IT’S official. With his appalling move to call for a state of emergency, Muhyiddin Yassin has personally carved his name in history as Malaysia’s weakest prime minister. Devoid of the rakyat’s mandate, excommunicated by his mentor and now surely without majority support from his fellow members of Parliament, the situation is looking dire for the Bersatu president.

Alas, desperate times call for desperate measures and this latest edition of Muhyiddin’s “scheme of things” definitely reeks of desperation. Frankly speaking, using a scathing pandemic – which his own government failed to contain – as an excuse to continue holding on to power is a sly, shameful act. A self-serving act unprecedented in Malaysian history.

Yet if we were to widen our horizons and look to our neighbours, Indonesia, such a cowardly act has been attempted by the nation’s past leader. In fact, upon closer inspection, you’ll even find that our nation’s weakest prime minister eerily shares the same qualities with the republic’s worst president.

Abdurrahman Wahid, more fondly known as Gus Dur was Indonesia’s fourth president and was forever remembered as an incompetent, feeble leader. However, in the beginning, his presidency started with joy and hope from the Indonesian masses.

His nickname “Gus” is a common honorific for a son of kyai, the Javanese moniker for an Islamic expert. The long time president of Nahdlatul Ulama, this was a man from a religious background which could incorporate verses from the Quran and Islamic prayers seamlessly inside his speeches and conversations. Sound familiar?

Gus Dur’s use of humour to diffuse tensions and command control over the room is comparable to how eloquent Muhyiddin’s speeches are. Ultimately, however, Wahid’s charms wore off. The very nation that so eagerly tuned into his broadcasted speeches grew tired of it. For their trusted leader never walked the talk. His speeches are nothing more than air from an empty can. Textbook definition of style over substance. Sound familiar?

Gus Dur’s presidency ultimately collapsed amid corruption scandals that plagued his presidency. One by one, major members of Indonesia’s political elite became disillusioned with Abdurrahman and began withdrawing support.

One of Gus Dur’s allies, Amien Rais even went as far as to rally the opposition to flex their political muscles and overthrow him. Sound familiar?

Talks of an impeachment to remove Abdurrahman as president grew in momentum, with dissidents in his own cabinet reportedly joining in. When the Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat (MPR), the republic’s version of parliament, overwhelmingly approved of the dreaded vote of no confidence to be made, Gus Dur knew that his days were numbered.

In July 2001, days before his impeachment were scheduled to take place, Gus Dur ordered his coordinating minister for politics and future president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyona, to declare a state of emergency so that MPR could not perform its functions. Sound familiar?

However, the request was refused by Yudhoyono and Abdurrahman swiftly removed him from office. Desperate to hold on to power, Gus Dur enacted a presidential decree on July 23 to dissolve MPR before they could remove him from office.

The nation’s legislative body defiantly held a special session and Abdurrahman Wahid was unanimously voted out. Following this, the Indonesian army, in a show of power, placed a whopping 40,000 troops in Jakarta with tanks placing their turrets pointing at the presidential palace in order for Gus Dur to respect the decision by MPR.

Alas, the great speaker Gus Dur was ousted, stripped of his presidency. His name lives in infamy and to this day, he remains the only president to be impeached by MPR.

Fast forward to 2020 and it seems that we have our very own version of Gus Dur in the form of Muhyiddin Yassin. However, by the looks of things, it seems that our prime minister will succeed where Abdurrahman failed; in announcing a state of emergency.

Yet, this should not be a reprieve for him and Perikatan Nasional, for the rakyat is watching. No amount of narrative manipulation in mass and social media will serve to justify this appalling action. Just like what happened with Gus Dur, history has shown that democracy will always prevail. – October 24, 2020.

* Saiful Ridzaimi 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.