What else is new? The opposition lacks capable leaders and for this reason, they have to depend on a 92-year-old man with lots of baggage to lead?
But I think we Malaysians have failed to examine ourselves critically. Pakatan Harapan (PH) named Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as their choice of prime minister because we Malaysians are conservative, feudalistic, and unadventurous. We only know how to walk the well-trodden path.
To me, the opposition has more than enough people of prime ministerial material. The issue is us, the people. We are unwilling or incapable of taking risks. We fail to put faith in younger or new people.
To me, Rafizi Ramli, Azmin Ali, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Mat Sabu, Khalid Abdul Samad, Lim Guan Eng, Gobind Singh Deo, Tony Pua and many others are all more than capable of becoming the prime minister of this country. But are we progressive and adventurous enough to accept them?
We do not need a rocket scientist; neither do we need a financial wizard to be the prime minister of Malaysia. In fact, it is dangerous to have a prime minister who is too “smart”.
All we need is a prime minister with a magnanimous heart who hates injustice, is cosmopolitan, pro-egalitarian, and not opulent but simple and frugal.
Unfortunately, this is not our focus. Instead, we are keener to know his racial origin, his gender, his religious credentials, his views on religion, and his stigmas.
I believe if we have a prime minister who is sufficiently honest, all knowledge, expertise and technical issues required of the office will fall into place. A prime minister can always consult and seek the best advice if the motivation is right.
Sometimes I think it is our fault. We can’t articulate clearly what we want. We only want a prime minister who is good in marketing short-term expediency, dishing out temporary goodies, and indulging in religious and racial rhetoric.
Have we ever thought what kind of Malaysia it will be if Nurul Izzah, Hannah Yeoh or Kasthuri Patto became the prime minister of Malaysia? Think about it.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.