LETTER | There are many expressions about the role that Mahathir played to win the 14th general elections. Yes, it is true that he played a part, but not an exclusive one.

He came towards the latter part of the struggle and while we acknowledge his role we must never miss out on the many others who for years have been challenging the establishment and creating an alternative to BN. This cannot be a struggle seen in the context of just one general election.

BN lost the popular vote at the 13th general election but never reflected nor learnt any lessons. Their arrogance and blindness as well as political skulduggery were astonishing. Cash was king and with gerrymandering and constituency delineations to their benefit they felt they could do as usual. Perhaps more than anyone else the one person who contributed most to the victory of the opposition is none other than Najib Abdul Razak and his excesses.

The entire opposition played a significant role and leaders within PKR and DAP must be credited for their persistence, perseverance and vigour at taking on issues that Najib left on the plate. They fought in Parliament, had issues in court and went to the people.

Yes, we must also not forget the relentless work of Rafizi Ramli and his Invoke team. I can appreciate their feelings when undue importance is given to the contribution of Mahathir.

Invoke was on the ground for several months doing the needed leg work, raising money and educating the public. Rafizi put down a sizeable amount of his own cash, crowdfunded and led a team on the ground. If you have done it than speak otherwise let us be wise when we take issue with him. It is easy to comment without commitment.

While we respect Mahathir and his leadership the facts are that Bersatu only managed to secure 12 seats out of the 52 Parliamentary seats and 22 out of the 102 state seats that it contested. If Mahathir was such an icon then Bersatu should have done better.

Further, the party is only open to Bumiputras. There is no future for such exclusive parties and it is amazing that Mahathir leads such a part and Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman with all his intelligence succumbs to it. They are just Umno 2.0. Mahathir himself needs a mindset change.

We must also thank unsung heroes like Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Ahmad Maslan, Nazri Abdul Aziz, Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak. Their remarks and the intelligence they exhibited over several years made many lose confidence in BN. They were just mere echoes for Najib and were ready to even lie on his behalf. They should each be awarded the erstwhile ‘Broom Award’ that a former Selangor government used to give out.

Destiny has its way of working into the issues of the day. The fact that Bersatu was deregistered led to the idea of the opposition standing under one logo. The willingness of DAP to forgo their Rocket emblem and for Bersatu to stand under the PKR logo for the larger good were strategic moves.

The timing was also significant in that Najib waited and procrastinated till the very end to call the elections. Mahathir came in did provide some leadership.

Najib’s leadership qualities were tested over the last nine years and many a times he failed badly in holding the nation in one direction. His divide and rule approach, playing the Islamic card when it benefitted him, using money in un-shameful ways all eventually caught up with him. It is amazing that he lost the Umno bastions in Johor, Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Malacca. To deny that there was a tsunami is being unreal.

While there were very good examples of affirmative leadership amongst the opposition and a cause that was built over years culminating with the 1MDB exploits one can conclude that this elections was Najib’s to lose.

However, many speculated that he would win. Journalists and Bloomberg as well other international media were on Najib’s side. Yet the many who had worked relentlessly held on and the momentum just broke through. East Malaysia responded by breaking BN’s fixed deposits and voted for the opposition. They could no more be taken for granted.

In the end it was a Malaysian victory and credit must eventually go to the Malaysian voter. Now that we have achieved what many felt was impossible it is important to focus on what is ahead. Power has the uncanny ability to divide and splinter when the focus is lost. It is therefore very important for those in power to ensure that in the first two years of their rule that key issues in their manifesto are met.

Power also distorts character because suddenly a lot of adoration, new friends, and temptations of many kinds invade the minds and lives of those in power. All the trappings of power require a new found sense of humility, grace and a capacity to manage oneself.

Otherwise arrogance and pride soon takes over and the ego will ensure that issues that were not of concern previously become matters that one is now sensitive about.

Imagine what this does to Najib and his whole legacy. For a man who has been in power in one way or another for over four decades the rot does set in.

A sense of invincibility, an aura that you are god’s chosen person for this job and that cash is king and everyone has a price. This has worked before and why not again. A total loss of reality because all his sidekicks and people around him just sang the same song and soon many were out of touch with reality. Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character give him power, as Abraham Lincoln said.

Money, power, lust and the fast lane provides the track and soon one becomes numb to the realities around. It is only when you have lost power that sobriety returns and that is why a term of not more than 10 years is a much needed period before one becomes susceptible to the ways of power to corrupt and rust one’s character.

The Putins and Xis of life can extend the period of their terms in office but soon realise that more power and autocratic rule is needed to sustain themselves in their positions.

Those who have lost power would now do their utmost to divide the group in power and it is important therefore to ensure that those now in power will not become victims of such attempts.

Secondly, there will be those who would also attempt to infiltrate and divide. Those in power will have to learn how to both lead and deliver as a team and this call for much patience and understanding. They must even amongst themselves talk truth to power in a respectful ways.

One must be aware in the Malaysian context of the ethnic fissures as well as the religious card that can be used to exploit differences. The Malaysian agenda must be in the forefront of all who are now in power. We placed you there to make a difference in all our lives and a sense of belonging to this nation.

Leadership requires action and stern warnings. The first should go to Tajuddin Abdul Rahman who has indicated that race and religion are under threat. This is Umno playing its old game.

We should ensure that such expressions are not welcome in the new Malaysia. As Malaysians we are here to ensure and protect all interests including race and religion of every community. He should be asked to explain in specific terms how his race and religion are now under threat and taken to task.

This is what being a Malaysian represents. It is time we sent people like Tajuddin for re-education programmes. Perhaps we will need a new National Civics Bureau for this purpose! I hope the government will take a stand as otherwise we will soon have all sorts of interest groups fanning issues of race and religion. I hope the present leadership will send a clear signal that such expressions are not welcome today. Is it not fair to expect this leadership from Pakatan Harapan?

Malaysian voted for an inclusive Malaysia. The days of UMNO, MIC, MCA and other ethnic parties who have divided us over the last few decades have to move onto the new turf if they are to remain relevant. I hope BN will become a party of consequence with all the earlier coalition members accepting their irrelevance and merging into one opposition reality that champions the Malaysian cause. It is only in this context they would have a future.

New blood will have to come into BN and herein is the opportunity for young and committed Malaysians who have politics in mind to go in and reshape the cause, idealism and direction that BN so desperately needs. It is only when we do our best by the whole that we are also just by everyone. Such is the nature of inclusive politics.

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