YOURSAY | ‘Don't fight them by being gentlemen. It doesn't pay as they don't play fair with you.’
Save nation, not your careers, Zaid tells opposition
FairMind: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, you have hit the nail on its head. The nation will no doubt benefit from your advice if it is acted upon.
Malaysians are fed up with politicians becoming the PM as Malaysians simply cannot trust them to rule the country by exploiting race, religion and royalty.
It will be a breath of fresh air and definitely beneficial to Malaysia in the long run if the opposition can support a non-politician to become the PM.
See what happened in the US - people could no longer trust politicians like the Clintons to run the country and instead voted in Donald Trump, despite all his flaws.
Sarawakian: Zaid, I would take what you say with a big pinch of salt. Muhyiddin Yassin was said to have been offered the post of PM by Dr Mahathir Mohamad but rejected it.
Instead he nominated Najib Razak. And he could have kept his mouth shut and with it his DPM’s post instead of setting up a new party at the age of 70.
I am relying on Old Fox to teach Pakatan Harapan a trick or two about realpolitik, otherwise GE14 can never be won by Pakatan Harapan.
The opposition are full of people like you, Zaid, barking at shadows or dyed in the wool liberals who are good at going to jail, but at the end of the day it is still BN that rules the roost.
I agree with Bersatu that all the talk about PM/DPM is premature. Keep your cards close to your chest and reveal it only after the election are called.
We live in dangerous times, Zaid. Extraordinary measures are needed if the nation is to live.
Just a Malaysian: Zaid, have you not forgotten that it was Mahathir who got us into this mess? Mahathir does not subscribe to a new democratic and liberal Malaysia but only a new PM.
He was the PM who started the Malay-Muslim superiority over other races and religion. He dismantled all check and balances. He concentrated power into the hands of the PM.
He diminished the role of MCA and MIC. He brought in Muslims to dilute the population of local East Malaysians. He demonised DAP and the Chinese as enemies of Malays.
He destroyed the rule of law and was the first to use security law like the Internal Security Act (ISA) on a massive scale against the opposition.
He also destroyed the judiciary. He removed the autonomy of universities. The list goes on and on. How can Mahathir be called upon to reform this country?
Hang Babeuf: Dr Mahathir (as PM)? Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li)? Or perhaps someone a little more senior, if former Universiti Malaya vice-chancellor Ungku Aziz Ungku Abdul Hamid can be persuaded.
Or, on the other hand, one might begin to ‘get real’.
Anonymous_4031c: Our seasoned politicians in the opposition still fall for the tricks of BN. There are times you just have to let them be in suspense and take them by surprise. Don't fight them by being gentlemen. It doesn't pay as they don't play fair with you.
Truth be told, there are so many Malays in the opposition parties who qualify on merits to be named the next PM. There is no need to rush to make the final decision. Show your hands later.
Hank Marvin: Zaid is only good at advising others but failed to do it himself. He left PKR because he lost the contest for deputy president and he was such a liability when the party nominated him to stand in the Hulu Selangor by-election.
And he was said to be asking too much when Mohamad Sabu and gang went to see him to ask for help to set up Amanah.
RR: Zaid, you, too, are a good candidate for PM besides Rafizi Ramli who is qualified, bold, sincere and concerned with the future of this country.
In your case, Zaid, you have to win the hearts of the large section of moderate Malays. PAS has already labelled you as the ultra-modern Malay.
Anonymous_1388029052: Zaid, why do you keep us in suspense? Malaysians would like to know your choice of PM.
Desperate for Change: The opposition parties are not getting their act together. Without Anwar Ibrahim, they are directionless.
I think the suggestion of having an opposition coalition with a single logo is really a brilliant idea. Get one person to lead as PM and all others should be patient.
Once the opposition wins, I am sure you will get good positions. Right now, your aim is to get rid of Umno and Najib.
Cartoon Lover: Well said, Zaid. All opposition politicians should watch the movie ‘Hero’, starring Jet Li. Many assassins sacrifice themselves to let the most capable and most likely to be successful to kill the emperor.
That said, whoever becomes PM must commit to democratic reform, repeal undemocratic laws, etc, and not all power should be centralised in the hands of the PM.
There must be check-and-balance in the power and appointment of the attorney-general, the inspector-general of police, and the heads of the Election Commission and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
See how Hong Kong was reformed with the setting up of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) during the gangster days and corrupt times of the 1970s.
PMs and ministers or governments can come and go, but the country cannot progress with the strong institutions and systems in place.
Anonymous #70881335: To Cartoon Lover, please see the film ‘Hero’ again. I think you got the story mixed up. The hero was the emperor, not the assassins.
Senior: In other places, rich people go into politics. Here, we go into politics to get rich. Welfare of the nation? It's not even considered.
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