The Malays, in UMNO, are nostalgic about past glories. They talked about the time when Malaysia's heartbeat stopped while UMNO held its Perhimpunan Agong. General Elections then were occasions for much merry-making, an abundance of money being splashed here and there, ending with the declaration of certain electoral victory. And then onwards towards another five years of government and the attending business opportunities that would be shared out among the party faithful.
The UMNO president is invariably the nation's numero uno ...Prime Minister, or for lack of a better word...GOD. But then, even GOD does not have an entourage of 50 cars when he goes up North. So really, the UMNO's president is a notch up on GOD.
And the YBs may be a dime a dozen in the five-star hotels and along the corridors of power, but they cost more, much more to 'buy' if you were in need of their "pertolongan"...but I digress.
As I said, the Malays in Umno are nostalgic for past glories, but past glories are hard to come by when UMNO is just a minion among the political power brokers in government. But, be as it may, Zahid Hamidi their president, has been able to position UMNO among the powers that be in the current Madani government and secured for himself the Deputy Prime Minister appointment. An achievement worthy of note by any criteria.
And now there is Anwar Ibrahim. Not since Tunku has there been this much outpouring of emotions and love for a Malaysian leader as there has been for Anwar Ibrahim. Over time, he has grown into the role of "OUR LEADER" with aplomb - poised, composed, and confident in his ability to do what he must, to deserve our respect.
Anwar is a man of all seasons. Of course, he is first a MCOBA. Then a student leader and from there by leaps and bounds, a politician, reformer, moderate Islamist, and now prime minister. Wither does Anwar goes from here?
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power,”
Anwar has faced adversity admirably - with courage and conviction that leaves no doubt in anybody's mind, that he does not run away from it. But now that he has power, how will he conduct himself?
Also, I an sure, with courage and conviction.
He did not seek to avoid a vote of confidence in Parliament for his government, In fact, he sought it and the motion of confidence was passed in Parliament winning vital backing for his premiership. And recently, he faced another "vote of confidence" in his leadership during the state elections, where Perikatan Nasional riding on a wave of race and religion challenged Anwar's credentials as a Malay and a Muslim. They failed.
From his fiery days of Reformasi, through many years of prosecution and persecution, then as leader of the opposition, Anwar has now matured into a statesman that is already winning him friends internationally and loyalty from Malaysians who have waited for his kind of leadership to come into their lives for far too long.
And now after PRN Anwar's next foreseeable challenge is PRU16...still a few years away.
His Deputies and Cabinet members take their cue from Anwar. No prima donnas, no discernible warlords flexing their muscles for projects and contracts to feed their tribes, and cabinet meetings are about getting things done. This will be the cabinet that will see this Madani government through to PRU16. And after a brief period of uncertainties, his two deputies are....his deputies...nothing more and nothing less.
The race and religious fervor fueling the momentum of the Green Wave have had their moment - and that moment has passed. An election won with one vote is an election won. All that Perikatan Nasional can now do is count their costs and wait for PRU15...many years down the road. Muhyiddin can wait for the arrest of his son-in-law. Wait for the arrest of other people of interest responsible for the many questionable dealings perpetrated during his time as prime minister...and when his time comes, wait for his own arrest. Hadi may go look for wife number four, but where will he find the means to do so? In a few months, that green wave will become a whimper and their time in the sun will be over.
For Anwar Ibrahim and this Madani government, it will be their time in the sun.
Malaysia appears to be in the grip of a theocracy and that may prove difficult to wish away.
Don't ever forget he spent 18years experience inside UMNO lama with Zahid as Youth Leader....🤔🤔 see whether AZMIN Sandakan video episode played out or not...🤣🤣🤣
On the contrary, they STILL want the PATRONAGE, the access to the gravy train, it's the disease of COLLECTIVE NARCISSISM superciliousness and easy money. Even if ANWAR revives the economy to the stratosphere, these KETUANAN mindset will still be ungrateful and insecure. Don't be fooled by the feign disguise of the MALAY electorate voting PN out of disfavour for emasculated UMNO. The tribalism and crutch dependency is not easy to unravel after 50 years of Mahathirism(Ketuananism). ANWAR must DO MORE THAN REVIVE THE ECONOMY, HE MUST SEND A MESSAGE THAT EXTREMISM, RACISM and CORRUPTION must be dealt with severely. CUT-OFF EXCESS and DEPENDENCY on EASY MONIES from PROJECT HANDOUTS that do nothing but perpetuate the disease of ENTITLEMENT.
Not as optimistic, but l agree to a certain degree. The green wave is probably a blessing in disguise, a wake up call for the Madani govt to formulate strategies and counter come next GE. Imagine finding yourself in a Green State the next day after election, scary as hell. I would go collect apples in Australia.
Salam En Hussein
Sorry to say BUT your 5th paragraph is an overkill and overly exaggerated………….comparing the Rakyats love for anwar to Tunku………
August 12th election showed Anwar and his coalition parties only garnered about 50% of votes.
Time will tell if Anwar will be the leader and saviour we all hope to have.
Let’s see how much more handouts he needs to give to win over more followers……….I was hoping the ‘cash is king’ practice is history.
I do wish he will be the leader that will reverse the rot our country is going through ……….. as I voted for him last November 😉