Addressing the concerns of youths on PPBM chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who, some feel, was a dictator during his 22 years as prime minister, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli said all four parties in PH were equally important.
“No single party can be king. No government in this world, whether they have Mahathir or not, can do what they did 20 to 30 years ago.
“The government was powerful back then because they could control information. But now no single person can be so powerful again due to technology,” he told youths at a forum last night, alluding to how Umno and its president could dictate the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN).
Rafizi, who runs the PKR-linked think-tank INVOKE, added that Mahathir was with the youths and the nation in wanting to replace the present government with a better government.
He assured the youths that there were many opposition MPs who would speak up if any leader from any of the four component parties – PKR, DAP, Amanah and PPBM – tried to take control of PH.
Rafizi also compared the application of oppressive laws in the past and its effectiveness in the present day.
“About 20 years ago if more than five people gathered to have political talks they might be placed in jail. But now people can have talks and other discussions online, asking questions, giving feedback,” he said, adding that this greater space was not due to prime minister Najib Razak but because technology was an enabler.
Taking the cue, the DAP’s Subang Jaya state assemblyperson Hannah Yeoh told the crowd at the forum held in USJ that people could now watch forums on Facebook live without being present.
Yeoh, who is also Selangor legislative assembly speaker, reminded youths that there was a lot of check and balance in the PH, compared with the BN.
“While we discuss about whether Mahathir will grab the power or if he will make a good PM, the Election Commission (EC) is proceeding full swing with its redelineation exercise.”
Yeoh was responding to media reports that the EC would be able to continue its redelineation exercise, following the Court of Appeal’s dismissal of a stay against its local inquiries.
She reminded the youths that the redelineation would further empower race-based political parties. The opposition has raised suspicions about the EC’s impartiality, citing some of its actions.
“That is why we need to pin our hopes on a better system. To have proper check and balance. Not who will be the next prime minister.”
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong said if PH won the election, it would be about people’s power.
“We are not here to put Mahathir or Anwar as PM. We want to democratise the country. ”
The Johor DAP chairman added that everyone needed to focus on winning the next general election as the nation needed new thinking to end corruption and to improve the education system, among other things.