Against all odds, Pakatan Harapan won the GE14, in 2018 because UMNO was arrogant. They thought they will win any day, any time. PH agreed to appoint Mahathir as their PM, a historical event being the second time he became PM.
Initially, I was hopeful and thought this was the time for Mahathir's atonement for the abuses and dictatorial reign during his first term that lasted 22 years. I was so wrong... a leopard cannot change his skin. The chameleon instinct never had left him. Mahathir is an egoistic person who never listens to anyone but his own. Mahathir resigned as PM and the government abruptly in 2020 after 22 months the Pakatan Harapan government was in power.
Bersatu, of which Mahathir was chief, left the Pakatan government, and Mahathir resigned later from Bersatu when he failed to get his son, Mukhriz, to be the deputy to Mahiaddin in Bersatu.
Then came the Sheraton move, a carnival of frog jumping, when an extraordinary thing happened but denied by Mahathir. Following the Westminster system, if the PM resigned, an acting PM is appointed to be endorsed by a vote of confidence in Parliament. Since the old PM resigned, there was a silent coup with the Agong decreed that the appointment of the PM was through a poll by Statutory Declaration (SD). Accordingly Mahiaddin won the premiership to be PM, by SDs. As PM, Mahiaddin created the biggest cabinet ever of 70+ Ministers, special advisors, special envoys to obtain support.
Let's see how he performed as PM. Musa Aman was freed from corruption allegations to return to Sabah to cause political unrest and it happened. The Warisan state government lost. Despite the spread of COVID-19, Mahiaddin called for a Sabah state elections causing the increase of covid infections.
He then declared a lockdown, the longest ever in the world that caused a slump in economic activities of small businesses. Poor Malaysians were left hungry and crying for food. White flags were raised for food from the hungry.
The lockdown was more a personal political reasons by Mahiaddin because he was not sure he could win a vote of confidence in the Dewan. He announced citizens could withdraw limited amounts from the EPF, the rakyat's own savings which the PM considered a government aid.
That is the type of PM Mahiaddin is. He then resigned as PM and appointed Ismail Sabri to replace him as PM.
Ismail Sabri as PM was another ineffective PM. He signed an MOU with the Opposition to ensure stability in his government. It worked. The Opposition went along to support Ismail as PM until the end of the Parliamentary term. Important enactments were approved the Anti-hopping Act and the Act allowing 18 year olds to vote in elections. But Ismail was taking a step backwards in communications insisting Bahasa Melayu to be an international language but never preparing the infrastructure for the sudden move.
PM Ismail Sabri addressed the UN General Assembly in BM. He sent congratulatory message in Bahasa to the UK new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. Ismail Sabri as PM was never a leader. He was pushed and prodded by his boss in UMNO, Zahid Hamidi, with threats of banishing him from UMNO if Ismail didn't agree with the UMNO president. If only Ismail Sabri understood the strength of the position of a PM and had leadership qualities in him, he would not have relented to Zahid's proddings because he had the support of the opposition, Bersatu and PAS in the Dewan. But since being promised to be the PM after GE15, Ismail Sabri advised the Agong to dissolve Parliament in the light of the monsoon season.
Now why does Zahid want the GE15? He saw that in Melaka and Johor, low election turnout favours UMNO. He must have thought the monsoon would make the electorate stay home giving UMNO bullies the advantage. But the real reason as he arrogantly announced at the MIC assembly, if BN won this Mother of All Elections, he and other BN leaders would not be dragged into court for their corrupt practices. This is in the public domain now. This PM wannabe also said even if one Bossku is imprisoned, there will be many more Bossku. A pure admission of his priorities as PM. There is no mention of benefits to the Rakyat or Malaysia as a whole.
So why Anwar Ibrahim? Does Malaysia think any of the above have international recognition to bring investments and improve the economy? Ismail cannot even bring eggs to the market. The LRT has broken down for 7 days expectedly. The management, Prasarana, admitted the coaches needed to be replaced. Huh! Why then wasn't they replaced then?
Again, why Anwar Ibrahim? He is the prospective PM if Pakatan Harapan wins the GE15. Even as an ordinary MP, Anwar is recognised around the world. He will backed by a team of professional MPs and meritocracy is the priority. This would ensure stability and hopefully bring in investments especially from countries who know Anwar Ibrahim.
Malaysia has the quality and professionalism to move forward and in a different direction. Malaysia would stop race and religion that divide us. We will follow the same Constitution. All Malaysians will treated equally.
But for Anwar Ibrahim to be PM, Pakatan Harapan must win GE15 by at least 112 seats. We shall see.
Share your experiences, dreams and hopes for #GE15 and stand a chance to win cash prizes up to RM16,500! Find out how you can participate here.
Wan Ismail Annuar is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
Newswav is solely an aggregation platform and hosts the content. The views expressed and content above including media (pictures, videos, etc) were provided by the author. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.