FEB 22 — The political arena has fallen silent after Chinese New Year. Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) do not have any new policies or actions, except the highly anticipated debate between MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng. Could this be the calm before the storm?
Things are expected to resume noisily when the year’s first Parliament sitting starts on 12 March. BN is going to table a number of important bills, including the new act to replace the Internal Security Act (ISA) and amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1974. Meanwhile, PR is also expected to criticise the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal, rare-earth refinery plant, the Jalan Sultan issue, “1 care for 1Malaysia” plan, and the new Public Service Remuneration Scheme (SBPA).
The ruling and alternative coalitions have mutually attacked each other over the years. They locked horns with one another at various occasions and turned Parliament into a stage. However, the battles have exposed their weaknesses and shortcomings. They have spent too much time and effort attacking each other, while ignoring self-improvement and task performance. Therefore, they have failed to implement a healthy competition.
Sometimes, I wonder how could they expect to win votes from the 12.4 million voters in the country after they have done so many ugly things?
I have cast votes several times. I always make my decision before the election and have never been affected by a word or a commitment of a politician or a party.
I believe that many people assess and rate the performances of the ruling and alternative coalitions based on the overall situation over the past four years, including policies and records. And the assessment will not be affected by side issues and small matters.
For example, the most important thing is, whether economic policies are truly open and racial quota system and protectionism have been abolished. Has education policies been liberalised? Have funding and teacher shortage problems in Chinese primary schools been resolved? Distributing money and aid would not help to save the situation if the polices are empty.
The 30 per cent rebate issue in Kedah and the Selangor waste management issue are unlikely to affect individual’s vote.
Therefore, spending resources on big issues will win more applause than nitpicking over small matters. Instead of wasting time to pick out small problems, it is more practical to focus on major issues.
When the ruling coalition is committed to promoting various people-friendly measures, it has failed to respond to livelihood problems, such as the rare-earth refinery plant issue. How sad it is when it can reply only with a promise to “strengthen supervision”!
They should also mind their words and deeds. For example, violent attacks on political talks by their opponents are in fact a practice of promoting hatred. When hatred grows to a certain extent, it bursts and injures all.
Hatred also blinds rationality. All manner of dirty tactics and abusive language is used by the confronting parties to try to bring each other down. It is in fact not a good thing for democracy if there are too many frenetic young people. They might be turned into a political tool and lose their way.
Why should we go to such extremes when an election is in fact, just a game of one man one vote? Political debate is a demonstration of democratic spirit. Why should we go so far until it blurs the focus of national and racial issues?
We have been waiting for four years to see the steak be served, but where is the steak now? — mysinchew.com
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
