Let’s call a spade a spade

I find it ironic that you call out other politicians for this when you are no better than those you are criticizing.

Ethan Ho

Syed Saddiq, we all hear your call to end of needless politicking on part of the Pakatan Harapan government. We all agree that it does nothing but squander the goodwill of the rakyat and costs us millions in foreign direct investment with every word uttered by cabinet members on issues that are more suited for internal party channels.

But I find it ironic that you call out other politicians for this when you are no better than those you are criticizing.

First, what is your definition of excessive politicking. Is it right to consider striving for proper democratic transitions as excessive?

How then do we define your own actions as of late then? After all you were the one that politicized the inquest into the death of fireman Adib, you were the one that politicized Zakir Naik (not once, but twice!) and you were the one who used an honest petition by a 13-year-old into an opportunity to emphasize your relationship with Tun Mahathir. 

Let’s be clear, we are still in a transitionary period–and it is up to the old generation, no doubt represented by Tun Mahathir, to show to the world that Malaysia can move forward as a working democracy. 

Your sudden emphasis for a black-and-white transitionary agreement is also perplexing. If a signed document is the sole factor for legitimacy, shouldn’t you extend the same fervour in fulfilling your Youth election manifesto?

With all due respect, this current “instability” comes from Tun Mahathir. He had campaigned with Pakatan Harapan with the stated intention that he would stay as interim Prime Minister for 2 years. 

Your successful campaign to become MP of Muar relied on a coalition that worked together under the impression that Mahathir would fulfil this agenda.

It is this same instability that drives foreign investors away–it was Tun Mahathir who took spearheaded anti-China stance during the election campaign, so can you blame foreign investors for viewing him with caution? 

There needs to be clarity here: the recent incident in New York where Mahathir said that “I may have at the most three years perhaps” is not the first time. He did the same during his speech celebrating Pakatan Harapan 1st anniversary in power. 

But Tun has also spent the time in between these two occasions stating that he would retire within 2 years as campaigned upon during GE14.

Yes, the public is tired of this issue but they are also just as tired of the broken trail of promises and policy failures that accompany them. 

Our country will soon face a gloomy global outlook as trade wars intensify, the uncertain United States presidential election and a fragmented EU. As an outward-looking economy, these are all factors that will cause our own businesses to contract by 3.9 to 6.4% according to a recent report by MIDF Research.

These are all factors we are in no position to influence. But your own internal bickering is something that you can address.

On many levels, your government has squandered the goodwill of the public that supported you during and after the General Election.

The discontent is not against Tun Mahathir alone, but against an entire cabinet (and this includes your tenure as Youth & Sports Minister, Syed Saddiq) that has abandoned and discarded its former allies from environmentalists, activists, families seeking justice for lost family members and your everyday Malaysian. 

Instead of the new economy resembling the hopes espoused in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, Malaysians are instead treated to a return of the same old and potentially leaky policies such as the third national car, a flying car and obsolete public projects. 

It is about the man, woman and child on the street who face an increasing cost of living and stagnant wages—all the while being squeezed even further by a corporate environment that looks to collect cents from every ringgit earned by their employees.

So, it isn’t about Anwar being PM, it’s about how you and your colleagues have failed to deliver your promised Malaysia Baru. It’s time to stop complaining and start doing your job.