MALAYSIA Day takes place tomorrow, but it seems like we are undoing our reform agenda, backtracking on election promises and worse, contributing to a shrinking democratic space in the country. 

How does one recover from the stinging effect of the discharge not amounting to acquittal granted to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi? Or digest the 11 reasons given by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, which weren’t worth the paper it was written on? This case is of public interest and therefore why is the 200-page representation paper by Zahid’s lawyers not made public? 

And before we could recover from this travesty of justice, former prime minister Najib Razak and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy walked free because the AGC missed the deadline to file the appeal by two months. 

Let these two words sink in: two months. 

And that too in a case where Najib is alleged to have tampered with the auditor-general’s report relating to 1MDB. Would this therefore not raise questions such as whether this was negligence or intentional, especially when no one has been held responsible? 

I was talking to a friend and he said reforms by the Pakatan Harapan-led government must be a given instead of people having to fight tooth and nail for it. His argument centred around the government’s actions to reverse promised reforms such as to review the Sedition Act 1948, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 and the Official Secrets Act 1972. 

He was also disheartened by the use of police to block farmers and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s activists from handing over a memorandum to Parliament. 

We have always highlighted the plight of farmers and fishermen and the importance of food security. So, the question is “what has changed now?”

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim fought 25 years to end abuse of power and corruption through the “Reformasi” movement. He was kicked out of power, trumped-up charges ended his political career prematurely, went through a humiliating court process, was beaten in prison and yet did not waver on his principles. 

I want to see a resurgence of that Anwar, who galvanised hundreds of thousands of people, in support of good governance and accountability. 

To that hope, I wish you a Selamat Hari Malaysia. – September 15, 2023.

* Charles Santiago is former Klang MP.

* 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.