YOURSAY | ‘Dr M does not fully subscribe to Anwar, and Anwar does not fully subscribe to Dr M.’

Deputy minister cites 'difficult' Dr M-Anwar ties as a challenge

6th Generation Immigrant: Let’s first face obvious facts head-on. Half the electorate does not trust Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, while the other half does not trust Pakatan Harapan de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Mahathir does not fully subscribe to Anwar, and Anwar does not fully subscribe to Mahathir.

The entire nation, having tasted Mahathir and Anwar of the Umno mould, do not trust either of them fully.

However, for the love of the nation and its people, the nation was willing to compromise in accepting both working together. They are the devils that the nation knows it needed to displace those false demonic angels we had.

If we pause and question each act by both of them since May 9, obvious or otherwise, we can all surmise that the real root cause of our problems, and theirs, is the impatience shown.

Mahathir does not have enough time to right all his wrongs, while Anwar is just overeager to regain his so-called assured throne which he has been deprived of.

The problem of impatience can be easily resolved, the constant is time. If that is so, then the simple question everyone should ask themselves is this - if Mahathir's time is related to his advanced age, what is Anwar’s eagerness related to time all about, despite such supported assurances?

Is the so-called two-year tenure so urgent and important that the entire nation should be destroyed?

The answer is staring directly at us, as we usually advise all our young all the time to learn and accept more patience in whatever we undertake.

Incidentally, this applies to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and former PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli too.

Perhaps Nurul, in taking a step backwards from the position of PKR vice-president, is most apt in practising patience. All these leaders should learn from her.

Anonymous 2043581479977820: Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, you wrote a mighty powerful piece. I generally agree with your views, though they are utopian.

Rebuilding Malaysia is going to be a long haul and I think our senior leaders are fully aware of that.

However, and unfortunately, the people are impatient and want to see immediate results, quoting the manifesto.

Well, our Harapan leaders are not magicians. As in life, we often have to take chances and leave our fate to providence.

I say why not give our Harapan leaders space and time to deliver and not nitpick on their every move. Malaysia is still a beautiful country with abundant resources, and I am confident that we will achieve developed country status in the not-too-distant future.

Vent: A "free press and full democracy" can "survive in a multiethnic society" such as Malaysia even without "a national Malaysian narrative", as long as there is a democratically-elected government that maintains the rule of law and there is fair play by individuals, institutions and elected representatives.

And if we can have racial harmony and understanding facilitated by good governance and public restraint, we would already have raised the bar for ourselves.

A national or monolithic "Malaysian narrative" is virtually impossible to achieve in a heterogeneous society like ours.

British society, although far more multicultural than it has been since the sun set on the British Empire, has been grappling with a definition of “British values” since. What more in a country like Malaysia where the main groups have even traditionally been viewed as “incompatible”?

What Malaysia needs is a race relations act to ensure equality and fair play to enhance racial harmony. The question is, will this government come together to implement one?

If it can't or won't, then a "national narrative" is just grist for the academic mill or a pie in the sky. Idealism is to be admired but pragmatism always wins the day.

YTMQ: “One of five challenges confronting the Pakatan Harapan government with regards to its aim to build democracy in Malaysia, relates to the difficult relationship between Mahathir and Anwar.”

What kind of excuse is that? No individual and no relationship should take priority when it comes to building democracy in Malaysia. Period.

Observer123: Liew, you are a deputy defence minister. I don't think it is your duty to make a public statement about how you interpret the relationship between the prime minister and Anwar.

You should just focus on your job and if there's any statement I wish to hear from you, it should be about the Defence Ministry and not on other political issues.

Quigonbond: Finally, speaking plainly by a DAP leader. Keep it up, Liew.

Anwar and Mahathir may be fighting, but DAP is going to keep the peace with almost half the required majority required to form a simple majority.

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has been very refrained, hopefully he can be the glue that keeps it all together by virtue of having no self-interest in any position of federal power.

Anonymous_49d8b96c: We have read of many good opinions and ideas of what a New Malaysia should be, especially those that were articulated by some right-minded cabinet members.

We appreciate the sharing of such desired outcomes for a New Malaysia, but it would be more desirable to see that good ideas are formed into a blueprint for real actions with timelines, identified ministerial ownership and targeted outcomes.

Otherwise, it is all good talk and writing only.

In summary, translate good ideas into actions since the cabinet has the power, authority and mandate to do so.

Do it quickly. Work must start to achieve quick wins, mid-term outcomes and long-term outcomes for a pre-defined new Malaysia.

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