All political parties have lost moral high ground, says NGO

 Projek Sama says they should avoid making promises against power-sharing with other parties only to end up backtracking on their words.

The shift away from ‘black-and-white’ politics may be difficult to accept at first but ultimately benefits voters, said Projek Sama.

PETALING JAYA:

 All major political parties in Malaysia have lost the moral high ground they claimed to have over their rivals, having been partners with one another at some point, says a civil society group.

Projek Sama pointed out that all the parties in major coalitions – Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan, and Perikatan Nasional – are either currently allies or have been allies in the past.

“This takes away any moral high ground by any party about other parties having unholy or unworthy partners,” it said in a statement.

Projek Sama said the parties should therefore avoid making vows not to cooperate with certain parties, as they may just end up backtracking on their words post-elections.

This is especially true for the 16th general election (GE16), which could take place later this year, as it is expected to see multi-cornered fights in many seats once again, it said.

“Election outcomes would decide which parties will emerge as federal and state government partners from multiple multilateral negotiations.

“The parties should therefore avoid making absolute pledges against power-sharing with other parties, as reneging on such words post-election inevitably invites the wrath of the electorate,” it said.

Projek Sama’s statement released today was to commemorate the May 9, 2018 general election which saw BN losing federal power for the first time in history.

PH went on to form the federal government with the backing of Warisan. The government later collapsed in February 2020 following the infamous Sheraton Move.

Bersatu went on to work with PAS, BN, Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and others to form the new administration.

However, after the 2022 general election ended in a hung Parliament, the Anwar Ibrahim administration was formed with PH and BN joining hands, seeing longtime rivals like Umno and DAP cooperating after decades of enmity.

Anwar’s government is also backed by GPS and GRS.

Projek Sama said this development benefits voters although the move away from “black-and-white” politics may be difficult to accept at first.

Firstly, it said, the fragmented landscape provides voters with more choices at the ballot box.

Secondly, it eradicates any sense of moral self-righteousness that political parties have used to demonise their rivals.

“This can have positive implications on our ethnic relations, as political enmity often carries ethnic undertones. Grandstanding by political parties and politicians is now increasingly greeted with scepticism and distrust,” it said. - FMT