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KUALA LUMPUR — On the 4th of September 2023, the people of Malaysia saw the downfall of reformasi when the deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, granted a Dismissal Not Amounting to Acquittal (DNAA) regarding his 47 charges of corruption in the Yayasan Akalbudi case (Rashid, 2023). Everyone was caught by surprise as this move raised many questions regarding the integrity of the government, the decentralisation of power and the possibility of government interference regarding this case. Comments online were polarised, ranging from PH (Pakatan Harapan) and BN (Barisan Nasional) supporters saying that this is a necessary and lesser evil, and PN (Perikatan Nasional) supporters saying that this is an obstruction of justice and should not be allowed. Some even say that this is the first step, and sooner or later, Bossku (Dato Seri Najib Razak) will be granted a royal pardon and walk out of the Kajang Prison.
In the midst of the havoc, MUDA stood up and spoke against this issue. The party with only one MP and one ADUN has launched a campaign named #DakwaZahid, demanding the AGC to provide an explanation in Parliament about the decision for the DNAA on the deputy prime minister, to separate the Attorney General’s Chambers’ executive powers with the Public Prosecutor immediately, and for the Public Prosecutor to charge Zahid again immediately.
Soon after, MUDA’s President, also Muar MP YB Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, announced that MUDA retracted their support to the government, and joined the opposition bloc as a “Third Force” that will monitor the government and provide checks and balances to the parliament. Ever since, MUDA has been under the barrel, getting mixed responses from the general public and their supporters.
In a recent interview with YB Syed Saddiq, he said that when MUDA was part of the formation of the unity government, he told himself and his party members that there are lines that they should not cross, which included dropping Zahid’s charges. “I strongly believe that dropping Zahid’s case is politically motivated. The request came from the AGC itself, an institution directly reporting to the Prime Minister’s Office - the Prime Minister.”
YB Amira Aisya, the Deputy President of MUDA and also ADUN of Puteri Wansga said that the political landscape is filled with waves of hypocrisy, where those who used to preach against corruption and unethical practices are not taking swift action to address these issues. “This inconsistency in policy and practice can hinder the government's ability to respond promptly to campaigns like #DakwaZahid.”.
Vice President of MUDA, Zaidel Baharuddin, claims that the issue is when Zahid being the deputy prime minister and the head of a key coalition that formed the government, the Attorney General who is appointed by and reports to the Prime Minister, there’s an issue of conflict of interest. “ By right, if you say that you are separate from the Attorney General chambers, the Attorney General should not need to brief the Prime Minister on ongoing cases right? That’s the issue here.” He also mentioned that the same problem occurred during his involvement in Barisan Nasional during Bossku’s administration. “ when you look at 1MDB, how the Prime Minister removed the Attorney General and also a few other key posts that were investigating the 1MDB fiasco.”. the 1MDB case was suddenly not an issue when Bossku replaced Gani Patail with Apandi Ali as the Attorney General. “So the idea is that I'm not accusing the Prime Minister of intervening per se, but the system itself does not have credence towards this.”.
In response to critics arguing that the #DakwaZahid campaign is just a ploy and politically motivated, YB Syed Saddiq responded that MUDA has been consistent in this issue even before they were part of the Unity Government. “You can check.”, he said responding to the question. He also said, “I am not a hypocrite - dulu cakap lain, sekarang cakap lain” in response to the rumours.
On the same question, Zaidel Baharuddin does not deny that the campaign is politically motivated. “Well, it is politically motivated, and it's okay if it's politically motivated, everything is political in this country anyway.” He stated that the problem is that the institution has been compromised politically as well because it involves politicians. “They say the same thing about Bersih. They say the same thing about all of the other things. The issue is not what it is motivated by, but that there is a clear, apparent problem in regards to check and balance, that we don't see much difference between separation of power because the prosecution is linked to the executive branch.” He mentioned that the issue is not about which political party is for it or against it, but the issue is that there is a problem and it needs to be addressed.
YB Amira Aisya has also mentioned that MUDA’s core principle is to be a party "for the people, by the people.". “This means that our primary focus is on serving the needs and interests of the rakyat (the people) and prioritising their welfare over any self-interest.”. When asked if is there a better option to approach the issue of #DakwaZahid, she said that the question of whether there are better or worse options ultimately lies with the people. MUDA's approach is driven by a commitment to serving the needs of the rakyat, and their actions are aligned with this core principle. “The party's goal is to offer an alternative option that resonates with the people's aspirations for a more accountable and effective government, ultimately leaving the choice in the hands of the electorate.”.
YB Syed Saddiq has also strongly stated that MUDA will voice out when they see something is wrong acting as the third force. “We are not anyone’s lapdog.”, he said. Even if the demand from #DakwaZahid has been met, MUDA will still remain a third force in the opposition. “If we become part of the government, people might view us as betrayers because we consistently voice our concerns and criticise government decisions.”
Zaidel Baharuddin also added that MUDA will be an effective opposition for the next five years. He claimed that being an effective opposition is not to oppose everything, but to vote for bills that are good for the people. “Let's say by chance, this government decides to introduce good progressive laws, like the separation of powers between the Attorney General and the public prosecutor, we will vote for it”. He said that MUDA will be the check and balance and an effective opposition. “As we believe that as an outsider, we can respond better and become the voice of the people in a much more effective way.”
MUDA sees itself as a potential third political force that can effectively hold the government accountable, said YB Amira Aisya. “By maintaining a degree of independence, MUDA aims to ensure that promises made to the people are fulfilled and that the government remains transparent and responsive.”. While the active involvement in the #DakwaZahid campaign has affected her role as an ADUN, it is vital to emphasize that being an elected representative comes with an inherent duty to serve her constituents, regardless of her affiliation. “We remain steadfast in our mission to hold the government accountable for their promises, ensuring that they work in the best interests of the people. Balancing these roles is challenging, but it's my duty to do so effectively, advocating for my constituents while aligning with MUDA's principles.”, she said.
Accountability is the foundation of democracy. With proper checks and balances, Malaysia can only remain a true and pure democratic country. If we don’t hold our leaders accountable, how will Malaysia end up in 20 years? When one has absolute power, we will end up in a one-voice society. You don’t get to choose who will be the voice, and neither do I. As YB Syed Saddiq said, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely”. But we can improve the current state by taking the right actions, and that first step is to undo the dropping of YAB Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case. “to improve is to change, and to be perfect is to change often.” - Winston Churchill.
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