FORMER de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has found himself in hot waters after having ticked off as “regrettable the dismissive way the Madani government deals with the issue of quotas in higher education”.
“The problem is an important one to discuss dispassionately. It’s not to dismiss it because your political future depends on it,” tweeted the UMNO member who has in recent times shows a turncoat tendency by echoing pro-Perikatan Nasional (PN) sentiments.
“The quotas are there for a very good reason but policy can be desirable, yet the wrong or improper implementation of that policy can bring hardships to many students.”
For context, Zaid has joined a chorus of criticism levelled at Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is for the rude/harsh manner in which he responded to a student who posed a question to him as to why the authorities are not ending the public higher education institutions (IPTA) quota in Malaysia.
Topping the list of Zaid’s critics is independent think tank EMIR Research president and CEO Datuk Dr. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff who dismissed the former’s opinion as a springboard to gain political mileage.
“Inaccurate! @anwaribrahim in responding to that very good question is being frank anss realistic. You have been in the cabinet before. You know better. Unless you are echoing your current political bias as many have lost count your political ‘changing lanes’,” teased the former Bersatu supreme council member who has since joined PKR in October last year.
Seconded netizen Suveen Raj (@suveenrajkr): “Did you even listen to what Anwar said (which is) ‘do it gradually, do it wisely’. His first aim is to eradicate poverty; this also includes dilapidated schools, so let him achieve his goal. What do you know about poverty when you spent 300 bucks watching a movie?”
A.Girish Kumar (@akgirish60) also took a swipe at Zaid for taking the “very easy route of sitting back and claiming that PMX (Anwar) is looking after his political future”.
“I think as a non-Malay, he made a lot of sense given the delicate position he is in. You were after all a minister before and hopping parties like no other. That time you made no suggestion.”
Netizen Ow (@OWCH_CH) also vouched for the PH chairman: “I’m Chinese and I love how Anwar responded to the questions. We all know how deep the water is. We don’t need a hypocrite politician. We need someone realistic and a practical PM.”
Elsewhere, Visvanathan (@visu0303) took a jibe at the once owner of Zaid Ibrahim & Co which is deemed the country’s largest law firm as having “missed the point on what Anwar said” and “only complained for the sake of complaining”.
Netizen JNG (@JNG70308687) laid bare one hard truth before Zaid’s eyes:
“Either you wish to see trouble for PH-BN (Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional) governance or turmoil in the country. Meritocracy has its merits and at the same time its evils. You wish evils to descend on this country? PMX in response gave sobering thoughts and truths about our society. One must be helped in way of unity!” – Aug 7, 2023
