Grim times ahead for Malaysia

By jem

For many months now, the spectre of a general election has been hovering over the country.

Some speculate that the prime minister is not in sync with Umno president Zahid Hamidi. At a recent Umno supreme council meeting, the PM was noticeably absent and was, instead, having an online discussion with China’s President Xi Jinping on global development.

Others say Ismail Sabri did not want to be put on the spot regarding a date for the general election nor did he want to be caught in the middle of the tussle between his buddy, Tajuddin Rahman, and the Umno supreme council.

The prime minister is caught between a rock and a hard place, isn’t he? With his position as prime minister said to be hanging by a thread, what will his next move be? Does he have any moves to make? Will he call for a general election? Will he be sacked as Umno vice-president?

It is common that when a member leaves a party or is ousted from a key post, some revelations will be made. So it was with Tajuddin. One shocker was his revelation of a secret pact – that Zahid had made efforts to get Umno MPs to back Anwar for PM. Tajuddin said he was a “living witness” to this pact.

So we now know that Anwar wasn’t lying when he said he had the numbers and would have become PM had certain quarters not reneged on their promise. Yet, Anwar should have learnt his lesson not to be so trusting after what had happened between him and Dr Mahathir Mohamad since the 2018 general election.

Tajuddin has now been dropped from the Umno supreme council for being critical of the party. Are these ‘revelations’ from him a case of ‘sour grapes’ or are there some grains of truth to it?

The government is in flux. We do not know where the country is heading and the future looks ominous.

There are promises that the government has not yet sorted out, the ‘anti-hopping law’ being one.

On 10 September 2021, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri had offered key reforms to the opposition alliance in return for their support in Parliament.

We now know that the proposal to table the Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill related to the prohibition on switching parties by members of the Lower House of Parliament is scheduled for 18 July.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar cited several reasons why the cabinet decided not to hold a special one-day sitting to table the constitutional amendments in the first week of July.  

So, based on the promise made to the opposition alliance in 2021, how important is this particular law to the PM?

The answer probably lies with the ‘hop’ by Zuraidah Kamaruddin from Bersatu to Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Ismail Sabri is still ‘sitting on his hands’ on this blatant move from Zuraidah, but has been given a get-out-of-jail card by none other than Bersatu president Mahiaddin Yasin, who suggested creating a new ministry just for Zuraidah!

So, when in doubt, create a new ministry! Ismail Sabri should remember that Mahiaddin Yasin = Sheraton Move! Remember that bit of history.

The people are facing many critical and important issues.

We are barely getting over the pandemic and the cost of living has risen alarmingly. Covid cases are on the rise and another surge in cases may not be not far off. Monkey pox and the new variants of the virus are some things we have heard little about from the Ministry of Health.

The corruption sagas of Najb Razak and Zahid never seem to end. Now there is another story about a bank that has been asked to disclose millions of ringgit lost by about 40 premium account owners due to fraud allegedly committed by one of its officers.

The spectre of rampant corruption is everywhere and it will be many, many years before this insidious disease can be wiped out. Or never, depending on whom we vote into office.

Will the country ever come out of this mire of corruption? Will Malaysia ever be able to hold its head up high again?

It is a known fact that Umno-BN is loaded with corruption, and many of its leaders are involved. If Umno-BN wins the coming general election, this country will continue to be stuck in this mud of corruption and we will, one day, become a failed state. This is a spectre nobody wants.

It is absolutely imperative that all parties have the courage to remove those who even have the slightest taint of corruption in their parties.

Yes, it is easier said than done; but, if we are to be honest, we, the people, should also share the blame. We, the people, chose these corrupted officials as our elected representatives.

So now it is we, the people, who must take matters into our own hands and vote them out. We must look ahead for the sake of future generations because politicians don’t care. Why must we put future generations at risk because we do not have the courage of our convictions?

As Professor Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of Hogwarts School of Magic, once said, “Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right.”

So, choose wisely!

jem, an Aliran reader, still cares deeply about Sabah, despite having lived in the peninsula for some time

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama

1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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