Struggle must go on with or without Anwar

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s remarks that he is likely to retire from politics if Pakatan Rakyat does not take over in the next general election may catch many by surprise. Others, especially his opponents, may even write it off as a political gimmick to gain votes in the crucial 13GE, which everyone knows is the best chance ever to topple the BN government. Whatever way one may interpret his words, we must appreciate that at 65 and exhausted with all the ‘persecutions’ he and his family had gone through, time is not on his side as he would have hoped.

We respect his decision to retire as he has had enough and needs a break after all the troubles he had been through. He has done more than any other leader before him - bringing together parties that are poles apart ideologically at a time when people are so racially and religiously polarized. He has done what seem was impossible just a decade ago – creating the possibility of change of govt. and a two-party system. He had made the people believe that BN is not indispensible for the progress of the nation as there are many others equally capable or better.

Anwar should go down in the history as one of the greatest leaders who dared to be different, willing the take the arduous path in standing up against what he thought was wrong for defending what he believed was right for the country. In the process he fell from grace as the DPM,to be assaulted to almost death in police custody and then sent disgraced to the prisons of Sg.Buluh where he was incarcerated for 4 years.

If we don't change the government, Anwar and others in the opposition and those who were critical of the BN government’s abuses and have fought so hard for justice and equality may go down in history as villains and traitors trying to overthrow a people-oriented government as history will be re-written by BN.

After 54 years of BN rule,we need a change, we need a strong opposition and we need a two-party system for the long-term survival and progress of the nation. Anwar, with his Pakatan  stalwarts, Tuan Guru Dato’ Seri Haji Abdul Hadi bin Awang   of PAS and Lim Kit Siang of DAP, have ignited the flame of that yearning in the hearts of all Malaysians, regardless of race or creed. The onus is on us now to continue with their struggle with or without them to save the nation from corruption, abuse of power and racism.

Anwar and his colleagues may have done the hard way which we may not have to follow. We need not go to jail or risk our lives to bring change. All we need to do is to exercise the power invested in us  citizens  to cast our vote wisely with one and only motive to create a better Malaysia for all. Yes,we must go in full force to vote for change a change that will see the dawn of a better Malaysia for all.