LETTER | Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s attempt to console his party members for not having been appointed to any rewarding government position has inadvertently revealed Umno/BN’s decadent political philosophy – the purpose of going into politics is to seek personal wealth and status.

It is such degraded political tenet that has seen the moral degeneration of the former ruling coalition to the point that it brought the country to the brink of a failed state.

Political undertaking should be an endeavour to achieve what is best for society, in the process of which one is rewarded by abundant opportunity to fully develop his potentials.

Hence, politics is a noble profession and its practitioners should possess high morals and integrity, for he shall bear the responsibility of managing and leading his society and his country.

From such viewpoint, it is obvious that Mahathir’s party Bersatu does not seem to make the grade at the outset with its racially exclusivist membership policy, which smacks of racism. And racism is universally deplored.

It is hence advisable for Bersatu to consider abandoning its Malays-only membership policy and start to emphasize on service to the nation rather than self-gratification as its guiding philosophy. Such self-reform would enable it to contribute meaningfully to the current reform movement under Pakatan Harapan.

KIM QUEK is the author of the banned book The March to Putrajaya and the bestseller Where to, Malaysia?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.