By Phlip Rodrigues
Pas is organising a rally on 26 July with the sole purpose of pushing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to step down, purportedly because he is the cause of all the ills in the country.
Its youth wing, wearing the armour of a people’s champion, has invited the people to rally around the Pas banner. They present this as if the very life of the nation depends on it.
Youth wing leader Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden probably believes his clarion call for action will galvanise thousands of people to take to the streets and force Anwar to flee from Putrajaya.
He wants someone more capable in the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional coalition to replace Anwar, who, he claims, has mismanaged the country.
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But hold it! Who is Afnan trying to fool? Does he really think all the various ethnic groups, especially the minorities, will join hands with him and bring about a change of government?
The resounding answer: no! People know who the real troublemaker is that is causing so much division and resentment in society to the extent of bringing the country to the brink.
Afnan is disingenuous in his thinking. He uses the argument that Anwar is the “root of all problems” and therefore he must go.
But what did he mean? That the person to succeed Anwar should not be a PH-BN candidate but someone from Pas? If that is the case, that would mean the Islamist party has to take over the reins of power and rule the country according to God’s laws.
God help us if Pas were to come through the back door (read rally) and snatch the coveted trophy from Anwar’s hands.
Such an attempt (a grab for power) would result in even more problems for the nation. This is because Pas would try to put into practice all its disagreeable policies that will further divide and antagonise the people.
Despite its denial, this party is now trying to use the rally as a camouflage for its real intention – to seize political power and paper over the diverse characteristics that have made Malaysia an oasis of peace and harmony all these years.
Pas has been unable to capture federal power through the ballot box. Hence, it has to seek other means to achieve this one overarching political ambition.
It planned rally is the one route that its youth wing probably thinks can lead the party to the doorsteps of Putrajaya.
But who wants to join the rally? Very few – or maybe largely Pas members, who would be urged to attend for obvious reasons.
It is unlikely that other political parties would want to share the same platform as their rival. After all, why give Pas the credit for toppling the “Madani” man? (Madani is Anwar’s slogan for a civil and trustworthy administration.)
Moreover, its single-minded theme – to bring down Anwar – will not catch fire. This is because it is all politically motivated to serve the interests of Pas.
Recall past Bersih rallies where people from all ethnic backgrounds and from walks of life came out in the tens of thousands. They did so because they were fighting for clean and transparent governance, which resonated well with the public.
Now, if there is one rally that can attract a similar turnout, it must surely be one where Pas itself is in the crosshairs. Many will want to see the Islamist party exit from the public stage because they consider it the root of the many problems in society.
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
If Anwar is toppled by this spontaneous rally who will govern d country? Hadi Awang? You must be joking!! 😳😫🤪