COMMENT | The main selling point of the parties that have seized power is their claim to “protect” the Malays and Islam - ironically by bringing back the very party under which the country was allegedly plundered almost to bankruptcy.

The religious attacks got to a point where Lim Guan Eng was called an "enemy of Islam" in February, for trying to save and restructure Tabung Haji's hotel assets. Yet the politician charged with actually abusing Tabung Haji's assets is viewed as part of Islam's "defenders" i.e. Umno.

Another irony is that politicians like Saifuddin Abdullah, who was attacked for "endangering" Muslims with Icerd, are now suddenly welcomed into the gang.

Granted, the appointment of Federal Terri­tories mufti Zulkifli Mohamad as religious affairs minister, rather than a PAS leader, may be a sign of moderation. After all, Zulkifli made the news in 2019 by presenting a cake to his neighbours for Chinese New Year. But is his appointment just window dressing?

If the rot grows deeper inside our system, there may be a greater need to appear “pure” and “pious” externally. In other words, will Islamisation be used as a veneer to cover up deeper decay, decadence and corruption as seen in some Middle Eastern countries?

I will be glad to be proven wrong. But the culture of money politics, patronage and even corruption may be too deeply embedded into the DNA of Umno (especially), Bersatu (mostly ex-Umno) and the former BN folks at GPS...