UNITED ON RACE AND RELIGION?
The police advised the school to take down the decorations. Malaysia’s cabinet though stepped in to say that these lanterns should remain as it is normal to do so with festivities.
While the case itself initially caused concern about the future of multiculturalism in Malaysia, what the Chinese and Indians in the country can take heart in is that when it comes to preserving the cultural traditions of the minorities, the government appears unanimously in support of it.
As this case in Puchong showed, after the cabinet announced its decision, several ministers even turned up at the school to help it put up the lanterns.
The group was made up of representatives of the different parties of the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) government and included: Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng and Communications Minister Gobind Singh Deo from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman from the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) and the Religious Affairs Minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa from the National Trust Party (AMANAH).
At least on some matters, the PH shows semblance of unity and cohesion.
MAHAEXIT UNCERTAINITY
Such agreement is not a given in Malaysia’s ruling coalition these days.
The biggest issue of disagreement appears to be the date when Mahathir will step down, which has come to engulf much of the discourse on politics in Malaysia.
It’s such a huge issue among the political class that I think it’s appropriate to call this crisis “Mahaexit”.
There are two issues at stake. First is the actual date. Second is who will take over.
In practical terms, both are entwined. The official press release from PH is that Anwar Ibrahim is the agreed candidate, but he faces opposition from within the coalition as well as many in the conservative Malay political spectrum.
The first political shot was fired when Anwar’s supporters convened a public forum this week and said the power transition must be held in May this year so that PH’s promise to the voters that Mahathir will stay as PM for only two years is kept.
Moreover, Mahathir needs to go as Anwar needs time to cement his policies and plan for the next general elections, due in 2023. They also argued that the foreign investors want certainty and Malaysia’s economy cannot recover if a date is not set in stone.
Anwar himself has so far kept quiet other than telling reporters that Mahathir should not be ‘pressured’ while sounding optimistic that the transition will take place.
KEEPING THE INFLUENCE
Mahathir has insisted that while there is a political agreement that Anwar will succeed him, there is no timetable attached to the agreement. In an interview given to foreign media, he mentioned that he will step down after the November APEC meeting hosted by Malaysia.
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