I have been getting quite a lot of questions and messages from supporters the last few days regarding the issue of Dr. M being the designated Pakatan Harapan PM candidate.
Firstly, I am not involved in this issue. Like many junior first term MP, I learnt about the decision of senior Pakatan leaders from the news. I did hear snippets of the plan a few weeks ago. If the current crop of leaders want to pursue deals, then they must learn to be accountable for their decisions.
My task for this coming election, if chosen by PKR to be a candidate, is to defend and deliver a victory in Kelana Jaya. I have delivered the alternative budget and economic policies for Pakatan and I do not see any additional role for me beyond that. I will from now until GE14, give my full efforts to INVOKE Malaysia to ensure that as many clean politicians are elected to office.
I have spoken many times that the mood is not great. I also recognise that corruption and abuses of power are systemic problems that can infect federal and state governments. The culture of money politics runs much deeper than I ever imagined back in 2009, when I first joined PKR. We had great hopes in 2008 and 2013. Yet, I urge all to continue to have faith because to opt out will be much, much worse.
Instead of giving up, I decided 4 years ago to start my own internship program. If I have to tolerate and put up with lousy politics, why not invest my time productively in training a new generation of leaders.
I teach my interns public policy and community work. But what I really teach them is to defend their principles and idealism. We can overcome any obstacle with hard work and by embracing a culture of continuous improvements. I tell my interns to go to the private sector first and learn professional skills. I lecture them on the need to have sufficient money first, before entering politics.
I recently read an interesting quote; “it is good to be able to predict and analyse the future, it is however far better to influence and change it”. So, I am not going to lose sleep on Dr. M as PM, nor defend or apologise for it. It is beyond my control. What I can control and do, is to use my time productively to plan a better future for Malaysia.