I am grateful that the efforts of the reform movement to channel its forces through a political platform is finally bearing fruit. I support the National Justice Party (Keadilan), seeing how urgent the need is to enhance and consolidate our political strength to fight for justice for all.
The formation of Keadilan is inevitable. Our country is in the grip of a severe crisis, which finds its root causes in widespread corruption, abuse of power and the practice of nepotism and cronyism. And this crisis cannot be overcome unless and until we implement reforms to stamp out all these social and political evils and establish justice.
Tragically, Dr. Mahathir’s regime not only refuses to accept the need for reform but has sworn to destroy any attempt whatsoever by the people to institute reform. Mahathir and his minions will continue to orchestrate massive campaigns to instill fear towards the reform movement and the very word "reformasi" itself. However, I am confident that this vile and deceitful propaganda will not succeed. You may try to pull wool over our eyes, but we will not be blinded. We know what kind of a leader it is who would build a palace costing RM200 million while basic housing for the poor continues to be neglected. We see billions of ringgit of the people’s money being used to bail out his cronies while the interests of small and medium companies are ignored. Injustice is now so prevalent that it has spread even to the courts of justice.
Our convictions are further strengthened by this collective will of the people to demand justice and reform, a will which transcends political boundaries, enabling Pas, DAP, PRM and NGOs to readily reach consensus and join forces to reject the present corrupt, arrogant and dictatorial leadership, to put a stop to their continued belittling of the people’s legitimate aspirations.
The establishment of Keadilan sees a new dawn in Malaysian politics. Political parties and NGOs must work together and set aside their differences in order to free Malaysia from the continuing stranglehold of crisis and oppression.
The role of the ulama should be appreciated. When we were being inundated by calumny and false accusations, the ulama stood firm to harness the people’s moral conviction to reject them.
I appreciate the care and concern of the Pas leadership who, while the rest of the local media remained servile and slavish to the powers that be, have provided the people through the pages of Harakah an alternative forum.
There are also those who question the wisdom of forming a political party. But the real issue transcends politics, encompassing all spheres of struggle for the cause of justice. Hence we need to have appropriate vehicles which complement each other.
As for myself, I remain faithful to my struggle and continue with it. I was cast out from Umno solely at the behest of the Umno president who is corrupt and panic-stricken by my attitude towards corruption. He could not tolerate my stand towards fundamental human rights and democracy, and my opposition to his actions to bail out his cronies. He was rattled by the exposure of his running down of the ulama and his derogatory remarks about the religious practices of the Malays. I can’t understand why Umno, with its strong tradition of democracy, can allow its president to act wilfully in total disregard of the democratic process. By his actions, the Umno president is closer to people who had already been rejected by the party through the democratic process. He appoints to important positions people who have lost in elections to the Supreme Council and for divisional leadership, and gives them even more clout than those democratically chosen by party members. So what appears as the party viewpoint is not the result of consultations among the party membership as a whole, but only that of the president and a small coterie of those who had been rejected by members. This illegitimate group is then given more powers so that they can further enrich themselves.
Nevertheless, I do realize that the leadership among the grassroots and ordinary Umno members remain strongly committed to justice and democracy. Unfortunately, their views are brushed aside. I was thrown out after I had questioned the disappearance of RM1 billion in party funds. I had to be expelled immediately as a member so that there would be no opportunity for me to produce documentary evidence. I hope that the grassroots leadership and ordinary Umno members will continue to be faithful to their struggle and participate in our fight against oppression and injustice. Truth and justice must transcend political boundaries.
Keadilan must base its struggle on the principles of democracy, the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law. We need to strive for inter-religious harmony, fostering the principle of mutual tolerance and understanding of the multiplicity of cultures. We need to vehemently oppose the irresponsible propaganda of those who are bent on instilling fear of racial tensions and riots among the people as a ploy to obtain support.
We strive for prosperity for all. We need to narrow the income gap between urban and rural areas. We need to protect the poor and uplift their standard of living. We need to encourage those who are capable and talented to progress through transparent means and healthy competition, not to appropriate all the available opportunities through favouritism and cronyistic practices.
We are patriotic Malaysians who love our country. It is this love for the nation that has propelled us to action. Let us build a new Malaysia, one that is known to the world as a nation which is just, a nation which is prosperous and harmonious, and a nation which is morally upright.
Thank you.
Anwar Ibrahim
Sungai Buloh Prison