Paving the cracks in national family unit By Eric Loo

Malaysiakini : COMMENT | Race and religion took a back seat during this year’s Merdeka celebration.

The feel-good speeches, however, overlooked a crucial question: have we truly evolved into an inclusive Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family), an idea introduced by former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in 2021.

The concept faded when the MACC started an investigation into the Malaysian Family campaign funds for its alleged links to Ismail Sabri’s administration. The Malaysian Family concept was replaced by Malaysia Madani after Anwar Ibrahim took office in late 2022.

Different slogans, same spirit: to unite Malaysians in an extended family unit, which by definition comprises several generations living together with shared responsibilities. When one family member falls, another reaches out to pull them up. When one succeeds, the entire household rejoices.

But unlike a biological family, a national family does not grow organically. It requires deliberate scaffolding - a concept in education where teachers support students in their learning and grasping of new content.

As students understand more, and as they begin to take on more content on their own, teachers gradually step aside.

Exile : Malaysia is approaching an unavoidable generational change in political leadership. Anwar Ibrahim, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Abdul Hadi Awang belong to an era that is drawing to a close. 

The real question is not whether change will come, but whether the old guard will allow a new generation to emerge without trying to manage the transition from behind the scenes. Eric Loo is right to identify the cracks appearing in our national family. 

But cracks do not necessarily mean collapse. They can also create openings for renewal. The rakyat is certainly aware of the present uncertainty. What perhaps receives less attention is the opportunity contained within it. Nature abhors a vacuum. New leaders, new alliances and perhaps even new political ideas will emerge. 

They may not come from the personalities or parties we presently expect. The responsibility of today's senior leaders is therefore not to choose their successors or attempt to micromanage politics from retirement. 

It is to leave behind institutions strong enough for the next generation to compete fairly: an independent judiciary and enforcement agencies, stronger Parliament, decentralised government, cleaner political financing and genuinely democratic political parties. 

Malaysia does not need another generation living in the shadows of its political patriarchs. Anwar, Zahid and Hadi can make their final contribution by allowing the transition to happen. The cracks Eric Loo identifies are real. But through those cracks there may also be room for something new to grow.

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