Implications of Galas & Batu Sapi By-Elections - Another Sad Story For Malaysia

I have called the two by-elections a let-down and a political trap for Malaysia. Key themes continued to emerge and took centre stage at the by-elections e.g. developmental politics, race, religion and personal attack.

There are a few implications for the people:

1) The continuation of master-servant mentality. Voters especially in rural/semi rural constituencies continue to accept a false reality that their future and well-being are dependent on the political masters. There is little awareness of the role of politicians, the relationship between politicians and voters and the election process as a democratic instrument for them to measure the effectiveness of politicians. Elections and their votes are taken as something they must give politicians in exchange for services and assistance.

2) Voters continue to believe that politicians especially in the ruling regime own the nation's resources. As a result, these voters feel obligated to vote for politicians who can deliver them the economic goods e.g. grants and development.

3) Politicians continue to manipulate national resources for their own political expediency. Some politicians actually believe that their party owns the national resources and as political masters they are eligible to use these resources to extend and expand their political interests.

4) Those who are aware and wanted a political reform will continue to stare at the symptoms of systemic decay in our democratic system. There is no indication that the ruling regime is interested to reform the system and accept more responsibility. They would prefer a distorted system in order to preserve power. There is zero indication too that the alternative coalition is ready to take a risk in a new system. It would not mind to compete with the ruling coalition on developmental politics if it has enough resources to match e.g. Galas (PAS government giving out land titles and zakat to Orang Asli). Without a political renewal there is hardly any possibility for this country to find enough political will to correct our internal weaknesses. All parties know that our economic competitiveness is slipping, our education system is decaying, our brains are moving out and our competitors are zipping pass us. But none can come out with a solid solution to rectify the crisis.

For Pakatan:

1) The defeats in Galas and Batu Sapi are indicative of the coalition weaknesses. It cannot continue to ride on the opposition weaknesses to win elections. Politics cannot be always about style but zero substance. Apart from pompous and entertaining speeches, the coalition should start to think how it can convince Malaysians of a new dawn which is better than what the current coalition can offer. How can it win in rural areas?

2) The coalition must be less superficial about its promise of 'change'. Rural folks would not be able to digest an abstract promise of 'change'. So far, the only change which Pakatan has promised is rather speculative - something it can only do after it has won power. How can this promise attracts voters to trust them? How can an abstract change be more powerful than developmental politics? At least the latter can be quantified e.g. money, low cost houses, rice, sarongs, etc.

3) If Galas and Batu Sapi defeats cannot keep Pakatan's leaders arrogance and ego in check then the future is bleak for a two-party system in Malaysia. The ruin of Pakatan will be filled by other forces. The coalition has at most 2 general elections to make a difference. This is the golden era of opposition politics in Malaysia. The combination of Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Nik Aziz is an attractive force. However, these leaders are nearing their decline and are aging. Nik Aziz is probably serving his last term as a chief minister and an iconic leader of PAS. What will PAS become post Nik Aziz? Kit is a giant amongst parliamentarians. Kit is DAP and DAP is Kit. Can DAP command the same respect and support from the Chinese community and urban professionals after the era of Kit Siang? What is PKR without Anwar? These are key issues which must be thoroughly explored by the parties.

For BN:

1) The victories in Galas and Batu Sapi cannot be seen as a yardstick to measure its political comeback nationally. BN must not allow the victories to cloud the need to commit to real political, social and economic reforms. BN may become another Thairak Thai Party if it does not pursue these reforms - only supported by rural/semi rural folks.

2) On political reform, the Umno led BN cannot continue to perpetuate race politics and neglect the 40% population in the country. Umno is leading the coalition in a semi-feudal mode. Mahathir is right that a democratic leadership cannot function in the BN model. Moderate leaders cannot survive within the political structure of Umno. That is why Abdullah Badawi was rattled and knocked out when he lost his balance after his failed attempts at reforms. Mahathir is calling for dictatorship ala China. Sadly, Mahathir does not understand the political and economic systems of mainland China. In China, provinces are given wide autonomy to compete economically and for investments. Provinces have their freedom to pass legislations and enforce them. Most of them get to keep more than 20 percent of their revenues. There is a greater focus on less developed regions compared to Malaysia (where 60% of total budget is allocated to Greater KL). China has a law to safeguard the interests of minorities in education, civil service and cultural preservation. Malaysia focuses on the majority and continues to taunt and blame the minorities for the lack of success of the majority.

3) BN needs to take up a clearer direction for the country. During Mahathir, he was trying to Arabrized the Malay community. He told the nation to look East at the economic and industrial prowess of Japan. He was immersed with the superiority of Western culture and horse riding. Now, he asked the administration to adopt the Beijing Consensus. Malaysia needs its own direction by understanding its unique strengths and social and natural values. Malaysia's strength is in its social diversity. Yes, Malaysia is truly Asia. Unfortunately, apart from appearing as a jingle in tourism advertisement the government has failed to incorporate and promote our diversity in governance and national policy formulation. Non-Umno political parties in BN should shoot themselves in the head if they missed this opportunity to persuade or even force Umno to move BN to the centre and become more accommodative. Their failure to push BN to adopt real multiracialism is partly due to the nexus between politics and business. Most political parties wanted to keep their rice bowl and dare not offend Umno which they are dependent on for contracts, grants, positions in government and agencies etc. Without a political reform, the victories at Galas and Batu Sapi cannot help BN to win the urban votes. Only the mentally shallow would think that 1Malaysia is so magical. It is but just an empty slogan and directionless. Why can't Najib on CNN admit that this government just need to care for the poor and bottom 40% regardless of race in the new affirmative action? NEP benefits the capitalists and elites more than the poor.

4) Galas & Batu Sapi victories would not help to free us from the economic trap. Malaysia problem is a lack of competitiveness. We do not have the required brains, manpower and skills to attract significant and meaningful investment such as Microsoft, Apple, Oracle etc. Most of the investments are oil & gas related, property development, infrastructure development etc. Most critical components (design, R&D & engineering) are not provided by locals but foreign expertise and companies. There is little indication of technology transfer. Imagine Proton is still living on old designs from Mitshubishi. Umno fixation with race supremacy, Bumiputera rights over privileges, false conviction that Malays cannot compete without handicap and Malaysia is the centre of the universe is going to ensure that we stay in the same economic dump for a long time. Wonder why some of the mega projects implemented here fell short of global standards? Wonder why the LRT trains run like a KTM classic train? LRT cannot be compared to MRT or MTR? It is because Umno has never initiate something for the goodness of the people but merely to allow its cronies to make a bundle from these projects. Like any profit driven companies, who would not want to maximize profits at the expense of gullible and unenlightened consumers?

5) There is also a social trap which is holding up the rest of the nation. Mahathir had admitted that Chinese Malaysians were more superior. When a government holds back its best citizens, the country is moving at snail pace. It should allow its best people to compete freely and focus on helping the less privilege ones to catch up. Wonder why the government has never had a grand plan to help the SMEs the way they did for regional corridors? Most of these SMEs are not owned by Bumiputeras but yet they are the most important component of an economy. Most of them are entrepreneurial, energetic, nimble and can be energized to move the economy quickly. Instead of engineering an animosity between Malays and Chinese in the private sector, the government should help the two communities to work together and share their experience. Without any concrete and conscious step to eliminate this trap, Malaysia will continue to lose brains. Talent Corp will die a premature death together with our RM500 million allocated to it. Brains need a good intellectual and innovative environment to come back to and not free visa for foreign spouse or tax free cars.

Galas & Batu Sapi did not alter any part of our sad story. With the social, economic and political traps, the elections will only serve as venues for politicians to satisfy their ego and lust for power and fame. Whoever wins would not help to change the fate of this country.

courtesy of Straight Talk