Real politics starts with the common people.
— Shesh Nath Vernwal, Indian publisher
The adage “sometimes the common folk see correctly” (interdum vulgus rectam videt — Latin) sends cold shivers to those in power. The English, American and French Revolutions consecrated a fertile soil for the seeds of restlessness, rebellion, and righteous indignation.
Seeing correctly, but being totally helpless in correcting the major political atrocities perpetrated by government is paradox oscillating between gullibility and vulnerability. All bets on people’s welfare vanish. The common folk become common fodder.
Napoleon Bonaparte was irresponsible when he claimed that religion would keep the common people quiet. History proves otherwise with the ravages of misinterpreted religion causing wars and genocide that glorified evil. Unenforceable international law sits idle, infirmed, incapable and impotent.
Meanwhile, the freefall of the ringgit remains unattended and neglected. Our leaders insist there’s positive GDP growth, reduced unemployment, controllable inflation, but fall short of offering solutions to this ongoing dilemma. When asked, PMX engages in rapid rapier rhetoric.
FBI (finance banking industry) experts say that currencies fall when there is political instability, interest rate differentials, or risk aversion among investors. Political instability seems to stand out. But our reserves, approximately $105 billion, are in US dollars — the major monstrous maniacal mocking magic money manipulating machine.
Why aren’t our leaders following the capitalist model of the Peoples Republic of China which is almost overtaking and subsuming western economies? The interplay between the yuan and the renminbi is a great eye-opener that Bank Negara must emulate for boosting our economy. Our experts on permanent furlough?
The common folk see correctly the consequences of political instability when religion is used to confuse, confound, conflate and cause fear. Religion is a private matter between adherents and their Maker. It has no place in politics. Leaders fail to see this in Malaysia especially where no religion is threatened.
The Glorious Revolution 1688-1689 begat the culture of salus populi est suprema lex (the welfare of the people is the supreme law — Latin) which Justice Eusoffe Abdoolcader articulated in Merdeka University Bhd. v Government of Malaysia (1981) CLJ Rep 191 / (1981) CLJ 175.
Putrajaya should pay attention to such rare judicial pronouncements. There are no votes to beg or buy without people. At the rate we are going, we may be encouraging a pantisocracy where everyone has equal power and authority making government redundant.
The common folk, the only known vital ingredient in any democracy, are always the last to know, and the last to be consulted. Voters are caught in the ignotum per ignotus (Latin) quagmire — the unknown is explained by the unknowing. PMX better not saw off the branch on which he’s sitting!
How much longer must the common folk wait to see that their welfare is the first priority? Government translates welfare to mean subsidies, exemptions, exceptions, gifts and handouts. Marcus Aurelius warned that “men seek opinions, not facts. Our eyes see perspective, not truth”. But, we see things correctly.
Article 153 Federal Constitution unequivocally assures every Malaysian a place under the Malaysian sun. Despite the ‘special position’ provision, every Malaysian is guaranteed the safekeeping and safeguarding of their legitimate interests. No other legitimate argument or persuasion necessary.
A recent announcement of a Bumiputera Economic Congress unerringly delivered a deliberate slap to Article 153 Federal Constitution. Swiftly, one eager politician added that Indians and Chinese are also invited while omitting mention of the Indigenous Peoples of the country including the Portuguese community in Melaka. Pan-Malaysian Economic Congress, perhaps?
PMX should tour the entire country regularly and frequently to personally seek the views and opinions of the common folk. Elected representatives are certainly not the voices of the common folk. He should not focus on foreign policy for now as no other potential occupying force is eyeing Malaysia for conquest.
PMX needs to know that “management is doing things right, and that leadership is about doing the right things”, a nostalgic reminder by Peter Drucker. Whatever advice PMX receives, he ought to know that there is a method to the madness of governance.
PMX needs economic, not political, advisors. He must depend on the grassroots support not just for winning elections, but to solve their unsettling economic plight. In China, reliable sources say they keep everyone rich so that nobody dabbles in, or messes with politics.
Constitutional amendments await to be promulgated to protect, preserve and propagate the economic standing of all Malaysians in Parliament which is not the forum for some potential frog claiming he refused a bribe to jump ship. He never went to the PDRM or the MACC with that allegedly fake complaint. The common folk are still laughing.
Incompetent leaders in every branch of government must now know that the Federal Constitution is not a sanitising document. Somebody better advise PMX that running a country is not synonymous with running a government. And, the common folk matter even when they are confused, furious or laughing.
The first sitting of Parliament a few days ago with the new YDPA subtly admonishing potential frogs is a momentous and refreshing beginning of a new leadership. Thank Providence that YDPA is not bound to act on wrong advice as subtly suggested in Article 40 Federal Constitution.
Real politics starts with the common people. PMX better realise that not listening to the common folk is nothing but voter suppression.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
