COMMENT Sometimes satire is the only way to get across a message to politicians who no longer read the serious stuff, but Kee Thuan Chye, author of two of his latest books, says they are not ‘satire, but reality comedy.’

Kee explained in an email, “I just thought since there has been so much stupidity coming out of Putrajaya over the last few decades I would document some of it to share with fellow Malaysians and provide them some comic relief as well as show up the kind of leaders we have.”

The veteran journalist’s wit comes across clearly through his writing and it will leave the reader in stitches. In fact, after these two books, I am going to pick up another latest book by our homegrown cartoonist Zunar. Kee has opened up an entire whole perspective about how we can and should view politics.

“More importantly, I wanted to show that as some of the stupidity is calculated stupidity - in the sense that the leaders expressing it know it to be stupid but say so anyway because they are aiming it at a target audience - the agenda behind it is all the more duplicitous, all the more sinister,” he said.

I guess there are too many stupid things being uttered by our politicians that veterans like Kee chose to pepper it with some humour just to lighten up the day for every other Malaysian.

At the same time, it is a reminder to people in the powers of corridor that they are being judged by the people for the things they say. While it is easy to accept someone who makes an occasional blunder, there is no excuse when politicians repeatedly say things that drive people up the wall.

For such people, Kee has created the grand ‘Hahahall of Fame’. Those who make stupid remarks will enter the ‘Hahahall of Fame.’

It also makes easy reading for those who want a light weekend, away from the madness of our political arena; at the same time, it is a constant reminder to politicians to keep them on their toes.

The best part of Kee’s two books, ‘Unbelievably Stupid!’ and ‘Unbelievably Stupid Too!’ is that they are all based on published facts.

Some examples

In one of the chapters, Kee quoted MCA’s Chew Mei Fun ( photo ) as saying in 2008 that she thought the New Economic Policy (NEP) had ended. Kee lifted up a comment by a reader in Malaysiakini who said: “I really wonder which planet you are on with your answer.” Clearly, it shows how ill-informed our politicians are in the eyes of a more educated lot.

The saying is, “You can fool the people once, but not twice!”

Kee’s materials are still fresh on everyone’s mind. It makes it seem like reading an article out of the newspapers as some of the stories are as recent as Aug 9, 2015 where Kee told the story of the Crown Prince of Johor slamming Special Affairs Department (Jasa) chief Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

You have to read the entire chapter to appreciate the books more, but in particular, I like this one where Kee recounted a story about Ismail Sabri Yaacob, who rose to notoriety with his comments, which are comical to say the least.

At the heights of the controversy, Ismail was quoted in the news as saying: “I said boycott Chinese traders... no, I didn’t target any race.”

This left me in stitches! If that has not tickled you, try reading this heading: ‘Oh, Noh! Not again!’

There are many more chapters that one can read in just one seating. The chapters are in fact easy to read, where some chapters are only one page in length.

It is after all written for Malaysians, who no longer enjoy reading as much as our forefathers. Great leaders like Abraham Lincoln were known to read a lot; even Malaysian former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is known to be an avid reader who also possesses a photographic memory.

Politicians from both sides of the political divide, if you have not been reading enough, perhaps, after this, go and pick up Kee’s two books and start reading. More importantly, keep an open mind and learn to be smarter and prove Kee wrong.

Otherwise, I wonder if Kee would still choose the mildest of all words for the title of his next books; or he would have no choice but to use even more apt descriptions like perhaps ‘moron.’

Book excerpt: More antics of politicians in ‘Unbelievably Stupid Too’

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.