Of Arab Spring and Malaysia's future

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 9 years ago · Published on 4 Apr 2017 7:00AM · 4 Comments

ONE potentially powerful narrative being served to the Malay professional class is that Malaysians should heed the lessons of the Arab Spring and be wary about dismantling the existing political structure.

Yes, there are weaknesses in the Umno/Barisan Nasional leadership. Yes, there are excesses and leakages in the government and the public have every reason to expect better accountability. 

Yes, more should be done to tackle corruption and other problems in Malaysia.

But…

‎Be wary about exchanging a known and largely stable power structure with something that could result in a new era punctuated by a vacuum in political leadership, lawlessness and uncertainty. 

This narrative that has been put forward by preachers at retreats and talks to the Malay professional class is bolstered by examples from the Arab Spring.

The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests and uprisings that spread across the Middle East in early 2011. But until today, their purpose and success remains hotly disputed.

The protest movement was an expression of deep-seated resentment against aging Arab dictatorship, unemployment, rising prices and corruption. 

Many of the strongmen of the Arab world were swept away but many of the countries continue to suffer from chronic instability and civil conflict. The promised economic reforms were also not delivered.

This narrative is potentially powerful because Malaysians are allergic to unrest and instability. We prefer orderliness and have not shown any appetite for uprooting our whole way of life and exchange it for something unknown.‎

Strengthening this narrative is the inability of Pakatan Harapan to resolve some key issues, namely its prime minister candidate, its list of ministers should the pact wrest control of Putrajaya from BN and the type of policies it will enact if it comes to power. 

The suggestion to have Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu’s Muhyiddin Yasin as a seat-warmer PM until Anwar Ibrahim is freed and pardoned has not been embraced by Anwar and other key allies in PKR. 

In any case, this is a scenario with too many ifs. 

DAP is apparently in favour of PKR’s Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail becoming the PM candidate while there appears to be some traction for Dr Mahathir Mohamad becoming the interim PM.

In short, the question of leadership is still unresolved. So is the shadow cabinet or at least a list leaders for key portfolios.

Also unclear is what will the main policy planks of PH?

Will there be term limits for the PM? Will there will an overhaul of our education system with emphasis on English?

Will there be an increase in the minimum wage and cut in taxes? What will its strategy be to grow the economy?

It’s not good enough saying that all these questions and the issue of leadership will be answered after the elections. Definitely not good enough for Malaysians who are being warned about the lessons of the Arab Spring. – April 4, 2017.

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Comments

  • Today,PH shows that they are not the replacement to BN. In fact, the scandals their leaders involved in while having so much less power is staggering; look at the MB of Selangor and CM of Penang. Both show they the far worst than the BN leaders. Maybe one day the opposition block may rule the country, but not now. Not at least for the next 2 elections.

    Posted 9 years ago by Aris Penampar · Reply

    • Memang saya sokong pandangan ini. Hakikatnya barisan pembangkang hari ini belum dapat menangdingi BN. Apa yang boleh diharapkan ialah mengundi tokoh-tokoh pembangkang yang berkaliber supaya persoalan rakyat dapat dipertengahkan.

      Posted 9 years ago by Malaysia Forward · Reply

  • Replacing the BN regime with an alternative is not going to go down the Arab Spring route, simply because the alternative political bloc haa the confidence of at least 51% of the voting population (last PRU), and you do not see the prime examples of alternative governance, Selangor and Penang falling into any sort of the Arab Apeing scenarios. Every administration may have its flaws. Action speaks louder than words. Observing both candidate political blocs, I'll rather have the bloc that speaks and tries its best to uphold good governance and fix Malaysia for every citizen, to the incumbent bloc that reeks of kleptocracy, incompetence and the penchant of stirring racial and religious tensions and divide Malaysians for their own selfish political ends.

    Posted 9 years ago by Robin Tan · Reply

  • Only when there is a change in government, that the politicians realise their grip on power is finite and they need to work for the people instead of working for their own selfish gains or gains of their interest groups. Real changes and improvements in governance can be felt in Penang and Selangor, even the change of guard in Sarawak showed a renewed effort to work for the rakyat.

    Posted 9 years ago by Robin Tan · Reply