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'Invincible' politicians a problem in M'sian politics, says analyst

With the backdrop of corruption scandals casting a shadow on the administrations of both BN and opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, political analyst Professor Hamdan Osman said in a landscape based on integrity, no politician should be made to feel invincible.

In Malaysia, however, Hamdan said supporters have a tendency to “become heroes and cover-up” for the leaders.

“It is as if they (the politicians) are invincible. Can’t be touched. In fact, they are the ones who should be expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity. That is what should happen,” Hamdan told Malaysiakini during an interview at his office.

Hamdan, who is dean of Universiti Selangor Centre for Foundation and General Studies, said this when asked for comments on the corruption investigation against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim had pleaded not guilty to two counts of corruption and was released on bail of RM1 million.

Critics called on Lim to take leave pending the outcome of the case but his party, the DAP, had decided there was no need for him to do so, as it believes the charges are politically motivated.

Hamdan said that such a reaction was partly a factor that had contributed to the invincible status of Malaysian politicians, and created a culture of impunity.

“That is Malaysian politics. So long as this is not resolved, the problem will remain. We will just continue to cite rhetoric and slogans (on anti-corruption),” he said.

Hamdan also said that the problem was prevalent on both sides of the political divide, as a similar reaction could be seen on calls for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resign over the scandals involving state investment arm 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation.

He said that it had always been difficult to fault politicians. “In fact, we would later reward them. This is our history and it happens on both sides (government and opposition).”

In Umno, Najib’s critics, including former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah menteri besar Mukriz Mahathir, were sacked from the party.

Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal, meanwhile, was slapped with an indefinite suspension.

‘Muhyiddin, Mukhriz are unlike Anwar’

Following his exit from Umno, Muhyiddin had said he was considering the options of setting up a new political platform or to join existing opposition parties.

Hamdan, however, cautioned that neither the former Umno No 2 nor Mukhriz appeared to have the “pull factor” that could rival jailed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“In Pagoh and Semporna, there are still internal disputes, with members saying Umno is still strong. But just compare that with Permatang Pauh (Umno) when Anwar was sacked.

“And until today PKR Permatang Pauh is strong, when the party is weak. That shows (Anwar)’s charisma,” he said, adding that there was not even a rumble in Umno Jerlun when its MP was recently appointed to the cabinet as a deputy minister.

In a case similar to Muhyiddin's, Hamdan pointed out that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had sacked Anwar in September 1998.

Critics condemned the move as political prosecution and rallied the reformasi movement that eventually founded Parti Keadilan Nasional – as it was originally known.

“If we see what happened when Anwar was sacked, there was a mass uprising not only from Umno but also from others. There was a big impact.

“Seeing that impact would also answer the question on whether Muhyiddin and Mukhriz are capable of setting up a new political party,” he said.

He also said Najib’s move to wait nearly one year before sacking Muhyiddin had downplayed its impact among Umno members.

“The ‘pull factor’ is important and I don’t feel that Muhyiddin, Mukhriz or even Shafie has it.

“They are all seasoned politicians but not the ones who could attract the masses,” he said.

‘Joining a new party also a problem’

On the other hand, Hamdan said for the leaders to join an existing party had its own set of challenges, namely for them to assimilate with its principles, and also whether existing members could accept their entry.

“This has happened several times in PKR. They accepted former BN leaders and appointed them to high positions. I take (former federal minister) Zaid Ibrahim as an example.

“He joined PKR, contested as deputy president, but was forced to quit and set up Kita. That is also another example where the party could be formed but there was no pull factor,” he said.

Other politicians who left Umno to form their own fledgling parties, include former minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

He founded Parti Ikatan Bangsa Malaysia which entered into cooperation with Islamist-party PAS to form a 'third bloc' to rival Harapan.

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