GEORGE TOWN – Strange bedfellows Umno and PKR may be the best alternative to restore political stability, seeing that there will be no dominant party after the 15th general election, said former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
In a Facebook post yesterday, he said there will be no time to govern the country when party-hopping is rampant.
“Imbued with the shenanigans of the present crop of leaders, it is no wonder that people are getting frustrated, cynical and pessimistic about the political process.”
Zaid himself exited Umno, PKR and DAP over the years, with Gerakan now rumoured to be courting him as a possible election candidate.
He proposed that PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim continue his pact with DAP, aided by a set of influential Malay leaders to take them across the finish line.
It is similar to the set-up adopted by Pakatan Harapan in 2018 with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, he said.
“The mistake of Harapan leaders was plain to see. Having won the election, they allowed (Dr) Mahathir time to derail Harapan and Anwar. All because they failed to see the clear signs before them (cabinet positions can affect your vision), that (Dr) Mahathir was not interested in making Harapan a success.”
Ahead of GE15, he said: “Umno has leaders with the ability to influence Malay voters, and together, a PKR-Umno pact will bring in the largest number of seats since the days of Barisan Nasional dominance. This will bring stability to the country, and many good things can be done with a stable government.”
As for the prime minister’s position, he said it could go to either Anwar or someone from Umno, and the number of seats obtained by each group will have a bearing on this decision.
The main hindrance to implementing this plan comes from factions in PKR and Umno, he said.
“From Anwar’s camp, you will have voices objecting to the plan because they do not see Umno as a progressive force that will bring reforms to the institutions and fight corruption. They will cite the cases of Umno leaders before the courts.
“Abandon the arrogance that one is cleaner or more honourable than the other. A holier-than-thou attitude will not bring political stability. It will prevent good leaders from taking power, for they are in the best position to change the country.”
He said it is a must for PKR and Umno to agree on crucial institutional reforms, such as the police oversight commission, changes to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and greater scrutiny over appointments to key positions, like the attorney-general, Bank Negara Malaysia governor and Dewan Rakyat speaker.
“Umno leaders will agree to these reforms because they have, for the first time in their history, been subjected to unfair treatment from those in power.
“They, like Anwar, will want changes so that the practice of using political power to annihilate opponents will come to an end.
"There are some in Umno who think that Anwar-DAP is political anathema. They will not do a deal with the forces considered as too liberal and friendly with the non-Malays. I will not worry too much about them. Their thinking is outdated. Malays want empowerment.
“What Malays crave for now is not political power of the type they had in the last 60 years. The Malays want empowerment.
“The process must begin now. What we need is a good government with sound policies that will empower the Malays and other Malaysians, so the country can be great. Identity politics, they say, is alive and well.
“If that is true, it is because we make no attempt to give a new narrative, one that makes them relevant in this new world. We need a policy that empowers the people, not their identity. An Umno-PKR alliance will be the first step in this direction.
“Many hawks in Umno are already supporting (the) Bersatu-PAS alliance to preserve the so-called Malay/Islamic dominance. Let them continue.”
He added that many Umno leaders are pragmatists who feel assured that the party’s brand as the defender of Bumiputera rights cannot be disputed.
“No right-thinking Malay will accuse them of treachery if they embark on reforms relevant to the needs of the country.”
Given this, Zaid reasoned that Umno does not need PAS as an ally.
“The ghost of the past must be laid to rest – only then can new dreams take hold.” – The Vibes, March 10, 2021
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