LETTER | The latest spat between PKR Youth and Umno Youth leaders exposes the deeper realities of the coalition government which is struggling to adhere to the principles of integrity and transparency.

This happens in the context of former premier Najib Abdul Razak seeking leave from the High Court to commence judicial review proceedings in a bid to compel the government to produce the “supplementary order”, which was purportedly issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, during the Pardons Board’s meeting on Jan 29.

One would have thought that the 1MDB scandal, which is the greatest web of corruption scandals in Malaysian history, that had deepened the distrust between the government and the people would have come to its conclusion after the 2022 general election.

Unfortunately, the shadows of the former prime minister who seeks a privilege that ordinary Malaysians would certainly not have is threatening the survival of the so-called unity government in terms of integrity and public accountability.

The defeat of Umno which was reduced to 30 seats should have enlightened the Umno leadership that it needs to reform by future behaviours that would project integrity, but unfortunately, it still remains adamant and places its partners in the unity government in a dilemma.

Pakatan Harapan which has made an election promise to bring Malaysia into a new era of reforms if it comes to power, is unfortunately playing a political game of trying to maintain a partnership with Umno and ensuring the premiership of Anwar Ibrahim by keeping silent on issues that requires transparency and public accountability using a certain precedence of law on pardons to justify itself.

The nation’s politics is no more about integrity and the people but it is about respect for political elites who would like to remain in power and control at all cost.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election is an opportune time for Malaysians to reflect on where the unity government is heading in terms of leadership integrity and, whether the partnership between Harapan and Umno is really capable of transformation, and not deceiving slogans like reforms.

Writer is the secretary for Association for Welfare, Community and Dialogue.

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