Heading for politics of compromise

Over the past few days, Malaysians have been seeing the ‘politics of the possible’ being played openly as the parties concerned attempt to resolve the political impasse in Perak.

“POLITICS is the art of the possible, the attainable... and the art of the next best.” Otto von Bismarck, the German statesman and first chancellor of the German Empire, said this 158 years ago.

The famous quote has been historically linked with realpolitik – politics or diplomacy based on considerations of given circumstances and factors rather than ideological notions or moral and ethical grounds.

It is about negotiating compromise and cooperation – even with foes – instead of stubbornly pushing for what cannot be attained.

Seen positively, it signifies a fair approach to meaningful change and stability. On the flip side, it embodies calculative cynicism, a means of shrewd pragmatism for the sake of political expediency.

In the worst negative light, it can be compared to a Faustian bargain: In the medieval German legend, alchemist Johann Faust traded his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly gains.

Over the past few days, Malaysians have been witnessing the “politics of the possible” being played openly by two bitter adversaries – Umno and DAP.

On Sunday, Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming said what would previously have been regarded as unthinkable – that the party was ready to work with Umno “in the best interest of the people”.

His declaration came in the wake of Perak Amanah chairman Datuk Asmuni Awi’s statement that nothing was impossible with regard to such cooperation with Umno.

They said this after former mentri besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumi lost support in a vote of confidence at the state assembly a day earlier, causing the collapse of the Perikatan Nasional state government comprising Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Umno and PAS.

Faizal, who is also Bersatu deputy president, only managed to draw 10 votes against 48, with one assembly member abstaining.

Umno is the largest party in the 59-member state assembly with 25 seats while Pakatan Harapan holds 24 seats through the DAP’s 16, Amanah’s five and PKR’s three.

Faizal has since resigned along with his state exco members.

The Ruler of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, has accepted their resignations and advised the parties to find the “best formula to form a new state government and choose a new mentri besar” after meeting with state PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, Nga, Asmuni and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

When asked if the new political alliance would include DAP, Zahid said “all possibilities are there”.

Meanwhile, another significant development towards compromise and realpolitik also took place in Johor over the weekend.

Top Pakatan leaders praised Umno’s Johor Mentri Besar, Datuk Hasni Mohammad, as “a model inclusive leader” after he tripled the state’s 2021 budget allocation for all assembly members – from RM50,000 to RM150,000 – and also announced an additional RM50,000 one-off provision for Covid-19, making it a total of RM200,000.

“This is historic in Johor’s democracy. Johor has shown a good example of how the state assembly can play an effective role in prioritising public interest without partisanship, ” state Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan, Johor PKR chairman Jimmy Puah Wee Tse and DAP state secretary Tan Hong Pin said in a joint statement.

Earlier, during his winding-up speech for the budget, Hasni referred to DAP, Amanah and PKR as “strategic partners in developing and creating prosperity for Johor”, adding that their views are valued even though there are differences in mindset and ideology.

Are we witnessing the dramatic realigning of Malaysia’s political landscape or is this just a flash-in-the-pan, expedient pact, as several analysts have posited?

But will Umno grassroots accept collaboration with the party’s sworn enemy and will DAP’s core supporters accept Umno, their party of abomination?

What is obvious is that both parties are caught between a rock and a hard place. Some leaders in DAP feel it is better to deal with the “devil

we know” than to allow a PAS-dominated Perikatan government to bulldoze its way into entrenching a Malay Muslim-centric nation.

Based on the mostly negative responses on social media, such an alliance looks improbable. But these are unusual times with the Covid-19 pandemic delivering incessant blows to the country’s fragile economy, resulting in acute hardship for the people.

As Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi put it, being rigid and coalition-centric is no longer practical under the “new norms of politics”.

Calling for a departure from the “old cocoon” of politics, he said: “There are no lasting political enemies and friends as long as a government with a two-thirds majority doesn’t exist. Be ready for the new political norms.”

It might be hard for both parties to thrust this on their grassroots supporters, but the business community might be more accommodating.

Businesses, from hawkers in the street and small-time traders to SMEs and major manufacturers, have borne the brunt of Covid-19’s devastating impact.

The idea of forging a pact with each other is a huge gamble for both parties, whether or not it takes place in Perak.

Media consultant M. Veera Pandiyan likes this quote from Otto von Bismarck: “Only a fool learns from his own mistakes. The wise man learns from the mistakes of others.” The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.