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In recent years, I have featured my Malaysian of the Year, the person or group that had the biggest impact on our lives.
There are several people on my list this year, including Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Prime Ministers Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Razak. Another contender is opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
The four previous politicians showed tenacity of purpose. Muhyiddin also showed cunning by defeating every move to remove him from a position he secured after what is known as a “stroke of luck.”
His government is also a contender because it is the first in Malaysian history that was not voted on by the people and that it includes political parties that were expressly voted for by the majority of voters in a general election.
This has had an immense impact on the democratic process. For the first time, the parties that lost the popular vote are now deciding what the people should do, including the majority who rejected them, how the funds are spent, and the direction of the nation.
Mahathir is in dispute due to his character of never saying die. Even if you don’t like him, you must respect his determination and determination to impeach another prime minister. I salute your conviction that you can still save Malaysia from ruin.
Speaking of conviction, Najib has shown, like everyone else, that self-confidence is the best asset anyone can possess. Despite being convicted by the court, despite being convicted of bribery, this charming politician continues to charm his followers.
There are quite a few followers who are willing to defend him at all costs. He has shown that trust, intelligence, cunning, money, and a good public relations strategy are key to maintaining political support.
Yes, even if you are angry that you are strutting as if you have done nothing wrong, remember that you are appealing the verdict, you must give him credit for your bravery and for saying some very sensible things about what is happening in the nation.
And yes, the fact that some people praise him and rush to greet him casts doubt on the position of our society’s moral compass. No one before him has had this effect.
Anwar is on my list because he still seems, at least for now, to be the sole leader of the opposition, and we have a powerful opposition, just because of the number of MPs. He is one of the main reasons the “Sheraton Move” happened. He’s one of the main reasons Mahathir was playing late. He is one of the main reasons why Muhyiddin is prime minister today. All his political enemies have joined forces to deny him the post of prime minister. That says a lot about the influence of man.
He also shows tenacity. Some accuse him of just thinking about becoming prime minister. We must understand that every serious politician wants to be prime minister, or at least minister, so nothing happens if he keeps trying.
Another contender is the group of parliamentarians and assembly members who jumped from one party to another and played a seesaw with the political life of the nation and threw the intentions of the voters in the trash. Many voters have called them hungry for power and money, but all have taken it easy. Many of them are now ministers or heads of companies linked to the government or state executive councilors. They obviously know where the bread is buttered.
They have shown that shame cannot be part of the vocabulary of the “successful” politician or of a self-proclaimed religious foraging into politics. If you want, you could even claim that they teach us to overcome embarrassment and ridicule.
Yet another competitor is Covid-19. Strictly speaking, we cannot claim that the SARS-CoV2 virus is from Malaysia. You are a global “citizen” or “migrant” – choose your choice. But I am considering him as a candidate for Malaysian of the year simply because he has had a tremendous impact on our lives. Strictly speaking, it is neither a person nor a group, but this year I make an exception by naming the Malaysian of the year.
This disease has devastated lives and livelihoods. Who would have thought that a virus that cannot be seen with the naked eye can cause so much damage? Who would have thought that this invisible enemy could bring even America, the superpower, to its knees?
Worldwide, as of yesterday, the virus had killed 7.7 million people and infected more than 78 million more. In Malaysia, a total of 444 people have died from the disease, while 98,737 have been infected.
Of course, we will not be able to say how many people died or will die as a result of the impact of the disease and the consequent blockades in almost all nations. Worldwide, millions have lost their jobs and their livelihoods. Millions have been thrown into poverty. Millions of dreams have been frustrated.
Would you ever have imagined that you were allowed to enter a bank, or anywhere else, only if you had a mask? In January, could you have imagined greeting someone without shaking hands or hugging that person?
This invader has made us look at medical personnel, including hospital cleaners, with greater respect. Other avant-garde, like the police, have also received more attention.
The SARS-CoV2 virus, in fact, has done in a year what our politicians have been doing for three or four decades: separate us.
We are well aware of the elusive and deceptive games that many, but not all, politicians and political parties have played to divide ordinary Malays by playing on race and religion. There are some honest politicians who are trying to serve the people the best they can, but they are very few.
But political viruses – those that infect people with hatred of others of a different race or religion or that put self-interest above the public and the nation – have tried, over the years, to gain power. or staying in power by accentuating Malaysians’ fears.
If the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazandusun and Dayak are divided, astute politicians who think only of themselves can get away with it. They can become rich and powerful. Their families can get rich. His cronies can make millions and then help fund party elections and general elections.
This has been going on for some time. In fact, many politicians, but not all, continue to work assiduously to keep us apart so that they can continue to enjoy power and life.
Look where we are today: there is political instability, our economy is in recession, investors are looking the other way, poverty is increasing, national and personal debts are increasing, our educational system is in shambles, religious and racial fanatics are turning bold and impetuous, and we are floating without proper direction.
And now, the SARS-CoV2 virus also keeps us apart. We are told to keep our physical distance or we could get infected.
We are in a sorry state because, just as we are losing in the battle against political viruses, we are also losing against the Covid-19 virus. But there is hope for a better future.
This year, however, both political viruses and this invisible virus have done great harm to our lives and to the nation.
So, I name these two co-winning viruses of the Malaysia of the year 2020.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
