I do not subscribe to the view that there is an irresistible “green tide” phenomenon in Malaysia that will transform the country into a complete Islamic state by 2032 in the 17th General Election (GE17), just as I had not endorsed the theory in the fifties in the last century of the inevitability of the victory of communism in the world.

There is no such thing as the inevitability of events or a theory, whether in international affairs or national politics.

Today, the Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping had been lavishly welcomed in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman heralding China’s “epoch-making milestone” in its relations with the Arab world in contrast to the frigid visit of US President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.

The citing of the rise of “political Islam” as the reason for Sabah Bersatu leaders leaving Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) will have an impact on future general elections.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary general Datuk Masidi Manjun said that the increasing racial and religious rhetoric of some Peninsular based parties especially in the run up to the 15th General Election (GE15) was inconsistent with the values of a multi-racial and multi-religious Sabah and Sarawak.

He said: “Many tend to forget that many Sabahans as well as Sarawakians have family members of different religious faiths. It’s difficult for GRS or for that matter many Sabahans, to accept what is now marketed as ‘political Islam’.

“In fact, the current unity government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim best represents the making of an administration that embraces the interests of all Malaysians, whilst protecting the position of Islam, Bumiputeras, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Masidi said that inter-faith and interracial marriages in Sabah was common, and people here lived in harmony for centuries.

“We don’t identify ourselves by our ethnicity or religion,” he said adding that Islam is a universal religion that preaches inclusivity and respect for all beliefs and cultures.

“It is a religion of compassion and humanity that respects the rights of others including that of minorities.

“As a Muslim, I am proud of my religion, but I do not think any party can claim to be a genuine representative of this great religion,” he said.

The Sabah development improves the chances of the Anwar unity government to last five years to provide the breathing space to stop the national decline in the last six decades which turned Malaysia from a first-rate world-class nation into a second-rate mediocre country, threatening Malaysia to end up as a third-rate failed, divided, and kleptocratic state on Malaysia’s Centennial in four decades’ time, causing a turnaround of the nation’s fortunes and to regain our original aspiration to be among the top nations in the world in various fields of human endeavour.

The 15th General Election results also do not bear out an irresistible “green tide” phenomenon.

In Johore for instance, where Perikatan Nasional won two seats in Pagoh and Mersing, Muhyiddin Yassin would have lost in Pagoh, as his vote of 24,986 votes was less than the combined votes of the two Anwar unity government candidates i.e. 29,405 comprising PKR’s 14,979 votes and UMNO’s 14,426 votes.

The same applies in Mersing, where Bersatu’s Muhammad Islanuddin Abas won 21,066 which is less than the combined votes of 26,542 votes comprising UMNO candidate Abdul Latif Bandi Nor Sebandi’s 18,729 and DAP candidate Fatin Zulaikha Zaidi’s 6,813 votes.

Two of three PN parliamentary seats in Malacca would have been lost if there is a Anwar unity government candidate, as the PN votes were less than the combined votes of the PKR and UMNO candidates.

Similarly, PN would have lost in the Federal Territory seats of Putrajaya and Labuan, as the PN votes in these two seats were less than the combined votes of PH and UMNO candidates.

Can Malaysia get out of the trajectory of a failed, divided and kleptocratic state to become one of the nations admired by the world for our ability to leverage on the values and virtues of the four great civilisations which meet in confluence in Malaysia?

This is the greatest challenge of the Anwar unity government — to end the toxic politics of lies, fear, hate, race and religion, and to make Malaysia great again with a clean, honest, incorruptible, and visionary Malaysia.

I do not subscribe to the view that there is an irresistible “green tide” phenomenon in Malaysia that will transform the country into a complete Islamic state by 2032 in the 17th General Election (GE17), just as I had not endorsed the theory in the fifties in the last century of the inevitability of the victory of communism in the world.

There is no such thing as the inevitability of events or a theory, whether in international affairs or national politics.

Today, the Communist Chinese President Xi Jinping had been lavishly welcomed in Riyadh by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman heralding China’s “epoch-making milestone” in its relations with the Arab world in contrast to the frigid visit of US President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia earlier in the year.

The citing of the rise of “political Islam” as the reason for Sabah Bersatu leaders leaving Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional (PN) will have an impact on future general elections.

Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) secretary general Datuk Masidi Manjun said that the increasing racial and religious rhetoric of some Peninsular based parties especially in the run up to the 15th General Election (GE15) was inconsistent with the values of a multi-racial and multi-religious Sabah and Sarawak.

He said: “Many tend to forget that many Sabahans as well as Sarawakians have family members of different religious faiths. It’s difficult for GRS or for that matter many Sabahans, to accept what is now marketed as ‘political Islam’.

“In fact, the current unity government under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim best represents the making of an administration that embraces the interests of all Malaysians, whilst protecting the position of Islam, Bumiputeras, Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Masidi said that inter-faith and interracial marriages in Sabah was common and people here lived in harmony for centuries.

“We don’t identify ourselves by our ethnicity or religion,” he said adding that Islam is a universal religion that preaches inclusivity and respect for all beliefs and cultures.

“It is a religion of compassion and humanity that respects the rights of others including that of minorities.

“As a Muslim, I am proud of my religion, but I do not think any party can claim to be a genuine representative of this great religion,” he said.

The Sabah development improves the chances of the Anwar unity government to last five years to provide the breathing space to stop the national decline in the last six decades which turned Malaysia from a first-rate world-class nation into a second-rate mediocre country, threatening Malaysia to end up as a third-rate failed, divided, and kleptocratic state on Malaysia’s Centennial in four decades’ time, causing a turnaround of the nation’s fortunes and to regain our original aspiration to be among the top nations in the world in various fields of human endeavour.

The 15th General Election results also do not bear out an irresistible “green tide” phenomenon.

In Johore for instance, where Perikatan Nasional won two seats in Pagoh and Mersing, Muhyiddin Yassin would have lost in Pagoh, as his vote of 24,986 votes was less than the combined votes of the two Anwar unity government candidates i.e. 29,405 comprising PKR’s 14,979 votes and UMNO’s 14,426 votes.

The same applies in Mersing, where Bersatu’s Muhammad Islanuddin Abas won 21,066 which is less than the combined votes of 26,542 votes comprising UMNO candidate Abdul Latif Bandi Nor Sebandi’s 18,729 and DAP candidate Fatin Zulaikha Zaidi’s 6,813 votes.

Two of three PN parliamentary seats in Malacca would have been lost if there is a Anwar unity government candidate, as the PN votes were less than the combined votes of the PKR and UMNO candidates.

Similarly, PN would have lost in the Federal Territory seats of Putrajaya and Labuan, as the PN votes in these two seats were less than the combined votes of PH and UMNO candidates.

Can Malaysia get out of the trajectory of a failed, divided, and kleptocratic state to become one of the nations admired by the world for our ability to leverage on the values and virtues of the four great civilisations which meet in confluence in Malaysia?

This is the greatest challenge of the Anwar unity government — to end the toxic politics of lies, fear, hate, race, and religion and to make Malaysia great again with a clean, honest, incorruptible, and visionary Malaysia.

(Media Statement by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Sunday, 11th December 2022)