I refer to an article by Mandeep Singh on March 8 titled ‘Hope fades, perhaps opposition need to be taught a lesson’.

I could sense his deep concern for, and attached to that, the disillusionment at the state of politics here in Malaysia. I would also agree that this sentiment is shared by many.

We had such high expectations. And how could we not? Things were beginning to take a turn in 2008 and 2013. Now it all looks set to go back to the way things were.

We could blame the ruling Barisan Nasional for being who they are. We could blame the squabbling opposition parties. We could also blame the unregistered voters, mostly youths.

But I believe it is now more important than ever to take a good hard look in the mirror. Malaysians need more than just hope. Malaysians need to examine themselves, and not choose to blame or punish, which is always the convenient and easy way out.

The moral temptation to punish

We should resist the moral temptation to punish. This psychology of punishment, mentioned in a Quartz article, has been found to cause voters who feel that they are not getting what they want to vote for an alternative, despite this being against their self-interest.

People who feel like that may be motivated to punish other people, at a personal cost to themselves. It is an addictive but corrosive impulse. It led to Brexit and Trump.

Following Mandeep’s advice to punish the opposition - meaning sending them back to pre-2008 days - will likely land Malaysians in a place we would not want to be - Barisan Nasional would gloat in glee; young and talented people would see little point in continuing to struggle for the cause in the face of such defeat. And we would all be worse off.

The years of 2008 and 2013 have managed to incorporate many young people in national politics. Higher youth participation is especially true in the opposition. This is a good thing. It reminds us that we are not alone in striving for change.

Depoliticisation

I know Mandeep as a longtime youth activist. Activism is very different from politics. The difference between activism and politics is one between single and multiple perspectives.

One important perspective to keep in mind is the systemic and strategic depoliticisation carried out for the past decades. Many Malaysians think the way they do, and vote the way they do, because they have been conditioned to.

Under BN rule, we have removed local government elections, turned Parliament into a rubber stamp, and told undergraduates to study first before talking about politics.

As a result, political empathy begins right from the start, from ignorance of national affairs and institutions, to the reluctance to register as voters, and the giving-up when the desired change did not come about.

To think that some of us even feel superior for choosing not to vote - this is only possible after decades of careful depoliticisation.

Depoliticisation is systemic, strategic, and very persistent, like cancer. It’s a disease, and we have to fight back.

How are we going to do that? How are we going to leverage that disease in our favour? These are the questions we should be asking.

Who do we vote for, then? This writer would urge Malaysians to vote for political parties which are most likely to bring change.

Save Malaysia

Imagine if Malaysia continued for another decade or two under the current regime. And imagine if future Malaysian generations were to read Mandeep’s advice, and saw that we followed him.

The unborn will remember our indifference. The unborn will remember our silence.

Things have changed. They will never be the same again. It is now no longer a question of hope, but a matter of conscience. We will need to move forward, away from the excitement of 2008 and 2013. The journey to save Malaysia will be long, unclear and difficult; which is why it is wise for Malaysians to assume a stoic, determined, and realistic stance, as we strive toward political change. What is certain, however, is change will only come with change.