Mahathir and Institutional Reforms? Chalk & Cheese

From MySinChew.com:

Faded hopes

The things Mahathir did in the past few months show that he is still very much embracing his old obsessions, including the national car project 

PM Mahathir is steering a U-turn again. This time, he has reneged on his election pledge of appointing an opposition lawmaker to chair the Public Accounts Committee, allowing instead Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee, who has left Umno for PPBM, to continue chairing the committee.

Tun Mahathir's explanation is hardly convincing, arguing that Kiandee's defection was a personal decision and was totally unrelated to whether PH had reneged on its election pledge.

The thing is: the election manifesto clearly stated in black and white that the position should go to an opposition MP, and now that the chairman is no longer an opposition MP, a new chairman must be appointed.

It looks like the PM is not very much concerned about institutional reforms but the control over PAC's operation. Now that Kiandee has joined PPBM, he will have to take instructions from the party's leadership.

If PH is not as corrupt as the previous BN administration with the notorious 1MDB scandal, why should it worry about an opposition lawmaker as PAC's chairman?

By denying an election pledge, it shows that the new government is still very much run by "rule of man" and not "rule of law".

When he was still new in office last year, Mahathir announced that MACC, EC, Suhakam and the National Audit Department would all function independently. Will he forget this promise and make another U-turn again?

We can see that neither a written nor a verbal promise could offer any assurance. The Constitution, laws and regulations must be amended to specify that the PAC chairman's position will only go to the opposition so that no one can change his mind or try to do something funny.

If the other PH component parties are serious about reform, they should call a presidential council meeting to draft a timetable for the amendment of the Constitution and relevant laws in order to free MACC and other major institutions from the control of the prime minister's office, and give the Parliament more power to effectively check the executive agencies.

The prime minster's recent remarks show that he likes to do things his way and make all the major decisions himself, making it no way for the PH presidential council to intercept, in the end hurting the credibility of the ruling coalition.

Tun Mahathir has promised to hold the office for only two years, leaving the new leadership to fix the mess.

The things he did in the past few months show that he is still very much embracing his old obsessions, such as the national car project, and conflicts with neighboring Singapore.

As a matter of fact, he does not need to worry so much about the next general elections as he will only be PM for two years. He should be bold enough to institute all the reforms. The repeated U-turns he has made shows that reform is not really in his mind, not because he is not capable of delivering it.

The prime minister also lacks the determination to expedite country's economic recovery. Although the PMO announced on February 11 the establishment of the National Economic Action Council, the first meeting was not held until April 4.

It has been reported that local varsity students could only afford one meal a day. It looks like the government really has no time to lose now!

The Angel and The Cad

Star Online - A never-ending civil war:

In the movie Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers are divided over political pressure for the superheroes to be accountable for their action which usually ends up in mass destruction.

One faction is led by Captain America and the other by Iron Man. “I’d like to punch you in those perfect teeth,” Iron Man tells Captain America.

Just like the movie, a civil war (yet again) has surfaced on Planet PKR after its Permatang Puah MP Nurul Izzah Anwar gave a controversial interview to a Singapore newspaper.

Nurul Izzah told The Straits Times that she was “broken-hearted” having to once work again with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who she described as a “former dictator”.

Others in Team Azmin such as PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin was literally punching Nurul Izzah’s perfect teeth.

Team Anwar led by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim fought back. PKR central leadership council member Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad tweeted: “When a lady makes a stand, call her a cry baby? Cheap, very cheap”.

Bill Clinton was a CHEAP cad

Superheroes from Planet Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia also whacked Nurul Izzah.

To get an insight on what’s happening on Planet PKR, I WhatsApp-ed Farhash Wafa Salvador, who was Anwar’s political secretary. I asked him whether the party was facing a civil war, and whether it was because Azmin considered himself as prime minister-in-waiting.

Trump is a pussy grabbing cad 

“There are divided opinions, but it is a sign of healthy democracy. Any politician is free to envision himself as prime minister after Anwar takes office,” said the Perak PKR chairman.

Political researcher and former Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Associate Professor Abdul Latiff Mohd Ibrahim was less diplomatic.

he is a 'hmmm' cad 

“Azmin, by commenting on Nurul’s statement, only put himself up to shame in the sense that he seems to be on the wrong side of public opinion,” he said.

“People see Nurul as being selfless and standing up to power by stating what was needed to be said, especially in the PAC chairman episode. Azmin’s comments have been dismissed by and large because he went against the mood for reform.”

On how bad the civil war was in PKR, Abdul Latiff said: “Since Anwar is the prime ministerial candidate decided by the Pakatan Harapan presidential council, yet with an ambitious Azmin, the ‘war’ between the two continues with sporadic ‘firings’ from both sides.”

From social media postings and political commentaries on news portals, the general public has a sense that the PKR civil war is because Anwar and Azmin consider themselves as PM-in-waiting.

But unless you are a PKR insider, you can’t be that sure, as in Malaysian politics, politicians in a leadership tussle play wayang kulit. Nothing is seen on the surface until the keris is unsheathed and the stab of betrayal is thrust.

Take for example, the Dr Mahathir and Anwar political fight when both were prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively in 1998. A day before the Umno president sacked his Umno deputy president as deputy prime minister, Dr Mahathir described his relations with Anwar as “good”.

Bapak Cad 

If Malaysia was Wakanda, the most technologically advanced civilisation on earth from the movie Black Panther, the leadership fight would literally be a fight – trial by combat. No political wayang kulit, whoever wins the combat ( which will be to the death) is king. I would prefer this action-packed movie any time as it would spare us the political drama.

On whether Nurul Izzah was playing a political wayang kulit when she gave the controversial interview, a PKR insider said “No”.

“She was speaking as a daughter who went through a phase that should never happen to anyone. We tend to forget what Nurul Izzah has done in championing the ideals of reformasi. Let us move on together as Malaysians and empathise with her and be more human,” said the politician who did not want to be identified.

Cad's promises 

He added that Nurul Izzah was critical of Dr Mahathir’s inconsistencies and it led to her to rekindle her views in the past.

“Nurul Izzah is still building her trust and actions speak louder than words,” he said.

Abdul Latiff said he did not think that Permatang Pauh MP talking to a foreign paper was really the issue. It was, he said, rather whether she should have said what she said.

“You have the new Malaysia spirit where everything is supposed to be transparent and open especially when they are not on national secrets. Hence what she said about the government under Tun Mahathir is not the issue here but whether both sides can take it positively,” he said.

“There is no need to make it a zero-sum game. Anyway, Nurul’s main grouses were on the promises made by Pakatan which were not fulfilled. But she may have also not realised the realpolitik of the present. A heart to heart chat with the premier would have given her the answers she needed.”

You can tell a cad by the promises he made and couldn't meet

Hence, the political researcher said communication problems sometimes compound the situation. On Nurul Izzah quitting from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Abdul Latiff said it was nothing new.

The MP had relinquished her posts (including vice-president) in the party and government earlier, he said. However, Nurul Izzah did not give the reasons for that action except indirectly alluding to the entry of ex Umno leaders into Bersatu and the infighting between the two camps in PKR.

“But one could sense her dissatisfaction and dismay over developments in the ruling party. She did not say anything towards Team Azmin but was just voicing out her disgust for the decision to retain the PAC chairman, which people would say was one based on principles,” he said.

I may be a Cat but he is a ...

Cad 

“Of course, indirectly, this would also be seen as a message to Tun that he is wavering from the reform agenda and if he cannot uphold what has been promised, he should consider handing over the reins to Anwar. But Tun has acknowledged the fact that the PAC chairman should be from the Opposition.”

In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos – the purple-faced alien supervillain – destroyed half of all life across the universe with just a snap of his fingers, disintegrating superheroes like Black Panther, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange and Groot.

The divided politicians on Planet PKR should instead learn from Captain America: Civil War which has a motto - United We Stand, Divided We Fall.

If they don’t, Thanos might snap his fingers and half of the superheroes on Planet PKR would disintegrate. Planet PKR might not have a Captain Marvel to save it.

Pribumi running before it learns to walk

FMT - No wonder Perak remains second poorest state in country by Koon Yew Yin

USA, the richest nation in the world, has already spent billions of dollars on its space programme. Now, Perak wants to build a local rocket and propulsion technology centre in Manjung. (Bernama pic)

Last night, I saw this report: “Perak to build National Rocket and Aerospace Innovation Centre”.

It is about the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Perak 4.0 Industry Sdn Bhd (Perak 4.0), collaborating with Lestari Advanced Technology Sdn Bhd (LATSB) to develop the National Rocket and Aerospace Innovation Centre.

Perak 4.0 CEO and director Mohd Ariff Yeop Ishak said through the collaboration, LATSB will develop the innovation centre on a 31ha industrial land owned by PKNP in Tanjung Batu, Manjung, in Perak.

“This project is set to become the country’s first local rocket and propulsion technology centre in the defence industry,” he said after signing a memorandum of understanding.

Ariff signed the MoU on behalf of Perak 4.0 while LATSB was represented by its managing director, Ahmad Joahari Abu Bakar. It was witnessed by Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

the Pribumi MB who "loves" trees, wakakaka 

Ariff said the development of the first phase of the innovation centre is expected to cost between RM30 million and RM40 million and is expected to be completed in 2024.

“The development entails the construction of administrative office, chemical, propellant, structural and production, and avionics and electronics buildings, as well as their designs,” he said.

He said the second phase of the innovation centre is expected to commence in 2024 involving the construction of additional buildings, and their cost have yet to be ascertained.

Besides investment from LATSB, the first phase of the project is expected to attract domestic and foreign direct investment of RM200 million, he said, adding that 1,000 highly-skilled jobs will be created by 2020 and 8,000 by 2040.

I want to state that Perak was once the richest state. After I read the above article, I do not wonder any more why the Perak MB stopped my appointment as one of the economic advisers. I have also stopped wondering why Perak remains the second poorest state in Malaysia.

Malaysia was once the largest tin producer in the world and Perak produced more than half of the total production. The first car was registered in Perak. That is why “A” was the number plate of the first registered car in Malaysia.

All Malaysians, especially the Perak elected members, must know that the USA, the richest nation in the world, has already spent billions of dollars on their space programme.

As of 2018, there have been 18 astronaut and cosmonaut fatalities during spaceflight. Astronauts have also died while training for space missions, such as the Apollo 1 launch pad fire which killed an entire crew of three. There have also been some non-astronaut fatalities during spaceflight-related activities.

In early January 2019, China had succeeded in sending a rocket to land on the far side of the moon.

I am very disappointed with our elected members.

During the last general election, I donated more than RM100,000 to each of the four component parties of Pakatan Harapan. Moreover, I campaigned for each of them.

If Perak does not stop wasting RM30-40 million and 31ha of industrial land, I am very sure Perak will lose in the next general election to Barisan Nasional.

I hope our Prime Minster Dr Mahathir Mohamad will stop Perak from wasting money and land on this aerospace project.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

To Mr Koon,

But PM Mahathir loves this sort of sh*t. He likes bumiputeras to think BIG and ambitious. That's why he's getting a lot of BS from his Pribumi people, with ambitious flying cars, National Rocket and Aerospace Innovation Centre, Car No 3, Kulim airport as a strategic cargo hub, cashless society (starting with schools, wakakaka), etc etc.

Your appeal to him will not only fall on likely deaf ears but may even invoke resentment from him for your Cinapek attempt to stymie Malay efforts and innovations.

Mahathir - same old same old

MM Online - Dr M: Bumiputras don’t know how to handle money, spend frivolously (extracts):

KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 — Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lamented that his fellow Bumiputras are not efficient when it comes to managing their finances, and tend to spend on unnecessary things.

This, he said, is why the existing 30 per cent Bumiputra shareholding quota in listed companies is necessary. [...]

However, he said that the Malay community is marginalised as they do not receive contracts from the private sector and cautioned of a greater disparity between races.

He said that without the direct negotiation practice or limited tender, “almost invariably the Malay companies fail”.

“Invariably, if anyone in the private sector wants to build a bridge, the Malay companies never get it, except when they are attached to some non-Malay companies,” Dr Mahathir said, lamenting that the alleged practice is also not questioned.

“The private sector contracts do not go to the Malays and the government contracts also do not go to the Malays. What you are going to see is greater disparity between the races,” he added.

As we can see (or read), Mahathir today is still the Mahathir of yester-years, singing the same old ketuanan song of racist affirmative actions, "Malay privileges" and apartheid economics.

60 years have gone by and he's still talking cock to justify the two-tier socio-economic divide of "New" Malaysia.

Why lament about the private sector as if there is no Malay involvement in the sector? We know the government sector is virtually 100% Malays only whilst the private sector today is abundant with Malay tycoons like:

(a) Kamarudin bin Meranun, Chairman of AirAsia and CEO of the Tune Group,

(b) Norraesah Mohamad, MyEG and Asia Internet Holding,

(c) Syed Mokhtar AlBukhary, MMC Corp and automaker DRB-Hicom,

(d) Abdul Kadier Sahib, Serba Dinamik Holdings,

(e) Mohd Abdul Karim Bin Abdullah, also of Serba Holdings

etc, not forgetting Mahathir's own billionaire sons.

And if they ignore their own Malays, why blame the nons?

In 2010 he said the same thing in The Malaysian Insider 'Dr M Warns NEP Removal Could Lead To Revolution', as follows:

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad predicted today that there would be an escalation in racial tension and division should NEP-style policies be removed, likening the situation to the Communist revolution in Europe.

He stressed that the time was not right to introduce any policy which would “disregard the disparities between races in the interest of equity and merit.”

“Take away the minor protection afforded by the NEP and the bumis will lose whatever that they may have. Then racial division will be deepened by wealth division. I don’t think this would be good for the country. Remember it was the disparity between rich and poor in Europe which led to the violence of the Communist revolution.

“I may be labelled a racist but fear of the label will not stop me from working for what I think is the good of the country. Nothing will be gained by dividing the people of Malaysia into poor Bumis and rich non-Bumis. The time is not right for disregarding the disparities between the races in the interest of equity and merit,” said Dr Mahathir in a posting on his blog today.

The former PM continued his stout defence of the pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP) style policies in his blog post, by suggesting an indefinite continuation of affirmative action programmes.

The former prime minister admitted today that he was “not proud” of the NEP which accorded protection to the Bumiputeras, but stressed that such protection was still necessary and that a 20 year-timeline was not enough for Malays to be economically on par with other races.

Malaysia’s NEP, put in place in 1971, officially ended in 1990, but many of its programmes are still being continued. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said he plans to remove subsidies and many of the pro-Bumiputera quotas under economic reforms. But Dr Mahathir and many Malay groups are opposed to the removal of quotas and equity targets, despite evidence suggesting Malaysia is being handicapped economically and is less competitive globally as a result of such policies.

“I am not proud of the protection afforded the Bumiputeras. It implies weakness. I don’t think Malays and other Bumiputeras like to think that they are inferior in any way.

“But the reality is that in Malaysia the Bumiputeras need new skills and a new culture even. These cannot be had by them in a mere 20 years. The original planners of the NEP were too optimistic,” said Dr Mahathir in a blog posting today although he did not provide or suggest a time frame in which the NEP would no longer be needed.

He said all that while his own family lived in ostentatious affluence and wealth. 

We have had enough of his ketuanan policies of yester-years. No more please of your racist Never-Ending Policies (NEP).

Duplicitous Dwarf

Malaysiakini - 'Crybabies' tweet directed at himself, says Azmin (extracts)

hmmm, who shall I fCk up next?
myself? 

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali has claimed that his statement on the nation needing leaders who are willing to fight till the end instead of "crybabies" was aimed at himself.

This was on the speculation that the PKR deputy president's Twitter posting was in response to Nurul Izzah Anwar's interview with the Singapore's Straits Times, in which she had complained about the slow pace of reforms.

"No... I was giving myself advice," Azmin told reporters while visiting a temporary relief shelter for flood and storm victims in Gombak, Selangor.

Asked if he had any advice for Nurul, he replied: "Who am I to advise (her).".

Anyone believes him?

Yes, there're some goofy gullible guppies who do, wakakaka. After all, Mark Twain said that there's "one" born every minute.

The bloody Dwarf must have found out that with his anti Princess words, his support amongst many Pakatan people, especially in PKR (less the Dwarfs), has slipped somewhat or he wouldn't have been so contrite.

Realising his party strength isn't yet enough to launch a coup d'état, he attempts to joke his way out of his unfriendly fire at his own PKR colleague, unfortunately for him, an icon of his own party.

But he's now shown he's a very very dangerous man, especially to Anwar Ibrahim and family. But that isn't so surprising as he has already hitched his star to Mahathir's wagon (or Car No 3).

Anwar has to keep a constant beady eye on the Dökkálfar Dwarf whose ambition may yet kowtim his old boss (for his new boss and himself).

Mahathir's world-class events would ensure country’s end

MM Online - Johor DAP leader dares Dr M to debate ‘Look East Policy’:

Dr Boo Cheng Hau said he would like to debate with Dr Mahathir about what has been learnt from the ‘Look East Policy’

JOHOR BARU, March 28 — A Johor DAP leader today challenged Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to a debate on the lessons gleaned from his ‘Look East Policy’ and where it will take Malaysia.

Dr Boo Cheng Hau said as an ordinary citizen, he would like to debate with Dr Mahathir about what has been learnt from the ‘Look East Policy’ besides fancy world-class events such as the Formula One races and the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA).

The Johor DAP supreme council leader said without true policy reforms including education, these projects are more like the leader’s self-entertaining toys.

without even consulting the RMAF he bought two old
Grumman Albatross HU-16, which at that time, the Indonesian Air Force was then discarding

it was the worst ever purchase for the RMAF which did NOT want that out-of-date seaplane but which landed unannounced into its lap, courtesy of a PM who thought (still does) he knew everything
  

“As early as in 1894, China’s revolutionary Dr Sun Yat Sen, a western trained medical doctor like Dr Mahathir himself, wrote an appeal letter to the imperial court hoping for an ear, stating that the European countries were strong not for their impregnable warships, canons and diehard soldiers, but for four things: their education system that allows all to thrive, agricultural/land reforms, well-managed economy and effective logistics in trades and conduct of businesses,” said Dr Boo in a Facebook posting yesterday.

He again reiterated his stand today through WhatsApp, saying that this was his official challenge to the 93-year-old prime minister to debate what we should learn from his ‘Look East Policy’.

Dr Boo, who is currently a DAP state committee member, said the world-class events would ensure the country’s end rather than save it.

“This is exactly what Tun Mahathir is doing now. Playing on Formula One and LIMA aerospace expo without improving our institutions and education system. The country’s future continues to be doomed,” he said, referencing Dr Mahathir through his honorific title.

However, the 54-year-old former Johor Opposition chief, credited PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s simple words in tackling the country’s challenges: Just bread-and-butter issues.

“As Anwar said, taking care of the people’s basic welfare (such as food) is the immediate priority.

“Playing on hardware like weaponry and canons would ensure the country’s end than saving it.

“This is exactly what Dr Mahathir is doing now — playing on Formula One and LIMA without improving our institutions and education system,” said Dr Boo, adding that such practices may doom the country’s future.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir, who is also the Langkawi MP, opened the 15th edition of LIMA in Langkawi.

He initiated the event 28 years ago when he also unveiled the first Blueprint for the Development of the Aerospace Industry in Malaysia.

In February this year, Dr Mahathir had expressed hope that the Formula One event would be brought back to Malaysia.

He was instrumental in the creation of the Sepang Circuit, which was built to host Formula One races.

The track hosted Formula One races from 1999 to 2017, when it was discontinued due to declining interest in the race here and the high costs incurred in hosting it.

Nurul Izzah attacked by Pakatan hypocrites

Malaysiakini - Nurul Izzah is right by Commander (rtd) S Thayaparan

The latest Pakatan Harapan kerfuffle is the interview Nurul Izzah Anwar gave The Straits Times of Singapore, on how difficult it was working with a former dictator.

Some Harapan political operatives are up in arms about this interview and are attacking Nurul Izzah and condemning her remarks as detrimental not only to the current prime minister and Harapan, but also to the country.

Meanwhile, the opposition, having nothing really to run but race and religion, are hoping to manipulate the situation and cause confusion in the enemy's ranks.

even Lord President of Judiciary was sacked 

Former PKR vice-president N Surendran gave a rather queer response to this interview. His response begins with a question – Is this acceptable? – and then he goes on to tweet that in the middle of a bilateral dispute, the timing, manner and platform were all wrong. What if there was no dispute between Malaysia and Singapore? Would Nurul Izzah’s comments be acceptable then?

The key point is the platform, I guess. For some, the Singapore press is not the place to wash our dirty linen. This is hypocritical, especially coming from people, who were on the sidelines for decades before the historic May 9 reversal of fortune, and who used every opportunity to voice their opinions, especially in the foreign press.

If an opposition MP had made a similar attack against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak in the Singapore press, that MP would have been lauded. The then Umno establishment would be calling out such behaviour, but the opposition would throw their support behind the political operative citing freedom of speech and expression and seeing no wrong in speaking truth to power, even though the platform was the Singapore press.

Some will argue that the reason why Nurul Izzah is getting flak is because she is speaking as part of the establishment. Well, imagine if someone from the Najib regime was critical of the regime in the foreign press. You can bet your last ringgit that the then Opposition would be calling that political operative the last honest man or woman in BN and singing his or her praises.

all sacked 

The only people who are upset with Nurul are people who cannot make a rational defence of Harapan backtracking and diktats from the prime minister's office.

Imperator of Rome Putrajaya 

To brew real trouble, Nurul Izzah should have made these comments in the local media. That’s about the only issue I have with the MP. I would like her to have made those comments to the local Malay press, instead of the alternative press. I will take it a step further - I would like her to have made those comments to Bernama TV and would like to have seen a panel discussion about her comments.

Talking to the foreign press in English cuts down on the audience which should be listening to the interview. In fact, the content of this interview has been overlooked in the hypocritical outrage that Nurul Izzah has, somehow, betrayed the country and Harapan.

Her comments were anything but immature. Immature are the comments from the defenders of the prime minister.

Syed Saddiq, the youth and sports minister, rambles on about what a great leader the prime minister is, forgetting the fact that it was the prime minister who argued that the Harapan manifesto was written with the knowledge that it was a manifesto impossible to fulfil.

The affable Mat Sabu claims that, at times, Mahathir is too democratic - which, if that were the case, would mean that the reason why reforms have been sidelined is because a majority of Harapan political operatives have abandoned reforms.

Others have skipped defending Mahathir and gone straight for the ad hominem. Already the smear campaign is portraying Nurul Izzah and the Anwar clan as some sort of duplicitous pretenders to the throne when the reality is that the former prime minister and his boys are attempting to get the old gang together again.

Should we question the motives of Nurul Izzah for her interview to The Straits Times? Of course we should. When political operatives give interviews, it is to gain publicity and send a message. What message was she sending and who was she sending this message to? PKR is riddled with internal schism and personality conflicts.

My take on comments that Anwar will be slaughtered soon, last December: “Maybe this is the deeper implication of this fight. Is Anwar relevant in this political climate? While the Harapan grand poohbah has his loyal and public admirers, Anwar does not, unfortunately. Nor does he have a legacy which he can shake off, unlike the old maverick. In other words, Anwar’s 'sins' are never forgiven, while Mahathir’s seem to be. And who are the other interested parties in the schisms of PKR? Who benefits most from this squabble? There are people in this government and outside of it who never really liked or trusted Anwar. They view his ascension to the highest office of the land as something calamitous.”

Nurul Izzah's detractors do not want to address the deeper, more provocative aspects of her interview. If you read the spouting of Harapan political operatives, policy decisions begin and end with the current prime minister. Nobody seems interested in formulating policy or tackling issues without the backing of the prime minister. In the old days, he wielded brute power to get people in line, but these days it seems Harapan political operatives are just begging for his attention and his imprimatur.

Another interesting part of the interview was this quote: “The government should take the lead in bridging differences among races, rather than stoking a further divide.”

How has the government been stoking the divide further? Anwar ‘s recent tweet is the opposite from his “don’t’ spook the Malays” - “It is politically convenient to rile people up. But I will not compromise on this issue – our economic agenda must be needs-based, not race-based. We must shed racial politics and fear-mongering in order for Malaysia to progress.” This, of course, runs contrary to Azmin Ali's unapologetic bumiputera economic policy.

Nurul Izzah's critics want to limit her platform. People who are taking potshots at her and bending over backwards to justify the kind of behaviour they said would never happen in a Harapan regime are the charlatans who, unfortunately, play the game better with their slavish partisans.

Questioning the motives of someone who is drawing attention to the rot in the system is the kind of strategy that enables the kind of politics Harapan claims it wants to depart from.

Some people are saying there is a possibility of a political comeback for Nurul Izzah.

Comeback? I think the game is afoot.