The Unmaking of Malaysia Political Tsunami of 2008: Momentum lost

The electorate and media widely acclaimed that the March 8, 2008 general election results as being the political tsunami that had swept through Malaysia. It was to have ushered in a new political era. It was to have brought in new hope to the country and the people.

Political Tsunami of 2008: Momentum lost

Well, more than two years have elapsed. Have the hopes and aspirations of those believing that change for the better will occur come to materialise?

It was to have inspired change. But one very vital element that the victors had not taken into serious consideration was that the vanquished would never surrender power like gentlemen. Politics is not and never was a gentlemanly game. It is a brutal tussle for power. Anything and everything can be used to justify the end.

In Malaysia political power is the means to control wealth, destiny and well-being of those in the group. This is especially so when for the last fifty years, UMNO, the party in power, has had no challenge to its power. It believes that it has the blessings of God to govern as it pleases. To challenge its power means by this logic to challenge God’s power.

UMNO had to devise ways and means, legally, illegally, open or covert to wrest that power back. This is the core strategy that the victors had not taken into consideration as to what the vanquished would resort to. The aura of victory had lulled the victors into complacency and they have never realized that they are facing an experienced and vicious political enemy.

The onus is on the victors to prepare a counter strategy to beat off all attacks and manoeuvers that will threaten what they had gained, and retain the support and loyalty of the voters. They should never create doubts on those who had supported them and that had led to their victory. People power gave PR political prominence, so ignore it as PR’s own peril.

This, the leadership of the victors, especially PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim and his associates, has failed to realise and to act. They had portrayed themselves as being as greedy as those whom they had trounced. They still adhere to the culture of the vanquished. They practised what their supporters and sympathizers believed to be what the previous administration had practiced. They had not cut themselves off from what their enemies had been practicing.

This is the sad part. The people were ready for change but the victors have not shown dynamism but instead have embroiled themselves in silly and petty squabbles. Partners are now engaged in non-productive and divisive engagements.

People need change in approach, political culture and work ethics. The previous administration had practised a culture detrimental to the welfare of the people and yet the very same culture is being perpetuated. When will these legislators break away from the old mentality and embrace the new culture of vitality and honesty that they had promised?

Two years is long enough to have already displayed some kind of political dynamism and people are impatient as they want to see change as promised. The enemy has been doing its homework and digging the trenches in readiness for victory in the next round.

Political intellectualism is missing, giving rise only to more and more political gangsterism. Zaid Ibrahim is trying to align the victors towards the correct path that will eventually bring them to Putrajaya. He needs all the support. He has had the strength to break himself away from the decadent political culture of the past. No one seems to have seen the sacrifices and foresight and they now need to show some sense of propriety in their political thinking.

The development that has taken place so far shows that most of those that joined the group were the disgruntled ‘political has beens’. They have their own agenda and not necessarily for the well being of the people. The enthusiasm and open arm demonstration in welcoming this group only proved to be a set back to the victors. That these people eventually showed their true colours is nothing surprising. It is as expected.

Being never on guard, the group has been penetrated by all and sundry that has caused turmoil and with that, naturally nothing positive can ever be achieved. Talk is easy and sweet but only positive action will prove that the group has the capacity to satisfy what the voters had hoped for.