KUALA LUMPUR – Maszlee Malik’s exit from Pejuang to become an independent may well be the end of his brief yet eventful political career, said observers, expressing doubt that the MP will retain Simpang Renggam in the next general election unless he joins another party.
National Council of Professors senior fellow Prof Jeniri Amir told The Vibes that politicians who contest as independents rarely come out on top.
“To make it as an independent candidate, you have to be very influential, of high integrity and have very strong grassroots support.
“One good example is Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, who defended his Johor Baru seat in 1988 after quitting Umno.
“But comparing him with Maszlee is like comparing the sky and the earth. Shahrir was very popular among voters, and is regarded highly.
“So, the only option for Maszlee is to join another party, which, to me, is also very unlikely to happen.”
Announcing his departure from the party yesterday, Maszlee said he does not need power or position to serve his constituents and Malaysians in general.
Jeniri said this is merely wishful thinking, adding that the statement was made to eclipse the reality that the lawmaker has “finally realised that Pejuang has no future in Malaysia’s politics”.
Maszlee, who took the Johor federal seat in his maiden election in May 2018, rose to prominence when he was appointed education minister by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It did not take long for him to court controversy with his proposals for pupils to wear black shoes instead of white, hotels to open up their pools for students’ swimming lessons, and free internet for some 10,000 schools.
Following the Pakatan Harapan government’s collapse in February, he and four other leaders, including Dr Mahathir, were sacked from Bersatu for going against Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional, and the group went on to form Pejuang in August.
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Prof Sivamurugan Pandian said it will be extremely difficult for Maszlee to make a significant impact as an independent candidate, citing the lack of election machinery, logistics and manpower.
“In the 14th general election, under PH, the machinery he had at his disposal and the issues at play helped him win his seat.
“Now, I don’t know what he plans to do. Certainly, (his political career) will depend on whether he decides to join another party, which can be a vehicle for him to move on.” – The Vibes, November 3, 2020
