Malaysian Political Bickerings

Quarrels play on the headlines of politics in Malaysia over the past months. In Sarawak, we have a share of the storms created by party leaders from within, the President slandered. Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party's (SPDP) problems are far from over, it is still brewing hot. Over in Peninsular Malaysia, the MCA as the spokesman for the Chinese in BN are feverishly looking at the next echelon of leaders. They are bracing for fresh polls.

What is sad to hear and watch are the mud slinging battles that come on media. They can appear in unruly comments, proverbs and all that one can think of in the dictionary of politics. With plenty to read in the morning, it makes coffee breaks interesting.

Throwing mud at somebody’s face, whether he’s a minister or the ordinary ice-cream man is low and ungentlemanly. When it happens, hate is the word. Hate propels us to humiliate the person we dislike in order to break his ego and honour. Politicians do this very often, Sarawak is not an exception, we learn quickly.

If Hate destroys, Love builds. But both Love and Hate are 2 sides of the same coin. Both can be temporary, permanent or authentic. Hence, we can be enemies today and friends tomorrow and vice versa. But when hate is authentic, we cannot be friends. Likewise in religion, we can pray everyday and still be a hypocrite. The praying is permanent but not authentic.

Politically in Malaysia, I am of the opinion that UMNO and PAS are authentic foes and can never come together. I see this as the cue to future politics of our nation, the 2 fronts are already appearing with the PKR leading the opposition and UMNO anchoring the BN government of the day.

Politicians must now sort themselves out. If the Americans have the Democrats and Republicans well rooted in, we are just starting the political music on the same note in Malaysia.