UNASSUMING, uninspiring and lacking in charisma. These were some of the words used to describe Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he took over the premiership from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2003.
However, when Abdullah was finally given his chance in the spotlight, he stepped up and surprised everyone.
Dr Mahathir was a tough act to follow but Abdullah, in his own unassuming way, inspired hope, starting with his “saya kuli nombor satu” of the people pledge.
He put in place reforms in a lethargic and bureaucratic civil service including bringing in corporate leaders to improve the delivery service; he promoted national schools to enhance unity among the races; promoting Islam Hadari – a progressive brand of Islam that prioritises knowledgeseeking and moderation; allowing space for debate by loosening controls on the media and freedom of expression; defied political pressure to interfere in the sodomy case of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim where the latter was later found innocent and freed; established economic corridors and encouraged clean government by, among others, mooting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He stepped up to the plate and brought a breath of fresh air and the people resoundingly gave him their vote when Barisan Nasional (BN) won its most successful elections ever by over 90% – winning 198 of 220 seats.
What Abdullah could not do, however, was appease the special interest groups within his own party and his failure to control them caused his efforts to be derailed by racism and corruption. BN not only lost ground in the 2008 elections, but it also lost its two-thirds majority and four states.
“Even if I am the prime minister… if Umno does not want me, what can I do?” was his response when I asked in his exit interview in 2009 how he could have “squandered” the opportunity and backing given by the people.
Fast forward 12 years, and we have yet another dark horse who has suddenly been thrust into the spotlight.
Coming into this year, even Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob would never have imagined that he would be the country’s ninth prime minister.”
Public sentiment has not been encouraging for the Bera MP, who in three years morphed from rural development minister to opposition leader to senior minister to deputy prime minister and now the top seat.
He has been part of an unpopular Perikatan Nasional (PN) government whose handling of the Covid-19 pandemic was as questionable as the way it came into power last year.
Whatever goodwill PN had gained following the successful management of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first six months of its administration was undone when the Sabah elections went ahead.
The rising cases and a worsening economy compounded by confusing and haphazard implementation of standard operating procedures, which saw VIPs who flouted them getting off scot-free, further fuelled the people’s anger and frustration that their mandate had been stolen by an incompetent bunch, which was causing more misery.
The devastation of the pandemic was further exacerbated by political toxicity.
Ismail Sabri was the face of the pandemic for 17 months due to his daily televised briefings. Which also mean the criticisms of the handling of the pandemic was targeted at him, although, unlike his predecessor, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasssin, he was not averse to facing the press and answering difficult questions.
So, now he has the golden opportunity to set things right.
He can be guided by the wishes of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong – a unifier; someone who will not engage in petty politics; a leader who puts the people first and a prime minister who can manage the pandemic successfully.
Simple enough and Ismail Sabri can take the first steps to reach out across the divide to offer an olive branch to the opposition.
If cabinet positions offered to members of Pakatan Harapan (PH), which the rulers had hoped for in the formation of a unity government is unrealistic, then at least their inclusion to lead government agencies, commissions and parliamentary select committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, will go a long way in healing gaping wounds.
He can call upon his counterparts from the opposition bench to join him in the plans for economic recovery and arresting the spread of Covid-19.
He can be mindful that it was a game of political chess and not the people’s mandate that has put him in the seat of prime minister.
Ismail Sabri has the potential to surprise the masses as Abdullah did 18 years ago.
When he became a first-time minister in 2008, taking on the youth and sports portfolio, he called me and my then editor for a conversation on lack of governance in the ministry which we had written extensively about.
Just like Abdullah, who had reached out to us before to get our buy-in on the MACC Bill.
Ismail Sabri had immediately used his authority to cancel projects that did not make sense so that more funds could be allotted for youth development.
Recently, he called me to apologise over a misunderstanding with a reporter, whom he mistakenly thought had misquoted him.
It was a magnanimous gesture from someone in a position of power, which one hopes will replicate itself by him reaching across the pond to make amends with opposition politicians, whom he helped unseat and work together to face the current challenges.
He will be the first prime minister who is not a leader of his party. Hence, one hopes he will be able to stave off the special interest groups who will certainly try to unseat him if they do not get their way – as had happened to Abdullah.
The court cluster in Umno will try to get him to influence their cases and the pressure will be on now before he faces a vote of confidence in Parliament.
He must realise that his biggest enemies could come from within and, hence, must stamp his own mark to validate his appointment. This includes appointing capable people regardless of political leanings and ethnicity to participate in the nation’s rebuilding and healing.
Which is why his cabinet picks will be an important barometer on the path he is taking his country.
If he takes the right path, Ismail Sabri will help endear himself to a suspicious population as well as help assure the masses that, as the supremo in this new government, he can now do things his way and bring the number of infections down, repair the economy effectively and preserve our sacred institutions.
The king has provided a buffer for him to do just that by ordering a stop to the politicking so all can focus on the health and economic crises.
We are hoping that the unassuming Pak Long will take the opportunity to surprise us like Abdullah did in his first term. – The Vibes, August 21, 2021
Terence Fernandez is editor-in-chief of PETRA News and managing editor of The Vibes
