Thanks Adam For Creating Culture Of Holding Leaders Accountable

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Education is a basic human right, and should be provided free of charge for everyone, from primary school all the way to the tertiary level. Who is responsible for this? It should be the government.
Many years ago, when a young rebel activist by the name of Adam Adli Abd Halim called for the abolishment of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) and for education to be free during rallies, it struck a chord in a lot of youths, including me, and people loved it. Adam became a hero to all.
Fast forward to today, the guy who used to stand outside the gates yelling angrily and being escorted away by the authorities is now inside the building and is, well, the authority, having been made the new deputy higher education minister.
So wouldn’t it be natural that Malaysians are now asking, “Boss, what about that PTPTN thing?” And honestly, why shouldn’t they? If you built your brand on questioning authority, you can’t be surprised when people start questioning you, right?
In the past, he told Malaysians to always demand accountability. He told the youth to speak up and to challenge the system. They listened to his advice, and now they’re challenging him.
That’s not betrayal or disrespect. It is literally the culture he helped to create.
Ex-student activist Adam Adli Abd Halim at the Bersih 4 rally in 2015Some politicians have said that it is unfair to bring up Adam’s old statements when he was an activist, because he isn’t one now and has become the administration, as if the moment someone becomes a deputy minister, all their past speeches magically self-destruct like one of Tom Cruise’s “Mission Impossible” instructions.
Can’t erase the public past
Here’s some news, which Adam himself had taught us years ago - that’s not how public life works.
Public statements are public. If a filmmaker makes a bold documentary, people will ask about it years later. If a journalist writes a spicy column, readers will bring it up forever.
Adam’s PTPTN and free education stand wasn’t made privately among friends at the mamak at midnight. It was loud, clear, and part of his identity. It helped shape how Malaysians saw him.
So when Malaysians ask him about it now, that’s not unfair. That’s just plain and simple accountability.
Actually, if politicians don’t want their past statements brought up, maybe they should stop making so many dramatic ones in the first place.
Like what the Malays like to say, ‘If you let the boat sail too early, you can pull it back, but if you let your words out too early, too bad bro!”
Adam during a student protest at UM in 2014To be fair, Adam has answered this before, back in May. He explained the context of his activism, how his views evolved, and what he sees differently now that he’s inside the ministry dealing with the machinery and bureaucracy.
He didn’t run away from it, and neither did he pretend he never said what he said.
Whether people agreed with his explanation is another story, but the point is, he did respond, which makes it even funnier that some politicians are now more offended on his behalf than he is.
Relax. If Adam himself can handle the questions, I’m sure everyone else can too.
Questioning leaders isn’t rude or disrespectful. It’s actually what democracy is all about.
We Malaysians sometimes treat questioning leaders like it’s a crime. As if asking a minister to explain a policy is the same as making ‘Yo Mama!’ jokes.
If anyone should understand that, then it is Adam. In fact, he should welcome it.
The people’s right to question isn’t a nuisance. It’s a safeguard to keep leaders honest and their power in check.
To think about it, this whole issue isn’t really about PTPTN. It’s about the principle that leaders, especially those who built their careers on activism, must remain accountable.
Views change with experience
With all that being said, I have to stress that changing your mind is fine. People learn new things, grow and evolve.
There are many things that I believed strongly when I was 27 years old, but now sit with me differently after 20 years have passed. That is perfectly natural. But there must be an explanation for it.
If Adam no longer thinks PTPTN should be abolished or that education shouldn’t be free, he can say so. If he thinks reform is more realistic, he can explain that.
Maybe he has new insights from being inside the ministry. Then he can share them with those who are questioning him.
Adam meeting with then education minister Maszlee Malik to discuss PTPTN circa 2018It’s a full‑circle moment here. The activist becomes the policymaker. The protester becomes the administrator. The critic becomes the one being critiqued. Adam can grab this as an opportunity. If he answers the people’s questions openly, he can further his long-time fight for political accountability even better.
Malaysians are just asking for clarity (but I’m sure some are just trying to be annoying), which is the same thing Adam once demanded from the authorities.
So, if he has a valid explanation, I’m sure people will listen. If they agree, then great. If they don’t, then they choose not to support him anymore, and that’s not a crime either.
If anyone can handle a few tough questions, I’m sure the guy who once yelled those questions louder than anyone else can.- Mkini
ZAN AZLEE is a writer, documentary filmmaker, journalist and academic. Visit fatbidin.com to view his work.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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