'We must rise above partisan politics'

Highflyer19

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is striving to find common ground between his new allies as he faces the crucial test of appointing a new cabinet for his unity government.

Although Anwar previously promised to have a smaller cabinet, he has numerous coalition partners to please, especially now that his government commands a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Nevertheless, Pakatan Harapan communications director Fahmi Fadzil is confident that Anwar can bring all his coalition partners on the same page without compromising his commitments to good governance and transparency.

Fahmi, speaking to the New Sunday Times in an exclusive interview yesterday, said there was a need to rise above partisan politics, understand the limitations of public financing and the importance of getting the country back on its feet, in terms of economy and social unity, without compromising on internal security.

"I think Anwar's commitment to reducing the cabinet size, the pay for ministers — if not removing it temporarily — will set the right tone for this administration.


"We need to gradually move away from the idea that ministerial posts are a form of 'spoils of war'.

"It is a responsibility that comes with high expectations.

"I don't know how smaller will the new cabinet be exactly. But, at the very least, I presume it will not be of the same size as before. It is the prime minister's prerogative to decide," he said.

Fahmi was tight-lipped when asked about the composition of the new cabinet or if he would take up a ministerial post in the new administration.

Asked if PH would keep its pledges in its election manifesto, which included doing away with tolls, as well granting automatic citizenship for children of Malaysian mothers and foreign fathers, Fahmi said these matters were being discussed.

He said all parties, including Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, would have to review their election pledges and come to a consensus on what the unity government wanted to achieve.

PN STILL INVITED

Although Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has declined to join Anwar's unity government, Fahmi said the prime minister's invitation to the coalition still stands.

"I take Muhyiddin's concluding message with an open heart that PN will remain as the opposition but is open to other forms of cooperation with the unity government. I hope we will get further clarity on his position before the Dewan Rakyat convenes on Dec 19," he said.

Fahmi also drew parallels between Anwar's unity government and the one led by former South African president Nelson Mandela in 1996.

"Mandela and Anwar, both former prisoners, managed to lead their countries through a unity government and after a long period in the wilderness.

"Interestingly, even in Mandela's unity government in 1996, one party decided to remain in the opposition bench.

"Likewise, in Malaysia, it is the democratic right of any party if it wants to stay out of the government," he said.

The unity government, Fahmi said, should strive to unite Malaysians, who had endured sharp and divisive rhetoric at the height of the 15th General Election (GE15).

"It was disheartening to see schoolchildren fed with blatant lies like Muslim girls would be forced to wear skirts to schools.

"We need to have a civic education component in our education system about democratic processes and elections.

"Schools should not be a breeding ground for the indoctrination of partisan politics. Instead, schools should teach children that democracy is beyond partisan politics."

LESSONS FROM GE15

Fahmi said PH would hold a post-mortem on the seats it lost in GE15 soon, including the shocking defeat of Nurul Izzah Anwar in Permatang Pauh.

"The idea of a two-party system is being questioned in Malaysia. But it still remains to be seen whether the rise of a third party is something sustainable.

"That is why many people lamented Nurul Izzah's loss in Permatang Pauh despite her excellent track record as member of parliament and her moral leadership on elimination of poverty.

"She was one of the few parlimentarians who spearheaded the multi-dimensional poverty index initiative. But, it was not just PH. Umno suffered as well. It lost the entire state of Perlis and the outright majority they had in Pahang, which has never happened before," he said.

Fahmi also echoed former Terengganu menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Said's concerns about the financial sources behind PN's extravagant election campaign in GE15.

"Even in Lembah Pantai, I did not see Pas campaigns (in previous general elections) with so many materials, flags and operation centres. There were also claims that PN engaged influencers on TikTok to campaign for them.

"Unverified videos are also going viral, which depicted people receiving money in exchange of pledges. These are legitimate grounds for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to launch an investigation.

"This was why PH actively advocated for a Political Financing Act to be enacted. Otherwise, we fear our democracy will no longer be about ideas, conviction or commitment to service. It will go down to who can pay more."


https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2022/11/855308/we-must-rise-above-partisan-politics

Highflyer19

Hari2 bg statement…mcm dia pulak PM…

terma2nkondisi2

"That is why many people lamented Nurul Izzah's loss in Permatang Pauh despite her excellent track record as member of parliament and her moral leadership on elimination of poverty.

"She was one of the few parlimentarians who spearheaded the multi-dimensional poverty index initiative."

ni salah satu sebab kenapa wakil rakyat perlu dilihat sebagai satu entiti tunggal yg mewakili rakyat bagi satu2 kawasan parlimen, dan bukannya parti politik yg mewakili kawasan tu... rakyat perlu dididik dan perlu faham pasal ni

"Even in Lembah Pantai, I did not see Pas campaigns (in previous general elections) with so many materials, flags and operation centres. There were also claims that PN engaged influencers on TikTok to campaign for them."

ni berkaitan pendanaan politik... sejak tahun 2018 lagi dah kedengaran pasal dana politik ni... katanya nak dijadikan lebih telus, adil... tapi lepas tu dah tak kedengaran apa2 lagi dah... yg kedengaran, masa kes ultra kirana, politikus2 terima sumbangan dana politik... walaupun politikus2 tu menafikan tapi ia sedikit banyak menimbulkan kecurigaan rakyat samada pendanaan politik tu berkait dengan rasuah atau tak... so nak tak nak utk penggal lepas pru15 ni, ahli2 parlimen perlu betul2 usahakan akta pendanaan politik ni... bukan setakat utk jadikan kempen2 politik lebih telus, adil... tapi juga untuk pastikan sumber pendapatan seseorang politikus tu tak berkait dgn rasuah dan rakyat boleh tahu samada seseorang politikus tu korup atau tak

sharlenetexas

Semoga lebih dari rasmi lif.