Confused about Malaysian politics? Here is a little dictionary to help you understand things.
AB & Christian demons
Amanah - A progressive Islamic party. But it has trouble convincing Muslim voters as their leaders don’t wear turbans and robes.
Bersatu - Formed as Umno 3.0 by Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Dumped ally Pakatan Harapan during the Sheraton Move palace coup before getting enmeshed in a love triangle with both PAS and Umno (see Muafakat Nasional below). Now Bersatu leaders are betraying their own party. Oh, what delicious karma!
BKT or bak kut teh - This heritage Malaysian Chinese dish is deemed “offensive” to Muslims even if made from halal chicken. But another BKT - boleh kau tim (bribes) - is “acceptable” even if haram.
BN or Barisan Nasional - Once an all-powerful ruling coalition of 14 parties. But after its defeat in 2018, rats began jumping off the sinking ship. Now left with only four members - Umno and three dwarfs called MCA, MIC, and PBRS. Won only 30 of 222 Parliament seats in the last elections but Big Brother Umno still demands things like royal pardons for world-famous crooks.
Christians - One of the 3C’s whipped out as demons to scare Malay voters. The other 2Cs are Communists and Chinese. They resemble the fake horrors of a “rumah hantu” (ghost house) at fun fairs but people still scream anyway.
DNAA & Dubai
DAP - Dilemma Action Party. If it speaks up more on “sensitive issues” (see below), politicians will claim that Malays are “under threat” from Chinese supposedly “controlling” the government. If DAP just works quietly, it’s accused of becoming MCA 2.0.
Deep State - The discreet alliance of some civil servants, business people, and other elites who oppose reforms because that will upset their gravy train of easy money.
DNAA - Do Nothing About Anything when it comes to certain corruption cases. Also called “close one eye”.
Dubai Move - This attempted repeat of the Sheraton Move fizzled out, as did the London Move. Pushed by power-obsessed politicians who love to keep destabilising the country because they cannot accept defeat. They didn’t know that movie sequels usually do poorly.
Green Wave - Those riding on religion (see below) add racial petrol for more vroom power in politics. But the volatile mix may eventually explode.
Gerakan - The little mouse trying to hitch a ride at the very tail end of the Green Wave. Still clinging on despite being openly insulted by PAS leaders in Penang.
Half Pardon - Many dare not criticise the person who gave this and therefore slam Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim instead.
Madani Madness
Kamikaze politics - Suicidal demands that DAP leave the unity government and thus allow the Green Wave to take over the country.
MACC - Mana Ada Corruption Case? (where got corruption case?)
MADANI - MAD About Negligible Improvements. The frustration many feel about the unity government’s slow reforms.
MCA - Make Chinese Angry, a party that upsets the voters they claim to represent. Officially, part of the unity government but behaves more like an opposition party.
Malay Unity - The never-ending fights for power and money among Malay political parties in a merry-go-round of shifting alliances (see Muafakat Nasional below).
Muafakat Nasional - This political marriage of Umno and PAS in 2019 ended in a nasty divorce after Umno accused its spouse of “main dua kolam” (fooling around) with another “boyfriend” called Bersatu.
National Bondage
Pakatan Harapan - The “pact of hope” that people are losing faith in, especially after DNAA and the Half Pardon. But supporters have nobody else to vote for.
PAS - “Parti Ajaran Sesat” (Deviant Teachings Party) was what Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin called PAS in 2013 when he was Umno deputy president.
Ironically, Muhyiddin himself now embraces PAS in National Bondage (see below).
Perikatan Nasional - Based on the word “ikat” or “tie”, National Alliance is better translated as National Bondage. This is because they keep us stuck or “tied up” in small racial issues like BKT while the rest of Asia zooms forward.
PKR - Perlahan Kerja Reformasi or “slow to work on reforms”, thus leading to MADani (see above).
Riders of Religion - Translation of the Malay phrase “penunggang agama”. Refers to those “riding on” or exploiting religion for political gain.
Stained Declarations
Sabah Wild East - A confusing alphabet soup of political parties such as GRS, SAPP, PBS, STAR, USNO, PHRS, and LDP. Leaders have hopped from one party to another in the past. Expect various backroom deals in the coming state elections.
Sarawak for Sarawakians - This battle cry has grown louder after Big Brother Umno was defeated in 2018. But the parties complicit in working with Umno for decades are still in power.
SD - Stained Declarations used to prove who has “The Numbers” (see below). Often suspected of being obtained through unholy promises of positions, power, and even money.
Sedition Act - A law introduced by the British in 1948 to quash criticism against the colonial rulers. However, long after Merdeka, the law is still around and has been made even harsher.
Sensitive issues - A catch-all phrase often used to suppress discussion of important issues. Related to sedition (see above).
The Numbers - The crazy game of horse trading and indecent proposals played after elections to see who has enough MPs to take power in Putrajaya. Now available as a satirical card game.
ULARmak - A combination of the words “ulama” (religious scholars and leaders) and “ular” (snake). Refers to so-called “holy men” who speak with forked tongues.
Umno - When the United Malays National Organisation had unquestioned power, Umno meant “U Must Not Object”. In the current uneasy alliance with Harapan, it's “U Must Not Observe” its faults. - Mkini
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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