Muhyiddin, beware the ‘omelette principle’

What would bring such a motley group of people together – apart from power and the perks that come with it? K Haridas writes.

It would amaze us if a Malaysian chef could make a good omelette out of bad eggs.

First, the bad eggs would make the omelette inedible. Second, we would waste the good elements like onions, tomatoes, salt and pepper in the process.

Muhyiddin Yassin should have consulted his spouse on this. She could have told him she would never be able to prepare a palatable dish for him from such eggs.

What’s more, the ‘good’ elements in the omelette – pepper and salt  – would be wasted. Think of the astonishing departures from Pakatan Harapan of former foreign minister Saifuddin Abdullah and former deputy transport minister Kamaruddin Jaafar.

So this is a premonition of the outcomes we can expect from the new Muhyiddin-led government. For Muhyiddin, “politics is more important than principles”, according to Mahathir. The late Karpal Singh once said that in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent principles.

Those who, in a moment of frenzy, made the wrong decision can still make amends.

But for the power-grabbers, it is anything goes and the ends justify the means. They will do whatever they need to do, paying little or no heed to human rights and concern for the public. What else can we expect from a group that has taken power through the back door. For those among them who profess a religious faith, this is the height of hypocrisy.

What would bring such a motley group of people together – apart from power and the perks that come with it? We have experienced enough of Umno-Barisan Nasional to know what they will bring to the table. Their cause is race, religion and royalty, as though they need to defend these causes. However, this gives them the cover under which corruption can thrive. The deep state stands waiting to embrace them.

Then we have Bersatu, a party that has lost all its moorings. It likewise stands for race, religion and the nation – a slight difference, but a race-based party all the same.

After all the shenanigans it displayed, Bersatu remains divided with its chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, having resigned – only for the party supreme council to announce that it was not accepting his resignation. Mahathir then resumed the role of chairman while Muhyiddin remained as president.

With Muhyiddin already sworn in as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia, it is unlikely the party would assign any meaningful role to Mahathir, who may quit the party or be sacked.

So here we have people who cannot even manage their own political parties now leading the nation. What a joke! Mahathir demeaned himself by founding such a political party, yet the more multi-racial Pakatan Harapan allowed him to lead the coalition. His selfishness has cost the nation dearly.

A few sell-outs still clinging on to BN like the MCA and the MIC, which will lend colour and give the team a multi-ethnic flavour – “Malaysia, truly Asia”. These two parties stand for little else but race. They are there for the power and position they can secure and to reclaim what they can.

Pas, which should be an example of Islamic leadership, shows up the vulnerability of certain leaders in their quest for power, not to mention their predilection for luxury limousines. Short-sighted leaders are there for the immediate positions and perks they can get.

Remember the court case Pas president Hadi Awang took up in London, suing Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown for libel after she alleged the party had received RM90m from Umno. Eventually, there was an out-of-court settlement, but the public remains in the dark as to whether any unethical practice took place. The whole episode cast a cloud on the integrity of Pas.

Political leaders from Sabah and Sarawak should ask themselves what they can achieve from joining such a discredited government. Any trust that exists will be fragile. I foresee many will again be taken for a ride – unless it was never about fighting for a cause but merely serving personal interests. If so, those who participate in this will be mortgaging their personal integrity.

When Charan Singh became the Prime Minister of India in 1979, after his Janata Dal defeated Congress, his famous statement was that he had achieved his ambition. The same might be said about Muhyiddin.

The twists and turns will continue, and many are praying this motley group will be defeated in a vote of confidence when Parliament convenes soon. Much is at stake, and many who voted for PH are feeling dejected. But it is not yet over.

When it comes to power, there is no religion. It is all about selfishness and grabbing. We are all witnesses to the events going on, and it is important that voters signal their MPs how they are feeling. We have to take a stand and send a message that we don’t find this situation acceptable.

We stand in need of those in Sabah and Sarawak. Here is an opportunity for them to make a difference for Malaysia. We need the depth of harmony that they experience and which those in the peninsula have lost. Do not support the racists and be a part of their schemes.

Count on us to defend with you the cause of the Malaysia Agreement 1963. There are enough good eggs left for us to have a great treat of ‘omelettes’ together!

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

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
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5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme

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