Typhoons and hurricanes are causing devastating damage in other countries, but here in Malaysia, we are lucky to have none of that.
What we do have, though, is endless political intrigue and shadow play which may cause as much damage as typhoons and hurricanes.
We were told that the 14th general election was the mother of all elections. That election was to bring watershed change and usher in a new dawn for Malaysia. We did just that and got what we wanted: to get rid of an incompetent and kleptocratic government and install a new one with much hope and anticipation.
However, four long months after that mother of all elections, the politicking has not ebbed. Instead, new intrigue, conspiracies, plots and squabbles have begun in earnest among the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition partners with much abetment and urging from Umno, PAS and other opposition parties.
Our nation is saddled with enormous problems after years of malfeasance and misrule. When can we expect the newly installed government to get down to the serious business of governing the country? So far, I have heard of a lot of “plans”, “studies” and “reviews” but not really of any actual work done.
For the sake of this country, can PH partners please stay true to their agreement before the election – that they are united for genuine change to provide new hope and aspirations for this country?
For goodness’ sake, can PH partners just stay away from Umno, PAS and some of the parties in Sarawak and Sabah? Let them cooperate, realign and merge all they want. Let them collude, conspire and instigate whatever they want; PH partners should never harbour ambitions of getting involved with them. It is as simple as that. If one PH partner is involved, others will follow suit.
For goodness’ sake, let Mohamed Azmin Ali and Rafizi Ramli sweat it out. It is a democratic process within PKR, not for others to get involved. I believe the party is big enough to accommodate both of them. No one should ever think he is bigger than the entire party. Please remember, PPBM, DAP and Amanah will also have their own party elections and I am sure they do not want others to interfere.
For goodness’ sake, why are we creating doubts and condemning Anwar Ibrahim for taking steps to re-enter active politics now? Did we not vote for PH which consists of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar, Lim Guan Eng and Mat Sabu?
When we support PH, we should rightly support every major leader in the coalition. Why pick and choose and second-guess Anwar now? The number of WhatsApp messages circulating about him does not give much room for comfort. Is there a conspiracy against him within PH again?
Mahathir is prime minister and now firmly in control. Everyone, including Anwar, should let him lead. Anwar, as the designated successor, is good for certainty and stability.
If we doubt Anwar’s character, ability and suitability as prime minister, did we do the same for Mahathir, Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak and then Mahathir again? Let’s not kid ourselves; I don’t think the people had a say when Badawi or Najib was appointed as prime minister.
By allowing the nation to wallow in endless intrigues, we Malaysians are doing ourselves an injustice. We the people will give our assessment and judgment of Anwar as prime minister when the time comes. In the meantime, stop the intrigue.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.