In the fray for glory, fame and materialistic gains

With 945 candidates in the fray for 222 seats, it is a mixed group of serious contenders, new kids on the block, turncoats, frogs who have changed their allegiance, some “planted”, some sponsored, and a few seeking their five minutes of fame.

There are some with qualifications from the best universities in the United Kingdom but there is also a handful with doctorates purchased from a degree mill and they think having a prefix to their names will impress the voters.

But it could be costly for many – RM10,000 will be gone if they fail to poll 10 percent of the total votes cast. Who cares if the money is not yours?

It’s worth the investment. There are many who have received benefits several times over what they spent. If you win, there’s a likelihood of a place in the cabinet and other positions, including ambassadorial appointments.

Even if you lose, there are at least 300 seats on the boards of GLCs and statutory bodies, giving you a regular income.

Even if you end up on the wrong side, there’re opportunities too. Remember Bersatu chief Muhyiddin Yassin’s infamous audio recording where he said: “If they know that the new government is going to be formed, Umno can come in. (We can say) ‘Why don't you come in now’? 

“Why don't you join us now rather than later?' If that is what we do, we could have another 10 to 20 members – with Najib (Abdul Razak) and his supporters. And we'll give them positions. If they can't be ministers, they can be chairpersons of GLCs (government-linked corporations).” 

So, all is not lost for many. Even if you lose and your party is enticed, there are still crumbs for the minnows.

In the quest to be “seen”, thousands of metres of cloth and millions of reams of paper have been turned into election material promoting the party and the candidates.

Hundreds of workers will be paid to do the menial jobs – putting them up and plastering every available space with party paraphernalia.

In two weeks’ time, except for a few which will be kept in mint condition as souvenirs, the others will be discarded as rubbish ending up in the many landfills around the country. 

Does the poster war denote anything? Will it entice or make voters change their minds after seeing a continuous row of coloured flags or buntings? Or are they a show of power, dominance and money?

Breach of election rules? 

Then, there are the freebies, including buns, bags of rice and even hand sanitisers, with the names and faces of candidates and their party logos emblazoned on them.

Wouldn’t that constitute a bribe and be a breach of election rules?  The chairperson of the special committee on corruption, Rais Yatim, has decreed that the practice of having symbols of political parties on goods or items given to the people during election campaigns is a form of corruption and a breach of the anti-corruption law.

Any form of assistance given to the people, he said, should be void of any political party symbol as it is a form of bribery to canvass for votes. 

For the sake of democracy, your self-worth is much more valuable than a packet of rice and a bottle of cooking oil.

Anyone who receives aid packages (which have political party symbols) should immediately make a police report or directly to the MACC.

The MACC itself is also in election mode. It has set up operations rooms across the country to facilitate complaints and channelling of information regarding acts of corruption and abuse of power throughout the campaign period.

What can the MACC do? They just receive the complaint and by the time they complete their investigations and send the investigation papers to and from the Attorney General’s Chambers, another general election will be due!

Already, there are images of such “gifts” circulating and what’s more blatant are video clips of money being handed out. Remember the: “I help you, you help me” slogan created by Najib and replicated by many others?

Would the promise of allocations “if we win” be a bribe in the true sense of the phrase? Section 16 (b) of the MACC Act states: “Any person who by himself, or by or in conjunction with any other person corruptly gives, promises or offers to any person whether for the benefit of that person or of another person, any gratification as an inducement to or a reward commits an offence.”

So, does this opening of service centres serve a purpose or is it a syiok sendiri exercise? Perhaps, the MACC can tell us how many were prosecuted in the past for giving bribes to voters.

It’s goodies galore for now and until polling day, candidates will be pictured with brooms and dustpans; topping top engine oil to motorcycles; clearing lalang in the neighbourhood and even hand-feeding the infirmed.

But what you won’t see are posters degrading one race and calling them pigs or a man dressed in a bathrobe with a toothbrush and toothpaste in hand. Neither would you see him smashing beer bottles outside a government building…

Not a foot could be put wrong. Do it even if you have to sell your soul, swallow your pride and forgo your beliefs and principles.

Once in five years, it’s a sacrifice worth making. Who knows? You could be an ambassador or even get a posting for your spouse or your son. - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.