There was a clear sign of frustration when Mohamad Sabu, the president of Parti Amanah Negara, threw the cordless microphone at the backdrop of the stage where he was invited to speak a few nights ago. A lot has been deciphered from that act but what we seem to see is that there is a sign of frustration on the part of the opposition and its coalition members.

Malaysians are a very passive lot, they prefer a lone ranger or a scapegoat to do the job for them or to take the blame for them. They are never in any place in large numbers for a cause which exception of the Bersih rallies which have been a huge success so far. In those rallies, they came in droves, although the powers-that-be made political spin of it and further enhanced its racial propaganda, the numbers were there and it made an impact.

But what we seem to see and feel now is that the opposition seems to be rudderless after certain key leaders had passed on and have succumbed to the current regime web of power play and deceit. The question now is are we going to wait for these key leaders? Why must we wait for them, can't we start believing in ourselves and the younger generation of leaders?

Barrack Obama was only a first-term senator before he decided to run for the presidency. He was young but he was nominated and seconded by leaders of the Democratic party who had been in politics when Obama was still in law school! Matteo Renzi of Italy is the youngest prime minister that Italy has ever had so far and so is the PM of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, who is now spearheading the country in its worst financial crisis.

If all these people can do it, why can’t we Malaysians give leaders like Nurul Izzah Anwar, Rafizi Ramli, Mohamad Sabu, Khalid Samad and a host of other capable and potential candidates a chance to take the lead?

We have this tendency of simply putting people off. Mohamad Sabu has been in the forefront of opposition politics for a very long time, he may seem and look funny but he is a very capable and brave leader whom the Malays simply fail to elect to Parliament. It would be best if he decides to stand in a mixed constituency in the next elections so that his chances of being elected will be much higher.

He should be given a chance to lead if the others in Pakatan Harapan are not capable enough to shoulder the responsibility of leading the opposition. There are leaders around the world who are not fluent in English but are very highly respected leaders in their own capacity, they are electable based on their ability to lead without any hesitation.

Mohamad Sabu fits that bill, the Malays should give him a chance to lead. He has proven that he does not shy away from the non-Malays and their grievances, he commands good respect from the top leadership of the DAP and is not afraid of reprimanding BN propaganda with regard to race relation and Islam when the need arises.

Leaders like him are what we badly need now. He may have thrown the microphone for a good reason. That deliberate act has got the people talking and it will give them a jolt to awaken from the current state of political malaise within the opposition ranks.

Let us be reminded that Mohamad Sabu has even taken on Anwar Ibrahim in Permatang Pauh in the general elections during the 80s and had given Anwar a run for his money. Leaders of this calibre should be given a chance.

Many yet to even register as voters

The problem with us is that we are just too lackadaisical in our outlook, as long as we can continue doing what we do, we Malaysians just keep our frustrations to ourselves and just mumble in the quite. When it comes to the crunch there are still many highly-educated ones amongst us who are yet to even register as voters.

Their argument is that what will one vote do? If this is the argument of all, just imagine what the BN and its allies can do? They will win by even putting their underwear as a candidate!

We suffer quietly, the anger in us builds and we as Malaysians usually pour it all out on road accidents we may get into, fights with family members and friends and even neighbours, that is when all the bad energy and pent up feelings which will include the frustrations which the current state of affairs our country is in and the hardship that it causes us comes out.

Mohamad Sabu is right, we are just too fearful of the regime and what will happen when they come for us. The opposition now needs to invest in its young leaders, give them a chance and that may create a wave which even alleged vote-rigging by bogus votes and voters can't stop.

A young icon who can become a leader with the help of the more senior ones as advisers is what the opposition coalition needs to think about now. Nurul Izzah fits the bill well. Yes, the Malays may have their fears of electing a young woman amongst their race to lead, but if there are no able men around, why not let the women amongst the Malays lead?

Anwar started the whole process of unearthing what Umno has done to the Malay psyche by questioning the powers-that-be, a small revolution of sorts started and it has successfully denied BN of two-thirds majority in two consecutive elections since 2008, which is something great for a passive and submissive lot like us Malaysians.

He is still welcome and can one day be a prime minister. But for the time being, we need a young beacon of hope and that is very evident if we start putting Nurul Izzah in the proper light.

Mohamad Sabu’s action has made us Malaysians to start questioning ourselves again. Instead of being ardent soap opera or drama followers of Malaysian political twists and turns, we must do our part and push the agenda for change forward in every little way we can.

The opposition has managed to deny two-thirds majority consecutively and has also kept the states of Penang and Selangor which is the heart and liver of the country. That is indeed a feat to be proud of.

If the people of the Borneo states begin to think and question their continued membership and presence in the Federation of Malaysia and demand a referendum on their 18 and 20 point agreements with the peninsula, the current regime can be defeated. It is the lackadaisical attitude that we have to rid ourselves of, if we don’t then we ought to keep quite and let the current regime reign free.

P DEV ANAND PILLAI is a social observer with a keen interest in history, law, politics and international relations concerning our country and one who believes that our multi-cultural fabric is our greatest strength.