CLAIMS of a deep-state machinery working against the government’s interests recently surfaced.

It has been suggested that hidden hands triggered the actions of organs of state and enforcement agencies in some cases, and stonewalled various reform initiatives by Putrajaya.

But what is the deep state, exactly? It depends on who you ask. By most accounts, it is a group of powerful people who secretly influence the government. Power held by the unelected, to influence the elected.

They could include anyone. Senior civil servants, the ultra-rich, financial institutions, conglomerates, the military, police – anyone who wields soft or hard power, and uses it to bargain.

But isn’t that how the entire system functions anyway? The way it was designed in the first place?

The power of networking and influence is evident everywhere. It is the way trade is conducted locally and internationally, the way people decide on the best schools and colleges, the way money is channelled and the way policy is decided.

Old boy associations, top university alumni groups, special interest organisations, professional bodies, and merchant guilds based on trade, state, clan, race, and what have you. Sports associations, cultural bodies and art clubs, too.

It is also present in the way the civil service is structured, with the cream of the crop skimmed off the administrative and diplomatic officer training programme. The Royal Military College produces most of our military top brass. Similarly, the C-suites in government-linked companies and the corporate sector hire from a small, almost elite, pool.

Money, power and influence are closely related, and the people who possess them have interests to keep intact. The government changes and politicians move about, but these interests are permanent, so the aforementioned people want to maintain an environment favourable for the said interests, involving money-making, influence-wielding and power-brokering.

In short, the way the deep state works – resisting change, keeping certain quarters’ interests unsullied, wanting a say in the way things are done despite being unelected – is the same as any “open” lobby. The only real difference is the manner in which the lobbying is done and its efficacy.

The reality is that in politics, there will always be those who work for and against your interests. Managing this is part of the job.

Learning to navigate a system where there are people who have been around much longer than you, and will likely stay on long after you, is no easy feat. In many ways, you depend on them for assistance and support.

Non-elected “policymakers” occupy all three organs of state. They serve as advisers in the legislature and judiciary, while in the executive, they are involved from the inception to execution of laws.

The power and influence they have are, nevertheless, subject to the laws and policies enacted by the legislature. All laws must abide by the constitution, and the power to amend the constitution, to create or abolish any law, lies with elected representatives. For example, ministry officials have the authority to issue directives, but the ultimate power is in an act of Parliament, on which a minister can make recommendations.

As powerful as the deep state may be, elected representatives are higher up on the lawmaking ladder. They can check the power of non-elected “policymakers”, and even repeal laws enabling the influential few.

At the end of the day, it takes a healthy dose of daring and political will to rock the boat. – December 4, 2019.

* 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.