What can we lose that we haven’t lost already?

 

For the 2022 general elections, as realistic voters, we just have two coalitions to choose from.

One coalition is long established with partnerships that are as old as our nation. They were given 61 years of unbridled freedom to govern Malaysia as they liked, and a further two-plus years in partnership with other parties.

The second coalition is a disparate group of political parties that formed a block. They have spent most of their existence fighting the first coalition, except for 22 months, after the last general elections, when the voters shockingly gave them a mandate to run the country. But they imploded in that time, and the government was usurped from them.

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Barisan Nasional (BN) was the choice for a vast majority of Malaysians for the longest time.

Through its involvement in the inception of our country and because many of our nation’s founders belonged to parties from this coalition, formerly known as the Alliance, BN was seen as the prudent choice for most Malaysians.

Leaders of the Alliance, like Tunku Abdul Rahman, HS Lee, VT Sambanthan etc. by all accounts, were gentlemen. The citizenry felt they could be trusted to do the right thing. They were seen to act with integrity. And, the populace allowed them to be custodians of the nation.

Many of the policies we live through today were created at a time when mutual respect, collaboration, a sense of togetherness, and a spirit of camaraderie prevailed in our country, over the present narrow-mindedness and parochial attitudes.

But over Malaysia’s 65-year journey of growth and development, the ensuing BN leaders brought to table their own brand of politics, which was different from our founders. Along the way, BN leaders bred suspicion and contempt amongst the races.

The civil service, which naturally should mirror the racial composition of the nation, became skewed towards one race. Now, little Napoleons rule the roost, and they predominantly come from one community, therefore bring one set of beliefs, regardless of the rest of Malaysia.

The practice of money politics, which many politicians eschew in campaign speeches, but tacitly practise themselves, has led to countless documented instances of corruption and malfeasance. To list out the incidences of corruption at the highest echelons of government here, would be a futile exercise. Malaysians know it all, and we seem to have become numb to this phenomenon.

Many political observers say that corruption is a “non-issue” in our next general election. It is astounding that we have come to just accept corruption as a way of political life in Malaysia.

Our education system has been hijacked by politicians to the point of complete disarray. Through political manipulation, the education system has divided the population by race and religion.

Experts have commented that Malaysia’s education curricula, at all levels, has been infused with substantial religious and ethnic dogma. If this kind of indoctrination happens, how can our children be expected to live together harmoniously in a multi-ethnic society?

And, don’t forget, all this happened during the years of BN presiding over Malaysia.

Therefore, what’s our choice as the electorate? Should we select the coalition that put us in this precarious position? Or, do we look for alternatives?

Well, the Malaysian electorate did look for an alternative in 2018. BN only managed to get 33.77% of the popular vote. But within 22 months, BN was back in government, through massive political chicanery.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) is the second coalition on the other side of this battle for Malaysia. Many of the parliamentarians from PH have spent pretty much all their time on the opposition benches, save for the 22 months that they were in power.

The narrative that detractors spin is that PH was given the time to make the changes they promised but failed to do so. This is very odd, considering they had 22 months in comparison to the 61 years BN was given.

So, will you want to give them an opportunity again?

To be frank, what alternative do we have? Many of us don’t trust politicians on either side of the divide. In fact, it was politicians from within PH that brought down the last legitimately elected government.

PH has also made politically expedient decisions. Opting to partner with their former arch-enemy at the last election was a rather strange decision. After winning, they then capitulated to their former nemesis at every turn. And, right now, choosing to not dissolve the state assemblies, in the states that they govern, is another bizarre move.

Of course, a public announcement was made that the PH governed states would not dissolve their state assemblies if the prime minister opted to dissolve parliament. But wasn’t this announcement made to pressure the prime minister to re-think his intent?

And, now that the top guy has “called their bluff”, being unsympathetic and asking people to come out to vote again in a few months, makes no sense at all. Because in the three PH governed states the electorate has to come out to vote for their parliamentary seats anyway.

I will be at my polling station on election day to cast my parliamentary vote. I might have to swim or take a boat to get there, but I will definitely perform my right as a voter. But because of PH’s petulance, my effort to get to the voter centre will only be half successful, if I live in Penang, Negeri Sembilan or Selangor.

And, in a few more months, I will have to come out again to vote for my state assembly.

In the Malay language, there’s this phrase “…tak masuk akal”, and that is how it feels now. Because if you are already fighting your way through the floods to vote, which we all must do, wouldn’t you want to vote for both state and national elections at the same time?

Maybe PH leaders think that with the way the electorate was inconvenienced during the monsoon and flood season, the voters in these three states will punish the sitting government.

But maybe the voters might punish PH instead, for being so obstinate. Only time will tell.

So, we are at an impasse. Do we elect the coalition that brought so much damage to the nation, or should we elect the coalition that repeatedly makes strange decisions.

Perhaps we should all just vote for independent candidates, and not these agenda laden political coalitions. What have we got to lose that we haven’t lost already? - FMT

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