Standing against Mahathir, is not for the faint-hearted. Musa, Ku Li, Abang Lah, Najib have tried and lost. Umno, too lost. What makes DSAI think that he can do it?
One word: BELIEF.
He believes in his ability to do so. That belief has sustained him through years of incarceration and separation from his family. That belief has taken him from REFORMASI to MADANI. That belief will now take him through his time as PMX, and maybe, through to the next PRU, and beyond.
One of DSAI problem will be to find his peers. There is nobody on the horizon, what more in Cabinet, that has gone through the life experience that DSAI has gone through. With Reformasi, he started the process of real change in Malaysian politics. He gave life to Reformasi, he moved it along and sustained it through the years. And when its time was up, he brought in Madani.
In all this, until recently, he has been his own counsel....you have to be when you are in Jail. Only he knows what went through his mind, and surely the arguments he must have had with himself during all those times are for him to know. ....but Datuk seri, when you are having an argument with yourself, you always win.
You are now PMX with Ministers, advisors, and peers around you whom you should listen to. Why not discuss, debate, and even disagree with one another? Constructive criticism are building block to consensus. At the very least they will be in agreement with you, and at best, you will learn a lot more about your ideas, your beliefs, and yourself. Enough said.
I believe the voters did not vote for madani.
When badawi got a huge landslide, it was based on reform pledges. But he lost 5 states because he did not implement them. In fact, i think it was the late first wife who advised him on reform. When she died, badawi was clueless. No direction. Sleeping joe.
Voters want immdiate reform in education. Like what mara colleges got. But the reverse occured. Mara colleges now will not be taught in english anymore. It will be like any other sekolah kebangsaan, just like how PMX destroyed the christian schools decades before.
For many of us who have eagerly anticipated Anwar Ibrahim's leadership as our Prime Minister, it's comparable to what Jokowi represents for Indonesia. Few leaders have experienced unjust incarceration on politically motivated and baseless charges as Anwar has—twice.
What those opposed to Anwar, including Mahathir and others, feared has now come to fruition. Anwar shines on the international stage, demonstrating his capabilities and charisma. Instead of granting him the mandate he rightfully holds, we witness opposition leaders continuously besmirching his reputation both within and outside of Parliament, often resorting to personal attacks.
It's high time to focus on governing the nation and embark on a journey of serious rehabilitation after decades of mismanagement.