The current political polemic hogging the limelight reveals a perturbed scenario of a government that lacks control and direction.
There is an overemphasis on political machinations to serve the vested interests of political groups vying to regain power.
Matters that affect the wellbeing of the people, such as the inexorable increase in the cost of living, the decreasing purchasing power, and the declining value of the ringgit, do not seem to deserve the attention of those in power and the politically connected, as they are well-insulated with their fat salaries and allowances. And in some cases, from their ill-gotten gains.
Instead, there is an unusual focus on Umno Supreme Council deliberations, especially on the so-called ‘Top Five’ – which includes Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the prime minister – with regard to the dissolution of Parliament and an early general election.
It gives the impression that the Umno Supreme Council is running the country and dictating terms to Ismail Sabri, who is only one of the three Umno vice-presidents.
In fact, Ismail Sabri is in a quandary as to how to conduct himself at the Umno Supreme Council and the Top Five meetings. He may be the prime minister, but he is only one of the three veeps, and it appears as though he is being treated like an errand boy.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi does not accord the respect and decorum to Ismail Sabri as the prime minister, and makes it clear to everyone, Ismail Sabri included, that he is just a vice-president who must submit to the power hierarchy within Umno.
He takes every opportunity to impress upon Ismail Sabri that Umno’s agenda and interests take precedence over the country’s pressing issues, evidenced by his call for an early general election, without regard for the possible floods that’s coming.
Ismail Sabri has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with his party and Cabinet. For one thing, he does not have the authority of an elected prime minister, and his position hinges on the support of a coalition of a motley mix of political parties with wildly divergent interests.
Thus far, he has failed to deliver the country from its economic morass and is content with just drifting along with the tide of political uncertainty without bringing the country to an even keel in a safe anchorage.
His main preoccupation is promoting the use of Bahasa Melayu at all local official functions and international forums, and the concept of ‘Keluarga Malaysia’, which seems at odds with the reality of the current political scenario.
Ismail Sabri’s political party, Umno-BN, has all the time been chanting the mantra of returning the mandate to the people, to enable them to pick a government of their choice.
To achieve this noble intention, the people must be allowed to vote without any encumbrances. The authorities, and all political parties, should facilitate this, to enable the people to freely exercise their responsibility.
The Election Commission must ensure a free and fair election and easy access for everyone to cast their votes.
However, Umno-BN is putting obstacles in place, instead of ensuring that everyone has a fair chance of casting his/her votes.
One such impediment is by insisting on holding the election during the monsoon/flood season that could endanger lives and cause untold damage to property. It would prevent people from exercising their right to vote.
And of course, political parties will employ every means at their disposal to cajole, coerce, and dupe the electorate to vote for them. Some may stoke fear and apprehension using race, religion, and royalty, especially among the Malay voters.
The gullible among the Malay voters will also succumb to overtures of money politics, enticing them to vote for a corrupt party instead of ensuring an accountable, clean, and honest government.
Political parties in East Malaysia play on provincial sentiments and promote an adversarial stance against Peninsular Malaysia. Voters in rural areas are easily swayed and may not see through the ruse of these political parties that prioritise their agenda over the people’s wellbeing.
The people’s welfare has never been the priority in any political party’s agenda. It is only lip service, and they use it to dupe the people in order to gain power. Unfortunately, there are many gullible voters who buy into their false pretenses and empty promises.
In the current political scenario, with greedy, selfish politicians who make their personal agenda central to their party’s political thrust, an unmandated prime minister who exists at the behest of predatory political parties, will only mean that the country, which is already in a socio-economic and political turmoil, will end up disintegrating.
The only way is to have an election that truly returns the mandate to the people, and allow them to freely vote in an accountable, honest, and stable government.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.