COMMENT | This Malaysia Day, look beyond party logos

COMMENT | Malaysia Day will soon be upon us. Beyond the familiar celebrations, Sept 16 should also be a time to reflect on the country we have become and where we are heading.

That question feels especially pressing this year. Political developments are moving at dizzying speed. Umno and PAS, once bitter rivals, are drawing closer again. 

In Selangor, the possibility of cooperation between Pakatan Harapan and Bersatu has been floated.

And now, even Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is calling for an early general election.

For ordinary Malaysians, keeping track of who is aligned with whom has become rather tedious and at times confusing. Parties that fought each other yesterday may work together tomorrow, while government partners may contest against one another at the next election.

Who are we voting for?

To me, the constant changes have also taught me an important lesson: we can no longer assume that voting for a party will produce the government or alliance promised during an election.

Perhaps it is time to place greater trust in people than in party logos.

This does not mean parties and their policies no longer matter. They do, but come GE16, Malaysians should look more closely at the individuals seeking their votes.

What have they done? What do they stand for? Have they shown judgment, integrity, and the ability to work beyond partisan slogans?

There are already people across the political divide who offer glimpses of a different kind of leadership.

Former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan (below), for example, has remained a thoughtful voice despite being without a party. I really hope he stands in GE16.

One may not agree with all his views, but he engages with difficult issues intelligently. Malaysian politics needs more leaders who can explain, persuade, and listen.

Meanwhile, former minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz represents a different strength. He came into government with corporate experience rather than through the traditional political ladder.

As investment, trade and industry minister, he helped push forward the New Industrial Master Plan 2030 and Malaysia’s efforts to attract higher-value investments in areas such as semiconductors, digital technology, and advanced manufacturing.

Zafrul (below), who was also former finance minister, has also proven his breadth of experience, especially in economics.

Malaysia needs people who understand not only politics but also investment and finance, and can connect with a broad cross-section of society.

Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development Minister Steven Sim has also shown what purposeful leadership can look like. 

At the Human Resources Ministry, his previous portfolio, he helped steer the Gig Workers Act through Parliament, giving long-overdue recognition and protection to workers who had fallen outside traditional employment laws.

Sim's social media posts about helping struggling families and individuals also regularly gain public attention, perhaps because they reflect a genuine concern for those facing hardship.

Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, a former minister, brought seriousness to issues such as climate change and the energy transition, areas that will shape Malaysia long after today’s political quarrels are forgotten.

His conciliatory style also contrasts with our increasingly combative tone of Malaysian politics.

From East Malaysia, Ewon Benedick demonstrated another increasingly rare quality. He resigned from the cabinet over the federal government’s position on Sabah’s constitutional entitlement to 40 percent of revenue collected from the state.

Whatever one thinks of Ewon's (below) decision, giving up a ministerial position on a matter of principle deserves consideration.

Even lesser-known figures deserve a closer look. For example, MCA Youth information chief Neow Choo Seong, a multilingual former diplomat, is articulate and offers a breath of fresh air.

Out with the old, in with the new

These names are not saints or saviours. But they offer hope that this country can find a way out of its deepening political morass.

Malaysia needs a new generation of leaders defined by competence, integrity, courage, results, and colour-blindness.

This Malaysia Day, perhaps our hope should be that GE16 allows such individuals to rise, while those weighed down by scandal and old political games are finally shown the door.

Parties may continue changing partners. The country, however, cannot afford to keep going in circles.

Happy 63rd Malaysia Day!

JESSICA QUEK is a former human resources professional who has maintained a keen interest in Malaysian politics and writes as a casual political observer.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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