PENGERANG: The decision by Umno’s top leadership to hasten the 15th General Election (GE15) is correct as they have returned power back to the people, says Tun Musa Hitam.
The former deputy prime minister said the country is facing political instability that has threatened peace and affected the ability of its economy to attract foreign investments.
“The political mess happening in Malaysia right now has never happened before, where there is a lot of confusion throughout the country, including among political parties that have confused the people.
“The truth is, it is the people that are suffering as they never wanted to see what we are experiencing right now,” he said in his speech during a forum organised by the Johor chapter of the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) here yesterday.
Umno’s top leadership is also known as the Top Five: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and the three vice-presidents – Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Musa also said Malaysia was in need of a world class leadership that can handle present challenges, adding that when the country’s forefathers established Umno, they had a strong sense of nationalism among them, but it seems that the gains from their sacrifices have been eroded now.
“We should remember that the country’s leadership – both before and after Merdeka – their purpose was to have a united Malayan nation and they have built a foundation for it.
“We had a good education policy, a good economic policy, a good foreign policy, where the purpose was to create a united nation that can face the challenges we are facing now,” said Musa, who bemoaned the current severe shortage of quality leadership.
“Malaysia is really in need of a world class leadership based on education, experience, and one that is resilient and brave to face anything in the modern world.
“It seems we are facing a deficit in top class leaders that can steer Malaysia to a higher level of competitiveness globally.
“I have to be frank. When I meet with some political critics, they will ask me what is happening to Malaysian politics now.
“They have a conception that our politics is like a cartoon, and have become like an entertainment to them. How could we have strayed?” he said.
However, Musa did name three leaders that he believed hold promise for Malaysia – Ismail Sabri, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
