A civilisation is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless. – American writer and activist, James A. Baldwin
The granting of discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) on all 47 of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering charges after four years of trial in the High Court this week was stunning.
Yet, Malaysians can see it coming a mile away, but that does not at all deter or detract its shock value.
The people know sooner or later that this will happen, but still the fact that it actually happened poses questions, particularly to Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Many would say a nationwide protest would happen with people rallying in the streets to express their displeasure and disenchantment if this were the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government of old.
But this is not the BN government. This government has PH as the backbone. The prime minister is a PH prime minister. No demonstrations of any sort have or will happen.
“They sold out – PH sold out,” said former Umno man Shahril Sufian Hamdan during their ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast on Wednesday. I think it described exactly how many Malaysians are feeling.
Let’s not listen to party members, supporters of persons of vested interests in politics. Take it from the man on the street – the fence sitters, the eagle-eyed observers who do not have any stake in any political parties. Ask them how they really feel.
Disappointed is the word. It is not really anything against Zahid the person, but rather the manner how the case was conducted.
The people are saying that if there are technicalities that could exonerate the deputy prime minister, why wasn’t it fought in court? Why did the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC) decide to request for a discharge?
These are pertinent questions that needs answering and at the moment, nobody could answer it. Everybody seems to have plausible deniability.
The knee-jerk reaction by a particular Cabinet minister that Zahid’s discharge was similar to how former prime minister and leader of the opposition faction Perikatan Nasional (PN) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was acquitted recently is insulting.
The people aren’t born yesterday, they can read and they do. Definitely, this was an example of a political party or coalition going against their own principles.
In these moments, another question that arises is where does Pakatan go from here?
They are supposedly the ones fighting for good governance, transparency and accountability for the better part of the last 20 years – the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) particularly.
They replaced BN in the 14th general election (GE14) and brought down former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak painting the former as a shady figure, playing up sentiments and scandals leading to Najib being portrayed in a bad light.
Similarly, in GE15, they found a scapegoat in Zahid himself. They played up the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal to cast aspersions on BN and the then government.
It is one thing to form a government together with your archenemies for the sake of the nation’s political stability, it is another to be a willing patsy to serve the interests of the few. This is a red-line if there is such a thing, in the eyes of the people.
Analyst Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) said that the failure of both PH and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to honour these “red lines” will give rise to a trust deficit in the administration.
Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (MUDA), currently a party in the unity government has launched its #DakwaZahid campaign, which is pushing for Zahid to be prosecuted. It is also calling for the attorney-general (AG) to explain the decision to request for the DNAA, and for a separation of the AG’s and public prosecutor’s roles.
“If there is no response from the government on our three demands, we might have to consider (leaving the government bloc),” said MUDA secretary-general Amir Hadi during a press conference.
Tunku Mohar said that it would be damaging if other parties in the unity government were to follow suit.
Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), also a party in the unity government questioned the DNAA on Zahid’s case.
Party president Datuk Larry Sng said the party along with other smaller parties have been excluded from all party discussions within the unity government. “It is therefore our responsibility to take a stand on issues of such importance,” he said.
Will MUDA, PBM and other parties make a stand and choose to leave the federal government? That remains to be seen.
But definitely, the events that has occurred has put many at unease. Someone has to take responsibility and quick.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
