The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
– Martin Luther King, Civil rights activist
Do we need a two-term limit on the term of office for our prime ministers? After all, we have had three prime ministers in the last three years and perhaps more to come before the next general election in 21 months.
Just jesting, I would still support a two-term limit for the prime minister.
On August 21, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in as our 9th Prime Minister after the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin amidst yet another round of political turmoil and a hectic round of statutory declarations.
In the meantime, the recriminations have started as to how a ‘controversial’ person managed to become the prime minister.
The finger-pointing ranges from the PH’s refusal to accept Muhyiddin’s olive branch comprising seven incentives to blaming GPS for supporting Ismail.
Personally, I would say PH true to form, shot themselves in the foot once again (and in the process lost the fight for the PMO again) by rejecting the olive branch and therefore triggering another crisis.
As for the GPS stance, I would say as long as they can procure more rights, funding for Sarawak and keep Sarawak safe and stable for its people, all is fine and good.
Now begins the next phase, the jockeying for cabinet posts. About four or five speculative lists are floating around as usual. Some fake and some might be test balloons to check on reactions.
This selection process is rarely objective and is usually subject to much lobbying from the various component parties and the several factions within them — not an easy task.
It is a process of taking into account political realities, a reward scheme for loyalty and also a means of asserting authority.
Sarawakians are also now clamouring for the deputy premiership. This would be good but there is only a slim chance. Perhaps it would be better to be pragmatic and focus on obtaining more ministerial roles that can be of benefit to Sarawakians.
To kick start his role as prime minister, Ismail in his maiden speech on August 22 has called for all to move forward together to help the nation heal and recover and for political stability to be swiftly achieved through togetherness, including by establishing cross-party cooperation.
The new prime minister has also made conciliatory overtures by offering the leadership of the opposition to be part of the National Recovery Council and the Special Committee on Covid-19.
He also repeatedly used the term ‘Kelaurga Malaysia’ as a catchphrase and addressed Malaysians as “my beloved Malaysian family”.
He also emphasised that Malaysians are all a part of a family despite their diversity in religion, race and ethnicity, with all of them complementing and needing each other as different parts of a single body, a significant departure from his usual racially divisive firebrand speeches in the early days.
The prime minister also acknowledged Sabah and Sarawak’s harmony with the statement “We do realise the existence of inter-marriage families with various races and religions such as in Sabah and Sarawak, and yet possess strong family bonds. Thus, the concept of Malaysian Family is akin to the strength of a nation bound together by such values,”
It seems that from May of 2018 till now we have come full circle, from ‘Satu Malaysia’ to ‘Keluarga Malaysia’, essentially the same concept and with Umno at the helm.
In short, the maiden speech was good in content, but then sceptics would say that these are for the moment mere words. It is the actions and the results that the rakyat will watch closely.
A close eye will also be kept by many on the outcome of the many charges of corruption and on-going related court cases of various politicians and associates for signs of political interference.
The prime minister’s challenges are many and another one is related to the name of the new government. It is still the PN government or a government by another name. It is important to note that the chairman of PN is still Muhyiddin.
I sincerely hope for the sake of all of us he can follow up on his intentions and create a new political landscape and I wish him all success.
While waiting for the ‘good intentions’ to be translated into good outcomes let us keep praying for a better Malaysia in the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia.
However, due to the vagaries and dynamics of Malayan politics do not hold your breath.
The views expressed are those of the columnist and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
