I agree with Dr Jacob George's observation that bringing back the two stalwarts of the party and seasoned leaders will be good for the country.

However, politics being what it is, I seriously doubt if any of the present leaders will pay more than lip service to the notion of placing party and country above self. It will surprise me if former deputy premiers Musa Hitam and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will be given the opportunity to return, for a number of reasons:

  • It will be a serious indictment of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's leadership and a big dent to his inflated ego. Both leaders were his chosen successors and yet both fell out of grace. To bring them back now will be proof how wrong he had been, not in their initial selection but in their sacking;

  • There are many in the party, particularly the next echelon of leaders, who will not want their hard-earned and hard-won positions to be taken away. Many of them have stood opposed to the Musa-Razaleigh axis and betted on the right horse. They would see no justification in having to give up their victory for a greater good and play second fiddle to the vanquished.

  • Too much power has been concentrated on one man for too long that I don't think there exists a group of senior party leaders influential enough who could bring their authority to bear on the party to accede to such a proposition.

    • We desperately need a person of impeccable integrity and strong leadership to step onto the plate to give direction and stewardship to the country. Let us pray that such a person can be found — and soon.