Political leaders can meet and discuss Mahathir's interesting proposition to see how far it could advance the cause of “Save Malaysia”
In March this year, I suggested that Malaysians must dare to think of the unthinkable, even of a new Prime Minister and a new government coalition before the 14th General Election in three years' time to “Save Malaysia”, protect the Malaysian Constitution, the rule of law and entrench good governance.In a series of media statement and speeches March and April, I discussed the possibilities of a post-BN, post-PR “Save Malaysia” grand coalition.
I made it very clear that if there is going to be such a post-BN, post-PR “Save Malaysia” grand coalition, it must not be exclusive for any one race or religion but fully inclusive of all Malaysian races, religions and regions, in other words, a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-regional new Malaysian coalition government comprising Muslims and non-Muslims, Malays and non-Malays, and Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah.
It must go beyond the existing political coalitions and parties, comprising MPs from both sides of the political divide as well as both sides of the South China Sea, Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, to defend constitutionalism and the rule of law with a new Prime Minister and a new Malaysian Government.
I even canvassed the scenario that based on the present parliamentary position, the new Prime Minister can come from Sarawak, Sabah or Peninsula Malaysia, from whichever political party, can be man or woman, who enjoys the support of the majority of the 222 Members of Parliament – and committed to Save Malaysia and defend the Federal Constitution and the rule of law.
I had even named names of the MPs from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia; from both sides of the political divide, both man and woman, who could be appointed the new Prime Minister – and the names included Razaleigh Hamzah and Nur Jazlan Mohamed.
I had stressed that the “Save Malaysia” Grand Coalition must not be an opportunistic get-together but must be based on a programme of principles and the national interests, for instance, to protect the fundamental features of the Malaysian Constitution, restore the independence of national institutions and promote integrity, freedom, justice and dignity in the country.
The post-BN, post-PR “Save Malaysia” grand coalition should be a visionary and forward-looking programme to restore Malaysia’s greatness and allow Malaysia to punch above its weight in many areas of human endeavour, whether political, economic, social, educational, information technology or environmental, creating a clean, incorruptible government of excellence which upholds the rule of law and human rights – and not sliding down the slippery slope to a rogue and failed state.
In my speech to Malaysian students in Alexandria in April, I said one of the top agendas of the post-BN, post-PR “Save Malaysia” grand coalition must be the release of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from Sungai Buloh prison to be back in the mainstream of Malaysian politics.
I has asked at the time whether this idea of a post-BN, post-PR “Save Malaysia” grand coalition, going beyond the existing political coalitions and parties, was a practical and achievable concept?
It was undoubtedly the greatest challenge facing Malaysians and only time wouild tell whether it is feasible or not.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come out with the proposal that the Opposition support a no-confidence vote in Parliament against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak while still retaining Barisan Nasional as government.
It is an an interesting proposition which political leaders can meet and discuss to see how far it could advance the cause of “Save Malaysia”.