Afif: Arrogance could lead to PN's downfall, like it did to Harapan, BN
INTERVIEW | Failure to address budding “arrogance” within Perikatan Nasional could lead to its downfall, similar to Pakatan Harapan’s fate after only 22 months in federal power, Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin said.
The former PKR lawmaker, who was recently sacked from the party and has since joined Bersatu, said this was based on his personal experiences with Pakatan Rakyat and subsequently, Harapan...
INTERVIEW | Failure to address budding “arrogance” within Perikatan Nasional could lead to its downfall, similar to Pakatan Harapan’s fate after only 22 months in federal power, Seberang Jaya assemblyperson Dr Afif Bahardin said.
The former PKR lawmaker, who was recently sacked from the party and has since joined Bersatu, said this was based on his personal experiences with Pakatan Rakyat and subsequently, Harapan.
“After 2018, I felt there was a big issue that Harapan failed to address when it came into power. It is about arrogance,” Afif (above) told Malaysiakini in an interview held at Mona Publika in Kuala Lumpur.
“Why do I say arrogance? We see before 2018, the arrogance of BN, they felt like ‘oh it’s okay to engage in corruption, it’s okay to steal the people’s money, rakyat will still support us’.
“That was arrogance. Then look what happened? The rakyat punished them, and they fell,” said the former Penang state exco who resigned from his position after being issued a disciplinary show cause letter by PKR, which accused him of sabotaging the party at their annual congress in December last year.
Afif pointed out that the people’s mandate for Harapan in GE14 was against BN’s arrogance, but during its time in Putrajaya, similar traits had allegedly emerged within its ranks.
Alluding to a tussle for the prime minister’s post between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, he said Harapan failed to address the “clash of personalities” and focus on delivering its promises.
“In those 22 months, we developed to become arrogant. Arrogant in the sense that we did not address this major issue, which is the clash of personalities on the issue of leadership, and we continued to fight against each other.
“The rakyat out there does not want to see that. They want to see Harapan come in, deliver their promises.
“When that did not happen, when there is that arrogance, that was what had led to certain parliamentarians, cabinet members and Harapan leaders feeling like there must be political change,” he added.
Moving forward, Afif warned that PN would not be spared the same fate if it did not take steps to acknowledge such arrogant tendencies and continue talking about interests of certain groups or individuals over the rakyat’s.
He argued that the voters were less concerned over who had been appointed to fill the ministers’ post and instead focused on whether they could carry out their duties, particularly to overcome challenges in this current Covid-19 pandemic.
The former PKR deputy youth chief noted that a large segment of youths, many who had come out in record numbers to vote against BN in GE14, were rightfully upset over a change in administration sparked by the Sheraton Move.
“But as they see in recent months, they must re-evaluate moves and decisions made by the government.
“When the government made a decision, did it help the rakyat? I believe the majority of decisions have helped them, compared to other countries in similar battles with Covid-19,” Afif said, alluding to various cash aids and government incentives announced during the movement control order period.
“I believe the majority of rakyat will evaluate these things... Yes, you can say, ‘I have ambitions to be an MP, to be a minister’, but let us not make that the primary focus of our public discussions,” he said.
Afif also said there were aspects of institutional reforms started by Harapan that should be continued under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.
He said PN should, among others, continue to push for good governance and integrity in areas, including separation of powers and powers of the enforcement authorities.
As for calls for greater freedom, Afif noted that such demands must be bound by constitutional provisions as its basis.
Harapan had, in its 22 months in power, initiated efforts to reform certain institutions and laws, the progress of which was handed over to the new PN government for further action.
Among others, the government is expected to receive a final report with proposed parliamentary reforms from the Electoral Reform Committee; a final report from the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) task force on recognition of the UEC; as well as a report from the Media Council pro-tem committee on the setting up of an independent body for self-regulation of the media.
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