OUR country has been in disarray since February. Ordinary people like us, who don’t understand the role of “learned” people like our politicians in planning the COVID-19 pandemic’s covert “coup d’etat“, see it as an odd event to accept.
We therefore accepted their justifications for taking over the Government without having to go through the ballot papers, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had done. Unlike Tunisia and Thailand, we did not take to the streets to protest.
We had a lot of patience. Despite the many lockdowns and the unnecessary Sabah election held because of a few dishonest persons, the number of COVID-19 cases has increased, we continue to pay attention to the Government’s pleas.
Even while several ministers and prominent people broke the lockdown restrictions, they were only mildly reprimanded, whereas ordinary people, such as the burger seller in Kelantan, were severely punished. We retain the appropriate level of formality.
We, Malaysians, adore our nation and always respect our leaders, even if we know that some of them are unfit to serve this nation. Such leaders are always forgiven and forgotten.
The growth in unemployment, combined with the high rate of suicide in Malaysia, has recently raised concerns about the present administration’s legitimacy. The current Government’s unwillingness to convene Parliament as much as possible casts doubt on its lawfulness as well.
The persistent disagreement between the current administration and the Palace raises further doubts about whether their working compatibility would be sufficient for the country’s decent governance.
Contract doctors’ protests, as well as hundreds of young people’s demonstrations calling for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to quit, show that people are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the current administration.
Who will be our country’s future Prime Minister?
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is the right person to lead our country through this crisis. He is a charismatic leader who is well-liked by people from all walks of life in our country. He is aware of the pain and expectations of the people.
He was a former deputy prime minister and finance minister who successfully managed our country’s finances throughout his time in office. He is always attentive and sympathetic to those in need, particularly the impoverished.
He has also been imprisoned twice and has experienced both sides of life – good and bad. He is well-liked around the world and can entice investors, particularly from abroad, to help revive our economy.
If the incumbent prime minister resigns, the Agong has the prerogative to choose the country’s next prime minister. Despite the fact that we have other candidates, Anwar Ibrahim will be the best fit for the current circumstances.
Various attempts have been undertaken over the last twelve years to prevent Anwar Ibrahim from becoming Prime Minister of this country. Others can hold the country’s highest office, but not him. That was the part that perplexed us the most.
As a result, we implore our Agong to use his great wisdom to appoint a qualified and capable prime minister to lead this country to new heights. – Aug 15, 2021
R Paneir Selvam is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Business, Economic and Accounting/Institute of Crime and Criminology, HELP University.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
