement, and the decision of a former ambassador to quit is a huge blow to its credibility. If their departure is due to disagreements on the direction the movement is taking, then we can assume that the GMM built up by Saifuddin Abdullah left the building along with its architect.

Nasharudin could still surprise us. He could take the movement to new heights and make it prominent and relevant on the global stage, if he is indeed a moderate with a conviction equal to Saifuddin’s. But until then, the loss of Wong Chun Wai and Redzuan Kushairi bodes ill for GMM, and for Nasharudin’s claim to being a moderate.