Haris Ibrahim, a political activist, told Free Malaysia Today news portal today his concern that the reform agenda of the opposition may be set back if PPBM chairman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is chosen as prime minister in the event that Pakatan Harapan wins the coming general election.
Haris Ibrahim, a longtime advocate of political reform, said it was becoming more and more likely that Mahathir would be prime minister again should Barisan Nasional be toppled.
He was commenting on a recent assessment of Malaysia’s political situation by Global Risk Insights, a publication for political risk news and analysis founded at the London School of Economics.
According to the assessment, Mahathir’s leadership of Pakatan and the fallout from the 1MDB affair could turn the tide against BN in the 14th general election.
Speaking to FMT, Haris said it appeared that Pakatan had no choice but to appoint Mahathir as prime minister since the preferred opposition choice for the post, Anwar Ibrahim, would still be in jail at the time the election results are announced.
The pardon process that would see Anwar released would take some time, he said.
“With that in mind, are we talking about a second round of a Mahathir premiership?”
He said he was “thrilled” at the idea of BN being brought down, but added that the introduction of reforms was more important to him.
There is consensus in Pakatan Harapan that Anwar will be the nation’s eighth Prime Minister if Pakatan Harapan wins the 14th General Election and topples Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister and evicts the UMNO/BN coalition from Putrajaya.
However, a decision has still to be taken based on Pakatan Harapan consensus as to who will be the Prime Minister if Pakatan Harapan wins the next general election and becomes in fact the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, working on an agenda so that Anwar can become the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia.
However, Haris’ concerns are valid and legitimate as Pakatan Harapan coalition of DAP, PKR, AMANAH and Bersatu wants not only a change of Prime Minister but a reform agenda to ensure that there cannot be another Najib to helm the government and equally important, a reform agenda to save Malaysia from the present trajectory towards a failed and a rogue state.
Haris Ibrahim and other political activists invited to work with Pakatan Harapan secretariat to prepare the Pakatan Harapan reform agenda to save Malaysia.
In another 26 days, Malaysia will celebrate the 60th National Day anniversary. If the 14th General Election is held this year, this year will be doubly significant.
The most meaningful way to celebrate the 60th National Day anniversary is for the 14th General Election to be a national landmark to unite Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or even politics, based on the Pakatan Harapan Reform Agenda to re-set nation-building directions and policies for Malaysians to compete with the rest of the world to be a world-class nation in every field of human endeavour, whether in parliamentary democracy, good governance, economic development, educational excellence and be a showcase to the world of as a successful, progressive, harmonious and united plural nation – and once and for all, end the international infamy and ignominy of becoming a global kleptocracy.
(Speech at the Grisek DAP Branch Dinner to prepare for 14th General Election held in Grisek, Johor on Saturday, 5th August 2017 at 8 pm)