The Malaysian Insight

IT’S the last day of September 2019 but somehow it feels like September 1998 – the month when Anwar Ibrahim was fired from Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet.

Some of the players remain the same, then and now, with the same concerns and doubts.

Syed Husin Ali, then of PRM, and Ezam Nor, then Anwar’s political secretary, have these past few days expressed their feelings against Dr Mahathir, who is again prime minister after Pakatan Harapan beat Barisan Nasional in the 2018 general election.

Syed Husin, a founding member of PKR, criticised Dr Mahathir for not having a clear transition plan for Anwar, just after the prime minister said he would be keep the job for a maximum of three years after the PH win in May 2018.

The generally agreed consensus within PH had always been two years and Anwar himself said recently he expected to take the post next year but Dr Mahathir’s announcement has caused an uproar among those who believe Anwar’s chances are diminishing 16 months into PH’s rule.

It does not help that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was just turning five when Anwar was sacked in 1998, insisted today there was no agreed timeframe for the power transfer.

Ezam was more succinct. He called Dr Mahathir a “false reformist”. Both he and Syed Husin are among those who know from personal experience the political machinations and difficulties to ensure Anwar gets the top job, even decades later.

On the other hand, you have Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who published the book that led to Anwar’s sacking in 1998. He remains unconvinced that Anwar is fit to lead the government and nation.

Deja vu? In more ways than one, of course. 

This political skirmish over Dr Mahathir passing the baton to Anwar, then and now, is happening amid a souring economy and a bleak global outlook with a trade war between the United States and China and European Union’s Brexit woes.

Then and now, supporters and critics of both men are sniping away to ensure what has been promised happens or not. And once again, Dr Mahathir is the incumbent and Anwar the pretender.

The reality is these supporters need to see the bigger picture in Malaysia now. It took the combined partnership of both men to give BN the knockout blow in the 14th general election. 

It will take their combined efforts to get the economy right again, for Malaysians to feel united and not divide themselves into racial, religious and class silos.

Right now, Dr Mahathir has nothing to give except a crown of thorns as long he and his cabinet fail to deliver a better life to Malaysians. And Anwar will have nothing unless he, too, takes part in delivering the goods.

And as for their supporters, perhaps it is best to pipe down and make sure that promises are kept or both these men will join their BN and PAS foes as political failures. – September 30, 2019.

* Jahabar Sadiq runs The Malaysian Insight.