TWO recent deaths within the ranks of Pakatan Harapan assemblymen in Selangor have caused two by-elections to be called, namely Sg Kandis and Balakong.

This is an early acid test for the new government, as it can be seen as a referendum of sorts for their early decisions and policies, some of which contravene their own manifesto and appear to go against popular opinion.

While the appointing of a non-MP speaker or delay in repealing Sosma might only irk civil rights activists, the common Selangor citizen would be wondering if the highway tolls, most of which sit on Kuala Lumpur and Selangor soil, will be abolished, or if the return of the SST will drive up prices again.

There were friendly overtures between Umno and Pas in the previous general elections, but this time around, there appears to be a tacit agreement that PH is a common enemy. Umno will field its candidate against PKR in Sungai Kandis, and PAS has declared it will stay out of Umno’s way. Umno has also said it is considering using its own logo for this election, and MCA has reciprocated by proposing to use its own for Balakong.

The revival of logos never before used after Merdeka on an elections ballot paper is a clear indication of increasingly frosty relations between Barisan Nasional’s three remaining parties and also denotes a dangerous drift back to racial politics.

While it was common knowledge that Umno plays an overbearingly dominant role in the BN coalition, the presence of the other twelve parties tempered this with a weak form of political correctness.

If this latest development takes place, however, it paves the way for gloves-off, no-holds-barred, purely racial politics.

Coupled with PAS’ increasingly conservative rhetoric in what appears to be their attempt at mounting a strong challenge to Umno, these developments present a real threat of driving Malaysia further to the political right, raising the temperature and putting to test again the harmony we enjoy in Malaysia, at a time where it is already on its last two feet.

Dangerous as it is, this appears to be the new political reality fast approaching, and needs to be tackled in the contest of ideas we call a democracy without resorting to restrictive laws and autocratic measures. This course set knowingly or unknowingly by parties in the previous administration and peripheral organisations should be stopped and turned around if “moderate” Malaysia is to have a fighting chance.

Religious leaders, community figures, and celebrities who in the past needed to pander to the powers that be should shrug this off and find their moderate voice again, while proponents of middle Malaysia, shouted down and restricted, should double their efforts to realise their vision of bringing back the “good old days”.

The battle for the hearts and minds of radicalised Malaysians will also need to address the root reason that such racial tactics worked in the first place – poor education, poverty, religious extremism and lack of integration.

Giving in to the temptation to legislate harmony into law would only give rise to resentment, and in the long term, birth a different form of hate to replace the one some people wish to ferment. – July 25, 2018.

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

* 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.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.