The latest spat between PKR youth wing and Umno youth wing leaders exposes the deeper realities of the coalition government which is struggling to adhere to the principles of integrity and transparency.
This happens in the context of former Prime Minister Najib Razak seeking leave from the High Court to commence judicial review proceedings in a bid to compel the government to produce the “supplementary order”, which was purportedly issued by the former Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, during the Pardons Board meeting on 29 January.
One would have thought that the 1MDB scandal, which is the greatest web of corruption scandals in Malaysian history, that had deepened the distrust between the government and the people would have come to its conclusion after the 2022 general election.
Unfortunately, the shadow of the former prime minister, who seeks a privilege that ordinary Malaysians would certainly not have, is threatening the survival of the so-called “unity government” in terms of integrity and public accountability.
The defeat of Umno, which was reduced to 30 seats in Parliament, should have enlightened the Umno leadership that it needs to reform by adopting future behaviour that would project integrity. Unfortunately, the party remains adamant and places its partners in the unity government in a dilemma.
Pakatan Harapan, which made an election promise to bring Malaysia into a new era of reforms if it came to power, is unfortunately playing a political game: it is trying to maintain a partnership with Umno while ensuring the prime ministership of Anwar Ibrahim remains intact by keeping silent on issues that require transparency and public accountability using a certain precedence of the law on pardons to justify itself.
The nation’s politics is no more about integrity and the people, but it is about respect for political elites who would like to remain in power and control at all costs.
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The Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election is an opportune time for Malaysians to reflect on where the unity government is heading in terms of leadership integrity and, whether the partnership between Pakatan Harapan and Umno is really capable of transformation, and not deceiving slogans like reforms. – Malaysiakini
- 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
