LETTER | The luminaries of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) have been frothing at the mouth recently. Using the momentum garnered by the recent Malay Dignity Congress and the Ronnie Liu-Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism comic book fiasco, members of Bersatu have issued various ultimatums to remind the Malaysian public that they are relevant.
Bersatu Youth Wing head and our Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman claimed that Sungai Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu’s opinion piece titled “Mahathir: The paper tiger” and which suggested that Pakatan Harapan did not need Bersatu was disrespectful and rude.
Not only that, Syed Saddiq gave DAP a week to respond to his demand, either by having Liu apologise or by taking action against him.
He threatened to bring the entirety of Bersatu’s Youth Wing, Armada, to bear and stated that “they will not hesitate to act against this rude attack”.
This followed demands by Bersatu Council supreme leader Maszlee Malik’s calls to discipline its party members who were critical of his decision to stop the distribution of former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau’s pro-China propaganda comic in local schools.
According to an article by the Malay Mail, these demands are reminiscent of those that Umno leaders used to make of MCA when Barisan Nasional had still been in power.
But is this a fair comparison? In Umno’s defence, at least they held power within BN that justified their ultimatums towards their component partners.
If anything, the public tantrums displayed by the Bersatu leadership on this matter serves to prove that they are actually a “paper tiger”.
Fundamentally, Bersatu is meant to help Harapan bridge their Malay gap - to serve as an effective counter to the appeal of Umno-PAS among the sizeable Malay conservative voter bloc.
Yet, given its election performance in GE14, Bersatu needs to prove its worth. More damningly, looking at the party’s performance in the recent Semenyih by-election, one can’t help but question if Bersatu is even worth working with in the first place.
Despite being a state seat in the two-term Pakatan stronghold of Selangor and having their “best” election machinery to bear, the Bersatu candidate was completely routed in Semenyih.
Not only did they squander the gains in the seat gained during GE14, they also had lost the sizeable youth vote that had once supported the party.
They talk a big game. Let’s be honest - they barely have the mandate of the voting bloc that they claim to represent. Gaining only 13 seats in GE14 despite having party luminaries such as Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad is a sign that Bersatu’s appeal as a party is lacking.
There is little doubt that Superman Hew’s naked attempt to forward foreign Chinese interests deserves condemnation - but it is unfortunate that Bersatu has chosen to excuse Mahathir’s involvement in the matter, especially given that copies of the comic book were given to Chinese Premier Xi Jinping at the 2nd Belt and Road Conference in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year.
Surely Bersatu has not forgotten recent U-turns from GE14 made by Mahathir when it comes to China? Did they already forget about Proton? How about foreign purchases of property? Or even the much-maligned ECRL and HSR projects?
If Bersatu cannot fulfil its role in keeping the party leaders to account, then of what use is the party?
Surely it’s not based on the performance of their cabinet ministers? Redzuan Yusof seems insistent in squandering goodwill (and perhaps even public funds) on projects such as Malaysia’s now multiple flying cars. All the while cutting down on avenues of SME funding - ironically as an effort to promote “meritocracy”.
Marzuki Yahya may have moved on from his degree-mill scandal but given the recent tensions between India and Malaysia - whatever influence he has in the Foreign Ministry is clearly as Mahathir’s puppet.
Rina Harun remains a relative unknown, and despite her important portfolio in securing the future survival of her party in the Rural Development Ministry - she has done nothing but to court controversy, if the recent appointments of political members from her own party are anything to go by.
Syed Saddiq has proven his mettle as a glory hound and master lobbyist for corporate interests. From Hausboom to GoJek- there is no company that he will vouch for in the cabinet, unless you threaten his political survival, as Foodpanda did.
It is unfortunate then that Syed Saddiq does not channel the same enthusiasm towards his own portfolio. Ever since he took office, reports of his ministry failing to financially support local athletes has become an almost monthly occurrence.
Given their current state of affairs, it's little wonder that Bersatu’s leadership insists on delaying its party elections. Who in their right mind would vote for the current crop of leaders that lead them to become an actual “paper tiger”.
Tragically, Bersatu’s problem is not that it has to prove to its coalition partners that it isn’t a paper tiger - in actuality, it has to prove to itself that it can fulfil its purpose as a political entity.
Bersatu and Mahathir are proven liabilities to Harapan. Perhaps it's time to cut them out?
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
