IT is confirmed. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the founding chief executive of a think tank Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) is set to enter politics.

A member of PAS, Wan Saiful indicated that his future political undertakings were unlikely to be with the Islamist party.

He said he would formally announce on Thursday the party he would join.

“In my column two weeks ago (It’s high time for a shift to policy, Feb 13), I said hypocrisy is rampant in our politics. Each side claims it monopolises the truth, and accuses opponents of being the root of all evil.

“In the same week that column was published, several unexpected conversations took place with leaders of different political parties. These eventually led to my decision to formally switch from my current membership in PAS to another party,” said Wan Saiful in his column today in English-language daily The Star.

Wan Saiful is also leaving IDEAS.

He said he intended to enter politics is to help improve the state of the Malaysian political arena.
 
“For many years I have been saying that our politicians must up their game and improve the quality of our political debate. Yet, as we get closer to the 14th general election, things show no signs of improving

“At the very least I want to be able to hold my head up and say that I am trying to reduce the hypocrisy.”

He said from his frequent meetings with people and his 18 years in the United Kingdom, he had learnt that they were many people “who want to do the right thing for the country”.

There were also crooked individuals in our society but because of our vindictive political system, people were afraid to speak up, he said.

“I have learnt that there are good individuals in all political parties. But our political environment is so antagonistic that we too often miss the fact that there are many sincere politicians out there who may not be getting enough airtime while too many clowns get an unnecessary amount of coverage.”

He said people had asked him why he felt compelled to leave IDEAS when it was already public knowledge that he was a member of PAS.

“I don’t have an answer to that.  But that is the environment we are in today. And this is also why I think I need to at least try to do something to change it,” he said adding that he thanked Ideas and The Star for being supportive towards him.

Wan Saiful had previously said at a forum in Kuala Lumpur that it was only a matter of time before his Islamist party sacked him for his progressive views. – February 27, 2018.