Ousting Najib won’t solve Malaysia’s problems: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR — Ousting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Barisan Nasional is not the magic pill and what the year-old opposition party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia wants to do is change a system that is beyond repair, said party head Muhyiddin Yassin. 

In his first interview since starting Bersatu, Mr Muhyiddin said removing Mr Najib alone would not end the country’s problems. “It is not only the personality, it is of what he has done, the policies that he has initiated, the damage that he has created to the country, and the leftovers (problems) that will have to be handled by future generations. “The trillions of ringgit in debts that the country is faced with and the 1MDB problem will still have to be resolved. Najib’s resignation doesn’t resolve these,”  Mr Muhyiddin told The Malaysian Insight at his office in an interview this week.

The former United Malays National Organisation deputy president was replying to a question on whether Mr Najib’s resignation would see a voter swing back to BN. Following deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking in 1998, BN also suffered setbacks in the 1999 general election, losing Terengganu to Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and 42 federal seats to the loosely formed opposition coalition Barisan Alternatif.

BN’s popular vote dropped to 56.53 per cent from 65.16 per cent in 1995. However, following Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s retirement and the redelination exercise in 2003, his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi regained 63.85 per cent of the popular vote, with BN winning 198 federal seats.

Mr Muhyiddin said the system, under BN, has now become toxic. “And when things become toxic, everything they touch becomes poisonous.” 

During the hour-long interview with The Malaysian Insight, Mr Muhyiddin also said Bersatu is capable of replacing PAS in the long run. “We don’t want to compete with PAS and it is not an issue of whether Bersatu can fight PAS.
“But if you study what is happening in PAS and the number of disgruntled members, they are not as strong as they were before.”

Mr Muhyiddin, who has held sports, domestic trade, agriculture, international trade and education portfolios in the government since 1995, said more PAS members were joining Bersatu. “Recently, I went down to Sik in Kedah to accept more than 400 application forms from former PAS members to join Bersatu. “It is true, they will not join Umno, for reasons that you all know, but when Bersatu came along, they did not feel odd joining us. We are not Umno.”

Below are excerpts from the interview:

TMI: Are Umno’s days numbered?

Muhyiddin: I don’t see any proactive moves under Mr Najib’s leadership to rectify the situation. In fact, I have already said Umno has reached a point where it’s very difficult to repair. It is a 60-year-old party that is undergoing a period of dark ages. (Umno turned 71 this year.) The problems it faces, such as corruption, abuse of power until “cash is king”, are proven from the top leaders to the grassroots level. As such, I think that Umno cannot sustain itself very much longer.

If we look at the political history in other countries, the founding parties which obtained independence will sooner or later fade away. Umno has derailed and with that, Malaysians can no longer trust it and its support will slowly decline. I’m confident that Umno’s time is up and at its tail end. The next elections will determine whether it can continue to be in power or not.

TMI: PAS used to be a vital component of the opposition. Losing PAS would also mean losing Malay votes. Is Bersatu capable of filling the void left by PAS?

Muhyiddin: We are ready, give us time and with more effort, we will be able to spell out more clearly our way forward and the issues we are fighting for. And later when we form the government, we will have the capability to deliver what the rakyat (people) wants, I think that is what is more important. So, building up that confidence and trust among, not just the Malays, but Malaysians at large, is crucial. We don’t want to compete with PAS and it is not an issue of whether Bersatu can fight PAS. 

So, if we move deeper into things and try to win the Malay votes, it doesn’t matter whether they are ex-Umno or ex-PAS, I think we will be able to draw the support from them as well. It is also a question of time. PAS has been long there and Umno has been here for 60 years, while we have just this one year. Given time and good leadership, I think we will able to do what we aim to do.

TMI: If Umno is moving to the far right, where is Bersatu heading?

Muhyiddin: What is important is not centre, left or right. What is central is doing the right thing, for the people. You can say it is left or you can say it is right, but what is important is when we decide certain things, it is not to show we are purposely going the other direction. I think the rakyat will take into consideration whether what you are doing is for them, the interest of the people, doing the right thing or strengthening the institutions.

I think these are the issues which are of concern to Malaysians at large. I don’t want to be branded as a centrist, a leftist or a rightist. I just want to do the right thing. We won’t imitate other countries for obvious reasons because they are not the same. We want to do what is best for Malaysians.

TMI: Will they play the race and religion card in GE14?

Muhyiddin: Najib and BN may do it because they have no other issues to use. He thinks that these issues (race and religion) are close to the voters’ hearts and he can raise sentiments of hatred and the like. But this is a dangerous trend in a multi-ethnic country like Malaysia and can cause political instability and safety problems. We have to be wary of such tactics. We want to rectify all the wrongs they committed.

TMI: In 1999, Umno had a difficult time after Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking but in 2004, the Malay vote swung back to BN with a new prime minister. So, if Najib were to step down tomorrow, would that change?

Muhyiddin: I ask you a question, would that solve the problem? People assume if Najib steps down tomorrow, everything will turn good again. But will it? Or is it only part of the problem? It is not only the personality. It is of what he has done, the policies that he has initiated, the damage that he has created in the country, and the leftover that will have to be handled by future generations. The trillions of ringgit in debts the country is faced with and the issue of 1MDB will still have to be resolved.

Najib’s resignation doesn’t resolve this. Maybe it is a good thing that he will be rid of, being part of that system, but whoever is to take over will have to handle the problems. So, I think it is not going to be the finale if Najib goes. It is not just the person, but the system that the party has created over the years is so corrupt that it is no longer sustainable. So, while one person can be a factor, it has now gone toxic. When things become toxic, everything they touch become poisonous.

TMI: So this is beyond personality?

Muhyiddin: Personality is one, but of course it is beyond personality. The problem that is faced by the country today is of one man’s creation and of a system that is corrupt.

TMI: What first came to your mind when you received the news that you were sacked from the cabinet?

Muhyiddin: People have asked me if I feel sad but I don’t feel sad. As a Muslim, I accept it as fate and maybe a blessing now. I think the timing must have been there, because God did not want to see me sit beside Najib after the many wrongs he has committed. Today, I feel free from these feelings and I’m no longer restricted by the problems we see today.

I would not have been in peace if I continued to serve beside him. I can continue arguing on why I should not have been sacked but I just want to move forward. I think the bigger issue is not about me now. I don’t talk about myself but I will talk about my party and what I struggle for. What is important are Malaysia’s issues.

TMI: People say one of your previous statements “I’m Malay first, Malaysian second” was racist in nature. What is your comment?

Muhyiddin: During my time as a minister and menteri besar (Johor), were there any instances where my actions and deeds were discriminatory? What I said then was a statement of fact. You are a Malay and you are a Chinese and that is all. As Malaysians, what is important are deeds, not words. I have never done anything which is racist in nature.

Are there any Chinese who would say I did not help them but only helped the Malays? People must evaluate me based on my actions and not my words. My son-in-law is Chinese and many of my friends are Chinese, too. As a Malaysian and a leader, we must act fairly, be considerate and understand the different interests of the various races. This is something I have done since my involvement in politics. I think we should put that incident to rest.

TMI: Bersatu is one of many Malay-majority parties. Is it able to represent the Malays the same way Umno has?

Muhyiddin: I believe we can, but it takes time. Umno now cannot claim to have monopoly of the Malay support or the only party that can defend the rights of the Malay community or the only party that can defend Islam as a religion for the Malays. That is false, and I think it is also wrong to make such a claim. Bersatu is not racist, as it will fight for all Malaysians. We have proven that in many of our statements and the things we do. The reason is more than just tactical.

All this while, the opposition could not win because they could not penetrate into the Malay heartland, which is controlled by Umno. Why didn’t Parti Keadilan Rakyat win the last elections or why can’t PAS penetrate although it won in Kelantan and Terengannu? It is because of the same factor. All these seats that belong to Umno is where the Malays are the majority. The reason we formed this party is because we need to penetrate and break that so-called monopoly. 

TMI: At your age and experience, you did not have to do this, what was the motivation that made you start a new party?

Muhyiddin: I wanted to retire earlier. I still remember when I was on good terms with Najib. He was beside me in Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) during the swearing-in ceremony after the 2013 elections and I told him this was going to be my last term. And he looked at me and said, “I thought we were going to be together to celebrate 2020”. That was four years ago. I said if I continue to the end of the term, I will be 71, so I think enough is enough. I don’t know how much I have done for the nation but I have served for many, many years. And it is left for the people to evaluate my contributions.

But this thing happened… my family said it was time to retire. My friends said I can play golf, makan angin and do anything I want like sit down at a coffee shop and complain for hours. I wish I could have done that, those are the things that you have missed for so long. Then things happened… not because I was removed, but because of the things which have happened to the country. 

And I never imagined that I will be so close to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. We meet practically every day to discuss what is happening to the country. This is something I must do in the last part of my career. It has to be now. Because of what has happened I have to ask the same question. Can I leave? I cannot. I will have to do something for this nation. Will I succeed? I am not too sure. I hope so, but that is the only thing that you have.

It is not going to be easy, as I am spending a lot more time now when I should be spending it with my grandchildren. But I don’t have much of a choice. If I don’t do it, then can somebody else do it? Yes, Anwar (Ibrahim) can do it but I want to be part of this and that is why I said it is ok, I am prepared to continue. I may not be as young or strong as before but I am prepared to do what I have to do.

This is the challenge in a lifetime. You may succeed or you may not. I leave it to God to decide. If you want to form a company, you have to calculate the cost and benefit and the profit and loss. But when I formed this party I never calculated how much I needed to move this party. I just wish that some people will just come into this party. I think that is important as a person, the will to drive on. It is okay, if I were to die tomorrow like what Tun says, at least I can say I have tried.

I don’t think I am stupid. And nobody has told me that I am stupid for doing this. Maybe those guys are stupid to say why are you spending so much time and energy in all this.

TMI: Was there a particular moment which made you decide to form Bersatu?

Muhyiddin: I am a thinking person. It is not a process. It is fast. People who have been with me know how fast I move. Even though I don’t say anything, it is still working in my mind.

This effort is a real struggle. You got to go and do it. I can’t ask Tun to come and run this office and set up the branches in the country. I am here to build up the infrastructure, the political support and whatnot. I do it this way even though I don’t have the full support, but it is okay as people will slowly understand. 

Nowadays, the Chinese are telling me they will support me. So maybe I am not doing the wrong thing. It is not a snap decision or sheer coincidence. This is a serious business. This is the politics of trying to save the country. You must think about it for it to happen. That is why I told Tun, we cannot be fighting like this, before Bersatu was formed. We needed a platform and a party. And now we have a party.

TMI: How sure are you that the Malay vote will change?

Muhyiddin: From my observations and Bersatu’s empirical studies (surveys), we have noticed a positive trend among the voters in general, including Malays in Felda areas. Non-BN parties used to have difficulties penetrating the Felda areas but we have opened branches in some of the Felda areas.

The Malays are still among segments of society who face cost-of-living issues because they are among the biggest group who earn low wages and are poor. The Malays today have reached a stage where they can no longer bear the rising costs of living. As such, we believe together with the non-Malays, the Malays will also reject BN.

TMI: How significant is the change?

Muhyiddin: In 2013, BN only had 48 per cent of the popular vote while 52 per cent of the popular vote went to the opposition, but that didn’t trigger a change in government. How do you compare 2013 and 2017? Better or worse? I have heard a lot of people say now is better but based on the scenario and the studies that we did, things are getting worse.So, if things are getting worse then basically the 48 per cent of popular vote that BN had in 2013 cannot be sustained.

And you go by state and constituency, we see the shift already happening. Johor used to be a strong BN state. They called it the blue state but now I say the blue has turned to blur. 

While Johoreans have been long supporters of Umno, they have now shifted because of the problems and issues. They are well exposed and well educated and experienced and they see what is happening today, and I don’t think they endorse what the government is doing.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT