Most Read
Most Commented
mk-logo
Columns

“Are there good governments and bad governments? No, there are only bad governments and worse governments.”

- Charles Bukowski, ‘The Most Beautiful Woman in Town & Other Stories’

[Full disclosure: I made a trip to Kuala Kangsar in a show of support for Amanah candidate Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli]

A Malaysiakini subscriber who regularly reads my articles - everyone I suppose has a silent majority or likes to think they have - referenced my article on the just concluded by-elections and asked if the schadenfreude tasted good. “The opposition got a black eye and rightly so,” he wrote.

This particular reader has been a strong opposition supporter but reading his regular emails for the past year, I have noticed a waning of enthusiasm. A self-described loyal Malaysian of Chinese decent, who in his spare time teaches underprivileged students English and Maths, his rhetoric has displayed a cynicism uncharacteristic of his usual hopeful banter. He has been agreeing with me more often - unlike before - and that is never a good sign.

In a previous article, I wrote: “In other words, it is not a question of Najib receiving a black eye, it is the possibility of the opposition receiving a black eye. And this is by far the more troubling proposition.” Expectations were high that the miraculous could happen. If ever there was an argument to be made of keeping religion out of politics, this is it.

In my experience, the average politician attempts to justify his or her loss by impugning the competitor’s win. Politics has always been a dirty business and nowhere is the filth more accepted than in Malaysian politics. Already the opposition and its supporters are looking outward instead of gazing inward.

While the Umno regime basks in its win, the opposition is scrambling to blame everyone but themselves for their electoral loss. From hyping the by-elections as a referendum on the Najib regime to dismissing its political and symbolic value, but more importantly, with the win by BN, the opposition is falling back on its pattern of victimhood and blame.

Although the Dr Mahathir Mohamad factor took a beating in the by-elections, I would not dismiss the shrewdest political operative in this country, just yet. I would not be surprised if Mahathir decides the best course of action would be to burn the Umno house of cards down. Pure speculation on my part, but not something that is inconceivable.

Josh Hong, one of the more intelligent partisans out there, but whom opposition supporters routinely vilify, made some very interesting points about the outcome of the by-elections. There is indeed going to be a realignment in the oppositional structures of power in this country, but I have my doubts about any kind of reconciliation process...

Unlocking Article
Unlocking Article
View Comments
ADS