Among Malaysia’s political leaders and others engaged in politics in the region, few have attempted to put into book form a collection of their press releases, political speeches and other records of their political opinions and views. Why they have not done so is not surprising.

A full reproduction provides the opportunity for the public to assess how consistent their political leaders really are in their statements on the controversial and hot issues of the day. And this is embarrassing and damaging to those that engage in double talk and spin. 

Thus we see deliberate or ambiguous language meant to obscure the truth or appeal to supporting audiences; the resort to euphemisms; pivoting away from direct answers or questions; and now, very frequently, the reliance on racial and religious verbiage and stereotypes to score political points or make uncomfortable facts appear palatable. This technique of  “doublespeak” allows opportunistic politicians to control the narrative, avoid taking firm or risky stances on moderate positions, and maintain popularity among the voting constituencies.

Hence what appears in Malaysia’s news are bits and pieces reporting on various politicians making the headlines of the day with sound bites that do not provide a true measure of the quality and consistency of their leadership. 

Three Books By Ronnie Liu

In Malaysia, three books by Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew, former Selangor state executive council member and state assemblyman for Sungei Pelak, provide an exception to the rule.

The first published in April 2021, A New Dawn Shattered – Arise A New Phoenix, was written after the Sheraton Move that gave rise to a backdoor government. The “Sheraton Move” was a pivotal February 2020 political coup in Malaysia where a faction of politicians met at the Sheraton Petaling Jaya, causing the collapse of the democratically elected Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. This manoeuvre, involving party defections, installed a new Perikatan Nasional coalition, triggering severe political instability. 

What is especially noteworthy in the first book is Liu’s assessment of Dr. Mahathir Mohamad as a “true Machiavelli politician” and his lesson number one warning in his foreword to “never trust a cunning old fox again”. 

The book provides personal insights into the then Prime Minister’s authoritarian leadership, the fostering of cronyism, engineering of ethnic divisions, undermining of the judiciary, and use of polarising “pro-Malay” policies to shatter Malaysia’s new dawn.

In his second book, People Before Self, with the sub title, Stop the Rot, Back to Our Roots, the focus was on what he saw as the crisis and challenges that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) as a member of the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) government faced. With 43 Members of Parliament, over 100 State Government representatives, and control of one State government, he warned that this was not only “the best of times” for the party of which he had been a lifelong member but also possibly “the worst of times”. 

His appraisal of the failings of the party and the corrective actions needed is still relevant today as there is a real possibility that the DAP and PH government will lose power in the coming election 

In the recently released third book, My Second Strike (February 2026) Liu, three years after leaving politics and the DAP, shares his concerns on the most recent political developments affecting the country and especially the Chinese community. As he noted, after 40 years of weathering the storms of the political arena, he could have “retired to a life of leisure – sipping tea and watching plays away from the political fray”. 

However, observing the rampant crisis that he sees in the nation’s politics and governance, he has opted instead to take another step forward.

“Not to disrupt the status quo, but to carve out an additional path for this nation – one that is rational, pragmatic and positive“.

Essentials of Political Leadership 

There are several key components of political leadership that are necessary for a better Malaysia. 

Integrity and Accountability: Demonstrating honesty, holding consistent values, and taking responsibility for decisions rather than shifting blame.

Visionary Thinking: The ability to articulate a clear, forward-thinking plan for the constituency, community and country.

Empathy and Communication: Actively listening to the electorate to understand their needs and engaging in constructive discourse to foster trust and solidarity.

Decisiveness and Courage: Making difficult, often unpopular decisions, after careful analysis, rather than telling the public only what it wants to hear.

Authenticity: Appearing in touch with everyday life of the grassroots and behaving in a way that is authentic.

Resilience and Adaptability: Possessing the stamina to handle high-stress situations and learning from setbacks and criticism.

Collaboration and Networking: Building bridges to find common ground, managing conflict, and working with others regardless of political leaning or racial affiliation to achieve results. 

Politicians need to be reminded of these components before they stand up in their press conference and other public events to comment on the issues making the news.

The record shows that Liu has been a target of the Government with numerous police reports against him since he started his political career. Notable in the past is that the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO) and Barisan National parties have tried to bring him down in the eyes of the voter base. His critics and detractors have also come from within the DAP. The three books provide a reminder that speaking out will not come without pain.

Whatever the outcome of Liu’s latest foray in politics turns out to be, the books provide important insights into the twists and turns of Malaysia’s politics not readily discernible except to those immersed in it.

© Eurasia Review