Popularity should be no scale for the election of politicians. If it would depend on popularity, Donald Duck and The Muppets would take seats in senate.
– Orson Welles, American actor
With election fever in the air, I guess many of us have been asked these familiar questions.
This is how I would normally respond to the posers. Sorry, I couldn’t help being cynical.
Question: Who will win the Sabah elections?
My answer: How do I know? I am not Mat Bomoh. I don’t have a magic telescope or two special coconuts which can talk back to me.
Question: When do you think the Sarawak elections will be held?
Answer: Why are you asking me? I am not the chief minister. But I can tell you this with confidence — the polls will be held anytime from now till July next year. Just be patient and wait.
Question: Do you think the prime minister will call for snap polls?
Answer: Why should he? If I were as insecure as him, I would cling on for as long as possible. Even a two-seat majority in Parliament is a majority. Stay put and make hay while the sun shines. Isn’t that what politics is all about these days?
Question: Will Pakatan Harapan ever make a comeback?
Answer: Why not? Just keep on squabbling with each other; continue to badmouth one another and be at each other’s throat day in and day out. That is the surest way for a comeback.
Question: Do you think Anwar Ibrahim will ever be prime minister?
Answer: In some strange ways, this popular 60s hit by the Everly Brothers, “All I have to do is dream”, can be an answer. “Dream…dream, dream, dream…”, so the chorus goes. We can all dream that we will be prime minister. Nothing wrong with dreaming. After all, dreams are free too.
I hope I have made my point. Why are we overly excited whenever an election is near?
To some, they can never stop harping on it as if it’s a matter of life and death. Folks, if the candidate or party you support loses, you will still be alive and kicking. So, don’t lose your sanity. It’s not worth it.
And people, please don’t be paloi. There will always be elections. It was supposed to be once in five years. Now, we never know.
When elections will be called now seems to depend on when political frogs decide to start ‘croaking’ out loud. Sickening, isn’t it!
Sabahans are forced to go to the polls on Sept 26 because the kataks in their midst started their croaky manoeuvres last July.
Didn’t we just have an election in May 2018 – 28 months ago? Now, why another election in Sabah? Because of frogs, people — those despicable parasites and leeches — who have no shame in calling themselves Yang Berhormat.
And they will be going around appealing unashamedly for our votes again so that they can continue to be YBs, abuse their power in order to continue basking in their lavish lifestyle.
By now, we should know the modus operandi of political frogs. When they are unable to get what they want; when their personal lofty goals (read greed) are not satiated, they will come up with all kinds of reasons and excuses as to why they have to jump.
The worst and most treacherous deal a politician can make is one which leads to the betrayal of the people’s trust.
Once you turn traitor to satisfy your personal ambition and lust for power, it’s very difficult or near impossible to overturn that trust deficit. No sane person can tolerate toxic politics.
There are many low-life politicians living off the people and doing little or nothing for them in return.
Just look around you — in Malaya, Sabah and in Sarawak too. Surely, we do remember some first-term MPs from Sarawak who have also learnt the art of frogging.
I say, send them packing at the next election. Teach them a lesson they will never forget. Dump them like rubbish you would throw into the garbage bin. That’s how we should deal with political parasites.
To these kataks and the candidates vying for public office, the stakes are high at every election. Most of them, from both divides, will be telling us that it will be the mother of all elections.
How many times have we heard that? They care only for themselves, not for us, ordinary folks. Let’s wise up.
So, am I excited about elections?
The answer is No.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is the author of ‘Hijack in Malaysia: The Fall of Pakatan Harapan’ which was recently launched. Contact him at sirsiah@gmail.com to order. The book retails at RM40 (Sarawak) and RM42 (West Malaysia).
