Here we go, again

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 4 years ago · Published on 30 Sep 2019 9:00PM · 8 Comments

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim must play his cards right if he wants to take over the country’s top job and ensure Pakatan Harapan’s re-election at GE15. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, September 30, 2019.

IT’S the last day of September 2019 but somehow it feels like September 1998 – the month when Anwar Ibrahim was fired from Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet.

Some of the players remain the same, then and now, with the same concerns and doubts.

Syed Husin Ali, then of PRM, and Ezam Nor, then Anwar’s political secretary, have these past few days expressed their feelings against Dr Mahathir, who is again prime minister after Pakatan Harapan beat Barisan Nasional in the 2018 general election.

Syed Husin, a founding member of PKR, criticised Dr Mahathir for not having a clear transition plan for Anwar, just after the prime minister said he would be keep the job for a maximum of three years after the PH win in May 2018.

The generally agreed consensus within PH had always been two years and Anwar himself said recently he expected to take the post next year but Dr Mahathir’s announcement has caused an uproar among those who believe Anwar’s chances are diminishing 16 months into PH’s rule.

It does not help that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was just turning five when Anwar was sacked in 1998, insisted today there was no agreed timeframe for the power transfer.

Ezam was more succinct. He called Dr Mahathir a “false reformist”. Both he and Syed Husin are among those who know from personal experience the political machinations and difficulties to ensure Anwar gets the top job, even decades later.

On the other hand, you have Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who published the book that led to Anwar’s sacking in 1998. He remains unconvinced that Anwar is fit to lead the government and nation.

Deja vu? In more ways than one, of course. 

This political skirmish over Dr Mahathir passing the baton to Anwar, then and now, is happening amid a souring economy and a bleak global outlook with a trade war between the United States and China and European Union’s Brexit woes.

Then and now, supporters and critics of both men are sniping away to ensure what has been promised happens or not. And once again, Dr Mahathir is the incumbent and Anwar the pretender.

The reality is these supporters need to see the bigger picture in Malaysia now. It took the combined partnership of both men to give BN the knockout blow in the 14th general election. 

It will take their combined efforts to get the economy right again, for Malaysians to feel united and not divide themselves into racial, religious and class silos.

Right now, Dr Mahathir has nothing to give except a crown of thorns as long he and his cabinet fail to deliver a better life to Malaysians. And Anwar will have nothing unless he, too, takes part in delivering the goods.

And as for their supporters, perhaps it is best to pipe down and make sure that promises are kept or both these men will join their BN and PAS foes as political failures. – September 30, 2019.

* Jahabar Sadiq runs The Malaysian Insight.

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Comments

  • for the record, its not only dsai got cheated by Tun. millions of us got cheated by him. he think he is clever...lets see how history judge him

    Posted 4 years ago by . . · Reply

  • Good article, so well said!
    Work together for better Malaysia please

    Posted 4 years ago by Lim Ls · Reply

  • Although I think there are many better candidates to be PM other than Anwer, a promise to the electorate must be kept. Anwar must be made PM.

    Posted 4 years ago by Anonymous 1234 · Reply

  • This is bigger than either Dr M or DSAI. Both the leaders and their supporters must expressly agree and work together to fight off the strong opposition.. otherwise the PH coalition will fail.

    Posted 4 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • I like the term 'passing the baton' as in the relay team runners. Just because one runner thinks himself as best yet he must pass the baton following the rules of the game. By his verbal promise, TDM set the rules that promised a time period for his PMship. You can be the best runner who cares about the unknown outcome. Be a gentleman for the sake of the nation.

    Posted 4 years ago by Citizen Pencen · Reply

  • The issue is not only pertaining to who succeeds Mahathir; the more critical issue is, where is Pakatan - and more specifically, Mahathir - leading Malaysia to?

    Many are already doubting Mahathirs Reformist credential, not only Ezam. The hope for a New Malaysia is being diminished more and more, as we move further away from the last GE. Does Mahathir care? Or Pakatan?

    Few are convinced now. Personally, I do not blame the continued rise of extremism, as symbolised in the UMNO-PAS marriage, on the extremists; I blame it on Pakatan, and Mahathir. They failed to rein it in all the way from the anti icerd protests, and thus, the proverbial camel, depicted in the tale of the camel and the Arab, has pretty much pushed the Arab out of his tent.

    And what is Mahathir doing these days? Instead of tending to matters at home, he goes around giving speeches all over. Is that part of his 18 hour work day?

    For a new Malaysia, we need a new politics. And that would entail breaking away from the grip of Mahathirism and Mahathir-nomics.

    I am not sure if Anwar could deliver, or whoever that eventually takes over for that matter. I do know one thing; if Mahathir does not hand over the premiership to Anwar, Malaysia will go through another round of hell ala 1998; Anwar and his supporters are not going to go away easily while singing kumbaya. The way I see it, there would be less risk of such a calamity if Mahathir does stick to the plan, than if he deviates.

    Trust me, that hell is not one that Malaysia would wish to ever experience again.

    Posted 4 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply

  • I have no idea what this Government's vision is any more. All i see and hear about is how it constantly caves in to every demand by a Muslim or Malay group, np matter how racist, how absurd or how divisive. It is doing nothing in processing our education system and it is doing nothing in working towards creative a fairer and more equitable society. All is seems to do is pander to one community at the expense of every thing and every one else. Get a damn spine and start doing some real good for the country. The people gave this new Government a chance to show real, honest and progressive leadership but it's failing thus far.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply

  • I have no idea what this Government's vision is any more. All i see and hear about is how it constantly caves in to every demand by a Muslim or Malay group, np matter how racist, how absurd or how divisive. It is doing nothing in processing our education system and it is doing nothing in working towards creative a fairer and more equitable society. All is seems to do is pander to one community at the expense of every thing and every one else. Get a damn spine and start doing some real good for the country. The people gave this new Government a chance to show real, honest and progressive leadership but it's failing thus far.

    Posted 4 years ago by Sunita petrus · Reply