Why MADANI when REFORMASI is still a work in progress?

The onset of political death gives tremendous clarity to our politicians as to who, and what they need to do to stay politically alive.

When Tun Razak took over from Tunku after the May 13th incident when the State of Emergency was imposed, he came into power riding on the need for change - the need for the NEP, The New Economic Policy. The NEP took Tun Razak through from September 1970 when he became prime minister until January 1976 - the time of his death.

For Tun Hussein Onn there was no need for a cause célèbre to justify his time in office as prime minister. He was a rare politician who did his duty when duty called and when he decided his time was done, he left the same way he came...quietly with grace and honour.

Mahathir's twenty-plus years as prime minister were driven by three central issues. Mahathir. Mahathir and Mahathir. Everything else does not matter. When Mahathir was no longer relevant, he lost his deposit in Langkawi and was cast into the political wilderness where he is still aimlessly wandering around today in search of being politically relevant again.

For Anwar Ibrahim, his ouster from the DPM post and UMNO in September 1998, which was as close to political death as anyone can get, gave tremendous clarity as to what was needed for him to stay alive. And that was REFORMASI - essentially the largest democratic movement in Malaysia. And now, after two decades, including ten years in prison and having gone through all sorts of trials and tribulations, REFORMASI has made him prime minister.

So he is done with REFORMASI?

Yes, he is.

It is now MADANI: which stands for sustainability, care and compassion, respect, innovation, prosperity, and trust. In less than a year after REFOMASI had carried him through all those years of trials and tribulations for him to become prime minister, he is done with REFORMASI. Out with the old. In with the new.

BUT, are we done with REFORMASI?

This Unity Government is not a RERORMASI government. This Cabinet is not a REFOMASI cabinet. It is not even an Anwar Ibrahim Cabinet. Is Anwar Ibrahim too eager to leave the past behind?

We have not had closure on Teoh Beng Hock.

No closure on Altantuya. IMDB. On the excesses of UMNO, PN and other political parties and individuals. No closure on Taib Mahmud. No closure of Paster Koh. No closure on incidents of men and women being barred from hospitals, from making police reports, and from entering government departments over dress code. No closure over Royals doing business ecetera ecetera ecetera....

So why Madani when REFORMASI is still a work in progress?