Getting used to political instability

Although democracy is not perfect, we have to live with the imperfections and to accept the fact that the people’s power must be respected at all times.

THERE are those who believe a general election could solve all our political woes – that we need one to decide once and for all to vote for the party or coalition to run the country.

It is not that simple. This notion that an election in a near future will ensure “political stability” for this country is almost a romanticised version of political expediency.

The idea about a “stable government”, too, is flawed.

We have lived with the belief that a stable government is one that has a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

But if by being stable it includes the power to rule with impunity, to tolerate abuse of power and to condone corruption, it should be rejected at all cost.

Malaysians of my generation have lived in a legacy of a too powerful government for far too long.

We saw that in the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. But at what price?

In our case it ended dramatically in 2008 when Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds majority.

Barisan ruled for two more terms and was shockingly defeated in 2018. A new dawn of uncertainties for Malaysia had arrived.

For six decades we had the same government. The last four years we had three.

The people’s mandate was usurped in the most unsavoury way thanks to the masterminds of the infamous Sheraton Move.

The government that took over from Pakatan Harapan did not last long. Now, we have a new government led by the party largely rejected by the people in 2018.

Some Umno leaders believe perhaps erroneously it is time to be in power again.

Many of them seriously believe the party can win big, perhaps even match if not exceed the 2004 election result, that is if the general election is held sooner rather than later.

We better come to terms with this scenario.

In the next GE, no party will have the commanding majority like what Umno had before.

Even the current Prime Minister admitted that, with Barisan’s 43 seats in Parliament, only God’s intervention made it possible for Umno to lead the government.

Yet many believe Umno can do it only with their traditional partners and by discarding PAS and Bersatu.

There will be strange bedfellows to form a government post GE15.

It might be Barisan plus others or Pakatan plus others. PAS is lurking somewhere, Warisan is a force in itself, up to a point.

My view is, Sabah and Sarawak parties will have a big say in the next general election.

Sarawak is in good hands now. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg is meticulous as he is a consummate tactician.

He knows what’s best for his state. He argues that Sarawak has not been accorded the respect it should be getting. After all Sarawak is not at par with any states in the peninsula, it is at par with the peninsula.

Sarawak and Sabah have aired their grievances openly about how the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has been interpreted.

Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal sees the logic in spreading Warisan’s wings to the peninsula. Sabahans now want their voices to be heard.

Let us learn from the experience of Indonesia post-Suharto.

They had two presidents in 53 years since independence in 1945. From the fall of Suharto in 1998, they had five presidents in 24 years. The new constitution of the republic limits the president’s tenure to two terms or 10 years.

It took them at least 11 years and four presidents to see some semblance of “stability” politically.

Parti Golongan Karyawan (Golkar) was the biggest political party in Indonesia since 1966. It is similar to Umno.

It was the “state party” during Suharto’s time. Its dominance over Indonesia’s political system gives rise to a hegemonic party system.

However Golkar is currently just one of the many political parties in Indonesia. No one from Golkar has been the president or deputy president since BJ Habibie.

Some would call it the road to political maturity. For Indonesia it was dramatic, tedious and even bloody.

There is no turning back to the old ways.

They have learned that democracy is not about ensuring a government of thieves and despots are masquerading behind a stable government. It is about a just and fair representation of the real people on the ground.

After all, as argued by Abraham Lincoln, democracy ensures the formation of the government “of the people, by the people, for the people”.

The basic principle is the concept that us, the people, can choose a government through free and fair elections.

The people have every reason to be sceptical of the ability of democratic governments to act effectively or politicians to act sensibly. But democracy is not perfect. So we have to live with the imperfections.

And to accept the fact that the people’s power must be respected at all times.

Johan Jaaffar was a journalist, editor and for some years chairman of a media company, and is passionate about all things literature and the arts. And a diehard rugby fan. The views expressed here are entirely his own.