Bad leaders believe their team works for them. Great leaders believe they work for their team.
– Alexander Den Heijer, inspirational speaker
I believe many of us can recall the backlash against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he appointed UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister last December.
The key objection to Zahid’s appointment was his pending multiple corruption charges in court. Whichever way you look at it, it cannot be right to appoint a person facing criminal charges to the cabinet.
At that time, I honestly thought that Zahid would be magnanimous enough to allow his deputy, Mohamad Hasan, to be the DPM from UMNO but that was not to be.
Letting Mohd Hasan take the deputy premier’s post would be the right thing to do as the UMNO president has to fight his charges in court. But this is politics and we do understand why politics is more often than not about personal interests first.
Somehow, Zahid’s generous spirit was found wanting and he went on to be Anwar’s Number Two in the unity government.
The prime minister gave the only logical explanation, stating that Zahid has not been found guilty and hence, remains innocent. Well, what other defence could Anwar possibly come up with?
Six months in, there is less talk about Zahid’s baggage now, at least among allies in the government. It seems there is less resentment towards the UMNO president, even among DAP leaders.
The prime minister recapped the chronology of events in November/December last year after GE15 quite clearly at the unity government conference held on May 14.
Anwar credited Zahid and UMNO MPs for helping to shape the country’s history after the Nov 19 election.
The prime minister noted the many “attacks” against Zahid since being appointed as one of two deputy prime ministers.
“Zahid faced harsh attacks but I would like to say, if it was not for Zahid’s commitment as UMNO president and support of UMNO MPs, our history today will be different,” he said.
The prime minister was right to credit Zahid’s role and that of UMNO. Supporters of Pakatan Harapan (PH) eventually were able to come around and recognise the important role played by the UMNO president in the formation of the unity government.
To PH supporters, the other alternative for government, Perikatan Nasional (PN), was not an option. In this case, you cannot expect to have the best of both worlds.
It was a case of “take it or leave it”. Anwar took it, readied himself for the backlash against his decision and PH supporters followed him, albeit grudgingly.
It was also Zahid and UMNO who persuaded GPS and GRS from the Borneo territories to sign up with the unity coalition and support Anwar as prime minister.
It must also be noted that the Agong’s decree for a unity government was finally realised when GPS and GRS leaders strictly abided by the royal command.
Think of this – the leaders of Sabah and Sarawak were more loyal to the king than even the Malay leadership in PN. On record, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang openly defied the king’s decree to form a unity government.
The coalition government looks quite stable today and I believe Anwar would be able to hold the fort well over its five-year term.
However, PH and their allies must continue to work hard to ensure that promises and
reforms are carried out. The people expect that to happen under the Madani government as they have enough of broken promises and lies from previous governments.
All political leaders across the broad government set-up must also encourage their respective followers to move forward and not to engage in actions that can resurrect past animosities and resentment.
In this context, I hope that all quarters in UMNO and MCA should stop their nonsensical request for the DAP to apologise over condemnations made when the parties were foes.
Let me say this for a fact. All the parties were equally guilty of slandering one another in the past. So, stop the childish apology request; it makes no sense except boosting the ego of some leaders involved in the spat.
Wisely, Zahid has dismissed calls for DAP to apologise for allegedly spewing accusations towards UMNO. He said the matter had been resolved during the negotiations for the establishment of the federal government and should not be raised again.
The UMNO assembly over the weekend saw Zahid in the thick of things providing the necessary leadership for a party which was badly crushed electorally just last November.
No doubt Zahid can expect some detractors from within but as far as UMNO’s role in the Madani government is concerned, a Zahid-led UMNO will most certainly give its full backing, at least to serve out its full term.
Whatever the grouses about Zahid’s leadership of UMNO might be, I believe it only makes sense to live with a Zahid-led UMNO for now.
It might be costly for any quarters in the Madani government to rock the UMNO boat for whatever reason. It is also utterly stupid to do so.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
