Someone has to do it: Shafie on values in politics

[superadmin]

KUALA LUMPUR – A former vice-president of Umno before being sacked by the party, he emerged as president of Warisan to clinch the chief ministership of Sabah. Most recently, he emerged as a possible prime ministerial candidate following the resignation of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a candid and wide-ranging exclusive interview with The Vibes’ Eddin Khoo, just prior to delivering a speech in Parliament flaying the Pakatan Harapan’s signing of a memorandum of understanding with Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s administration, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal speaks of values in politics, East-West Malaysian relations and the challenges of a prime ministerial prospect from East Malaysia.

Eddin Khoo: Datuk Seri, the opposition signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ismail Sabri administration recently. Warisan appears not to have been a part of this. Can you explain what Warisan’s position actually is within the broader alignment of the opposition?

Shafie Apdal: I think Malaysians at large are not only confused by all that has been happening, but are truly fed up with politicians… People like us. Why is that so? Mainly because of how we function, practise, do things as politicians.

The country seems to be in an environment resembling mayhem, a state of confusion. There is an increasing tendency of political people to simply use the phrase “in the interest of the country and the people”. I ask whether this is all just sweet talk and lip service, and whether they really mean it.

This is why millions of Malaysians today are fed up: not only are they confused, they seem to be saying: “What are these guys doing?”


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