THERE have been many buzzwords in this state elections but one word stands out – “kakistocracy”.
It’s being bandied about on the big stage of Perikatan Nasional but Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan say the opposition is only slinging the slur in its own face – kakistocracy was originally used in the country to brand the Perikatan leaders.
A Greek word which describes a state which is governed by the most incompetent people, “kakistocracy” first surfaced during this state election season before the campaign period at the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) convention in Shah Alam on June 24.
Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, former principal private secretary of Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Muhammad Yassin, says the current unity government is a kakistocracy, not because the whole government is incompetent, but because it is led by incompetent people.
He, however, stops short of naming who the incompetent people Muhyiddin was referring to.
On July 22, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad joined a Perikatan mega rally at the Kota Bharu stadium, where he too denounced the present government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as a kakistocracy in front of thousands of PAS supporters.
“Not long ago, we were called the “Tiger of Asia” but today we are a kakistocracy,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to the early 90s when Malaysia was a booming economy among the rest of Asian countries.
(In the 1990s, Malaysia was tipped to become the fifth tiger of Asia after Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taipei then but a financial crisis hindered that.)
As Dr Mahathir labelled Anwar’s government as a kakistocracy just two weeks ago, checks show that this word was actually thrown at Dr Mahathir when he was the seventh Prime Minister in 2018.
The former Johor mentri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammed of Umno called Dr Mahathir’s government a kakistocracy after the state fell to Pakatan in the 14th General Election.
In an article published on a news portal, Hasni then wrote:
“Democracy, be it a ‘liberal’ or an ‘Islamic’ one, must not be hijacked by a kakistocracy.
“Kakistocracy in this sense is a “government by the worst people”.
“In the American political discourse, this very word was used to describe the Trump administration, an administration that is inept, incompetent and amateurish. I do believe that now, in the state of Johor, democracy is under attack.
“This is due to the flawed definition of democracy understood by Johor’s government of the day. They still view democracy and its values as a campaign catchphrase, but have done so little to articulate it in its truest sense, yet, at the same time, had the audacity in claiming to champion the said values,” Hasni wrote then.
Now, the very people whom Hasni had claimed to be a kakistocracy have turned around to use it back at Umno and its Unity Government partner Pakatan.
When contacted, Hasni, also the current Benut assemblyman in Johor, says that when he raised the term kakistocracy during the premiership of Dr Mahathir, he was trying to prove that there is a fine line between democracy and kakistocracy.
(Literally, the word “democracy” means “rule of the people” and was coined from the Greek word “demokratia”.)
As leaders who had once been labelled as part of a kakistocracy, Perikatan leaders have no right to label the current federal government, Hasni says.
“The context of the article which I then wrote in 2018 was specifically for Johor post the 14th general election. It was a different political landscape then, as compared to now.
“Additionally, the same person who now is popularising the term ‘kakistocracy’ were themselves a part of the government then. So, in a way it’s not a valid claim by them.
“As of now, all parties in the unity government are trying their best to make the government work.
“No parties or individuals within the government itself is trying to conspire against the government of the day.
“So, by that virtue or difference alone, shows that it’s not fair to label this government as a ‘kakistrocracy’.”
In defence of Anwar’s government, Pakatan secretary-general and Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution says it is essential to clarify that the Malaysian government operates under a constitutional monarchy framework.
He says the current government under Anwar cannot be a kakistoracy as it was formed according to the Federal Constitution which upholds parliamentary democracy under the orders of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
“The Prime Minister assumed office by enjoying the majority support of fellow members of parliament, as mandated by democratic principles.
“In the Nov 2022 general elections, no single party or coalition secured a simple majority to form the government.
“Consequently, the King, with the consent of other Malay rulers or Sultans, advised the various parties to form a unity government. This initiative was first offered to Pakatan, Barisan and Perikatan.
“While Pakatan and Barisan agreed to participate, Perikatan rejected the offer.
“Anwar Ibrahim, as the leader of the largest single coalition, Pakatan, then took on the responsibility of spearheading a unity government that brought together Barisan, Gagasan Parti Sarawak and Gagasan Rakyat Sabah other parties.
“This united front now garners the support of 148 members of parliament who have signed a cooperation agreement to support the unity government.
“Upon the commencement of the new parliament’s first session, Prime Minister Anwar initiated a vote of confidence to officially confirm his support from fellow MPs. The vote resulted in an overwhelming endorsement, further solidifying the legitimacy of the current government.
“It is essential to emphasise that the formation of the present government was a meticulously deliberated democratic process that adhered to the provisions outlined in the constitution.
“This unity government reflects the collective will of various parties to work together in the best interests of the nation, as advised by the King.
“Accusations of a kakistocracy do not hold merit, as the current government is a product of democratic practices and constitutional guidelines.
“Any such attacks on the validity of this unity government can be seen as an assault on Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy system and its democratic processes. It is regrettable that some opposition MPs have chosen to exhibit a lack of respect for the constitution, undermining the democratic principles that form the foundation of our nation’s governance,” he explains when contacted.
It is important to note that despite the unity government’s awareness of governance issues in some states, particularly in PAS-led states, such as Kedah, the government has refrained from labelling them as a “kakistocracy”, Saifuddin adds.
“Despite their incompetence in resolving essential problems faced by the rakyat, such as the sufficient availability of clean piped water in Kelantan, and addressing issues like illegal mining of rare earth element (REE) in Kedah, the unity government has shown restraint in making such accusations against the opposition-led state governments.
“In conclusion, the unity government stands as a testament to the strength of democracy in Malaysia.
“It exemplifies the willingness of diverse parties to unite and govern in a spirit of cooperation,” he says.
“Accusations of a kakistocracy are unfounded and serve only to tarnish the democratic fabric of our nation. We must uphold the sanctity of our constitutional monarchy and safeguard the democratic processes that enable the peaceful coexistence and progress of Malaysia.”
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