Politics not source of moral values

The writer says there are movements that aim to raise a generation that transcends the limits of race and religion, that sees humanity first before ethnicity. — THOMAS YONG/The Star

POLITICS should never be the source of moral values, national unity, or genuine human compassion. If anything, politics is often the art of division disguised as governance. The sooner we realise this truth, the sooner we can begin the serious task of building a society rooted in empathy, justice and human dignity –values that transcend race, religion and the pursuit of power.

We must reject the naïve expectation that political actors will lead the moral or spiritual direction of a nation. Their primary motivation is not the cultivation of a just and humane society – it is the acquisition and retention of power. Power brings influence, wealth and control. That is the core pursuit of politics, and moral integrity is rarely its compass.