Political language … is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.
– George Orwell, novelist
Stability and good governance! This sums up the expectations of all Malaysians.
We, the people, have been bombarded with constant announcements of yet another new government in the making, the third this year, if it happens.
On September 23, 2020, just before the Sabah State Legislative Assembly elections on September 26, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed to have a strong majority to form the next government.
Subsequently, he stated that the Yang di Pertuan Agong had granted him an audience that was deferred due to the King’s medical treatment.
He is now scheduled to meet the Yang di Pertuan Agong today.
Whether for good or for bad, I somehow don’t think the people will be happy with yet another change in the government yet again.
There are just so many issues on a day-to-day basis that the ordinary citizens are worried about to deal with at the moment.
The Covid-19 pandemic is blowing up again. The resultant economic decline and job uncertainties are major priorities. Livelihoods are at stake.
I am sure some are wondering if our politicians are aware of this. Who knows? Perhaps they are in a world of their own.
Many of them, when they first entered politics, might have started off with noble and righteous intentions. But it looks like they have been sucked into a quagmire along the way.
Many of the current crop of federal politicians appear to have been truly ‘tarred and feathered’.
So, who should lead Malaysia? Is there anyone viable?
Let us look at what is on the menu.
The current on-off popular, unexpected eighth Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been in office since March 2020. He has, so far, survived as prime minister of a hodgepodge coalition government of convenience.
Credit must be given for his overall handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic stabilisation efforts.
We also have Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak, our sixth prime minister, from April 2009 to May 2018.
Recently convicted for corruption, with several more cases waiting, he is now well known worldwide for the 1MDB scandal.
There is also Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, aged 95, who has been our fourth and seventh prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and from 2018 to March 2020.
Although denying it, he just might go for an unprecedented third round. However, do note he sank his own PH government all on his own and then tried to blame others.
There is Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, currently Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is keeping a somewhat low profile overall at the moment.
What about the erratic Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi? The eighth president of the Umno since June 2018, he is also connected with a string of on-going corruption cases.
On the side lines, we have Khairy Jamaluddin, aged 44, the former Umno Youth poster boy and currently, our Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.
He is generally well liked and would be a breath of fresh air. However, most likely institutional politics will keep him away from the PM post for the moment.
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, former Sabah chief minister. His name was bandied about, but after the recent September 2020 defeat, he is most likely not anywhere at the top.
So amongst all, where does Anwar, 73, stand? He has twice served as the 12th and 16th Opposition Leader.
The prime ministership has been within his grasp several times, only to have alleged political machinations intervening, denying him the opportunity.
You do have to give credit to him for not giving up and having the stamina at this age despite all the huge challenges he has been through.
Many would have given up by now and ended up licking their wounds and perhaps written a book about the injustice of it all.
But will he have the numbers to be prime minister? His claim of having a “strong, formidable and convincing” majority will be tested today.
There are countless permutations of MPs who, it is claimed, will support him. Perhaps, he is on a fishing expedition.
But then securing an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is in itself an indication that something might be afoot.
Who knows this might just turn into a courtesy visit leading to a polite rebuke and then he will sent on his way.
On the other hand, if he has managed to cobble together a diverse group of parties or MPs, with each extracting a pound of flesh, perhaps he deserves a shot.
In the unexpected event he succeeds, we will probably just be getting the best amongst the worse of the lot.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
