COMMENT | Yesterday, I wrote the following message to friends in several chat groups in order to explain why I have not responded to their messages over the past few days.

In my message “I’m taking a hiatus from talking politics”, I wrote:

My dear friends, I was an active politician in Sarawak in years gone by. I have observed very closely the politics of the nation as well as in our dear homeland of Sarawak for as long as I can remember.

I have also spoken up on many issues in my writings for many years. As the leader of the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS), I have also organised many social and political activities over the past 10 years in Sarawak with the help of MoCS fellows and volunteers.

My NGO was active over two state elections in 2011 and 2016 and two general elections in 2013 and 2018. None of our fellows contested in the elections but we organised ceramahs and volunteered as polling and counting agents.

Along the way, we also managed to raise some funds for the candidates we supported. That was our little contribution to what we thought was for the struggle of forthright political leaders who could be of genuine service to Sarawak and its people.

When our friends emerged victorious and became part of the government, we did not approach them for favours nor hang around them. No, we are no political sycophants; we have no experience in that. We observed how they operate and judged their performance from a distance.

Personally, I am no longer active in politics and not a member of any party. I owe no allegiance to any political coalition. I have no political master and never will be subservient to politicians. All those in our MoCS group are also not politicians.

With what is going on today, I must honestly say I’m tired, fed-up, don’t care and don’t want to know what’s going on anymore.

Truth be told, I don’t care even if we change prime minister every week or if a donkey is chosen to helm the nation.

In fact, a donkey will be better. Why, the animal has possibly not learnt how to steal or be corrupt.

I am just disgusted that our politician friends, on both sides, have betrayed us. They have stooped to the lowest level possible, hijacking the government in broad daylight and creating mayhem and uncertainties in the country in the process.

Traitors among us

Our politicians are behaving like samsengs and hooligans. Some ministers were also guilty. By the way they talk and carry themselves, you could see quite clearly how people change after being elected.

They think that being a minister give them the right to act high and mighty and be patronising. I have zero respect for them.

Those we supported have turned arrogant and cocky upon being elected. After being endowed with power, they do not know how to handle it.

Some turned traitors while others were only good at picking fights with their opponents, neglecting their duties and responsibilities as public servants.

Over the past 20 months in power, their favourite past-time is politicking, scheming and plotting how to kill off their enemies, even within their own party.

Their ultimate goal – to ascend the political ladder, the higher the better. These are power crazy and self-centred politicians.

These are not the people I supported. And looking at the idiots and imbeciles among them, I don’t think I want to waste time voting again. None of them are worth my one sacred vote.

Right now, in my indifferent state, I tend to believe that elections are meaningless. Results can be overturned by evil forces at work; the sacred vote and the sanctity of elections and parliamentary democracy are but a farce.

I will be indifferent to what’s going on for now. Until such time when I’m convinced that it’s worth discussing politics again will I return to partake in discourses in our chat groups.

For now, I will continue to write for the news portals but will not be responding to queries from my many friends on my contact list.

I prefer that we talk good vibes – let me know of the good movies you have seen, talk good music and songs, talk sports, talk food and introduce new eateries worth trying out, talk spiritual enlightenment and crack plenty of jokes. We could certainly do with some laughter.

No politics for me for now. I’m taking a hiatus. Cukup lah!

Sincerely,

Francis Paul Siah

FRANCIS PAUL SIAH heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS) and can be reached at [email protected].

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.