Redemption time for Mahathir? Should opposition parties, NGOs work with him?

The big question now, is should the forces seeking substantive change – opposition parties and NGOs – cooperate with Mahathir, whose sole aim appears to be to get rid of Najib as premier.

Whereas many of us know that the rot goes beyond that and we need real reforms. Share with us what you think.

Meanwhile, let’s not forget Anwar Ibrahim in Sungai Buloh prison. This is what he had to say:

Saya menyokong pendirian rakan-rakan dari masyarakat sivil, parti politik dan individu-individu termasuk Tun Dr Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin dan lain-lain untuk menggembleng kekuatan dan persefahaman bersama seperti disuarakan oleh Ketua Pembangkang baru-baru ini.

Persefahaman bersama ini akan menumpukan untuk menuntut perletakan jawatan Dato’ Sri Najib selaku Perdana Menteri yang telah nyata gagal mentadbir negara. Beliau bertanggungjawab meneruskan tindakan-tindakan politik rakus, merosakkan institusi pemerintahan dan membebankan rakyat dengan kegawatan ekonomi yang berterusan.

?Pada masa yang sama, tuntutan perubahan ini semestinya akan melibatkan reformasi institusi utama dalam negara yang sudahpun retak dan parah di bawah pentadbiran Dato’ Sri Najib.

Selama ini kita mewakili suara nurani hati rakyat telah berikrar untuk memperjuangkan pengembalian hak rakyat di sebuah negara merdeka dan berdaulat. Tuntas dengan kesedaran ini maka hak rakyat harus dikembalikan melalui sistem pilihanraya yang bersih serta badan kehakiman dan media yang bebas. Dasar ekonomi harus diubah untuk mengutamakan semula usaha ke arah pertumbuhan yang segar dan pengagihan kekayaan yang saksama.

Skandal 1MDB yang melibatkan Perdana Menteri adalah skandal terparah dalam sejarah dan turut menjejaskan imej negara. Ini hanya mungkin berlaku apabila terdapat pemusatan kuasa kepada seorang Perdana Menteri serta kegagalan institusi kewangan, keadilan dan penguatkuasaan menjalankan tugas dengan bebas.

Kita juga telah belajar dari pengalaman sejarah bahawa peralihan kuasa yang bermakna bukanlah peralihan tokoh semata tetapi perubahan sistem.

Justeru itu saya tegas menggesa rakan-rakan dan rakyat bersama dalam usaha ini tanpa membataskan ia sebagai agenda peribadi mahupun permusuhan peribadi. Kita harus merangka halatuju baru bagi menyelamatkan negara.

Anwar Ibrahim

3 Mac 2016

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MEDIA STATEMENT

I support the position of friends in civil society, political parties and individuals including Tun Dr Mahathir, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin and others to build up strength and common understanding together as articulated by the Leader of the Opposition recently.

This understanding will focus on the demand for Dato’ Sri Najib to resign as Prime Minister as he has clearly failed to lead this nation. He is responsible for continuing to engage in selfish political acts, wreaking havoc upon administrative institutions, and burdening the Rakyat with continued economic crisis.

At the same time, the call for change must also necessarily involve reform at key institutions in this nation, which have been badly damaged under the administration of Dato’ Sri Najib.

All this while, we, in representing the voice and conscience of the rakyat, have sworn to fight to return the rights of the rakyat in an independent and sovereign nation. Thus in line with this commitment, the rights of the Rakyat must be returned through a free and fair elections as well as an independent judiciary and free media. Economic policies must be reformed to refocus on fresh economic growth combined with equitable distribution of wealth.

The 1MDB scandal involving the Prime Minister is the most severe scandal in our history and has badly damaged our nation’s image. This can only happen when power is centered in one individual such as the Prime Minister, as well as the failure of key financial, judicial and enforcement institutis to perform their tasks independently without fear or favour.

We have also learned from history that meaningful transition of power cannot happen only with a change of leadership but it also demands a systemic change.

Therefore I urge my friends and the rakyat to stand together in this effort without limiting it with personal agendas or personal vendettas. We must together chart a new way forward to save our beloved nation.

Anwar Ibrahim

3 March 2016