COMMENT The realignment of the forces to urge Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s resignation is more than just what local analyst Khoo Kay Peng made it out to be - the opposition’s attempt to leverage on the ‘Mahathir platform’ to do better in the next general election.

In fact, that view is somewhat short-sighted to say the very least and it deserves to be re-visited after taking into consideration the latest development. A more accurate view is reflected in this well-written article entitled, ‘From saving nation from Dr M, to saving it with Dr M’.

Looking at the original press statement by Anwar Ibrahim, the headline used by Malaysiakini ’s article , ‘Anwar backs anti-Najib consensus including Dr M, urges support’ is more accurate than what appears in most other media.

If anything, this realignment of forces requires a lot of humility on the part of the leaders across both the political divide. It is more than just opportunism; it is about swallowing one’s own pride and burying the old hatchets, and working for the good of the country and the future generation of Malaysians free from political, racial and religious bigotry.

The time is ripe, but the setting must be right, too

Anwar, in his latest press statement, never said that Pakatan Harapan should rally behind Dr Mahathir Mohamad to urge Najib’s resignation.

Instead, it is a common objective to which Anwar is committed, when he wrote from the prison cell in Sungai Buloh, and I quote him verbatim: “I support the position of friends in civil society, political parties and individuals including Tun Dr Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and others to build up strength and common understanding together, as articulated by the Leader of the Opposition recently.”

The call for change, he added, must also necessarily involve reforms at key institutions in this nation, which have been badly damaged under the Najib’s administration.

The keyword is “together”. Although Zaid Ibrahim was enthusiastic to see Dr Mahathir become the rallying point on March 27, the former prime minister himself has stated that he prefers not to be the leader; therefore, Zaid should stop using Dr Mahathir to garner the people’s support for March 27, if ever the public rally were to go ahead.

Otherwise, it should go ahead as a meeting between leaders from across the political divide to declare their joint decision on what needs to be done to save Malaysia from going to the dogs. The declaration should be read out and published in all news channels.

Subsequently, if Najib fails to listen to the voices of the people, the joint committee can then urge the next big rally which will involve concerned Malaysians from all walks of life. This time, it may have to be in front of the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya.

In trying to rally the people together, Zaid should understand that, with all the personalities involved, the objective has to be very clear involving both the removal of Najib and institutional reforms. Such a clarion call is not new.

For some time now, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang had proposed the realignment of forces. Both Dr Mahathir and Muhyiddin are only jumping on the bandwagon, because they understand better how Umno operates, and at least Dr Mahathir has finally given up on using the party platform to oust Najib.

Dr Mahathir should accept responsibility

The scandal-ridden Najib is today a weak leader hiding behind a strong fortress built by Dr Mahathir, which Dr Mahathir himself is unable to assail.

The dissenters within Umno are unable to remove Najib because of all the possible manoeuvres that have been written into Umno’s constitution during Dr Mahathir’s time, for which Najib should be grateful that he is able now to defend himself from being thrown out.

For example, Najib knew that he could face possible threats from within Umno; therefore, he has pushed the party election to some 18 months down the road. This gives Najib ample time to win over the hearts of some, if not all of the dissenters.

This is a lesson that I hope by now Dr Mahathir has learnt. One has to reap whatever one sows. He realises now that Najib’s position is untouchable. Dr Mahathir is hard-pressed for support from the opposition and civil society to help him remove Najib from the seat of power, not vice-versa.

Credit to Mahathir nonetheless

Having said that, credit should be given to the nonagenarian for his persistence in harping on 1MDB. His departure from Umno this week is seen as the last straw to shake up the grassroots.

In around June last year, Najib had promised that the 1MDB issue would be solved within six months; instead, there are allegations that he has received over US$1 billion into his personal accounts, more than the original US$641 (RM2.6 billion) that we knew about.

By now, news of his resignation would have spread far and wide, and aroused a lot of curiosity within the Umno grassroots. If anything, Dr Mahathir will have to harness the support from the grassroots if he wants Najib removed.

His resignation as an Umno member speaks volume about the party that he once led - that even Umno needs to go through some reforms to prevent a repeat of the same scenario in the future.

Dr Mahathir would not have succeeded in waking up the nation, without the relentless reporting by the Wall Street Journal, Sarawak Report and other reputable newspapers which have exposed the scandal to the whole world. There is no question about it, Najib has to face the music.

Facilitate, not obstruct democratic rights

But the settings have to be right. Civil society leader Maria Chin Abdullah, who is also chairperson of Bersih 2.0, has pointed out that March 27 is not just about Dr Mahathir’s agenda, but the agenda of the rally (whichever date) has to do with institutional reforms.

Charges that were trumped up against the opposition have to be dropped; and prisoners of conscience such as Anwar Ibrahim have to be released. The Election Commission has to be revamped, so that a clean and fair election could be held in the 14th general election.

“Otherwise, there is no point saying we should get rid of the prime minister, but want the old system to remain,” Chin is quoted saying by the Malaysian Insider .

In the months to come, Malaysians will see more public demonstrations. When times are bad, people who are hard-pressed are more likely to take it to the streets.

Whether March 27 with its ‘Remove Najib’ objective, or Pakatan Harapan planning to organise an anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally on April 2, I agree that it is time for Malaysians to rise to the occasion and lend their support.

I believe it is the people of this country who will eventually help to turn the country around, not the politicians. Like in most First World countries, the police, too, have an important role to play in facilitating the rallies.

We should avoid repeating the mistake made by Communist China, which used the military on civil society during the Tiananmen protests of 1989. We are a democratic nation, not a communist country.

In Malaysia, the same tactic cannot be legitimised by any means.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.