Opportunistic Save M'sia alliance no game-changer
MP SPEAKS I would agree that removing Prime Minister Najib Razak is a good thing for the Malaysian politics even if another corrupt Umno leader takes over as PM. Because at this point in time Najib has become toxic to the political system.
His attempts to cover up his misdeeds will further weaken our already weakened institutions and reduce the separation of powers. Bank Negara, the Attorney-General's (AG) Chambers, the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the media, etc are at risk.
And as we have seen from former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era, weakened institutions for example the judiciary have remained weak for decades.
So removing Najib is important for us.
But the method - an opportunistic even cynical alliance with the old guard and elements in Umno - who have their rich history of corruption, cronyism and racial politicking - is hardly a game-changer by any stretch of the imagination.
Forge consensus on key issues
To me, the real game-changer would be a civil society movement that compels the opposition parties to discuss and formulate a joint position on the following six issues:
1. Persistent poverty among the rural Malays and specific programmes to overcome this
2. Urban poverty
3. Our position on neoliberal macro economic policies, on health tourism, private education at tertiary level, public transport. Can we agree on a programme of social protection?
4. The form of Islamisation that is acceptable in a 21st century multiracial society
5. The tendencies towards corruption within the opposition and a better system to manage political funding.
6. Democratising the opposition coalition. Getting the top leadership to conform to democratic norms.
Moving forward on these items would pave the way for constructing a more mature and robust opposition coalition. That could be termed a game changer.
Not these shortcuts that do not address fundamental issues that will repeatedly lead to a breakdown of the coalition when challenged by ethnic and religious controversies.
It happened with the Semangat 46 coalition, the Barisan Altrernatif and Pakatan Rakyat. And we want to cobble together another opportunistic coalition?
Let's work on something that's more lasting because based on a firmer foundation of better consensus on crucial issues as listed above.
JEYAKUMAR DEVARAJ is Sungai Siput MP and PSM central committee member.
For more news and views that matter, subscribe and support independent media for only RM0.36 sen a day:
Subscribe now