IT is a shame that when there is so much to do to drive our nation forward, parties in Pakatan Harapan are bickering over MPs from Umno crossing over, the spoils of a foundering vessel. How can there be any of good among them who did not sound a squeak when scandals after scandals unfolded culminating in the mother of all scandals, the 1MDB matter? Until today, they have not openly and unreservedly admitted they were wrong and expressed remorse.

The justification that not all Umno leaders are bad is lame. The justification that the present is different from the past of a former leader who was implicated in rape and sex tape distribution is also lame. It is a principle of morality, something our schools should have emphasised decades ago. Instead, politicians thought they knew better advocating religious studies, instilling ideas that there was a reason for anything, even a committed wrong, and the afterlife is more important. Politicians without their moral garb are naked and nothing.  

Is the overthrowing of Najib and his government a mission accomplished? Certainly not, for the people who made an 82% polling turnout on the Wednesday of May 9. Throwing out a government notorious for kleptocracy is only the first step of a laborious journey.

The people know it takes time to undo damage done in the past, where race and religion were political weapons used to stir hatred, distrust, and disunity among our people. Burying the RM1 trillion debt hole also takes time, along with the need to renegotiate the lopsided infrastructure contracts with foreign corporations. The people also know the inherited lacklustre and underperforming civil service and the overly paid executives and lethargic GLCs need reform. Reforms for institutions are visible and ongoing, although the reports and recommendations of the Institutional Reform Committee are still kept in wraps.

The anti-ICERD rally and the aftermath saw the PH government reverse its stand, signalling a stalled reform process. The people’s aspirations prior to GE14 were not merely to overthrow Najib and his government, but most important of all, to put right racial disharmony created by politicians. Socio-economically, an affirmative action policy to help all ethnic groups based on needs, which was also sloganeered by PH leaders before and after the election, is much in need. All the PH politicians need to do is provide leadership armed with moral courage to lead the people, but none of that leadership is forthcoming.

Good leadership entails PH politicians explaining to the people in unison that the UN convention allows for positive discrimination and there is no need to amend our constitution. There is also need to explain the spirit of the Reed Commission and the constitution in its true sense, and dispel the narrative propagated by Umno.

Similarly, the spirit of the New Economic Policy when it was first introduced in 1971, which was supposed to not indefinitely raise the welfare of the less economically privileged groups, not just the Malays, to an even playing field for a limited period, should be explained. This educative process takes time and is part of governing. When properly done, our nation and people should come out strong and united.

What is even more frustrating is that not only does the reformation process appear stalled; the PH parties are fighting helter-skelter over the spoils of the electoral conquest. The argument for luring “good” Umno MPs over to achieve a two-third majority in Parliament to effect change for the necessary reform agenda is inadequate and unconvincing.

The one and most important aspect for reform is race relations, an area that the ICERD episode clearly revealed the lack of PH’s will to reform. Decades of racial politicking have rooted in too deep beyond the capacity of political leaders themselves to effect change. Like the people’s movement supporting PH parties in GE14, the process of building a new Malaysia requires civil society, voices for national unity, clerics, and ulamas who preach the “wasatiyyah” (middle path) to be more assertive, and not let racial and religious bigots derail efforts to rebuild our nation.

PH politicians appear incapable of providing political leadership. Faced with challenges and for fear of losing votes, they find refuge in familiar comfort zones, not antagonising those seeking perpetual entitlement and therefore resisting change. They abdicate the responsibilities as leaders required of them. They occupy themselves with jostling to gain advantage over each other. That’s the only thing they seem good at.

Whither the political will to reform, PH? – December 20, 2018.

* Captain Dr Wong Ang Peng is a researcher with an interest in economics, politics, and health issues. He has a burning desire to do anything within his means to promote national harmony. Captain Wong is also a member of the National Patriots Association.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.