Beware the new PoVid outbreak in Malaysia

 

There are gods, there are demigods and then there is us, their miserable subjects. Nope, I’m not describing paradise or Valhalla or the Marvel Universe. Just Malaysian politics.

In our politics now, everything that’s up is actually down, and what should be down is up, and Parliament has become a herpetarium for frogs, snakes and crocodiles.

Politicians used to come in two flavours: secular or holy. The seculars were from the upper echelons of our society, the royals, nobles, business tycoons or leaders of their trades or professions.

Many were well-educated. But you don’t have to go to elite universities to learn politics. The village is a great training ground for it, as well as the guilds, professional bodies or social clubs you belong to.

Over time, the Malay political seculars merged with the holy. There’s no gap between the two sides’ embrace any more. The only way to go to heaven is apparently through Parliament.

We can write off this current lot of politicians. They’re too far gone, having been stricken by the novel politivirus that causes PoVid, the Political Virus disease. Because of them our country is teetering on life support. #PrayForMalaysia everybody.

The full name of the virus is SSS-PoV (pronounced asses pov) which stands for Semua Saya Sapu – Politivirus. There’s no year or number attached to it because, well, it happens each and every year and over and over again.

Malaysia, with its clutch of comorbidities (economic crisis, institutionalised racism, corruption, bigotry, crumbling social and political guardrails) is wobbling under the onslaught of this virus. Politicians are jumping like frogs (they appear immune to this virus) looking for support to survive.

Political support nowadays however has become conditional and transactional. I scratch your back and you grease my palm. Politicians are now ATMs that take a huge fee when handing out money siphoned from the accounts of other people – meaning taxpayers.

We’re so used to their handouts that many of our fellow citizens now can’t survive without it. This is the main reason for these handouts anyway, which is to create a dependency. This, and the aforementioned “fees” they collect on such handouts.

Viruses don’t kill all their hosts, as that would bring their own destruction. However, it’s possible the next variants will mutate to become so virulent and unintelligent they’ll kill everything, including themselves too.

Having permanent PoVid creates a permanent fever and high temperatures in the hosts, which is a symptom of the hosts’ defence systems – antibodies, microphages, killer T cells – fighting the virus. In this war, however, the hosts themselves could become casualties.

There are also other germs on the opposite side of these viruses. They’re the equivalent of the antibodies, microphages and killer T cells in our political landscape. They, too, have been immersed in the permanent fevers for decades, and the heat has also affected their brain.

While the Malay politicians tend to sell themselves as defenders of the race, many non-Malay politicians position themselves as avenging demigods. Being demigods, their weapons of choice are thunder and lightning and fire and brimstone.

It’s a cultural thing. The Malays are insecure and open themselves to easy exploitation by “defenders”. The non-Malays, however, are more susceptible to “strongmen” demigod leaders.

These demigods’ rabid followers have serious issues of corruption and racism on their side, too, though it is often overshadowed by the larger institutionalised corruption and racism of our national politics.

One area where both sides seem to agree on is dynasties. While the Covid-19 virus has the alpha, beta, gamma and delta etc in its own dynasty, so does the politivirus. There are lots of politivirus dynasties existing or in the making. And they all get worse with each succeeding generation.

For such demigods, survival is dependent upon keeping the hosts’ temperature up and the fever high. Such a condition will produce more of their kinds, with the hope one day they will finally outnumber and overcome their enemies.

Unfortunately, the more demigods are produced, the more they will attack each other and the hosts too. No demigod is strong enough to control all the rest, so the civil war among them, and their dynasties, continues.

What’s the solution, then?

Throw the entire lot out – those in power and even those on the other side who’ve been in the arena for too long. Close your eyes, grit your teeth and support anybody under 40 to run the country. Put more women in charge. Institute term limits. Go after the corrupt as if it’s a blood sport.

Revamp the education system to focus on critical thinking, critical skills and civic responsibilities. Let parents educate their children about religion. The parents can go to religious classes if they feel they’re not educated enough. We have enough religious teachers for this purpose.

Remember that the notion of race is just a convenient tool for exploiting people’s insecurities. Ask any such racial “heroes” will they get rich from their struggles for us? Follow them only after they’ve fought so hard and sacrificed so much for you that they’ve become paupers.

Generally, treat politicians of whatever stripe with a bit more contempt and a lot less respect. Don’t call the YBs Yang Berhomat, but rather Yang Berjanji. Remind them of the promises they’ve made before they came into power.

And here’s something that nobody can disagree with. Have a common prayer to be said in mosques, churches and temples, customised to the particular faith of course, asking for God’s blessings for leaders who are true and just and who uphold their oath, while seeking damnation for those who aren’t and don’t.

Malaysia certainly can Boleh do this no? - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.