COMMENT | There has been a lot of frustration when it come to politics in Malaysia. With an incumbent party that doesn’t have the faith of the people and an opposition that is slowly breaking down and getting in shambles, there is even a movement to ask people to spoil their votes (#UndiRosak).

I would say that it all started in 2008. It was the 12th general election and I was excited. The spirit of trying to break the stronghold of BN (which had been the government ever since the country achieved independence) was strong.

I didn’t expect the government to change then; I just wanted to have a stronger opposition so that there would be a fair check and balance. However, the results shocked us. BN VIPs were losing right left and centre, starting with Umno’s Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar in Lembah Pantai.

BN was still the government but their majority was severely affected. As for the states, four states fell to the opposition, Kelantan, Penang, Kedah and Perak. But using dirty tactics, Perak eventually fell back to BN. Everyone was excited.

Then came 2013 and the 13th general election. Spirits were just as high, if not higher, than it was in 2008. Even the youth came out to vote and it showed. The opposition won the popular vote. Unfortunately, gerrymandering meant that BN still held the government.

It is now 2018 and time for another general election. If we look at the progression, it would be natural to think that this could be the year BN’s 61-year hold on the country can be released. But I don’t think I can say that I am that confident.

The frustration and fatigue are setting in hard. People feel that nothing can be done and it might even lead to them giving up. So many are already entertaining the idea that voting could just be an fruitless exercise and will stay away from the polling centres.

But there has been a group of people who, probably out of this same frustration, has decided that it will take matters into its own hands. These civil society leaders who have always been apolitical have now gone political...