KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is undergoing a healing process to become a strong nation again.
Deputy Defence Minister Senator Liew Chin Tong said the process was difficult and would take time, but was necessary if the country hoped to shine again.
“It is never easy (the healing process). I think most people thought that after you wake up on May 10 (after 14th general election), everything would change and become perfect.
“(But) I think that was not quite an accurate expectation,” Liew told In Conversation with Dr Ross Tapsell during a reception and dinner event at Australian National University recently.
He shared an excerpt of his conversation with Tapsell on his Facebook page today.
Liew said the recovery process was difficult as the existing coalition was not a natural coalition.
Pakatan Harapan (comprising Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara) came into power after defeating Barisan Nasional (BN) in GE14 on May 9, which also saw BN’s first ever defeat in a general election since 1955.
“This is an unimaginable coalition. No one could have imagined that this (coalition) would happen; that rivals of 20 years would come together.
“(And) coming together in a multiethnic and multireligious society, and in the framework of democracy where you don't control the press anymore. Where it is freedom for all.
“It is also difficult in this toxic environment with an opposition that is not prepared to play the role of a loyal opposition, but which tries to break the coalition in order to come back mid-term instead of competing in election, competing for middle-ground and competing on policies.”
Nonetheless, Liew opined that many Malaysians realised that the healing process was the only chance to make Malaysia great again.
“I feel that the majority of Malaysians are on the same page. It is difficult, but they must be prepared to wait for a while and endure this together.”