THE results of the recent Johor state elections are as disappointing as it gets.

I dedicated my time and energy in pursuing success, but as the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

I am sure that one day, the people of Johor will elect a greater leader to lead them.

Nevertheless, my focus now is the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war.

There are a few things that must be discussed and considered for us to know the position of our country during these unprecedented times.

When Russia invaded Ukraine late last month, the whole world was shocked and left speechless.

Most countries do not agree with the invasion as the ones who suffer the most during a war are the civilians.

Nonetheless, this issue gives us the opportunity to recalculate the position that Malaysia is in.

First and foremost, war has never been able to solve anything. It has only caused death and despair to millions of innocent lives.

In this case, the ongoing war has proved that the sufferings will not end after Russia fully invades Ukraine, and that is a big “if”.

The economic sanctions, financial penalties and bans imposed by other countries on Russia will cause a lot of stress and difficulties for its citizens.

As seen online, more than half of the Russian population is against war. They don’t agree with the violence and torture that the government is inflicting on the innocent people of Ukraine.

The question remains, how did this happen? How is it possible that a war started in 2022? Will this escalate into something much more dangerous? How will it affect Malaysia?

Russia has always believed in its power over Ukraine due to how history has shaped itself.

In the past, Ukraine was under the regime of the Soviet Union.

The past imperialism is still considered valid to some Russians, and this includes the president, Vladimir Putin.

He believes that by having Ukraine back under the control of the Russian government, Russia will be complete again.

However, the methodology that is used by Putin is very dangerous. The West, Nato, Russia and the European Union should come to an agreement to neutralise the situation as soon as possible.

There is one thing that we could learn from this tragedy, which is the importance of having a strong leader to lead a country, especially during times of crisis.

The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not been building a great profile of himself to show that he is a good and capable leader.

This is because of who he was before he became a politician. He is a former actor and comedian. This itself makes him less intimidating compared to other leaders.

Although he managed to show strength and perseverance as the war drags on, I believe that it is still too late.

The lives of thousands are gone and there is nothing that can be done to bring them back.

If this type of leadership becomes the norm, then even our country might be in danger. A brave leadership figure is important in polishing a country’s image.

Many countries are affected by this war, and this may include Malaysia.

Our country has always had a good relationship with Russia, the European Union and the West.

If anything were to happen to Russia, China will definitely get involved.

The involvement of China will heavily impact the economy and political status of many countries.

Malaysia should focus on giving its full support to the people of Ukraine without denying the demands of Russia.

At the end of the day, it is the lives of innocent people that matter the most.

The support for the Russian ideology may ensure a stable economical state for our country.

It is safe to say that the western involvement in the other countries such as Syria and Palestine cannot be considered as successful because those countries are suffering just as much as Ukraine is currently suffering. There is blood in everyone’s hand.

At the end of the day, it is necessary for all sides to come to an understanding and give solid opinions on how things should end.

This includes the leaders of our country. Instead of not saying much, it is a must for us to stand our ground and fight for what is right.

It is possible that we may have to face issues like this in the future, so it is better that we stand prepared now. – March 18, 2022.

* Mahathir Mohd Rais is Segambut Bersatu chief.

* 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.