Ex-ministers are only interested in wresting power

Just as the Covid-19 crisis is about to let up, the political horse-trading and psywar by Pakatan Harapan and Tun Dr Mahathir intensifies. As if still not satisfied with the Agong’s confidence in the current government, Pakatan Harapan and Mahathir’s operatives are still hard at work to convince, especially the MPs to crossover so that Perikatan National may fall.

The question then is: Fall to whom - Mahathir or Anwar? According to the Registrar of Societies, Mahathir is no longer in PPBM. Challenging the matter in court is a separate issue. As of the present moment, Mahathir is merely an independent MP who is an ally of Pakatan Harapan. And unless he agrees again, to support Anwar as the potential Prime Minister, there is no way these two men can work together.

Neither is Perikatan Nasional strong; but it is definitely more stable than having two men at each other’s throats all the time. As economists indicate, there is a looming recession in the months to come due to Covid-19. We simply cannot allow more power struggles to divert our attention away from economic recovery.

At this juncture, no other MPs from the PN bloc are interested in upsetting the current government. There is simply no point in doing so as the parliament seating is just two months away, with the next general election being less than three years away. It is then safe to assume that whatever claims that Salahuddin Ayub made about wresting power before July is just rubbish. Should anyone really have the numbers, they would have kept quiet and not blabber about it openly.

In the last general elections, UMNO and PAS combined had the majority popular votes. Hence, Pakatan Harapan should not claim to have the people’s mandate which is akin to pulling wool over the voter’s eyes.

 

Perikatan Nasional may not be formalised and may still have teething problems. However, the move by our Prime Minister to take charge of the country at a time when the two men were fighting was a correct move which saved our country from plunging into an abyss. Whatever lies in the future is yet to be seen but for the moment, Muhyiddin has done his level best and steered our country out of troubled waters.

It can also be surmised that only those ex-ministers and deputy ministers who are bitter over their loss of positions are longingly and desperately trying to reinstate themselves through the wresting of power. Otherwise, nothing much changes - MPs are still MPs. 

Therefore, Pakatan Harapan and Mahathir should stop trying to unseat the government and instead help to strengthen the economy on the road to recovery. That will truly be beneficial for the rakyat. The fight for political power must have its place and time. Now is simply not the right time.

Good katak vs stupid katak

The reality of politics is that when it suits the politicians, crossing the political divide can be as easy and technical as signing a Statutory Declaration. The winning team will then hail the crossover as a hero while the losers will throw all sorts of names at him. Of course, most non-Malays will immediately associate Azmin and the 11 MPs as traitors to Pakatan Harapan. 

A particular president of a party had on numerous occasions hinted of crossovers from other parties, yet this person who is so quick to label others as traitors, still sees it fit to coerce others to betray their own party. What sort of logic is it then, that he is willing to accept traitors, while vilifying others for doing the same thing?

Then, the staunch supporters will just shrug and say, “That’s politics.”

Then again, the best quote of the day comes from Baru Bian:

“That is a good katak. So don’t use that katak very loosely. An intelligent katak will jump, a stupid katak will stay. We need to be wise and prudent, even in our political struggle,” he said.

Baru Bian explains why he and See Chee How joined Parti Sarawak Bersatu | Malaysia | Malay Mail - https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/30/baru-bian-explains-why-he-and-see-chee-how-joined-parti-sarawak-bersatu/1870813

Water seeks its own level

As my maiden post since I last written, I have chosen to write about racial discrimination in our country. I echo what many have said before, so let my ranting be yet another. Here goes nothing. 

We can keep on pointing our fingers at other people and keep blaming others for the mess we are in. However, as non-Malays, many of us have forgotten that we are the minority in the country. Being right or feeling that we are right does nothing to change the situation.

We can keep on and on, demanding for equality and what-nots, but the reality is that it doesn't matter what you and I want. What matters is what others, the majority want.

As a minority, Chinese Malaysians have grown accustomed to the double-standard treatment that has been around ever since the NEP was implemented. I won't necessarily say that it is a bad thing, as through decades of discrimination, non-Malays have only become more resilient, self-reliant and self-sufficient.

That is indeed the price to pay to live in a peaceful country that is in abundance of everything, yet affordable.

Only time will soothe the agony of being treated as an unwanted migrant in our land of birth. However, the non-Malays have more to be grateful for than being dissatisfied. Some will have better lives, and some will not. And that is life. So, enjoy the journey, be thankful and count our blessings. We are all here for a reason. Water seeks its own level. 

- cK