Universiti Malaya political economy professor Terence Gomez finds it ironic that Malaysia may need former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s help to bring about reforms in the country.

He never thought that he would see Mahathir sit on the same table with DAP senior leader Lim Kit Siang, or hear the latter say that the former PM’s help is needed for reforms.

Gomez held that Mahathir had much to do in creating the problems the country is facing. “We all know that it all started with him and we are troubled by this,” Gomez said at a public debate on political financing reforms in Komtar last night.

“What an irony, the man who started all this nonsense is now our saviour?” he quipped, at the debate with PKR Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin, which was moderated by C4 director Cynthia Gabriel.

“But as troubling as these arguments are about Mahathir’s involvement with the opposition in trying to bring about reforms, I have to admit we need Mahathir’s help,” Gomez conceded adding he found it extremely painful to admit this.

Gomez was responding to a question from the audience asking him for his thoughts on the historic Citizens Declaration signed by 53 individuals in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The event brought together unexpected alliance s like Mahathir, Kit Siang, sacked deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and other political leaders from like PKR deputy chief cum Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, PAS’ secretary Mustafa Ali and well-respected activist Ambiga Sreenivasan.

Call for reform

One of the highlights of the declaration was a call for Prime Minister Najib Razak to resign, and for all repressive laws to be reformed.

It underscored the need to replace Najib due to the various allegations of his involvement in financial scandals related to 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion ‘donation’ in his private bank accounts.

Najib has insisted he did not use the money for personal gain and Attorney-General Mohammed Apandi Ali has cleared him of any wrongdoing.

The alliance has been criticised widely by BN leaders and opposition supporters who feel that Mahathir is just desperate to get rid of Najib, and not truly sincere about bringing reforms in the country.

Gomez cited cases of democratisation processes all over the world, in countries where there was a shift from authoritarian rule to democracy.

He noted that changes happened primarily because of “intra-elite feuds”.

Gomez said what was happening in Malaysia now is an intra-elite feud between a prime minister and ex-prime minister, who are both highly influential.

“When this feud spills into mainstream politics, that’s when it gets really interesting, that’s when there is a change,” Gomez said,

He also recalled the case of former Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos who despite controlling all the institutions including the army, fell when there was a strong civil society movement that included the elite.

Likewise in Indonesia, Suharto was very repressive but he too fell when there was involvement of elite and civil society movement, Gomez added.

“Let’s put Malaysia in context, we are in dire straits, what Najib is doing and for what he has done, I fear there will be greater repression when more things are disclosed,” Gomez warned.

He expressed deep regret over the current Malaysian cabinet members under Najib, saying they have “absolutely no credibility”.

“How can they support their prime minister when there is so much evidence and allegations of wrongdoing that he has to account for?” Gomez asked.

“Najib or Umno cannot bring about any reforms, so what is happening is good and very interesting, it may be the agent that provokes the change that this country needs,” Gomez added.