THERE was plenty of reaction when former prime minister Najib Razak visited Penang last week. Pro-opposition social media users took to their timelines, berating his supporters and threatening host organisers and venues alike, shaming many of them into either apologising or denying they were involved.  

Najib’s association with 1MDB and his subsequent corruption conviction of the 42-million-ringgit case and ongoing trials have hogged the headlines for almost a year, before losing steam. 

To say the public has lost interest in 1MDB would be an understatement. The pandemic, ensuing economic spiral, loss of jobs and closure of businesses, and lockdown fatigue have all taken their toll on a very tired citizenry. 

They simply aren’t interested in politicking. The dwindling voter turnouts in successive elections and continual losses for the opposition is as much an indictment of local politics as it is indication of a resurgent Barisan Nasional. 

Instead of blaming it on petty issues and turning it on the voters, the opposition bloc should take stock of events since the last general election, increased political bickering despite declining interest in political goings-on, new fringe parties forming amidst splits within existing opposition parties, friendly opposition parties seeking to expand their power base beyond their own areas, cannibalising their own common base, a lack of unity and strategic understanding leading to double and triple overlaps with each other, and a dearth of healthy narrative to galvanise voter support and capture their imagination. 

It’s been four years since the general elections, and Perikatan Nasional, in whichever iteration you prefer, has now served as the sitting government even longer than the 22 months old Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration that it overthrew, yet PH seems transfixed on issues it thinks helped it win the past elections, even though it is blindingly obvious it has not won them much new support, instead eroding their present base. 

At a time of disillusionment and confusion, people often turn to people they associate with strength, stability and “better times”, the same way just five years ago when Dr Mahathir Mohamad became a rallying point for the very same.

Corruption convictions, charges and allegations aside, Najib has built his credentials with cash aid, free books for students, infrastructure projects and lowering toll, petrol costs and imported car prices. 

People quickly forget corruption and allegations of wealth, particularly in difficult times.  

PH leaders harping on this need to realise that these issues, despite their belief that they remain fundamental core issues are perceived by a majority of voters as political ideals, and political idealism almost always loses out to bread-and-butter issues, especially in times of political and economic uncertainty. 

These activist-type politicians need to understand that in less developed countries, like our own, criminal wrongdoings are quickly forgiven especially when traded off against political expediency, and immediate “gain”. 

In Indonesia, the late Suharto’s children, Tuty and Tommy, both lead their own political parties, still surviving despite their father’s chequered legacy and Tommy’s criminal convictions. 

J. Jeyalalitha, the former Tamil Nadu chief minister in India, was charged with disproportionate wealth for a 2022 equivalent amount of RM172 million, or three times Najib’s, with a trial lasting 18 years, forced to step down as chief minister twice, only to return to power ten years later. Some of her supporters even immolated themselves to protest her conviction.   

Even in countries like the United Kingdom, where politicians undergo cycles of popularity, dwindling with a public brouhaha and forgiven when the flavour of the week does something more unforgivable. Keith Vaz, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson are examples of these cyclic MPs. 

James Ibori of Nigeria was sentenced to 13 years in the UK, only to return to his country as an arguably more influential politician.

Najib is working this to his advantage brilliantly, playing on both public affection while trolling his opponents with taunts and jests, knowing full well this may not translate to votes, nor win him much traction with the judiciary, but could trigger his opponents into helping him win even more support, or at least, sympathy. 

Despite being great with social media strategy, enough to bring down a never-before-beaten government juggernaut, PH needs to be careful not to be beaten at their own game. – March 30, 2022.

* Emmanuel Joseph firmly believes that Klang is the best place on Earth, and that motivated people can do far more good than any leader with motive.