Muhyiddin has set a high benchmark - Datuk Ali Biju. Saratok MP

I refer to the claim by PKR’s Syed Husin Ali in a news portal today, August 25, 2021 that TS Muhyiddin is ‘just about the worst PM we’ve ever had’. 

Firstly, it is hardly surprising that Syed Husin should launch this kind of abusive attack upon the former PM. He is a longtime PKR leader and a hardcore supporter of Anwar Ibrahim. His view is hopelessly tainted by an aggressive partisan-ship. 

Secondly, Muhyiddin is not the worst PM, but ranks among the best we have ever had. No other PM before him, has sacrificed his job by refusing to compromise upon an important  principle. He preferred to sacrifice his position as PM, rather than give in to kleptocrats or interfere with court matters. Far from being a failed PM, he has set the gold standard on Prime Ministerial conduct. It is in the narrow political interest of the opposition and it’s supporters to pile abuse upon Muhyiddin, but history will judge him quite differently. 

Thirdly, for Syed Husin to blame Muhyiddin for the not ‘having enough of a majority’ etc is pretty rich,  considering that PH joined hands with the kleptocrats to repeatedly threaten Muhyiddin’s majority in the middle of a national health crisis. 

Worse, despite not having the numbers themselves, PH brought down the government in their absolute craze to achieve federal power. To compare, in British parliamentary practice, the opposition never brings down even a minority government, if they themselves do not have the necessary numbers to form government. 

There is little doubt that this irresponsible attempt at a power-grab will go down as one of the most disgraceful episodes in the political history of our nation, in which a starring role was played by Syed Husin’s PKR. 

Fourthly, lest we forget, Muhyiddin was the only Prime Minister to offer seven olive branches in the form of seven major reforms which would have far-reaching effect on the political landscape of the nation.

 These reforms were proposed by envoys from the Opposition in a series of meetings but when made public by Muhyiddin, were flatly rejected by the Opposition leaders. The Opposition's dishonest about-turn only accentuates Muhyiddin's gentlemanly conduct in keeping his end of the bargain.

Finally, I fully agree that criticism of public figures is a norm in democracies. But I must strongly deprecate the current tendency of some news portals to generate comments from politicians or so-called academics or analysts, to thinly disguise what amounts to sheer partisan abuse upon public figures whom they dislike or are against.