MALAYSIAN politics is evolving at an exhilarating pace. We have had three prime ministers and an interim one in between within a span of two years. “Mahathirism” and an underarmed cricket bowl has turned the Malaysian political landscape and climate topsy turvy, exposing its soft belly!

The battle is far from over as we head into the first sitting of Parliament since the turmoil on May 18. PKR and DAP, being the hardest hit, will undoubtedly seek parliamentary and judicial remedies as they first go on tour explaining how the mandate was lost – or more aptly, how they lost it! The people will have to bear the consequence of more polemics as our politicians unethically twirl and leap from one decision to another.

Although the crisis was of Pakatan Harapan’s own making, it did not deserve to be removed from Putrajaya with such unethical and immoral misuse of our democratic system. The signs of a crumbling coalition were all there earlier as the knives came from within.

We have to come up with relevant laws in our national political landscape to prevent MPs changing parties at their whim and fancy. The sad fact remains that they have the discretion do so and that they claim to do so in keeping the people’s best interests at heart! The chameleon effect of this unethical move is slowly weighing in and, although there are grounds to argue on legitimacy, it may not be enough to quell the disappointment of the majority. This game of underestimating the people and the belief that they can always keep fooling all the people, all the time, will not work anymore, especially with how knowledgeable and well-informed contemporary society is.

Malaysian society has been put through a crash course in understanding the basics of political science and how our system of democracy works. The fluidity of political power moves in tandem with the intentions and actions of all the limbs of the executive, legislative and judiciary. The monarchy, which plays a limited role in a well-oiled parliamentary system, had to make a significant decision when the executive pushed the system into a corner. The king called it as fairly and firmly as the system would allow. We saw it all unfold in the past month. There was no chaos; the people remained calm and went about their daily routine, and our system awaits the next remedial recourse available. Ultimately, the people will have the final say.

For the moment, the new cabinet has the reins of government and needs to prove its worth with good governance immediately.

PH lost its focus as promises in its manifesto went awry. Dr Mahathir triggered the crisis with his abrupt and unexpected resignation when he should have at least given an opportunity to the PH presidential council to weigh the options. After all, he was appointed in the first place as the seventh prime minister by joint consensus from that same council. Then came 21 months of the classic divide and rule approach based on the philosophy of keeping everyone unhappy! The lack of cohesiveness among the ruling PH coalition was apparent, which gradually led to its downfall.

Yes, it’s time to move on and hope we can still achieve our true potential as a nation, combining the historical strengths of Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak. We need a real breath of fresh air again and new dynamic statesman leaders who can take us there. The people demand better of our politicians. – March 10, 2020.

* G. Selva reads The Malaysian Insight.