بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Removing PMX Without General Election Is Not the Real Solution; Only Islam Provides the Answer to the Nation’s Problems
News:
On 26 July 2025, a major rally took place in Malaysia demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX). The gathering drew participation from opposition supporters, non-governmental organizations, and ordinary citizens frustrated with what they perceived as failures in leadership. Many expressed the view that PMX was responsible for worsening hardships faced by the people. While some argued that a Prime Minister can only be changed through elections, former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad insisted that a sitting leader can be removed without waiting for a general election. His remarks sparked widespread debate and heightened political divisions between government supporters and the opposition.
Comment:
The protest highlighted deep-seated discontent among Malaysians, but replacing PMX without addressing the root cause of national problems will not resolve the crisis. A leader functions within a governing framework, and if the system itself is defective, no individual — regardless of honesty or good intentions — can deliver genuine reform. Malaysia’s history of fifteen general elections demonstrates that leadership changes have consistently failed to solve persistent issues in economy, politics, education, and social life. Each new government comes with promises of improvement, yet the reality for the people remains largely unchanged as the system in place continues to generate the same outcomes.
Some look to demonstrations and the so-called “People’s Power” as alternatives for change. However, the experiences of other Muslim-majority nations reveal the weaknesses of this path. The Arab Spring and events in Bangladesh brought down regimes, but they did not establish justice or stability because they were not built on Islam. The fall of one government merely gave way to another, while corruption, oppression, and systemic failures endured. Furthermore, demonstrations often unite diverse groups with conflicting goals, making it impossible to forge a clear and united direction after success. In many cases, foreign powers exploit the resulting instability to push their own agendas, leaving the people with no true progress.
For real transformation, the focus must shift from individuals to the system itself. The prophetic model of change provides the only true guidance. When Prophet Muhammad (saw) began his mission in Makkah, he did not call for the violent overthrow of the Quraysh system. Instead, he focused on building correct belief and nurturing individuals with strong conviction. Only after the people of Madinah embraced him as their leader did Islamic governance (Khilafah - Caliphate) emerge in its complete form. This state, guided by revelation, replaced the injustices of Jahiliyyah with justice, fairness, and prosperity. It endured for nearly 1300 years, benefiting Muslims and non-Muslims alike who lived under its protection.
The lesson for Malaysia is clear: changing leaders or parties will not resolve the crises afflicting the nation, because the underlying framework of governance remains the same. Demonstrations or elections, while providing temporary outlets for public anger, cannot remove systemic flaws. Only by restoring the Islamic system—based on the method of Rasulullah (saw)—can real, lasting solutions be achieved. This path requires patience, conviction, and commitment in political da’wah with a strong reliance on Allah (swt), but it is the only path that guarantees justice, stability, and true prosperity for the people.
Written for the Central Medoia Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Dr. Mohammad – Malaysia