Some people might say that the biggest loser in the Negeri Sembilan election yesterday was Aminuddin Harun. He was the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan last month. Today, he is not even an ADUN — instead, he is, quite literally, unemployed.

Others might say it is Anthony Loke, who, despite being the DAP Negeri Sembilan chief, a high-profile minister and the leader of the DAP, was made to bite the dust by an unknown MCA candidate in Chennah.

But to me, the title of biggest loser after yesterday goes to our Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.

The last time I saw Anwar as a winner was during the ASEAN Summit last year. At that time, Anwar was brokering peace between warring nations, rubbing shoulders with Trump, and making the world look at our country with admiration. When we handed over the ASEAN chairmanship to the Philippines at the end of the summit, I truly thought the Philippines had very big shoes to fill.

Since then, however, it has all been downhill for Anwar.

His own political secretary was arrested on corruption charges.

Under his watch, institutions like the MACC and FAM have become embroiled in corruption scandals that were not only outrageous, but also attracted international attention.

From the pig farming controversy to temple demolition campaigns, race relations have never been worse.

Electorally, he has now suffered three major defeats for PH — Sabah, Johor and now Negeri Sembilan. Worse still, this might not even be the end of his losing streak. The Melaka and Sarawak elections are coming up, and judging by his track record and the mood on the ground, it looks like PH has more crushing defeats awaiting it.

I consider Anwar to be a bigger loser than Aminuddin or Anthony not only because the scale of his defeat is greater, but also because, unlike Anthony, and certainly unlike Aminuddin, Anwar does not even seem to realise that he has become a loser.

Instead, he continues to act like he is a winner.

Yesterday, after losing catastrophically in Negeri Sembilan, he congratulated the winners, thanked the previous Negeri Sembilan government for its service, and expressed his appreciation to the voters, as though it was someone else who had lost, and not him.

I don't know what he plans to do today or tomorrow, but I hope, whatever it is, it is not to go here and there making speeches, making one announcement after another, attending international conferences and meetings, or welcoming foreign dignitaries.

Those are things winners are supposed to do.

Losers, on the other hand, should prepare themselves to concede the prize in their hands to the winner of the contest.

Please don't say that you have to remain in government to manage the country and address economic issues, Anwar.

It is not politicians who manage the country, but the civil service. And let's not kid ourselves into thinking that it is because of politicians that the country's economy runs. The economy runs because of businesses, entrepreneurs, and the ingenuity and hard work of the people. Even if ministers and prime ministers contribute to the economy's well-being, it is only a minute contribution.

The real role of the leader of the government is to represent and inspire the people. Their job is to make us believe that the person at the top truly cares about us, and that he or she is also a winner who can lead us towards success and happiness while handling whatever challenges that arise along the way.

You have to be a winner to be a leader.

Losers can't even lead themselves to success or happiness, let alone anyone else.

You see, right now, you are a loser, Datuk Seri. You have been a loser since last October, and it doesn't look like you have been able to turn things around despite multiple opportunities.

As a matter of fact, from Sabah to Negeri Sembilan, you look set to become a permanent resident of Loserville.

You can't keep expecting people to see you as a leader and follow you when it is quite clear to many that all you seem to know is how to lose, fail and find unhappiness.

So rather than talking like a statesman or pretending to be a winner — rather than thanking people, extending your appreciation or congratulations on behalf of the people, giving speeches, making announcements, attending international meetings, or meeting other winners from around the world — what you should be doing is preparing to dissolve Parliament and return the prize to the people.

That is the right thing for a loser to do.

Dissolve the government and return the prize to us, so that we can bestow it upon a winner worth following.

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