A man who has never gone to school may steal a freight car; but if he has a university education, he may steal the whole railroad.
– Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US President
A doctor friend in Johor Baru asked me last month why I have given up hope on the current crop of politicians in the country.
I guess he posed the question after reading my articles venting my frustration and disillusionment at the dismal state of political hegemony, particularly over the past three years.
I believe he was particularly disturbed with my repeated declaration that the majority of lawmakers from both Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan are insincere, selfish, untrustworthy and shady characters.
So, to hell with these parasites, leeches and suckers, I had retorted. Strong, scathing words (but justifiable) indeed from a citizen who is getting more and more restless with political development in the country each passing day. I’m sure I’m not alone.
Who is not sick and tired of the endless politicking and squabbles among the so-called leaders? At times, their behaviour and the words frothing from their ugly traps are so petty and childish that even kindergarten kids seem more mature and intelligent.
Malaysia has suffered from this sick political culture for far too long. It must end — the sooner the better.
I must pose here: How long do we, Malaysians, have to tolerate such scumbags loitering along the corridor of power, not to help change the lives of Malaysians for the better but to pounce at every opportunity to fulfil their selfish interests, enriching themselves being the top priority.
My JB friend is much older than me, nearing 80. So, I must say that he is definitely wiser. Or perhaps more patient and tolerant. He does not whine like me, aha.
The good doctor advised me to hang on to that little hope that must surely exist but to me, if we are still dependent on the same players in PH for salvation, I see no light at the end of the tunnel.
To me, PH today is a coalition which is about anything but hope. Period!
I do not believe in political parties and coalitions any more but cling on to the little faith I have in the few good men and women left in politics today. Sadly, their number is small.
There is an important issue which I did not discuss at length with my friend but I believe he shares my sentiments on corruption — that evil societal scourge which has destroyed many nations and peoples.
“So, PH was corrupt too”. I did not make that statement. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did.
Of all people, as the opposition leader and PH supremo, Anwar should know what he is talking about.
It’s not that you and I are so naïve and ignorant that we don’t know. Anwar has finally confirmed what we knew all along — PH, in its 22 months in power, was corrupt.
In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia and published last Sunday, Anwar said the people knew that ministers were accumulating wealth through mega projects and were spending luxuriously, adding that this was against the principles of PKR and PH.
The PKR president admitted his failure to control the party when he was still in prison but “during that time, those outside had built up their strength and accumulated wealth”.
Anwar also took a swipe at his former deputy turned deserter, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, saying that “He (Azmin) has chosen, so let it be”.
“Don’t trust people who are fond of making promises and are full of pretenses,” he added.
The latest political frog, Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar and a former PH minister, is another clear example of what was not right during PH’s tenure in power.
PKR has asserted that Jayakumar defected due to pressure from the MACC.
For the record, MACC had arrested a Perak PKR deputy chief whom Xavier said is a close family friend.
MACC also froze the accounts of a company and two directors linked to the alleged corruption scandal totalling RM77 million.
Meanwhile, a group of lawmakers aligned to Azmin also questioned PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s commitment to combating graft, in a veiled swipe at DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
The statement was referring to Lim’s acquittal from two graft charges in September 2018 over the alleged conversion of state land status and purchase of a bungalow at below market value.
However, two years later, Lim was slapped with four charges in relation to the construction of the undersea tunnel project in Penang. His trial will start in June.
I am not jumping to conclusion here and still believe that a man is innocent till proven guilty, as it should rightly be.
But what has emerged so far is very telling. The voters have been betrayed time and again.
Come the next election, we, the voters, must ensure that no politician is ever going to take us for a ride again. We must no longer be fooled but make our sacred votes count.
Because as this column states, “The Nation Matters”, not politicians. That is paramount.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
