Like other wary Malaysians, I do have my doubts if Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has the necessary numbers to bring down the government. If the former deputy premier has, as he claims, 31 MPs from BN who are willing to jump ship, it will increase his credibility if he just announces the names in public.
This high stakes poker game that Anwar is playing is not good for the political and economic situation in this country. I am not an apologist for the present government but the cat and mouse game played by Anwar has gone too far and people in power are now so preoccupied with the so-called transition of power by the present regime to a new one helmed by the former deputy premier, that they are ignoring the more pressing problems faced by our nation.
September 16, which is a sacrosanct date for the opposition front to take over the federal government, passed with a whimper. No historical transfer of power occurred on the sacred date and now, the public has to swallow more theatrics by the opposition leader who is coming up with new excuses on why he can’t form the federal government yet.
Political bickering among both sides of the divide has remained unabated ever since the last general election, with no end in sight. The last thing the nation needs is political instability.
The world economy is on meltdown as stock markets are heading south due to the failure of big investment banker, Lehman Brothers declaring insolvency and seeking protection under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act in the US.
Our local bourse which has been on the slide since the last polls, is suffering from the political crisis with foreign funds being moved out of the country and foreign investors preferring to invest their money in safer markets in the region. In the meantime, the common people are suffering due to the political in-fighting among our political leaders.
Sometimes, one tends to wonder if and when Anwar manages to from the new government with a thin majority in Parliament, will he have the necessary political will to reform the nation for the better?
One must not also forget that the opposition fronts have never ruled this country before. The ideological difference between DAP with their secular views and PAS with their Islamic principles are difficult to bridge if and when they become part of the federal government lead by Anwar. I wish the political impasse that is facing our nation will be reconciled soon so that our country can move forward.
Malaysia is not ready for a two-party government system. The next best course of action is to have snap polls to clear, once and for all, the political mess the country is facing at the moment. But the weak regime with all the scandals surrounding it will not go for it as the unforgiving public might show BN the door if a snap poll does occur.
Looks like we’re in for a long haul with no end in sight due to the political crisis affecting our nation. What a shame.
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