LETTER | Rafizi, Nurul Izzah and Harapan’s future

LETTER | I think many Malaysians remember Rafizi Ramli’s sacrifice and love his ideas and idealism. Most of the time he speaks sense.

So also, is Nurul Izzah Anwar (above).

However, lately, they have made some observations which need more careful consideration.

The first is about Pakatan Harapan losing power in Selangor. As a politician, maybe there is an agenda more than meets the eye.

However, to say that Harapan is likely to lose Selangor without proper backup plans to reverse the course is bad for business for Harapan.

Harapan should be honest enough to admit the odds are probably stacked against them, but they should never ever go out without a fight.

It is unwise to admit that Harapan will lose Selangor unless strategies and plans are already put in place to fight it out.

The second observation (attributed to Nurul Izzah Anwar) is don’t dream of Harapan gaining federal power in the next ten years.

I know the political struggle is long term. But to declare a political coalition is not able to gain power for the next ten years is too pessimistic and demoralising, more so that the coalition had gained power and governed Malaysia before.

The political struggle must be realistic but at the same time, it must give people hope that is within their grip.

In ten years, many are probably dead or have migrated to somewhere else.

Harapan can say it is difficult and challenging to regain federal power in the next five to ten years but it should never say it is impossible.

I think Harapan should not be in the political arena if they are not trying to gain power and rule this country within the shortest possible time frame.

Rafizi’s third observation is don’t seek new tents, ie Harapan should not seek new allies but work within the existing ones. Again, I find this observation rigid and dogmatic.

Preferably Harapan should harness its strength from within its existing partners.

However, sometimes forming allies and partnerships with others is unavoidable. The most important consideration is who are we forming alliances with.

I think it will be foolish and suicidal for Harapan to reach out to those who had been proven treacherous, corrupt, racist and bigoted.

They should be avoided like a plague in the next election despite some of them for some reasons having regained popularity.

It is most likely that traitors will not only betray once. They will betray again and again.

They also do not discriminate against who they choose to betray. Today they betray your enemies, tomorrow they will betray you. So, it is prudent to avoid them.

On the other hand, it is not wrong to reach out to political parties led by more honourable leaders.

Surely it will provide added strength to Harapan although the possibility of betrayal is always there. But then sometimes people within our own party too can betray us.

I think many welcome the return of Rafizi and Nurul Izzah into the political scene of the country.

However, it is wiser for them not to make statements unless they have been comprehensively thought out.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.