As MUDA was launched, I could not help but think back to the dark days of Reformasi when Anwar was dragged to prison, given a Black Eye by none other than the Chief of Police Rahim Noor, like some kind of gangster movie.

To many Malaysians, MUDA seems to be the only pure political party other than the old tired parties of PAS, Umno, Bersatu, DAP, PKR and others.

However, I wonder if the young members of MUDA realize how the beginning of the fall of BN from the days of the Reformasi saga unfurled.

Those below 30 years old were probably in primary school or toddlers and cannot know the distress and fears that surrounded the ‘arrest’ of Anwar Ibrahim by masked men with sub machine gun treating a Malay, a Muslim and a citizen of Malaysia in a manner that defies the dignity of an individual.

That was the day Mahathir showed me and Malaysia what raw political power could do in commanding all institutions that was supposed to promise us justice against the rich and powerful, but all fell to the naked strength of one man bent on totally humiliating and degrading one other human being.

My baptism into national politics began the day I watched on CNN and Singapore news how Anwar Ibrahim was taken from his family and placed in a cell and emerged many days later with a bloodied eye being made a punching bag of the highest ranking policeman in Malaysia.

There were stories on the internet and in the ceramah how if one other police officer had not pulled the Chief of Police, Anwar would have suffered more than a broken back and a black eye.

That night we had already received many stories and my heart ached even though I have never met Anwar or his family. The thought that went through my mind was, how could something as inhumane as this happened to a Muslim country and a Malay society that is supposed to be the epitome of kesopanan and kesusilaan?

That day Mahathir showed me a different kind of Malay and that day grew a hatred towards Umno that still lives to this day.

Even though I voted for BN and Umno twice before the Reformasi saga, I switched my allegiance to PAS or Parti Islam SeMalaysia. Why? Because PAS with the likes of Fadzil Noor, Mohamad Sabu, Sallehuddin Al-Ayub and Hadi Awang rode the tide of Malay anger against Umno and the BN.

PAS now, however, is an entirely different political animal almost as degrading as Umno once was.

It was the Reformasi age with Anwar in prison that I was introduced to the open ceramah in the muddy fields or padang of Malaysia.

I had dragged my two daughters and son from ceramah to ceramah listening to the likes of Azmin Ali, Ezam Mohamad Nor, Saifuddin Nasution and the PAS leaderships to get a glimpse of what the future would hold for my children.

Were we to be in this Mafia state of Umno and Mahathir forever? That was the sole question.

Presently, we talked about losing billions in 1MDB but compared to the treatment of one man’s basic human dignity, there is no comparison.

Like May 13, I prayed that no one should suffer the fate of Anwar Ibrahim in this country called Malaysia.

The members of MUDA are too ‘muda’ to know and they should give respect to the first generation of Reformist and not ride the trends with arrogance and ignorance

MUDA is the future but it has to know the past in order to put themselves in perspective.

My eldest child, now 35, knows the harrowing days of Reformasi as she was 12 years old. She is the generation that needs to remind MUDA whence this all begin.

When PH won, it should have commemorated the Reformasi as a Memorial, but the PM who was Mahathir, obviously would not have agreed as it would feature Anwar as the hero and him as the devil incarnate.

We hear now the so-called rift, arguments or disrespect of the young members of PKR and MUDA, but I must remind both that they would not be standing there arguing if they knew and appreciate the sacrifices of all of us in the Reformasi age.

I had sacrificed an easy life and career with the government but my conscience would have never let me be at peace as a Muslim and a Malaysian.

I was brought up by the Islamic creed of justice for all and a steadfastness against evil authority in whatever form it comes.

In Johor, Malaysians need to relight the fires of Reformasi and vote towards a party that would never treat another human being in the manner that had befallen Anwar Ibrahim.

To me, it matters not that Anwar was the Deputy PM then but no one should have the cruelty that Mahathir and Umno had shown to usurp and degrade another individual’s basic dignity.

In Islam, it is believed that there is no place in the Hereafter for the likes of these evil-doers unless they all ask for forgiveness from Anwar who is still living.

When Anwar dies, many may never even smell the sweetness of the Muslim Jannah although they may cry with bloodied tears in repentance to Allah.

That is the undeniable and simple teaching of Islam. Power and arrogance are limited in this world but the Akhirat has its own measures and unending ‘rewards’.

Thus, to the young members of MUDA, I pray for a strong outcome in their debut at the Johor election but it must find its roots in the age of Reformasi before money, power and arrogance sweep its members off their innocence and let repeat a humiliating history as shown by the very eldest leadership of the past.

For the members of MUDA, find your roots and anchor them deep in the foundation of justice and dignity for all Malaysians. Good luck!

(Prof Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at a local university and his writing reflects his own personal opinion entirely.)