Sarawak urged to lead Malaysia’s revival

KUCHING: Former law minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim has urged Sarawak to play a more assertive role in shaping Malaysia’s future, viewing the state’s leadership as the nation’s final hope to reverse its decline.

Zaid bemoaned the ongoing brain drain from Malaysia, which he believes has hindered the country’s progress over the past fifty years.

He pointed out the mass exodus of Malaysians to Singapore in the 1970s as a pivotal moment, with professionals, educators, and even skilled workers such as the Malaysia Airlines (MAS) maintenance crew following suit.

“For fifty years, we have witnessed the nation’s decline because we refused to accept that a country cannot be built solely on the foundations of race, religion, and royalty.

“We can only progress by adopting the same successful strategies as other nations. However, we persisted,” he stated in a post on X.

Zaid criticized the current leadership’s fixation on racial and religious issues, citing the increased enforcement of Sharia law and the proliferation of Madani posters as evidence of the deepening rift in the country.

He questioned the whereabouts of Malaysia’s founding leaders — Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Dr Ismail, and Tun Dr Mahathir — emphasizing that the true patriots seem to have vanished.

Given this, Zaid implored Sarawak’s leaders, including Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, to adopt a proactive stance in shaping Malaysia’s destiny.

“Sarawak must actively choose which peninsular faction possesses policies suitable for Malaysia’s future.

“Sarawak needs to align with that faction instead of merely aiming for numerical superiority.

“Sarawak must lead the recovery before it’s too late,” he emphasized.

Zaid also expressed optimism that Sabah could acknowledge the nation’s decline and take similar initiatives, although he admitted to being less familiar with Sabah’s political landscape.

“I held hope that they, too, could recognize the extent of the decay we’re facing and take action.”