TAWFIK Ismail made headlines this week when he announced his intention to contest in any constituency that Umno President Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi runs in during the 15th general election. Is this a sign of overconfidence or (political) suicidal tendency?

Speaking to The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, the Gerak Independent (GI) candidate said he decided to go into the Malay heartland to contest what he feels is “the king of all problems that face us today”.

Tawfik speaks about the philosophy behind GI and the need for an independent voice in Malaysian politics to further a more open democracy which is not apparent when you have party politics.

“GI is a group of individuals who feel that party politics is archaic and also negative when it comes to fostering democracy in this country,” he says.

Party politics tends to restrict the conscience of members from speaking out about matters which are of grave concern to a country like Malaysia, with its multiracial and multi-ethnic mix, he adds.

“The trouble with parties is that individuals are constrained by race, religion and other factors which don’t allow for a conscience to be voiced.”

A ‘constitutional type of Malay’

So what is Gerak’s strategy? If its motivation is to ensure Umno is not returned to power, why is Gerak going after Pakatan Harapan strongholds? Siti Kasim had announced a plan to contest Batu, held by PKR.

Why not go after his old arch nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with all his past baggage with the former prime minister?

What is the game plan if, beyond all odds, all six Gerak candidates get voted in?

What kind of Malay leader is he offering himself to be? If one toes the party line, we would get an Umno type of Malay, a PAS type of Malay, a Mahathir type of Malay or an Anwar Ibrahim type of Malay.

Are these the only choices that we have?

Tawfik believes that Gerak Independent offers a different type of Malay in Siti Kasim and himself – and a different type of leadership that the country can consider.

So, what type of Malay is he? He says ‘a constitutional type of Malay’ who feels that creeping Islamisation is a destructive element in Malaysian politics.

There are also pressing bread and butter issues. How will Tawfik convince the people of Bagan Datuk, in the likelihood Zahid defends the seat, that he has the resolve to fix the problems they are facing?

Is this a case of harping on idealis instead of the price of fish? Are the people of Bagan Datuk the right audience for the ideals of democracy and institutional issues - or should he bring along 5 kg of rice bags on his campaign trail to distribute around?

And what is the value proposition for the young to buy into Gerak as a viable alternative?

He responds impassively: “What has Umno in sixty years done for the Malays, to make the Malays feel they are secure without having to resort to race and religion? Zero.”

Ultimately, politics has made some strange bedfellows in this country.

Tawfik waxes lyrical on Mahathir, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, marriages of convenience, and being certain of your own principles in politics and the personalities that you encounter.

Who will Gerak Independent work with? Listen in to find out.-- The Vibes, October 14, 2022.

Edited and Produced by Ethan Phoon

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