'After 20 years, we're still not able to move beyond Anwar and Dr M'
Johor DAP committee member Mahdzir Ibrahim has lamented the opposition's inability to move beyond disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim despite efforts to create a new generation of leaders.
"We have ambitions to create a new generation of national leaders for the future.
"But after 20 years since Reformasi in 1998, we still do not dare let go of Mahathir and Anwar," he said in a comment piece.
Instead, he added, the opposition has had to rely on the two men to take down a...
Johor DAP committee member Mahdzir Ibrahim has lamented the opposition's inability to move beyond disputed Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim despite efforts to create a new generation of leaders.
"We have ambitions to create a new generation of national leaders for the future.
"But after 20 years since Reformasi in 1998, we still do not dare let go of Mahathir and Anwar," he said in a comment piece.
Instead, he added, the opposition has had to rely on the two men to take down a "kleptocratic" government.
Mahdzir said the reality was that support for Mahathir and Anwar has been waning, particularly among the younger generation.
"Anwar was given the chance to lead in 2008 and 2013 but failed to form the government and become prime minister.
"Likewise, Mahathir was given the chance by Pakatan Harapan and Anwar to become prime minister for the second time but he could not maintain it for even a term and the transition to Anwar also failed.
"These are not Mahathir and Anwar's fault but the fault of all of us. We are unable to let go of these two leaders in our political contest.
"We failed to build a new narrative and became bogged down by endless leadership problems," he added.
Ultimately, Mahdzir (photo) said the opposition has to accept its own failure.
He likened the current friction between PKR and its allies - DAP and Amanah - and the soothing words to downplay trouble to when PAS broke away from Pakatan Rakyat.
At that time, Mahdzir said the words "agree to disagree" was often touted but it ultimately ended with the break up of Pakatan Rakyat, the predecessor of Harapan.
He stressed that in Malaysian political history, no single party has ever succeeded on its own.
"So the imagination about going it alone instead of a coalition should be set aside as it is in vain."
Mahdzir's comment came amid an impasse between Mahathir and Anwar over who should be the prime ministerial candidate for Harapan as its allies.
Prior to the collapse of the Harapan government, Mahathir was to eventually hand power to Anwar but it was also plagued by uncertainty, destabilising the coalition.
There is now a new proposal to make Warisan president Shafie Apdal (above) the prime ministerial candidate for Harapan and its allies, sometimes referred to as "Harapan Plus".
However, the proposal has not sat well with PKR. The proposal was made during a meeting between Mahathir's group, Warisan, DAP and Amanah. PKR was not present.
DAP and Amanah have asked for the proposal to be discussed internally before a decision is made.
The Harapan government, which came into power in the 2018 general election, collapsed in late February after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin pulled his party out of the coalition government.
Muhyiddin was sworn in as the new prime minister on March 1 after Mahathir refused to lead a new coalition he put together comprising Bersatu, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and STAR.
