By SELANGOR, MALAYSIA — Emphasising that Malaysia no longer seeks leaders with a stained record of wrongdoing, the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda), expressed their strong disapproval of those who urged voters to support corrupt politicians who have been proven guilty and imprisoned.
This was made following a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi during a rally, urging voters to vote for both Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) if they wish to save imprisoned former Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“We want to say that we no longer need Najib in Malaysia. We no longer need people who are proven and sent to prison for corruption and spending people’s money. We don’t need them anymore,” said Muda secretary-general Amir Hariri Abd Hadi in a press conference yesterday.
Explicitly addressing the deputy minister’s support towards the convicted former PM, he expressed his concerns over the lack of public protest from the remark while reaffirming the alliance’s dedication to maintaining integrity and unity in Malaysian politics.
“I did not hear the voices of those who mentioned the issue of continuity, the issue of abuse of power, the issue of corruption when this statement came out,” stated Amir.
He further questioned, “Where are the fierce voices that used to be on the streets, mentioning and shouting at the top of their lungs against corruption? But now, no one is talking about this issue.”
Disappointed by the absence of vocal critics who had once denounced the issue of abuse of power and corruption, Muda noted that those who had rallied have chosen to be silent about this matter.
“It used to be “A” but after election it becomes “B”. They used to talk about this issue but when the election was over, none talked about this because of their power,” Amir elaborated.
Amir disclosed that the party was founded by a group of individuals who grew tired of the “politics of lies”, and Muda is weary of the tendency of politicians for not following through with their promises made during election campaigns once they have secured power.
Rejecting divisive politics that gain from exploiting religion, race and royalty issues – dubbed “3R” in the country, Muda stresses the need for mutual understanding and respect by calling attention to the importance of harmony among the diverse communities in Malaysia.
“No matter how much we hate different ethnic groups, the only way forward for us as a country is to learn to live together,” he explained.
Amir further reiterated that Muda is committed to upholding its unwavering message and opposing politicians who manipulate sensitive issues for their own gain, ultimately leading to societal discord.
According to a report, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi who is also president of Malay party UMNO had appealed to the former convicted PM’s supporters as well as other party members last week, to vote for PH and BN in the upcoming six state elections and take it upon himself to get justice for the former PM.