KOTA KINABALU – Fall of governments and persistent party-hopping have not stamped out the fight in Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
Divisive politics that exploit race and religion have been chipping away at the foundation laid by the country’s founding fathers.
“The political scenario in Malaysia has become very disturbing and I am worried over the things that have been happening in our country.
“If we look at the country’s history, much of the politicians then were true to their goals in developing the nation.
“They render their services for the country and the people, regardless of race and religion.”
In an interview with The Vibes, Shafie said those were the values that made Malaysia an economic force, once hailed as one of the “tigers” of Asia.
Citing the National Economic Policy (NEP) as an example, Shafie said certain groups had hijacked the policy for personal gain.
“The NEP could have been an economic instrument to unite Malaysians, if it was done with good intentions. But what has become of it?
“There were groups who hijacked the NEP. Groups who questioned ‘what is in it for me?’ What will I get from the NEP?” said Shafie, alluding to politicians who used their position as lawmakers for personal gain.
“Are we ministers or are we just millionaires? This is the obvious change I have seen in Malaysian politics. It is all about personal gain. If this is so, who is going to look after the people?”
He said the country badly needs a fresh start – by going back to the values of the founding fathers and emulating their deeds to help rebuild Malaysia.
“This is not about me being the chief minister. It is about how, myself as a leader, can contribute.”
He also slammed the practice of buying off lawmakers and party turncoats who are damaging Malaysia’s democracy.
“What are we seeing are politicians switching allegiances, changing parties and showing that they can be bought. There are limits to our patience.”
However, Shafie said it was different when Upko, a former Barisan Nasional ally, switched its allegiance to Warisan Plus, moments after the 2018 general election.
He maintained there was promise of money and position to Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau to entice him not to support the Warisan-Pakatan Harapan alliance.
Sabahans for Sabah
Shafie also rubbished claims the party slogan is meant to ignite the sense of regionalism, but rather the love for the country.
He likened the slogan to former US president John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address on January 20, 1961: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
Shafie said the government has a large role to play in dealing with the problems faced by the people, who yearn for the government to honour and respect their rights.
“This is what the people are demanding. They don’t want anything more than that.”
For instance, on oil and gas extracted from Sabah, Shafie said while Sabahans do not mind sharing their resources, selling them short makes them resentful of the federal government.
“We don’t mind sharing. But how much are Sabahans getting in return? You can’t just give Sabah 5%.
“The revenue collected from the natural resources are massive. Sabah is also a huge and populous state, but troubled by security threats, lack of development and dilapidated amenities. So, Sabah needs more funding.”
Unwind with music
In between addressing the needs of his party and the people, Shafie has turned to learning to play the piano.
“I would playfully tease my granddaughter to teach me a few keys.
“If I had the time, I would want to play the piano. I can play the guitar, but not like Jimi Hendrix.
“But mostly, I read. I love reading, whether it’s a book or magazine. We all need to unwind sometimes, especially from the hectic nature of politics,” said Shafie as he joked that his moustache has turned white from the many years in politics under his belt. – The Vibes, March 17, 2021
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