DELVING on what he described as mature politics, veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has shared that he was born into an UMNO family but left the leader of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition after 32 years being “a card-carrying member not because I hate the party but because I don’t want to collude with its evil leaders”.
To him, this is a sign of mature politics where one can see politics through shades of different colours when many people are still viewing politics as black and white which is whether to support a particular political party or otherwise.
“I got to know politics through UMNO when I was a teenager. But in 2015, I withdrew and in the 2018 general election fought UMNO on the platform of Pakatan Harapan (PH),” he penned in his latest Facebook post.
“In August 2020 I left Bersatu (and was released by Bersatu). My sentiments remain with the idealism that I’m for fighting for under the PH banner.”
Deliberating on his notion of mature politics, the former Bersatu supreme council member said it is not an appropriate policy for party members and supporters to want those who rebelled against their party or the candidate of their choice to be expelled from their party.
“If all those who oppose our party are expelled, it will then be easy for our party to rule and even to commit evil acts because there will no longer be anyone to rebuke or oppose wrongdoings in the Parliament or during elections,” opined Kadir.
“Things like this have already happened in many countries when the ruling party becomes too powerful until they are capable of wiping out or ban rival parties and rule with iron fist.”
Thus, his principle is such that he wants the party that he supports to win but at the same time, he does not want the capable and potential candidates of other parties “to just drift away”.
“Who knows if one day the party I support suddenly becomes rotten. At that moment, I may need a good party and leader to overthrow my party which has turned evil like what I did to UMNO/BN in GE-14 (14th General Election),” justified Kadir.
“In that context I see Khairy Jamaluddin’s announcement that he aspires to be Prime Minister one day as interesting and good for UMNO. Just like the emergence of party heirs and young candidates in PH parties.”
Kadir said such is his personal manifesto and hopes that every Malaysian voter, too, has their own manifesto.
“It is in that spirit that I support by visiting as many young candidates and candidates in the line of succession as possible. I am amazed by their fighting spirit,” he added. – Nov 12, 2022
Main pic credit: eCentral
