GEORGE TOWN – The detractors against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should stop obsessing on attacking him personally but instead focus on the policies and effectiveness of the national unity cabinet he leads, said a former PKR MP.
Yusmadi Yusoff said the recent criticism towards Anwar has been mostly personal and unfair because it does not measure the performance of the government.
“Whether Anwar is capable or not, it is rather premature as post the 15th general election, the government was only established less than 60 days ago, and what happened in the past should stay exactly there.
“It is not even 100 days yet. And the criticism is just on Anwar. Stop obsessing over him and instead focus on his policies and effectiveness in governance. After all, we go into politics to serve, not just to belittle the persons we dislike,” the former senator told The Vibes in an interview.
He called for the opposition to come out with an alternative economic policy to protect the country from an impending global recession amid a possible record-setting rise of living costs.
Yusmadi, who had served as an officer within Anwar’s PKR presidential office, said that one solid consequence from the last election, is a shift away from the elitism in politics, as statesmen such as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and former finance minister Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah lost.
“Also, those who the voters saw as traitors, also lost.
“The people wanted reforms. The changes or fresh ideas that Anwar championed came from the people, not just him. Otherwise, how can Pakatan Harapan (PH) sustain a reform movement for over two decades? It is the people who want it,” he said.
Anwar, he further said, just saw a need for such changes, and became a catalyst for it.
He also criticised former party comrade Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah for his wanton attacks.
This was after the Bersatu supreme council member had accused Anwar of violating some of his own principles and making questionable decisions purportedly to fit his own interest.
In a series of tweets, the Indera Mahkota MP noted how the PH chairman had gone against some of the promises that he and the coalition had made prior to the general election, since coming into federal power last month.
To this, Yusmadi urged Saifuddin to understand that Anwar was forced to compromise to ensure a national unity concept can flourish to take the country forward.
“If Anwar is selfish, we will forever be embroiled in a non-stop political play, so when can proper governance take place?
“We need to move the country forward so all politicians need to sacrifice for the people. By taking salary cuts, we are one with the people.”
“Many workers had to endure salary cuts and job losses due to the lockdowns, including media practitioners so why must the politicians be any different?” he asked.
Yusmadi said that Saifuddin is obsessed with Anwar to an extent, he is just blindly criticising without having valid grounds.
“In all fairness, what has Saifuddin contributed to the country other than betraying a cause and causing a government to fall? What has he really done?”
“We must accept that not all policies can be populist. Some are painfully needed to get the country’s economy back on track,” he added. – The Vibes, December 29, 2022
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