Leader

NST Leader: Politics of doublespeak

MALAYSIA is no Belgium but if our politics is not tempered with a bountiful dose of generosity, we may be headed for 589 days of no government like it happened there.

The palace, not wanting to continue the political uncertainty for too long, advanced a noble idea on Tuesday: a government across race, religion and region.

Though we do not pretend to know the exact palatial advice to Pakatan Harapan's chairman, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Perikatan Nasional's chairman, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, from the statements made available to the media on Tuesday, the monarch had asked the two leaders to "talk" themselves into a unity government.

But it appears, as of yesterday, they are not on "talking" terms. A Conference of Rulers meeting scheduled for today may help resolve the impasse. The nation waits with bated breath.

The permutations for Malaysia's future are wide open, but whatever it is, it must be one of a shared future. Whoever gets to be the prime minister, he must be a leader for all of Malaysia, not just for his coalition. Malaysian politicians, without exception, have talked of inclusive politics but it has been more of "tell" than "show".

People are intelligent enough to know what is mere rhetoric and what is real. The first thing the two political leaders must do now is to call on the people to preserve the hard-earned harmony that the country has safeguarded all these years.

Malaysians must abide by the laws of the country and not stir the hornet's nest, given the negativity that is crowding out the political discussions on social media.

Two developments in Perak and Pahang, however, give hope for a unity government. A unity government by PH and BN in Perak has been sworn in. PH has allowed BN's candidates to be named the menteri besar and speaker. Call it the great compromise.

If this is possible at the state level, there is no logical reason for this not to happen at the federal level. If for some reason this coming together of the two is thought of as a one-off marriage of convenience, a similar arrangement appears to be likely in Pahang, too.

Something is changing in Malaysian politics, though we may have been too focused on who will be the next PM to have noticed these significant new developments. Significant because some of the politicians have been sworn enemies for 50 years.

If they can put aside this ancient animus to progress the interests of the state, it is not impossible to bury the rancour that exists between PH, PN and BN. Perak has shown the way. Pahang may do the same.

Putrajaya must emulate these experiments in compromise. If ever Malaysia needed a political compromise, it is now. Voters are hoping the 10th PM will walk the path paved by Perak.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories