WHAT the nation needs is ordinary politicians representing ordinary citizens. What the nation needs is ordinary citizens, the working class, single mothers, rural folk – Chinese, Indians, Malays and from all walks of life to be represented justly and with honesty.

For that, we need non-career politicians. We need politicians who do not argue and debate solely based on one’s political longevity and survival.

We need more grassroots leaders in Parliament. We need more union leaders, people who have worked, experience and earn minimum wage in Parliament. We need more women in Parliament and state assemblies.

We need reasonable Malay-Muslim leaders who understand that “ketuanan Melayu” is the thing of a past. If the Malay-Muslim electorate does not (gradually) move away from that paradigm, we will be an insignificant majority. Ill-represented in the economy and also in politics.

By 2021, Umno will have its second party election post-14th general election. In a few months, Bersatu will also hold a similar event. I hope the political elite will never hold any significant position in these parties.

It is because of them, we have sacrifice what good Malaysia could be. It is because of these politicians, with their wealthy taukeh will never say enough to power, wealth and other material inducements which they could amass easily through cronies within the system.

We don’t need to wait for GE-14. Start with the party elections. Bersatu and Umno represent a huge chunk of Malay-Muslim political representation. Let us all put forward a pool of young and promising leaders in these parties.

Young and promising Malay-Muslims who understand that Malaysia is a multicultural nation and Tanah Melayu no more.

We cannot reform the civil service, the executive, the legislative and truly restore rule of law if the Malay-Muslims are represented by old, intellectually ill and heavily bagged politicians who refuse to make changes – because they can’t understand what change is, or just plain coward to commit to change.

As I write this, consultancy firms are pitching their proposals, showing their ability to garner majority support for wealthy politicians to win GE-15.

On the other end of the spectrum, young Malaysians are earning below than minimum in the gig economy.

 Top corporations are paying their executives with heavy incentives because “they deserve better” than some of my friends, in the lower tier of the corporate structure. Who needs to rent a shared master bedroom and eats roti canai kosong until he earns his RM2,500 monthly wage.

It is not about Anwar Ibrahim and Dr Mahathir Mohamad any more. It is not about sex tapes, 1MDB or Jawi. It is bigger than that. It is about Malaysia and everyday Malaysians. – January 22, 2020.

* Abdullah Afiq reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.