Time for a comeback, Shahrir Samad

Centrist politician Shahrir Samad, a principled politican who believes in speaking his mind, has moderation and good sense as part of his DNA.

By KARIM RASLAN, The Star

MALAYSIAN politicians often talk too much. At the same time, many useless and sometimes dangerous self-promoters receive too much media coverage.

However, there are some politicians who we don’t hear enough from. Often these are the more serious, sensible fellows who don’t believe in publicity stunts.

I’m talking about men like Datuk Seri Shahrir Samad (pic), the MP for Johor Baru and a former Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Malaysia loses out when the normally outspoken Shahrir, who hails from Johor, the heartland of Umno, falls silent. He is a rare breed of leader.

Unlike some politicians, Shahrir has never played up issues of race or religion.

Shahrir is a “centrist” politician. Moderation and good sense is part of his DNA.

Indeed, in an interview with a news portal in February, he said: “…moderation is how life should be and the way of service. Moderation makes you more believable, and it’s not easy to be moderate.”

As I’ve argued time and again, Umno does have a rich moderate tradition, witness leaders such as Datuk Onn Jaafar, Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak. It was their ability to work with their partners in the Alliance, and later Barisan Nasional, that helped bring progress to Malaysia.

The influence of this moderate wing may have waned under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but they are still a potent intellectual force.

Moderates also adapt well to change. Shahrir, incidentally was also one of the first Umno leaders to embrace the Internet. This is unsurprising because – unlike some former Ministers – he’s acknowledged the importance of winning over younger voters and using technology.

More important is the fact that this man’s career has been largely guided by forthrightness. A Malay College Kuala Kangsar Old Boy, Shahrir was once one of the youngest political secretaries in Malaysia, and by 1987 he had risen to become Federal Territory Minister.

His ascent came to a halt in the 1988 Umno crisis. Sacked from the party, Shahrir resigned from his seat to force a by-election and won as an independent. He later rejoined Umno rather than Tengku Razaleigh’s Semangat ’46.

As chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, he gave that body credibility and independence when few had faith in it. In 2006, Shahrir again made headlines when he resigned as head of the Barisan Backbencher’s Club. He did so after defying the Government to support an Opposition motion against another Barisan MP implicated in a scandal.

In 2008, then premier Abdullah Badawi brought him into the Cabinet after Barisan suffered its historic losses that year. Shahrir, unfortunately, lost his Supreme Council post in 2009 and so left his post again.

One is struck by two things.

First, Shahrir is a principled politician who believes in speaking his mind. This often makes him unpopular with other politicians, especially the leaders. However, the Malaysian people respect him. Indeed, many regard him as an honest man – something very rare in politics.

Second, is his powerful loyalty to Umno. Shahrir could have left the party like many others. Yet he has endured, without embracing the racialist ethos of his colleagues.

This is a tribute to his Johor roots as well as the fact that he cares deeply for Umno. His moderation stems from something deeper than a desire for personal power or financial gain. As we’ve seen, he’s been willing to give up high positions rather than compromise his principles.

It isn’t a coincidence that his younger brother Khalid Samad, the MP for Shah Alam, is one of the most outspoken of the so-called PAS “Erdogans”. He too has also suffered for defying his party on account of conscience. But PAS hasn’t marginalised Khalid and its moderates, and is now reaping rich rewards.

Umno needs more men like Shahrir. He’s exactly the sort of leader that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should call upon to help transform the party and modernise Malaysia.

Unfortunately, extremist groups like Perkasa are beginning to dominate Umno’s policymaking. Indeed, I would argue that Perkasa has almost engineered a “reverse takeover” of the party.

Their agenda may win Umno support from conservatives, but it is no way to govern a country.

We can only speculate why Shahrir and his fellow moderates have remained silent in the light of this worrying development. If and when they do speak out, however, we ordinary Malaysians must be willing to back them if we care about our country’s future.