Despair over ‘gutter-level politics’

 

From Walter Sandosam

Most are familiar with the adage “the show isn’t over till the fat lady sings”. In a nutshell, it means that one has to wait till the end or the finale as no one knows as to how the finale plays out.

The judicial process is rather similar. There are three levels culminating in the Federal Court’s (if the case has commenced at the High Court level) final verdict as to the guilt or innocence or merits or otherwise of any matter that has to be resolved through due process.

The M Indira Gandhi case and many others, including the latest Federal Court decision on unilateral religious conversions, bear testimony to this.

The Constitution reigns supreme and state laws are subservient to ensure commonality of thought in the system.

It is unnerving when cases still pending in the Federal Court are deemed to have run the full course and accused parties are summarily judged by decisions taken at the level of the lower courts.

This more so by those who stand to benefit, politically or otherwise, by tainting the party currently awaiting full resolution through the judicial process. This is premature judgment.

A specific case has attracted much attention given the contrived and convoluted siphoning out of monies raised through bond issues through a web of deceit and treachery. This was masterminded by one key maestro deviant who is still at large and has not been brought to trial.

In relation to this case, the current election fever has given rise to unbridled agitation of the tongue, which has led to name-calling with mudslinging.

Such behaviour is completely unreflective of the typical Malaysian where we profess to practice a “jaga mulut” (guard what we say) stance, lest we hurt the feelings of others, be it an individual or a certain segment of society.

Voters face a dilemma. Do you vote for a party which is advised by a person who is vilified as shameless; a criminal whose words have been labelled idiotic? When such comments emanate from a senior politician, one can only reel in despair over the “gutter levels” to which politics has fallen. Any point should be made with decorum to correct the facts.

This is more appalling when such comments come from a personality on whom a significant portion of the voting public placed its hopes on to lead the government to rid the country of corruption and abuses of power.

Many hoped for a rosier future. The electorate had shown its “people power”.

Sadly, 22 months later, infighting took its toll. The toppling of the duly elected new, “clean” government was primarily led by the same personality, not having the wisdom and discernment to confirm the date that he would turn over the reins of power to his successor. He underestimated the psyche of his partners.

Elections now are hinged on personalities and not issues. Should one vote for a leader who has got a new lease of life while awaiting appeals on a case where his oversight may have been found wanting, leading to monies being misappropriated; or leaders of hapless coalitions who wouldn’t shy away from stabbing their opponents or even coalition partners in the back to gain an advantage.

This is the unsavoury part of the democratic process. In its practice, we have lost our soul and integrity.

Where we go from here is a question all Malaysians should face up to as we wrap ourselves around personality-based politics.

The wretched rhetoric will only ratchet up. - FMT

Walter Sandosam served as a senior research fellow at a leading local private university.

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