reduced and recycled

Now if I follow the chronology of Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal process correctly, the latest development, as reported by MalaysiaKini is that the IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) will not recommend a royal pardon. I’m sure the IPU is not saying they won’t support a royal pardon, only that it is beyond the ambit of the parliament to petition the King for such a pardon on the behalf of a former minister. The up-shot is, the IPU’s told DSAI to bugger off in the most inoffensive way it can manage (?)

What’s behind this move? I’m not sure. I think conspiracy theorists are wont to see the spectre of UMNO behind this recent decision.

Well, so am I.

Or maybe it’s a game of survival. If I were a member of parliament, I would withhold support until I was sure DSAI isn’t going to be a blip on the country’s radar, so to speak. It’s politics, so if he survives and manages a modest return, then maybe he could be worth trading horses with. Is that the prevailing opinion amongst MPs? Who knows.

But not having a royal pardon against outstanding corruption charges means the normal ban on participation in politics, which expires for DSAI in April 2008, remains in force. It’s inescapable. So it’s a bit of a worry when I got the email informing me that DSAI would be defying the “ban” on his holding party office before April 2008.

I’m quite ignorant and I don’t understand these things (no sarcasm, la) so I’m wondering: is DSAI desperate? If the elections are called before April 2008, then insisting on standing for elections will force him to tangle with the legal ramifications of defying this ban.

If what I hear about DSAI’s growing popularity with the Malaysian heartland is anything to go by, it will be in the interests of UMNO to do just that - nevermind that the press has been calling the upcoming elections a test of DSAI’s popularity.

Also, consider the fence-sitters. In the Bible, fence-sitters are likened to lukewarm spit. (I’ve forgotten the damn chapter and verse, but I’m pretty certain it’s something Jesus said to some job applicant. Go look it up.)

Fence-sitters aren’t moderates, by the way. Moderates, my fave PS lecturer once told me, are people who prefer to weigh consequences and study if’s and why’s. Moderates, he once told me, are the first to die in any revolution. Fence-sitters? Fence-sitters are usually the last to die, because they have constitutions more akin to lalang, since they’re always looking out for the main chance. So remember the distinction, hor!

But back to fence-sitters. Politicians aren’t the only ones hedging their bets. People are, too. I don’t like the imagery of weighing horse-flesh just before the race, but I feel people might be less willing to believe and more willing to wait. And like it or not, this coming general elections will be the time to prove to fence-sitters, if not the people at large, that DSAI can stand on his own and garner support.

And if DSAI doesn’t stand for elections this time around, it’ll be another five long years before he can do so again. So he has to, I suppose, because time is of the essence. So the decision by the IPU really is a big blow to DSAI, I think no one’s denying that.

Ok, I know there are problems with DSAI standing or not standing for elections, but I just have one thing to say, and it’s actually the only thing I’ve wanted to say in this post:

I just hope and pray DSAI doesn’t turn into another Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng or Chee Soon Juan. We need - that is, I would prefer to see (I can’t speak for you) - politicians out of the fucking prison and on the ground. We don’t need politicians who are willing to court controversy for sake of drawing attention to their views.

I particularly dislike (a severe understatement) Chee Soon Juan’s brand of politics. He disagrees with the government (another understatement) and blatantly flouts the law (no matter if it is just or not). I’m just saying that DSAI may feel the laws of the country are unjust, that the courts are corrupt or ineffective, that there is no justice in Malaysia. But I think people will agree with me when I say that we don’t need a matyr because there have been too many matyrs. We need representatives.

So, please, I hope DSAI knows what he’s doing.