by Theleaders-Online | January 22, 2020 1:29 am
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s recent outburst towards his fellow comrades from the Pakatan Harapan coalition on the issue of pressuring Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to resign is nothing short of being childish and self-ridiculing.
First and foremost, as the Youth and Sports Minister, he has just confirmed his immaturity in understanding the basics of the position of a prime minister in Malaysia, far more with the current situation with Mahathir.
Bersatu had the least of parliamentary seats after the 14th general election. Mahathir was appointed by the consensus of all the parties in the Pakatan alliance and not at any one time, elected into the prime minister’s position.
Syed Saddiq should pick up an English dictionary before making statements and learn the meaning and definitions of words (legal or otherwise) before acting prematurely like a small boy getting all excited with a toy gun – thinking he can go ”shoot” all those who are voicing their displeasure openly against his boss Mahathir.
By all means he can shout at the top of his voice and defend who he likes, since we practice democracy, but making such blunders speak volumes of his lack of wisdom, quality and decorum.
And what does he mean by ”get your house in order”? Is Syed so ignorant that the very ”house” he is talking about is also occupied by him, called Pakatan Harapan, which ironically is the government of the day, that shelters DAP, PKR, Amanah and his Bersatu.
Why has he singled-out certain DAP and PKR leaders only; and in specific those who have supported the prime minister in-waiting PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?
Syed Saddiq was most probably just a five or six-year old kid running around in his diapers with a milk bottle or maybe some nasi lemak in hand when the Reformasi movements started circa 1997/98.
He has no inkling whatsoever in regards to the burning issues that saw the rise of a formidable opposition front that compounded into a political tsunami which eventually drowned Barisan Nasional in 2018.
It took two decades to eventually make the public realise that Malaysia needed a change and rid the culture and stink of corruption, nepotism and cronyism reeking from the government then.
Forget not that in the 60-year reign of BN, 22 years were under his current boss Mahathir who harboured, nurtured, manured and groomed an elite group that lorded over the people.
Fast forward to 2018, Mahathir a supremely guileful and deceptive politician, saw an opportunity too good to ignore and made a ”heroic” comeback as the 7th prime minister. But unfortunately, as the saying goes ”a leopard never changes its spots”, Mahathir is back doing more harm than good for the country within less than two years becoming the prime minister again.
Now, why is Syed Saddiq getting all worked up if his fellow comrades in Pakatan, who are obviously more conversant with Mahathir, are pressuring for the baton to be passed on to Anwar?
Is Syed Saddiq insinuating Mahathir should remain in position until the next general election and that Anwar can just carry on taking care of the beaches in Port Dickson?
It is good to have young and energetic political leaders but Malaysians do not need those who are perceived as looking after their own needs only. We had enough with BN.
And today, unfortunately we are staring at a possible rehabilitation of the old cultures if Mahathir stays put too long.
One should never overstay his welcome! And above all, Syed Saddiq may just need more schooling in politics.
Narinder Pal Singh is a veteran political observer
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