By jem
Politics allows for strange bedfellows, and this can be seen happening ahead of the upcoming general election.
There is Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with his party longing to have some kind of deal with anyone as long as it is in his interest. So, he reached out to the Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional, and is even is willing to ‘forgive’ PN chairman Mahiaddin Yasin for having “stabbed me in the back before“.
Mahiaddin declined the offer, and was called “arrogant” by Mahathir.
Actually, Mahiaddin’s Bersatu-PN should work with Mahathir’s Pejuang-led Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition as they both deserve each other, considering the havoc they both caused the country from 2020 until now!
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Mahathir then reached out to Pakatan Harapan in the hope of a lifeline.
PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim responded he had no qualms about meeting Mahathir to discuss political cooperation.
How magnanimous! Are you kidding us? Why on earth would the PH leader want to even think about this ridiculous idea? He should know that a leopard never changes its spots – people are not able to change their innate nature.
So for the sake of the people who might want to vote for PH, new faces are required to make the party believable again. And old collaborations that have caused painful memories should be severed.
In any case, Mahathir does not quite believe in a coalition with diverse backgrounds coming together to become a people’s party.
Both Anwar and Mahathir have different ideological beliefs, and this is made perfectly obvious in Mahathir’s new right-wing Pejuang-GTA, whose main thrust is for Malay nationalism and Islamic democracy.
So could PH work with a party with such beliefs, especially since PH is championing the cause of unity for all Malaysians, irrespective of race, religion and cultures? What Pejuang-GTA stands for is contrary to what PH (Alliance of Hope) stands for, isn’t it?
So with polling day not far off, parties are finalising their candidates, and some old names have been replaced with new ones. Many have different views and ideas about all these changes, and it is up to the leaders of the respective parties to decide which ones would suit the voters’ palates.
It is good to see PKR putting up seven fresh faces, which has caused a buzz in PH. One is a woman, Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz (who has the spinal condition spina bifida), and this is a step in the right direction. So too the choice of Nik Omar Nik Aziz, the son of the late Pas spiritual leader.
How amazing is this, as it speaks of PKR-PH as a party for all; hope is not lost for those who want a party that speaks for everyone.
But it is sad that there are some in the party who, instead of welcoming and embracing new blood, are harping on why the leaders have chosen these new faces without any discussion.
One PKR leader called the fielding of Dr Noraishah “shocking”, saying candidates should be connected to the grassroots and should “know the sentiment on the ground before contesting”.
Another leader said the selection process would create confusion among grassroots members over the criteria for candidate selection. Apparently, the new system of applications, which allows anyone to apply, was not discussed within the party.
Are these sour grapes genuinely concerned about the party? Is it wrong for the party to bring in new faces?
Or are those who are making these unnecessary comments miffed they were not chosen to stand? Come on, grow up!
Aren’t we all looking for the same thing? What are we looking for? What do we need? We all need a change of government, which is of paramount concern.
Why are some old faces not standing? Leaders need to read the ‘signs of the times’ to cater to those who have voted before and the new generation who will be voting for the very first time.
People are desperate for a change for the better.
We want a government elected by the people, like in 2018. So the leaders of the coalition and its party members must work together for the common good – for the people and the country.
We want an honest, ethical, responsible, coherent and honest government free from all the abuse and corruption that has plagued the country for years.
So, yes, new faces are a necessary part of that change, and this process will help the party get the right information from the newcomers about what is actually going on at the grassroots – what the people are feeling; how the people are suffering and what the party must and can do to help.
So give the newbies a break. Instead of feeling aggrieved, help them and the party to win again – because you, the elders, have the benefit of experience, and hindsight is 20/20.
With everybody working together, miracles can happen. So give the new faces a break and help them, instead of wallowing in self-pity.
Make another miracle happen!
jem, an Aliran reader, still cares deeply about Sabah, despite having lived in the peninsula for some time
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
