COMMENT | Building a nation on lies
We were casually talking about everything under the Malaysian sky when Haris asked me what I thought about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
I smiled, dry. Noticing my reluctance to answer his question, Haris nudged me like he always does, “Not your favourite, huh?”
“Nope,” I answered shortly, hoping Haris would get the hint..
COMMENT | Early this year, I met the late Haris Ibrahim, best known as the force behind the ABU (Anything but Umno) movement.
We were casually talking about everything under the Malaysian sky when Haris asked me what I thought about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
I smiled, dry. Noticing my reluctance to answer his question, Haris nudged me like he always does, “Not your favourite, huh?”
“Nope,” I answered shortly, hoping Haris would get the hint and move on from the topic, but Haris being Haris, got more interested in the conversation.
“What did Anwar do to you? Why don’t you like him?”
“Because he was once Umno. Anything but Umno, remember?” I replied.
Haris chuckled gregariously.
“How about the time he spent in prison? Doesn’t that count for something?” he asked. “And don’t forget, Anwar initiated the reformasi movement.”
I knew Haris wasn’t going to leave me alone until he got his answer so with a heavy sigh, I explained to Haris that I do not trust anyone associated with Umno, even if they are no longer with the party.
“Thanks to you, I am a hardcore believer in ABU,” I teased him.
Haris paused for a while before asking me if I believed in second chances.
I looked into my friend’s hopeful face and slowly nodded.
“He deserves a chance, Fa. We have no other alternatives but to give him a chance.”
Politics of second chances
Haris was not the first to talk me into giving Anwar a chance to prove himself. Almost everyone in my social circle is a big fan of Anwar.
A few months ago, I spoke to a cousin of mine, a retired teacher, during a wedding kenduri in Penang. One topic led to another and before I knew it, we started talking about local politics when he suddenly asked me the same question.
“What do you think of Anwar?”
Though I dislike people answering a question with another question, I did exactly that.
“Well, what do you think of him?”
My cousin began painting a wonderful picture of a future filled with hope, transparency, honesty, kindness, diversity, and inclusivity. With Anwar, he stressed that Malaysia is in good hands.
“How can Malaysia be in good hands when Anwar is sleeping with the enemy? His power and position are dependent on him taking good care of Umno, no?” I asked.
“No no no. You got Anwar all wrong. He is not like that. Have some faith.”
I told my cousin that I had zero faith. In return, he asked me what it would take for me to believe in Anwar.
“I will believe in him when corrupt politicians are put behind bars,” I replied.
My cousin suddenly had a big smile on his face, “Anwar will do it. You just wait and see. Just wait and see.”
Time to speak up
Haris passed away last month due to lung cancer. I neither know what he would have said about Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s recent discharge from 47 corruption charges if he was still alive, nor do I want to make assumptions.
But one thing is for sure, Haris will definitely speak up about it.
I am also curious about what my cousin would have to say about the matter. Would he jump into Anwar’s defence and insist it was not the prime minister’s doing?
Would he lecture me about the Roman empire not being built in a day, asking me to stay hopeful?
Or perhaps he’d just keep silent like many other politicians in Anwar’s unity government?
Seven years ago, during our first teh tarik session at ‘Mamak Longkang’ in Taman Desa, Haris said to me, “Look to your right. Look to your left. If the one on your right is not reliable and so is the one on your left - then it is time to take a step forward.”
Haris’ words are imprinted in my heart. Yet, I do not see many leaders in the unity government taking a step forward and demanding truth and justice.
Their silence is really hurtful. I expected more from the government which promised to fight corruption and injustice.
Perhaps, they misunderstood the term “unity”. Being on a united front does not mean you should protect the wrongdoings of others.
It also does not mean you should refrain from demanding the truth, fearing what others would perceive of you.
If unity means taking care of our own and silencing ourselves in order to protect the reputation of our own kind, despite injustices taking place around us - I fear there is no hope for Malaysia.
Haris always said, “We can't build a nation on lies.” Unfortunately, despite all the promises made by Anwar and his comrades, our nation continues to be built on lies.
One thing is for sure though, I will no longer have trouble answering the question, "What do you think of Anwar?"
FA ABDUL is a multi-award-winning playwright and director in the local performing arts scene, a published author, television scriptwriter, media trainer, and mother. Her ultimate mission in life is to live out of a small suitcase.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
