The great betrayal
There is an African Proverb that says “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers”.
In Malaysia, it is always the rakyat that gets trampled on when politicians and political parties put self and personal interest above all.
Politicians treat their positions as if is a family asset, to be handed down from father/mother to son/daughter or other family member.
Today we are in a position where the rakyat is left leaderless and lost because the leaders we entrusted to manage this country have decided that their personal and family interest trumps that of the people who put them in power.
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whatever his motivations are, has never been shy in manoeuvring between and around the law, and when required not having to do the morally right thing. Was there any doubt that during the 14th General Election everyone knew that he was a 94-year-old man who was saving the country from kleptocracy and would be handing over power to Datuk Seri Anwar as soon as he was pardoned by the Yang Di Pertuan Agong?
Everyone and his dog knew that the issue of being a lame duck prime minster is a flimsy excuse given by his cabal of supporters.
Till today he refuses to let go, even after realising that Datuk Seri Anwar may have the numbers and the support at the very least to form a minority government.
No Prime Minister of Malaysia was ever perfect, undoubtedly no prime minister may ever be, we accepted Mahathir not once but twice as prime minister with all his faults, with allegations of cronyism and nepotism never really answered fully nor well.
Why can’t we be allowed to choose our next prime minister without having him tell us what is or what is not good for us?
I am of the opinion that both coalitions have failed us. One coalition for not having the gumption and the fortitude to present to us a better set of leaders’ post 1MDB. And the Pakatan Harapan coalition for not having put their house in order without having to make the rakyat suffer.
May I remind the Pakatan Harapan coalition that before you were Pakatan Harapan, when you were Pakatan Rakyat, you had asked us to believe in PAS, after which you morphed into Pakatan Harapan and then you asked us to believe in Mahathir. What’s next?
I think the time is drawing nearer when the rakyat should begin to make choices not bound by coalitions but by individuals with merit. The time is now ripe for a group of committed young leaders to step forward and provide leadership.
Stephen Doss is a columnist with The Leaders Online
