IN Part 1 of this extended sit-down with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said discusses the efforts being made by lawmakers on both sides of the divide to grant citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers.
Her push is centred on the reason that the law should be fair to both genders. She described as “archaic” the current constitutional provision stipulating that only children born overseas to Malaysian fathers will be considered citizens.
On Malaysia’s efforts to be a first-world Parliament, how far have we come to realising that aspiration? The former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker shares her opinions on where reforms are needed and improved for better governance.
She also offers insight on how MPs can affect change at the ground level and the challenges they have when these reforms are not realised.
Azalina waxes lyrical on the growing pains of a changing government and a maturing electorate – and politicians themselves – and her thoughts on a two-thirds government versus a coalition government.
With the date of the impending general election still up in the air, Azalina expresses the need to have the election soon to reset the country and come back with changes for a better nation.
As a true Umno stalwart, she stresses the importance of the political party, and how at the end of the day, it is about winning. She is encouraged by the energy, intelligence and drive of the young talents and faces in Umno, especially from Johor and Melaka that are coming up in Pemuda, Puteri and Wanita.
The only question is whether the old guards, the traditional leaders within the party, want to see change. – The Vibes, October 1, 2022
In Part 2 of this podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly talk about Umno’s ageing leadership, the cult of personalities within Umno, and whether the party is ready for change.
Presented by PETRA News chief executive Datuk Zainul Arifin 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