IT’S time to move on now that the elections in six states are over. Please remove the party flags and billboards as soon as possible because they’re truly an eyesore.
They are a reminder of how Malaysia has continued to waste taxpayers’ money on politics. The cost for the state polls totalled some RM420mil – just for the Election Commission to conduct the polls.
We have not even factored in the spending by political parties, which will surely run into millions, too. These political paraphernalia are another reminder of how some of our politicians have damaged race relations and nation-building in their selfish quest for power.
It has been an unproductive two weeks. Rather, it’s been longer than that because their narrative started even earlier.
The past two weeks have literally put our ministers and their staff on pause mode as they criss-crossed the six states to campaign.
If we were to look at the Prime Minister’s punishing programme, it’s amazing he even found time to travel to his Putrajaya office or even conduct meetings.
The bulk of his back-to-back schedule was simply being on the road to conduct ceramah.
He should, by right, be at his desk to pore over the piled-up files as well as focus his attention on running the country, especially to improve the economy.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been on the job for only nine months, and he has been put in a precarious position, which none of his predecessors had to go through during their time.
From ensuring his unity government remains intact to guaranteeing investments come to Malaysia, to fighting corruption and having to endure a 98-year-old politician who doesn’t know when to retire, it has certainly been tough.
But the worst of the lot are the selfish and irresponsible politicians who used race and religion to fish for votes.
They don’t care about the implications of their actions for Malaysia and her people. It takes much time and effort to build healthy race relations, but all this hard work has been undone by these irresponsible lawmakers.
After 66 years of independence, they have successfully made many non-Malays feel unwanted and blamed for almost every problem, many of which are fictional even.
And we are expected to believe their drivel that non-Muslims would not be marginalised if they form the next federal government? This, after hammering us daily?
Shockingly and sadly, there are even well-educated professionals who occupy positions in the public and private sectors, who buy the narrative that non-Malays are a threat to the position of Malays in this country.
Can non-Malays, who consider Malaysia their only home, be faulted if they ponder about their future in their beloved country?
Prior to campaigning, the police had warned politicians against touching on race, religion, and royalty issues, but were these directives even heeded?
The usual suspects made inflammatory statements, but the perception is they remain sacred cows.
Many of us also would like to remain hopeful and think that elections are silly seasons. Politicians are notorious for saying different things to suit their agenda.
When PAS was working with DAP, enough religious reasons were offered to justify their partnership, or rather, love relationship. After all, they had worked together in 1999.
It was the same with DAP, which used to wax lyrical about how fair the Islamist party was in running the Kelantan state government.
PAS has embraced and hugged Umno leaders at the PWTC, but when the love affair ended, it was back to square one – Umno has again been pushed into the infidel category.
Moving forward: With just two weeks left to National Day, it’s now time to put Malaysia first and hoist our Jalur Gemilang in the name of solidarity and unity! — KT GOH/The Star
These politicians get away with it because our electorate revere their leaders and the culture of holding figureheads accountable doesn’t exist.
Many of our political elites treat their parties as their family fiefdom and keep ensuring their wives, children and grandchildren remain in power, and most of us happily accept this feudalistic culture.
The same politicians will defend our education institutions but pack their kids off at an early age to study at international schools – where English is the medium of instruction – and even boarding schools in Britain or Australia.
Now, we read about the Dual Language Programme (DLP), which allows selected schools and classes to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects in English, coming to a standstill.
It has become a political see-saw with students and parents pleading for the programme to be retained.
By now, most of us are explicitly aware that the string of distinctions obtained by our SPM students really means nothing in the eyes of prestigious international education institutions.
Arguably, they don’t see the value of these distinctions because they seem too easy to obtain, with allegations that grades are compromised, and that English proficiency has been on the wane.
Well, our politicians who champion race and religion, and their children, are not going to suffer for their inadequacies, but it’s those in the B40 category who don’t have options.
There will always be the usual bogeymen for fallacies spouted by our politicians, and there will be enough voters who lap up the race and religion sales pitches.
With just two weeks left to National Day, one wonders if there’s enough time for the healing process.
Malaysians are a forgiving and forgetful lot. We move on fast, but we need leaders who can bring the country together.
Politicians who are unable and unwilling to put Malaysia together don’t deserve to be identified as leaders, or statesmen.
They can be accorded whatever title but, in the end, everything in life is temporary and we will be judged and held accountable.
Loyal Malaysians, please put Malaysia first, and not these self-serving politicians. And now it’s time to hoist our Jalur Gemilang in the name of solidarity and unity!
