Reformasi in Malaysia began with the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim from UMNO in 1998. It was a movement to bring wholesale changes to Malaysia and Malaysian politics. Many bought into its attractive packaging of good governance, corruption free, people-centred policies, defending basic human rights, progressive economic policies and many more. Essentially, it was social equality and social justice for Malaysia.
Now in the Government, surely Reformasi for PH must be more than a slogan for regime change? This is the time for reform-minded Malaysians to reflect on what Reformasi and Bersih is all about. What kind of reforms should we expect? Each Minister and Ministry could draw-up areas for reforms, unless they have no clue or wish to gaslight the rest of us.
Source:
https://www.thesundaily.my
When a Minister dismisses ill-treatment of detainees, doesn’t understand SOSMA, or makes no mention of those missing from public life, then Reformasi is dead!
Reformasi is not when electricity tariffs are increased despite the near-monopolist enjoys profits in excess of RM4 billion a year. Reformasi must mean a fresh approach on subsidy for the poor and marginalised. Reformasi is when we are willing to examine every area of our nation, be it the judiciary, the legislative or the executive, and change them for the better. It is an exercise that not one Minister could do. It may require a mechanism or Commission to galvanise change. Change is then welcomed not disdained. Policies are people centric, fair, progressive and unifying.
But before we do that we need to account for misdeeds (if not acknowledge them). There are so many – from corruption over the decades, deaths in lock-ups, to people still missing! If we don’t do that then Reformasi is just a slogan for regime change!
References:
Was the reformasi movement a mere engine for regime change? Kua Kia Soong, The Malaysian Insight, 5 Dec 2022
Custodial abuse claims: LFL calls Saifuddin’s dismissal ‘ridiculous’, Malaysiakini, 12 Dec 2022
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