By Niza Shimi
Will it be too much to ask? After years of #KitaLawan, to expect people to embrace #KitaKawan might be more than many can chew. Too many insults were hurled from either side of the #KitaLawan fence that something broke the Malaysian spirit.
It would take a lot of effort to repair the damage. Malaysians have become too bitter and divided when it comes to politics that the young have never known anything more than hatred of those who do not share their views. They never knew Malaysia before 1998.
If you recall, the Reformasi Movement was initiated on September 20, 1998, after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, now the 10th prime minister (PM10), was sacked as deputy prime minister by the PM4, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Tun M).
Anwar was detained under the Internal Security Act and would turn up in court with the infamous black eye, a result of being punched by the then Inspector General of Police. The nation would endure years of sordid court cases that would see Anwar imprisoned. (He later received a Royal Pardon when the Tun M led Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won GE14 in 2018.)
The ensuing riots that erupted after Anwar's sacking were especially felt in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city. Due to Anwar’s popularity and massive influence among the youth, Islamists and Malays, the turnout on the streets was widely recorded by foreign media.
The older generation will remember the water cannons aimed at citizens, the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) came out in full riot gear armed with batons and tear gas. Rioters became violent, setting cars on fire and causing mayhem. Scores were arrested.
Tun Dr Mahathir used a high-handed approach to quelling the rioters. Since then, the FRU would become a regular feature at Dataran Merdeka, in KL, whenever there was any kind of assembly, peaceful or otherwise.
For city dwellers, road closures to prevent violent scuffles would cause traffic nightmares. Nobody welcomed that.
The movement later became political and multiracial. It evolved into a political movement that later became the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). But shouts of Reformasi remain the rallying call to this day.
Then we had the #KitaLawan campaign that began on March 7, 2015, calling for the release of Anwar who was imprisoned for sodomy charges, this time under the watch of PM6, Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Politicians from PKR who were present also got arrested.
Since 1998, Malaysians have been at loggerheads with each other because of Anwar. Despite economic hardships, global financial turmoil, the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters notwithstanding, Malaysians are supposed to lawan (fight), assuming this is against the authorities of the day.
But #KitaLawan reached its crescendo during the bitter campaigning for GE15. The then PM-aspirant Anwar led massive rallies with a sing-a-long of Aduh Malaysia by Altimet with a catchy chorus, “Hoi, hoy a hoi, siapa sokong penyamun…” (hoi, ho ya hoi, who supports robbers).
How does anybody forget that? PH went all out to get Anwar into Putrajaya as PM10. They left no sensitive holds barred. The aftermath is a Malaysia that is confused and disoriented. As no political coalition achieved a simple majority, now PH now has to kiss and make up with arch-nemesis Barisan Nasional.
Thus, the well-meaning Angkatan Belia Malaysia (ABIM), Anwar's original launch pad, has initiated the #KitaKawan (we are friends) campaign to mend the deep rifts in society wrought by political supporters. Malaysians are supposed to forget past hurts and political insults to embrace each other in solidarity. That's a lot to ask.
In reality, Malaysians of all races and religions are generally kind, friendly, generous, warm and helpful. Just don't talk about politics with them.
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