PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim PMX) after his “successful” recent trip to Germany lamented that Malaysians were too focused on petty matters such as recognition of bak kut teh as the national dish, whether school canteens should be left open during the Ramadan fasting month and others.
Instead, he called on Malaysians to focus the state of the economy, especially in terms of attracting foreign investments.
In his speech upon returning home from his six-day official visit (March 10-15), he boasted of the investments he had attracted from Germany and other countries.
But whether these investments will come into the country as promised remains to be seen. Anwar is one person who likes to count the chickens before they are hatched.
At the height of the downside of the ringgit to the greenback, Anwar endlessly talked about foreign investors’ confidence in the country. This is as though such confidence would miraculously put an end to the plummeting of the ringgit.
Is Anwar really surprised that Malaysians have the proclivity to engage in petty issues? As the PM, it would be naive to think otherwise.
As a long-term politician and PM of the country, he should know the country and its citizens better.
Of DAP and Education Minister
Anyway, who are these people who have ignited debates on bak kut teh (herbal pork rib soup)? They are none other than DAP leaders who are part of the present Madani government.
Perhaps Anwar should meet leaders of the component parties of the present ruling political coalition to inform them what needs to be done or not done when he is away.
Or alternatively, whether he is willing to give them the freedom to speak and write abiding what is really wrong with the country and the present administration.
Can the DAP go back to the days when it was highly critical of the government in power or has the party succumbed to the comforts of power, position and perks (3Ps)?
Anyway, who was responsible for igniting the controversial debates on the opening of school canteens during the fasting month. It was none other than Anwar’s favourite Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek.
Rather than leaving the opening of school canteens to the discretion of the respective schools, she had to intervene to say something. Why should the opening and closing of school canteens be decided by the minister?
The only reason she is still the minister and not replaced during the recent cabinet reshuffle was her family’s special relationship with Anwar. Like a few others, she is not suited for the present job.
Maybe Anwar should call her for unnecessarily wading into the school canteens matter. It is about time that Anwar needs to seriously consider replacing her with someone else.
Understanding Anwar’s antics
Maybe Anwar was surprised at the level of debates and discussions when he was away. Is the country any different when he has come back after his trip to Germany?
As soon as he arrived, have the quality of debates and discussions transcended to the level of what is regarded as acceptable?
Maybe this time, concerned citizens should move away from mundane or petty topics to ascertain whether Anwar can really bring in the investments that he had promised.
Anwar should not be allowed to get away with all the promises of investments flow into the country. Going by what Anwar has been saying in the recent past, the country – by now – should have received so much foreign investments that some had to be turned away.
The problem with Anwar is that after having waited so long to be the PM – having failed twice along the way – he seems to be overwhelmed by his position.
He habitually repeats his audience-oriented speeches. In the country, he carefully plays the political game of expediency and survival but outside the country he engages in philosophy and high principles.
He seeks to camouflage the apartheid nature of racial and religious politics in the country on the basis of “givens”.
Early last year when I was still in the DAP, I raised the issue of weak non-Malay representation in the civil service. Anwar responded by saying that it was my personal opinion and not that of DAP.
The DAP leaders having tasted the honey of power, positions and perks kept silent on the matter of non-Malay representation in the civil service. In fact, I was targeted for marginalisation in the party.
Is it a wonder why I resigned from the party last August 2023? – March 20,2024
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the Urimai (United Rights of Malaysian Party) Interim Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Facebook
