Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

IN the wake of the sacking and suspension of Umno leaders recently, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has called on them “to stand up and fight for the good of the country instead of playing it safe by keeping a low profile”.

It is a thinly veiled attempt to woo the largely veteran politicians into the fold of either PAS or Bersatu that make up the Perikatan Nasional (PN) opposition coalition.

Tuan Ibrahim gave a hint when he said that they would need “strength to unite for the future of the country”. To galvanise them to become a united force to be reckoned with, in other words.

Among those purged are former Ketereh MP Annuar Musa, former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, former Perlis chief Shahidan Kassim and former Selangor chief Noh Omar, while former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, former information chief Shahril Hamdan and former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman have been suspended for six years.

This seeming flirtation with the so-called influential politicians appears to be a part of PN’s preparation for the forthcoming state elections in Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Negri Sembilan.

It could also be a part of the larger strategy to further consolidate PN’s position in case the opportunity to wrest power from the sitting unity government arises.

Be that as it may, the prospects for a better future seem promising particularly for the politicians who have yet to reach their shelf life.

Carrot has been reportedly dangled, for instance, to a certain politician, such as the position of menteri besar if the coalition manages to capture certain states in the elections.

The relatively younger politicians, who have time on their side, also have the option to wait and subsequently get rehabilitated into their former party.

But for the other aggrieved Umno politicians, particularly the have-beens, would they consider retiring from active politics, and then consciously choose to take a path less trodden by other politicians?

At this juncture of their lives, we wonder whether they would be able to see themselves taking up a social cause as a way of giving back to society. A different kind of calling.

They – as well as other politicians of similar backgrounds – may want to consider making a conscious endeavour to play a major role in, say, protecting wildlife as well as the environment. This is especially crucial, when our country is grappling with challenges brought about by climate change such as flash floods.

Or, they may want to get seriously involved in promoting and protecting the human rights of Orang Asli or Orang Asal, the indigenous community that has long been marginalised as well as exploited.

Yet a few others may want to do “national service” by becoming ardent advocates of peace and unity in a Malaysia that has been increasingly polarised by the politics of race and religion over the years. This would be a very important contribution to nation-building.

But then, the above scenario can only materialise if politicians concerned know when to stop from active and formal politics so that they do not overstay their welcome.

It is unfortunate that in some cases, the seasoned politicians refuse to let go when the time comes, resulting in the younger ones getting on in years and stuck in the middle rung of the party hierarchy.

What is also concerning is that there are older politicians who are unwilling to acknowledge that they are indeed a spent force. They should be put out to pasture. – March 31, 2023.