Sarawak is our only hope, says former law minister on reversing nation’s ‘decline’

KUCHING (Sept 4): Sarawak needs to be the determinant of national leadership and not just be content with joining any grouping decided by Peninsular Malaysia, said former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Writing on X yesterday, Zaid also described Sarawak as the nation’s only hope to reverse what he termed as the ‘decline’ in the country.

“Sarawak must proactively decide which peninsular grouping has policies suitable for Malaysia’s future.

“Sarawak has to join that grouping and not be satisfied only to form the majority. Sarawak has to lead the recovery before it is too late.

“I wish I knew Sabah politics better, but I was hopeful they, too, could see where the rot had taken us and do something about them,” he said.

Sarawak is our only hope

First, the good Malaysians left in the 1970s to join the Singapore civil service, which proved pivotal in developing that island’s state. Then, the teachers and the professionals followed. Not to mention millions of workers. MAS maintenance crew are the…

— Zaid Ibrahim (@zaidibrahim) September 3, 2024

Zaid said for decades, Malaysia has witnessed a steady exodus of its brightest minds.

“First, the good Malaysians left in the 1970s to join the Singapore civil service, which proved pivotal in developing that island’s state. Then, the teachers and the professionals followed. Not to mention millions of workers. MAS (Malaysia Airlines) maintenance crew are the latest.

“For fifty years, we watched the nation decline because we refused to acknowledge that you can’t build a country on 3R (race, religion and royalty). We can only build the country using the same formulas as successful countries. But we persisted.

“It’s still the main preoccupation of the country’s leadership. More religion and more race identity issues are talked about every day.”

Moreover, he claimed that the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) officers are now required to monitor and ensure all activities are Shariah-compliant.

“More integrity officers are required by MACC to be posted everywhere to curb corruption. More policing. More segregation with Madani posters everywhere.”

Zaid questioned where the nation can find replacements for leaders such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, adding that the true patriots have all gone missing.

“Where are the non-Malay leaders prepared to join the true Bumiputera patriots to rebuild the country?” he asked.