Don’t doubt Mahathir-led Pakatan Harapan, Zaid tells reformists

Former minister Zaid Ibrahim calls for reformists to continue backing Pakatan Harapan as they are the future of Malaysia, not 92-year-old former PM.

(FMT) – Former minister Zaid Ibrahim wants the reformists in Pakatan Harapan (PH) to set aside their doubts over Dr Mahathir Mohamad leading the opposition coalition.

Saying the former prime minister is key to ending the rule of the Barisan Nasional government, Zaid said the reformists should realise they are the real future of the country.

“The greatest and most urgently needed reforms we can hope for at this point in our history are the most basic ones – to have a peaceful transition of power without Umno, to have Chinese in government without the MCA and Indians in government without the MIC.

“These are basic points that we need before we start talking about the reform agenda as a whole, and Mahathir can help us get past the basics.

“Beyond that, it’s up to the reformists to continue the task of rebuilding the country. After all, Mahathir is 92 years old. The reformists are all much younger,” Zaid said in a blog post today.

Zaid, who joined DAP earlier this year, also praised his party leader Lim Kit Siang for inviting well-known activists to join the PH secretariat to formulate a “reform agenda”.

“This move is necessary as many reformists have openly said that the reform agenda would be dead if Mahathir were to helm a new PH government.

“Many of them distrust Mahathir so much that no assurance by PH, including that Mahathir can function only as part of the team, will give them relief,” Zaid said.

He warned the reformists that the alternative was worse.

“If we cannot win the election, Prime Minister Najib Razak will remain, and we have seen what Najib will do to keep himself in power and we would have nothing left worth saving.

He also called for the reformists to watch a new film that has been especially made in conjunction with the upcoming 60th Merdeka celebration.

“It is titled The Malay Regiment. Watch it and then tell me if you still think Mahathir is more of a threat to us as a people and a country than Najib.

“We will not get any reform agenda if Najib wins again.”