Political debates in this country have become so “partisan” that nothing sensible can be said by one side without it being ridiculed by the other side of the divide. Notwithstanding that, it is worthwhile to try saying the things we need to say as long as we stay rational and logical.
I take Nazri Aziz’s latest tirade against former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders like Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim as nonsensical and devoid of logic.
According to Nazri, Mahathir’s agenda to form a new political party, is to promote his son as the future prime minister of this country. Mahathir sees no future in PH because Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang too have children waiting in the wings to become PM.
Why is Nazri’s argument nonsensical and illogical?
He has assumed the worst of intentions of Mahathir, Lim Kit Siang and Anwar Ibrahim. To him probably only politicians in Umno/Barisan Nasional have noble intentions. Others are merely selfish, wanting only their children to attain power and abuse it.
If Mahathir had wanted his son to become PM, he would have done so when he was in power. If his son was too young then, Mahathir would have stayed in Umno and promoted him from within. History has shown that it is always easier to become PM from within Umno than from without. Mahathir must have become stupid after his retirement to criticise Umno harshly, to criticise the president of the party relentlessly, to resign from the party, and now to try and form a new political party to fight tooth and nail with Umno at age 91.
Similarly for Kit Siang and Anwar – how could one ever assume that their purpose of participating in politics was for their children to become chief minister and PM? This is nothing but absurd when we see their children being harassed, charged and imprisoned instead. Dear Minister Nazri, I do not see the respective fathers here promoting and giving a good life to their children. Rather, I see their children taking up the causes championed by their fathers. I believe the late Karpal Singh’s children too are doing the same.
If Umno/BN leaders are devoted and want to do the best for the country, please assume that politicians from other parties too may want to do the same. Don’t ever assume the worst in others.
I know Mahathir had his fair share of controversies and criticisms when he was in power. However as an ordinary citizen observing events unfolding each day, maybe it is the increasing untenable situations in the country that prompted him to act the way he did. Anwar too was no saint when he was in power. However having gone through the “full circle”, maybe he too wanted to do what was the best for this country. As for Lim Kit Siang, he has never held an executive position in government. I think his record speaks for itself.
It is better that we speak rationally and logically even though we are partisan. Our assertions and arguments must subscribe to reason and common-sense. Otherwise, it is not wrong for others to label us brainless or loose cannons.
Ah Beng is a pseudonym for an FMT reader.
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