There is weaknesses in this country's political game

By LIM SUE GOAN
Translated by DOMINIC LOH
Sin Chew Daily

The corruption charge against Lim Guan Eng is a judicial case, and a political incident as well, with positive and negative impacts on both Pakatan and BN.

First and foremost, the prosecution could reignite the passion of the opposition camp's fans. After GE13, the opposition camp began to disintegrate as public morale took a dive. The poor turnout in Teluk Intan, Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections as well as the Sarawak state election shows that many people have given up their rights to vote and are beginning to grow indifferent to politics while BN celebrates the return of Chinese votes.

After LGE was detained, we could see from public reactions as well as the enthusiasm to raise fund for the RM1 million bail that such a passion is beginning to show up once again. This also proves the claim that people are more prone to show their sympathy for the weak and persecuted.

Whether the court will have come up with a verdict before the next general elections or not, it is almost certain that it will become an important political issue, especially in the state of Penang. It is anticipated that DAP will once again defeat MCA-Gerakan to retain the state administration.

During the 2013 general elections, 1Malaysia banners were seen penetrating every nook and corner of Penang island, putting the DAP at a disadvantage. However, the election outcome showed that DAP won with huge margins. The current situation presents some traces of what took place merely three years ago.

While this sentiment can be sustained in Penang, it is yet to be known whether it can be extended to the rest of the country before the next general elections.

Moreover, this sentiment may only work in Chinese-majority constituencies and is hardly felt in the Malay kampungs.

On the positive side, the prosecution of LGE may also reignite the sense of crisis among Pakatan's leaders. Given the fact that Anwar Ibrahim is still in prison and Pakatan lost badly in Sarawak and the more recent twin by-elections, the parties have no choice but to stay united.

Pakatan must attempt to lure the dissident forces within Umno, especially the followers of Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir. Without the networks and influences of these former Umno leaders, Pakatan will be no match for Umno and PAS.

Najib's counter-assaults along with the prosecution of LGE are poised to aggravate the confrontation between the two opposing camps.

To MCA and Gerakan, they will need to put in a whole lot more effort to allay such negative sentiment and it is very unlikely they will be able to influence the die-hard fans of DAP.

Umno has banked on its recent victories in the twin by-elections to wage more aggressive attacks on the opposition because the party believes it has found the winning formula for election. Nevertheless, the LGE case will hardly dent the Penang state government as it is difficult to read the voters' minds.

Recent developments in the country have attested to the earlier claim that the next general elections are nigh and politicians will focus their attention more on strategies to bring down their rivals.

Anyway, Malaysians are beginning to grow disenchanted with politics. From the conviction of Anwar Ibrahim to the emergence of 1MDB. RM2.6 billion political donations to the anti-Najib movement, we find ourselves drifting further and further away from democratic politics.

Vicious political confrontation will only tear the Malaysian society further apart. Unfortunately we have been unable to see any political leader living up to the expectations of the rakyat. They claim they have done big things for the country but many of us simply don't see what they have contributed. Our management has trailed far behind the times and are almost dislodged from the outside world.

By right politics should bring positive changes to the nation but unfortunately few have felt actual progress made by this country. All that we see is poor governance and double standards in enforcement, sluggish economy, deteriorating public safety and inter-religious relations as well as plummeting national reputation.

There is a host of weaknesses in the country's political game. For instance, politicians resort to populist tricks to win public support or to advance their own political motives. Such "winner takes all" operational mode has given rise to pan- politicization and ethnicization at the expense of social justice, obscuring the real focus of our problems in so doing.

If our society remains cocooned in this retaliatory and assaultive mood, we will find ourselves forever dragged into the whirlpool of politics, unable to see the beautiful sky above us.

As a matter of fact, a political leader can come and go but a healthy and effective system forms the basis of sustained administration. Political struggles are not meant to protect the well-being of any individual but the rakyat and the nation as a whole.