Pakatan considers Malaysia a “failed state”
Pakatan Harapan whacks Parliament. They whack the PMO. They whack the AGC. They whack PDRM. They whack the MACC. They whack the Judiciary. They whack the Raja-Raja Melayu. Everything and everyone are no good except Pakatan Harapan. But why did Pakatan Harapan not do something about it in the 22 months they were in power?
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
For almost three months we have been hearing Pakatan Harapan leaders and supporters alleging that Malaysia is a failed state. Of course, most of these people who allege that Malaysia is a failed state do not really understand the definition of “failed state”.
Anyway, let us avoid a debate on semantics or on the definition of a failed state. Let us instead debate whether Malaysia is or is not a failed state, and if so why did it become one.
Pakatan’s Prime Minister, Mahathir, “killed” Malaysia’s judiciary
This failed state allegation was started by Lim Kit Siang and DAP back when Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was prime minister. And it was triggered by what is now known as the Constitutional Crisis — three Constitutional Crises to be exact.
The more crucial Constitutional Crisis was the one involving the judiciary in 1988, followed by two Constitutional Crises involving the Raja-Raya Melayu in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. Then we had the less talked about Parliamentary Crisis where the powers of Parliament were usurped by the Prime Minister (when MPs were suspended for speaking out — even Barisan Nasional MPs).
Malaysia is supposed to practice what is called “separation of powers”. What it means is what it says. And power is supposed to be shared by the four branches of government — the Executive (PM), the Legislature (Parliament), the Judiciary and the Monarchy.
During Mahathir’s time, he abrogated or usurped the powers of Parliament, the Judiciary and the Monarchy so that he could have absolute control or monopoly in running the country. Another word for that would be “dictatorship” where power would be concentrated in the hands of the Executive (Prime Minister).
Najib introduced many changes or reforms, which were dismantled when Pakatan took over in May 2018
Under Najib Tun Razak, he relinquished some of these powers and transferred back power to the various branches of government. And that was Najib’s “downfall” because now the “deep state” in the government could sabotage him and bring him down.
During Mahathir’s time, what happened to Najib would have never happened because Mahathir had full control of the running of the country. But Najib’s reforms and the transferring back power to the government agencies meant that this power could be used against him and he would be powerless to stop this “backdoor” coup.
Yes, Najib was a victim of a “backdoor” coup. And this was because he reformed the government and gave back power to the government agencies. And this is something Mahathir would never do.
When Mahathir took over as PM7 in May 2018, he dismantled what Najib had done. He made sure that the Executive (PM) took back power from all the government agencies plus from Parliament, the Judiciary and the Monarchy.
Contrary to what DAP says, Malaysia is in the “moderate” category
And that was why Mahathir made sure his people were appointed heads of the AGC (Tommy Thomas), MACC (Latheefa Koya), PDRM (Hamid Bador), etc. Mahathir wanted to restore the dictator status he enjoyed as PM4.
So, over 22 months, Mahathir destroyed the reforms which Najib had introduced in nine years as PM6. And the DAP, PKR and PAN leaders said nothing and did nothing. Pakatan Harapan had 22 months to reform the system but they did not. Instead, they dismantled whatever reforms Najib had introduced.
So, is Malaysia a “failed state”? I would say no. But even if you agree with Pakatan Harapan’s argument that Malaysia is a failed state, why did Pakatan Harapan not reform the system in the 22 months they were in charge?
After screaming for 37 years, why did Kit Siang not walk the talk when DAP was the government for 22 months?
Since Perikatan Nasional took over less than three months ago, Parliament met only once, and even then for just a few hours. No new bills were tabled and no new laws were introduced or changed. The system Malaysia has now is the system that Muhyiddin inherited from the Pakatan Harapan government.
Hence, if Malaysia is a “failed state”, as Pakatan Harapan argues, it is a failed state which Pakatan Harapan left Muhyiddin. For 37 years, DAP complains that Malaysia is a failed state. Then, when they take over, they do nothing about it. And now they complain again.
Pakatan Harapan whacks Parliament. They whack the PMO. They whack the AGC. They whack PDRM. They whack the MACC. They whack the Judiciary. They whack the Raja-Raja Melayu. Everything and everyone are no good except Pakatan Harapan. But why did Pakatan Harapan not do something about it in the 22 months they were in power?
