I’ve not written for over a month now, and I must confess that my absence has been in part due to some personal issues. The main reason, however, is my utter and complete disappointment with Pakatan Rakyat’s promise for change on 16th September 2008, and Anwar Ibrahim’s later admission that the change of government would now be difficult.
I wish he explained what it would entail while he was trumpeting this so-called change. Now with Najib’s nomination and the business-as-usual in UMNO, it appears that nothing will ever change. It is with much sadness that I must conclude that this is not a Malaysia I want to belong to. Perhaps things will change 5 years from now, but if Anwar’s platform of a Malaysian Malaysia was a cynical attempt to ride the wave of anti-Barisan feelings in the run up to his elections, I doubt very much 5 years will bring much of anything new.
In fact, we are seeing the consequences of a non-Pakatan government unfolding. Earlier, I had asked readers to consider how things would be like if Anwar didn’t lead a change in government. We have the answer now: Razak Baginda’s acquittal; a helicopter deal slipped in just before Najib takes over the Finance Ministry; the banning of HINDRAF; RPK held under ISA - indefinitely; a protest in Kampung Baru Plentong Tengah here in JB where a Suaram secretariat was held under ISA briefly; papering over land scam abuses and the grand old bringing-to-account of activists and opposition members in general.
As in 1988, there will always be innocents who will have to pay. And pay they will under a new Najib government and his apologist-jailer Syed Hamid Albar.
No, I’ve not been paying too much attention to Malaysian politics in the past month or so. Instead, I’ve been entranced by the US presidential elections, with voting expected to be completed today (or by 2300hrs GMT according to CNN - that means tomorrow at 6.30am or so). There’s been quite a lot of drama amidst the financial crisis, with the two candidates slugging it out. I support Barack Obama, but reservedly. If I had a choice, and if I were American, I would have preferred a constitutionalist like Ron Paul (though I’m not really in agreement with his exceptionalist foreign policy leanings).
My scepticism in regard to Obama stems mainly from his awesome rhetoric. Anyone who’s heard Obama speak of hope and change cannot help but be moved; his own life story lends an irresistible credence to the words he uses, words and pronouncements which would sound - I must admit - like patronizing platitudes of anybody else. Beyond what he says, however, organizations like factcheck.org and politico.com carry out rigorous analyses of what Obama’s policies would mean and suddenly you realize that he’s not said exactly what he will cut - only that he’ll go through things line by line.
Add to that the fact that John McCain, no matter what anyone says about his erratic behaviour, his severe deficiency in judgment by selecting Sarah Palin and his chameleon-like stance on issues that matter, isn’t pushing policies that mirror George Bush’s own policies (whatever they are). Stepping back, one realizes that both candidates adopt positions and paint the other into contrary positions. That’s politics and campaign strategy, no doubt.
But what no one can deny is how Barack Obama’s been able to really mobilize the grassroots in support of his campaign. The significance of the sort of hope he speaks about is evinced by the thousands of dedicated volunteers and campaign ground staff who work hard to win him the most powerful position in the land. That, more than anything else, convinced me that he deserves to be president. I know, it’s ridiculous - we should be judging candidates on their policy proposals and their stance on issues (which, by the way, have become more centrist in the run up to 4th November). Irrationally, I can’t help but believe that a man who can inspire so many truly has the interests of the people at heart.
And then I remember that such irrational logic equally applies to Anwar Ibrahim - this is the man who promised much but delivered much less in the past 2 months. Time will tell if my belief in Anwar was ever justified, but the events of the past few weeks have eroded my belief. I wonder if I am making the same mistake in believing Barack Obama’s rhetoric. Only time will tell, I suppose.
In respect of the US presidential elections - late in the day as it is - I can offer two palliatives: Bill Moyers and Dan Carlin. Watch and/or listen:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/
http://www.dancarlin.com/
The events of the past few months have made me weary of partisanship, and tired of Malaysia’s continued communal politics. I hope things start to make sense soon.