LETTER | What else is new? The opposition lacks capable leaders and for this reason, they have to depend on a 92-year-old man with lots of baggage to lead.

But I think we Malaysians have failed to critically examine ourselves. Pakatan Harapan put up former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as its prime ministerial candidate and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as his deputy PM because we Malaysians are conservative, feudalistic, and unadventurous. We only know how to walk the well-trodden path.

To me, the opposition has more than enough people with prime ministerial materials. The issue is us, the people. We are unwilling or incapable of taking risks. We fail to put faith in younger or new people.

To me, Rafizi Ramli, Azmin Ali, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Mujahid Yusof Rawa, Mat Sabu, Khalid Abdul Samad, Lim Guan Eng, Gobind Singh Deo, Tony Pua and many others are all more than capable of becoming the prime minister of this country. But are we progressive and adventurous enough to accept them?

We do not need a rocket scientist; neither do we need a financial wizard to be the prime minister of Malaysia. In fact, it is dangerous to have a prime minister who is too “smart”.

All we need is a prime minister with a magnanimous heart who hates injustice, is cosmopolitan, egalitarian, and not opulent but simple and frugal.

Unfortunately, this is not our focus. Instead, we are more keen to know his racial origin, his gender, his religious credentials, his views on religions, and his stigmas.

I believe if we have a prime minister who is sufficiently honest, all knowledge, expertise and technical issues required of the office will fall in place. A prime minister can always consult and seek the best advice if the motivation is right.

Sometimes I think it is our fault. We can’t articulate clearly what we want. We only want a prime minister who is good in marketing short-term expediency, dishing out temporary goodies, and indulging in religious and racial rhetoric.

Have we ever thought what kind of Malaysia this nation will be if Nurul Izaah, Hannah Yeoh or Kasthuri Patto become the prime minister of Malaysia? Think about it.

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