YOURSAY | ‘The question is, are we heading the right direction?’

Kit Siang: 10, 20 years for 'New Malaysia' to take shape

Phanga 1742: For 60-odd years we endured the old BN regime. And all of a sudden, we Malaysians kicked them out.

If DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang says it will take 10 or 20 years to see ‘New Malaysia’, I will keep the faith that in time we will be able to make all the wrongs right.

Anak Malaysia: We, the rakyat, can wait that long only if we start seeing progressive reforms or changes taking place now.

But why is it that Pakatan Harapan, especially Bersatu, wants to accept the frogs from Umno? These MPs have betrayed the rakyat. Harapan doesn’t need these crooks.

Anonymous_1527925538: Those who think the Harapan government – who currently have less than 30 percent support from the majority Malays – can last and complete its reforms must be dreaming or burying their heads in the sand.

It is crucial for its own survival that Harapan quickly brings over the remaining 70 percent of Malays, and these are Umno and PAS supporters.

Caripasal: If Malaysians dared to make a drastic move to change the old government, we expect the drastic policy changes from the new government too.

What is the use of changing the government but keeping the old bad policies, with the excuse that it takes time?

It is the duty of Harapan to make drastic changes and then prove to the Malay voter base that the new government will be fair, and their policies will benefit every Malaysian.

As I have said before, Harapan has five years to prove it. Without the first move, nothing will change, not even after 20 years.

Frank: We really do not care. Do take three, four or five lifetimes instead. Unfortunately, every step forward is followed by five steps back.

What is happening to Umno-BN now – being decimated beyond one's wildest imagination prior to the 14th general election – shall happen to those from Harapan who are betraying their voters and supporters. Sooner or later, or even while I am writing these words.

For one, Bersatu shall be less than nothing when our dear Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is no longer around. As for PKR, with at least two main groups fighting for a place in the sun, the division continues. As for Amanah and DAP, they know what their problems are.

With all that these Harapan components (plus Parti Warisan Sabah) and their leaders have done to date - breaking the hearts of their voters from Perlis to Sabah - it is safe to say that they have failed to learn the very great lesson which Umno-BN has now learned: you betray the rakyat and you shall pay for it.

It is as if once you gain political power you can do what you want. But remember, knowledge comes from above and political power comes from below, the rakyat.

To Malaysians everywhere, time to rise again. Never again. Takbir.

Meerkat: Getting rid of BN used to be only a dream. But it has come true, thank God. So, let us not squander it through our haste. Since the 14th general election, it is clear that the government has been miles ahead of BN.

Lim is right that changes take time. Nevertheless, there have been so many positive changes since Harapan took over. Probably more than we could reasonably expect, though short of those promised in the election manifesto and not fast enough for some.

Sure, there have been setbacks, too. But do we want to let them overshadow the positive changes?

Let us not be impatient. Let us not over-exaggerate things, too, like voting Harapan out because of some stray misdeed or inefficiency. Do we really want to do that?

Let us keep tabs on the progress. As long as there is reasonable progress, we should let the government do its work.

It's not an easy job. Do we prefer Harapan or hand it back to BN (not that that's a realistic possibility now).

Sure, if someone else can do it better, we can vote them in next time. But in the meantime, be reasonable with Harapan in government. Embrace them, warts and all.

ICCMABCSIAACFTPSBAV: Lim, you want us to wait for 10 to 20 years to see the fruits of reform, and yet you defend Mahathir and his Bersatu accepting hoppers from Umno less than a year after Harapan won.

Let me reiterate: please do not insult our intelligence. The frogs can remain independent for at least five years, till the next election.

Perhaps Harapan will be given the luxury of 10 to 20 years to materialise the promised reforms. But we, the rakyat, will decide.

Kahlil Gibran: There may be no anti-hopping laws, but nevertheless Harapan parties should do the dignified thing and not accept any MPs from the opposition. After all, they already have a simple majority to run the government.

This is all the work of Mahathir and his adviser Daim Zainuddin to pressure Umno lawmakers to join Bersatu, so that Mahathir can make his son the next prime minister.

Mahathir has his own personal agenda, while Lim also has his own personal agenda. Both are about their sons.

Anonymous_f0b5da52: For Mahathir to accept all these ex-Umno opportunists who went all out to demonise him, called him names, tries to put him in jail because of the foreign exchange losses, blocked all his funding from businesspersons close to him, cut all his benefits as ex-prime minister, and try to kill off his sons’ businesses, you think Mahathir can forgive them so easily?

He has a big, big goal to achieve. It’s not the magical two-thirds in Parliament that he is spewing as an excuse. He wants all these ex-Umno renegades to fight his anointed successor, Anwar Ibrahim, and PKR, DAP and Amanah for him to finish at least one full term as prime minister.

Anwar and Lim will reluctantly agree to this in order to maintain peace within the coalition. By the 15th general election, DAP and PKR will lose half their MP seats as voters punish them for sleeping with ex-Umno has-beens.

But the greatest beneficiary of GE15 will be Bersatu, as all those who voted for Umno in GE14 will now have a substitute. Post-GE15, Bersatu will have the most MPs. By then, Bersatu will propose the prime minister’s post shall be theirs as long as they retain a majority in Harapan.

By the time the 16th general election rolls around, DAP and PKR will be wiped out, just like MCA and Gerakan. But the good news is voters will later return to the latter two parties, and they can again fight for justice and against corruption.

Goodbye Lim, and thanks for trying.

Fellow Malaysian: Much as I hate to admit it, I think Lim is playing a game of brinkmanship much to the chagrin of the DAP grassroots.

To reform the people’s mindset will take an incredible 10 to 20 years, but we have to start somewhere.

However, if Harapan ever accepts the group of ex-Umno renegades into their fold through being accorded Bersatu membership, this will become an affront against the aspirations of the grassroots, in particular, those from DAP.

Accepting the Umno deserters and betrayers is anathema to the vast majority of supporters who voted for change and reform which Harapan had pledged to do in GE14.

It is also not true nor fair to accuse Mahathir of having a mind cast in stone.

Mahathir went to the UN General Assembly in September to announce that the country is ready to ratify, among others, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd). But barely two months later, he had to retract his decision.

The leaders of DAP, PKR and Amanah must impress upon Mahathir that Harapan rejects the ex-Umno opportunists, and that the only good frogs are those simmered in wine on a slow fire.

Existential Turd: The question is, are we heading the right direction?

Considering Bersatu is trying not too subtly to mould Harapan into BN 2.0, and PKR and DAP's apparent silence – complicity? – on the matter, I am not sure I want to see this ‘New Malaysia’ in 10, 20 years' time.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.