PETALING JAYA: As Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali are embroiled in the controversy over who is the real traitor, political analyst Dr. James Chin is of the view that this is not an important question, as it is more important now to put the country back on the track.

Chin, who is also the director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, says the most pressing task now is to focus on the short-term economic challenges the country is facing, and as such, the most important mission of politicians is to put the country’s economy back on the track and implement effective institutional reforms.

“From what I understand, majority of Chinese Malaysians I know will not bother much about the content of the election manifesto,” he told Sin Chew Daily, adding that anyone who can give them better life and treat them more fairly will get their votes.

“We have too many problems in our system, such as racial issue and high-level corruption, not to mention deteriorating interracial relations.

“These are the institutional reforms politicians must focus on.

“It is unimportant now to argue who the traitor is!”

Chin foresees more racial conflicts in the run-up to the 15th general election, and as such institutional reforms are imperative.

“Chinese Malaysians are worried about the economy, education and job opportunities, the same problems they have been facing since the 1980s,” he concluded.