Keluarga Malaysia to Keluarga Saya
MALAYSIAKU
PKR was officially launched in April 1999 by Anwar’s wife, Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail , along with activists, lawyers, students, and reformists. It became the political vehicle for those who wanted to challenge UMNO’s dominance and push for systemic change.
Echoes of Reformasi: Are We Repeating History?
I remember the first time I heard the word “Reformasi.” It was the late ‘90s, and everything felt like it was on fire — not literally, but politically. The country was reeling from the Asian financial crisis, and there was this electric tension in the air. You could feel it even if you were just walking through a pasar malam or sitting at a kopitiam.
Back then, the news was always about Anwar Ibrahim. Every day, there was something new — protests, arrests, courtroom drama, Mahathir’s government cracking down, students marching. It was like living inside a real-time political thriller. I remember watching TV with my parents, and the anchor would say his name with this mix of awe and fear.
Reformasi wasn’t just a movement — it was a mood, a cry for change that spread across campuses, factories, and neighborhoods. We used to gather around and talk about what was happening. There was no Twitter, no TikTok, no instant updates. But somehow, everyone knew what was happening.
People were hungry for something different. Corruption, cronyism, abuse of power — these weren’t just headlines; they were everyday conversations. And at the center of it all was this idea that politics didn’t have to be inherited, that leadership shouldn’t be passed down like some family heirloom.
Now, fast forward to today. I find myself watching history echo in strange ways. Another party, another leader, another moment where the question comes up: should legacy matter more than merit?
There's talk of a Deputy Leader position opening up, and suddenly, whispers of "family" are back in the mix. A candidate closely tied to the current President is being floated, and it feels... familiar.
It’s not that the person isn’t capable. They’ve been around long enough, worked hard, knows the ropes. But every time they speak, I wonder — is that their voice, or is it an extension of the President’s shadow?
And more importantly, does the party really need another chapter of the same story?
I keep thinking about how far we’ve come since those Reformasi days. How we once believed that power shouldn’t be concentrated, that politics had to open its doors to fresh faces, new ideas, and genuine representation.
Now, it feels like we’re standing at a crossroads again. Will we choose someone because they're truly ready — or because they're simply next in line?
Inside the party, things are tense. The current Deputy Leader has been sidelined, despite having a track record of pushing boundaries and staying true to core values.
Some say the President is building alliances behind closed doors, shaping the narrative so that dissenting voices get drowned out. That scares me. Because when power consolidates too quietly, innovation dies. Debate dies. Democracy dies.
And then there’s the public. They’re watching. They remember the promises we made as a party — fairness, transparency, breaking away from the old ways.
If we appoint someone who seems like a continuation of a dynasty rather than a departure, what message does that send? That we’ve forgotten where we came from? That Reformasi was just a phase?
I also worry about the workload. This candidate already has their hands full. Adding Deputy Leader responsibilities might stretch them thin, and the party can’t afford half-hearted leadership. We need people who can carry the torch, not collapse under the weight of it.
In the end, it’s not just about one person. It’s about what kind of party we want to be. Do we honor our past without repeating it? Or do we risk becoming the very thing we once stood against?
The decision looms, and I can feel that same tension from twenty-five years ago creeping back in.
I hope we make the right choice — not the easy one, not the comfortable one, but the one that keeps the spirit of Reformasi alive.