New year resolution: 2026 is the year Malaysians must start evaluating their politicians, says the writer. — HBO
THIS YEAR is a good year for Malaysians to observe carefully what politicians say and what they have actually done, especially since the 16th General Election will most likely be held next year or, at the latest, by February 2028. This is the time to sharpen our evaluation skills, to truly look beneath the slogans, the smiles, the endless photo opportunities, and the dramatic speeches. We cannot afford to remain naïve spectators while political theatrics continue at the expense of national progress.
Over the years, I have observed how politics in Malaysia is often misunderstood, conveniently distorted, or deliberately oversimplified. Many people assume politics is merely about elections, party colours, and who shouts the loudest on stage. This shallow understanding creates fertile ground for opportunists who are more interested in power than in public service.
But politics, in its true and noble sense, is far more important than that. Politics is about governing a nation, guiding its direction, resolving its conflicts, and ensuring fair distribution of opportunities and resources. It shapes everything from the price of rice to the quality of our education system. It determines whether justice is upheld and whether every citizen – regardless of race, class, or belief – is treated with dignity.
Yet too often, politics in Malaysia becomes entertainment. Rhetoric replaces substance. Optics overshadow performance. We see leaders who excel at grand entrances, fiery slogans, and symbolic gestures –but when it comes to real work, their contributions evaporate into thin air.
I have come to the conclusion that the root of this problem lies in the people’s lack of understanding of the true role of politics. When people do not understand what politics is supposed to deliver, they can easily be manipulated into believing that loudness equals leadership, charisma equals competence, and theatrics equal substance. This is precisely how charlatans survive – by creating illusions. Let us revisit, calmly and clearly, what politics ought to be.
1. Representation
A functioning political system represents the voices of all Malaysians. Not merely certain groups. Not only those useful for votes. Representation means truly listening to the diverse realities within our multicultural society and ensuring decision-making reflects the needs of the entire population.
2. Accountability
Politicians are not celebrities. They are not aristocrats. They are public servants. The moment voters forget this, accountability disappears. Leaders begin to behave like feudal lords instead of officeholders entrusted with power.
3. Conflict resolution
Malaysia’s diversity is our strength – but only if managed wisely. Politics should be the platform for dialogue, negotiation, and peaceful compromise. When politicians inflame divisions for political gain, they betray the core purpose of political leadership.
4. Resource allocation
Politics affects how national wealth is distributed. Rural communities, low-income groups, healthcare, education – all rely on political decisions. When politicians mismanage or misuse resources, entire generations suffer.
5. The Social contract
At the heart of governance is trust. Citizens trust leaders to uphold fairness, justice, and stability. Leaders trust citizens to engage responsibly. When this social contract breaks, democracy weakens, and cynicism takes over.
Unfortunately, when politics strays from these foundational roles, the consequences are severe: public distrust, national stagnation, and a gradual erosion of democratic values.
One reason for this imbalance is the gap between political theory and everyday political reality.
Academic political science offers useful frameworks, but ordinary Malaysians often feel disconnected from scholarly discourse. People do not talk in terms of “mechanisms of governance” or “institutional checks and balances” – they talk in terms of rising costs, job security, school quality, safety, and fairness. This gap allows unscrupulous politicians to exploit emotions instead of engaging minds. When the people are not politically literate, they become easy prey for identity politics, fearmongering, and false promises.
I have seen how quickly some politicians resort to race and religion when they run out of ideas. They cloak themselves in moral superiority or communal guardianship, but beneath the surface, their primary aim is retaining power. And the people – tired, frustrated, sometimes politically fatigued – can fall for these tactics. This is why political awareness is no longer optional. Malaysia needs citizens who think critically, question boldly, and evaluate leaders based on evidence, not emotions. We must collectively say no to the loud, empty-barrel politicians who thrive on noise but deliver little.
We also need to reject the framing of politics as a Game of Thrones where parties obsess over who controls Putrajaya rather than what they will do once in power. Endless political manoeuvring benefits only politicians, never the rakyat. True political maturity requires cooperation, not constant plotting.
The responsibility, therefore, falls on all Malaysians to reclaim their political agency. We must stop behaving like spectators watching a staged performance. We are participants. We are shareholders of this nation. And we have every right to demand efficiency, integrity, and competence. This empowerment requires vigilance. It requires civic education. It requires resisting misinformation. And most importantly, it requires a willingness to look beyond appearances and ask hard questions.
As we approach 2026 and beyond, let us set a new standard. Let us evaluate political leaders based on performance, not promises. Let us demand substance, not slogans. Let us reward integrity, not theatrics.
Only then can we ensure that no “musang berbulu ayam” (or wolf in sheep’s clothing) climbs into public office again.
Senior lawyer Dato Sri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos is the founder and chairman of Yayasan Rapera, an NGO that promotes community-based learning activities and compassionate thinking among Malaysians. The views expressed here are entirely his own.
