By Rusdi Mustapha

Umno, reminded me the last days of the Ottoman Empire, was also doomed as a sick man and possibly even sicker.

Like the Ottomans, when on its last days during World War 1, the empire began to crumble and losing its vast territory and influence in Eastern Europe and the Middle East and was thus dubbed the sick man of Europe, Umno also lost its power. And, its empire reduced.

Just like the 600 years of the Ottoman Empire’s glorious iron grip rule over its territory and minion which came to an end at the beginning of the World War 1.

Likewise Umno after losing its grip on the country after 60 years, and after the GE15, lost its hold and power on the country, the once mighty Umno was no more.

Turkey was declared a republic, and a young army officer Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and his loyal forces dubbed the Young Turks, founded the new and independent Republic of Turkey. In efforts to make the people regain their national pride and dignity, and he became the country first president.

Turkey regained its place in the world political chess board today which was due to the power of the Young Turks led by Kemal Ataturk.

And he was determined to make that republic be well respected and Turkey to flourish under his tutelage.

The sad parallel, I can see, can be drawn between the rise and fall of the mighty Ottoman Empire and the once formidable Umno. So let me cut to the chase here!

Just like Turkey after the pathetic defeat of the Ottoman Empire, there stood a leader after the fall of the Umno Empire. The man and new leader to take the new country to a new level of exciting heights and his name is Anwar Ibrahim, and he is our very own “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk”!

Well the similarity in analogy ends there, while Kemal Ataturk, turned Turkey into a strong country, Anwar, I have hope, will be doing the same to Malaysia. In fact, after Anwar takes over as the new leader of the country, his relationship with the King and member of the country’s state rulers becoming stronger and a lot closer.

All of these, while being a passive political observer, I saw Malaysia is immediately put back on the world map. I also sense the Malaysian people are beginning to smile and showing positive energy in the country. I was beginning to smile when and after Anwar became the country’s new leader.

It was as though Malaysians were awakened after being in an induced coma for so long, and rejoicing, weeping with happiness as though after being freed from a bad spell or curse put on them by some evil spirit, or by some wicked witch or warlock!

Immediately after being sworn in the new Prime Minister Anwar received a lot of congratulatory wishes from leaders from all over the world. He was received by world leaders with open arms. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau called and congratulated Anwar and over the phone they spoke like old friends referring to each other on the first name basis. The Pakistan prime minister did the same, and so did Al Gore of the US.

US President Biden also sent a congratulatory note. President Joko Widodo of Indonesia was smitten by Anwar during the latter’s first official visit to the country, as can be seen at the joint Press conference in Jakarta.

Than the Sultan of Brunei even became Anwar’s private “chauffeur” during the latter’s official visit to the oil rich kingdom. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was very happy to receive Malaysia’s new prime minster.

Prime British PM Rishi Sunak sent his congratulatory note to Anwar, and so did many leaders from the European Union countries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, also sent his brotherly congratulatory message to his “brother.”

Meanwhile, I may not be coming back to Malaysia (I shall explain why in my next column), but strangely enough I feel so elated with a sigh of relief when Anwar became Malaysia prime minister. I am very sure Malaysians of all colours and creeds now can claim that they have a real leader that they all can be proud of.

In Canada few of my friends even inquire about “Enwar Ebrahem”.

But, I do hope Anwar will “walk his talk” as he has shown so far.