Where’s Your Shadow Cabinet?

Malaysia Boleh! Mahathir Boleh! Under Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad you must be ready for the impossible and the unimaginable. Mahathir has a series of record breaking feats such as amending the Federal Constitution to curb the powers of the Constitutional monarchy; sacking the Lord President and a few senior judges; removing and charging his Deputy Prime Minister for sodomy; displacing all the serving Prime Ministers whom he is not in favour; making a comeback to politics as a “Top Dog” at the age of 92; winning over all his political detractors and nemesis of a lifetime, etc, etc.   

In the past, the opposition especially DAP liked to taunt BN with “Malaysia Boleh”, a slogan of hope coined during Mahathir’s rule. However DAP has skewed this into something skeptical, derisive and cynical to imply that under Mahathir, everything also can be done with special references and not too subtle implication that all forms of corruption and abuses of power take place under Mahathir’s rule. It is a tongue in cheek manner of pouring scorn and venom on BN’s rule under Mahathir.

Having said all that, we are now faced with another “Mahathir Boleh” feat ie the oldest Prime Minister to be voted into office! Since Pakatan Harapan has officially announced Mahathir to be their anointed Prime Minister-to-be in Mahathir, despite the fact that they were the same people who had insisted 20 years ago that Mahathir had overstayed and must go or there will be no ending campaigns, protests etc.

So now Pakatan has chosen their “chosen one” in a quick attempt to cover their flaws and weaknesses of a loosely combined component of many enemies turned allies with each to their own shadow plays.

Mahathir (PPBM) has not given up his “Ultra Malay” supremacy. Is Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR) still the “Renaissance Man”? Lim Kit Siang (DAP) still for democratic socialism towards equal rights or chauvinism as Mahathir alleged? What about Mat Sabu’s (PAN) “Undang-Undang Hudud”? As Mahathir used to put it, these strange bedfellows are sleeping on the same pillow but having different nightmares!

Talking about “shadow play,” Malaysians are still waiting for Mahathir’s shadow cabinet. As Mahathir has once put it, the opposition must feature their shadow cabinet to show that they are serious about taking over the serious business of governance. Mahathir’s shadow cabinet is a must to show that they are ready to take over our Westminster system of electing a government. We do not want a PAS Cabinet member hereafter as in the case of Selangor Pakatan state government having both DAP and PAS sharing the governance of the state despite fighting openly on policies and approaches.

Since the loosely formed opposition front has chosen their Prime Minister candidate, it is only naturally expected of them to tell the rakyat the members of their shadow Cabinet if their party gets elected and is given the mandate to govern. The people do not want another PAS plus (+) Pakatan government like Selangor.

Malaysians by and large are jaded with the many U-turns of politicians. They are also wary of the “now you see it, now you don’t” short marriages within the opposition front of Gagasan Rakyat, Barisan Alternatif, Pakatan Rakyat, Pakatan Harapan, etc, etc.

Except and but for the continuation of the relay of the words Gagasan to Rakyat to Pakatan....there is no continuity of policies, common political principles or struggles.

From the many broken promises of local government elections, CAT , Buku Jingga , Welfare State etc, the opposition front is quick to pick up new targets and new political promises to the people (forgetting the old).

You cannot be surprised if the people are jaded and the learned youngsters have given up hope on voting Pakatan for change. No wonder many will not bother to vote in this coming election.

As opposition-minded Professor Dr Azmi Sharom has aptly put it “accepting Mahathir as their anointed Prime Minister-to-be is like swallowing broken glass”.

Now let us get back to the serious business of electing the government Westminster style. Now that you have shown us your “recycled prime minister”, be equally brave to show us (the rakyat) your shadow Cabinet.

Why are we waiting ?

Dato’ Sri Ti Lian Ker
MCA Publicity Spokesman
MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Chairman

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