TAWFIK Ismail made headlines this week when he announced his intention to contest in any constituency that Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi runs in during the 15th general election. Is this a sign of overconfidence or a (political) suicidal urge?
Speaking to The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, the Gerak Independent (GI) candidate said he decided to go into the Malay heartland to contest what he feels is “the king of all problems that face us today”.
Tawfik spoke about the philosophy behind GI and the need for an independent voice in Malaysian politics to further a more open democracy, which is not apparent when you have party politics.
“GI is a group of individuals who feel that party politics are archaic and also negative when it comes to fostering democracy in this country,” he said.
Party politics tends to restrict the conscience of members from speaking out about matters of grave concern to a country like Malaysia, with its multiracial and multiethnic mix, he added.
“The trouble with parties is that individuals are constrained by race, religion, and other factors that don’t allow for a conscience to be voiced.”
A ‘constitutional type of Malay’
So what is GI’s strategy? If its motivation is to ensure Umno is not returned to power, why is GI going after Pakatan Harapan strongholds? Siti Kasim had announced a plan to contest Batu, held by PKR.
Why not go after his old arch-nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with all his past baggage with the former prime minister?
What is the game plan if, beyond all odds, all six GI candidates get voted in?
What kind of Malay leader is he offering himself to be? If one toes the party line, we would get an Umno type of Malay, a PAS type of Malay, a Dr Mahathir type of Malay, or an Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim type of Malay, he said.
Are these the only choices that we have?
Tawfik believes that GI offers a different type of Malay in Siti Kasim and himself – and a different type of leadership that the country can consider.
So, what type of Malay is he? He says he is “a constitutional type of Malay” who feels that creeping Islamisation is a destructive element in Malaysian politics.
There are also pressing bread-and-butter issues. How will Tawfik convince the people of Bagan Datuk, in the likelihood Zahid defends the seat, that he has the resolve to fix the problems they are facing?
Is this a case of harping on ideals instead of the price of fish? Are the people of Bagan Datuk the right audience for the ideals of democracy and institutional issues – or should he bring along 5kg of rice bags on his campaign trail to distribute?
And what is the value proposition for the young to buy into GI as a viable alternative?
He responds impassively: “What has Umno in 60 years done for the Malays, to make the Malays feel they are secure without having to resort to race and religion? Zero.”
Ultimately, politics has made some strange bedfellows in this country.
Tawfik waxed lyrical on Mahathir, Anwar, Lim Kit Siang, marriages of convenience, and being certain of your own principles in politics and the personalities that you encounter.
Who will GI work with? Listen in to find out. – The Vibes, October 15, 2022
Presented by PETRA News chief executive Datuk Zainul Ariffin Mohamed Isa, executive director Datuk Ahirudin Attan (better known as Rocky Bru) and editor-in-chief Terence Fernandez
Produced by Shazmin Shamsuddin and sound engineered by Ethan Phoon
