Editor’s Note: In his latest tweet, former de-facto law minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim seems to have hailed MCA and MIC’s decision to stay out of the Aug 12 state polls as reflecting the maturity of their party leadership.
But what is striking is that the founder of Zaid Ibrahim & Co, the largest private law firm in Malaysia (which he no longer owns) and a UMNO member himself is seemingly urging both communal parties to keep their options open with the following statement:
“If UMNO turns out to be like lemmings, they (MCA and MIC) must not abandon the idea of working with Perikatan Nasional (PN) if PN somehow manages to garner solid support from the Malays.
“Don’t behave like some ostrich politicians and analysts. They categorically rejected any alliance with PN as they believed they were corrupt and extreme in their views.
“They described PAS as Talibans (I, too, made that mistake in my youth). They are so condescending; it is unbelievable.”
Nobody knows for sure if the lawyer-turned-politician with a somehow turncoat track record is himself singing the “green tune” for good or is just rendering a friendly advice to the current MCA and MIC leadership.
What can be said is that the Kota Bahru-born legal practitioner has been active again in UMNO after having been hired to handle the appeal of now incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak three weeks before it was heard by the Federal Court last year but was discharged (fired?) just prior to the judgment day.
In 2010, Zaid founded Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) (People’s Welfare Party) before joining DAP for three years between 2017 and 2020 during which he was the DAP Kelantan chairman at one stage.
Here is his latest tweet in full:
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THE decision of MCA and MIC to sit out from the state party elections next month reflects the maturity of the respective party leaders.
They recognised that the current UMNO has little resemblance to the UMNO of yesteryears. In those days, the support of the Malays for UMNO was emphatic and strong but not so now.
MCA and MIC have decided – like their earlier leaders in the post-1970 era – to wait and see if it is worthwhile to support UMNO.
If UMNO turns out to be like lemmings, they must not abandon the idea of working with Perikatan Nasional (PN) if PN somehow manages to garner solid support from the Malays. Keep your options open.
Don’t behave like some ostrich politicians and analysts. They categorically rejected any alliance with PN as they believed they were corrupt and extreme in their views.
They described PAS as Talibans (I, too, made that mistake in my youth). They are so condescending; it is unbelievable.
For the political stability of any government, it is ideal if we corral like-minded parties with the same political beliefs together to share power to manage the country.
Unfortunately, in a complex country like Malaysia, we must learn to accommodate and sacrifice some of our principles in the short term. We have to do what is possible.
Political transformation in this country has to endure a step-by-step process. You can reject the Malay political base because you think they are not progressive enough and we shall see how long your government can last.
Okay, you can still muster the majority vote in Parliament but can you effectively pass laws consistent with your reformist plans? What is the measure of your success? Holding on to power and doing nothing else because you are fearful of the opposition is not the right thing to do.
I like MCA a lot, the powerful, wealthy Chinese party (or once was) that does not appear threatening to the Malays.
We, the Malays, are simple people; we ask for respect. We resent overbearing personalities. I like MIC, too, but I have lost contact with them for many years now.
Both can join hands with the Malays to help the country. Some critics will be quick to accuse me of trying to revive the corrupt triad of UMNO MCA and MIC.
No, I am not. You should not worry, though, as after the many reforms and anti-corruption drives by this government, we all will be corrupt free. – July 6, 2023
