SINCE the start of the pandemic, nearly every political party has pledged to set aside politics and work towards protecting Malaysians and saving the economy. Yet we continue to see political activity on the uptrend, some not only unnecessary but downright ridiculous.

We saw the formation of splinter parties, and a new party form. We saw the federal government change once and at least four attempts to change its back, with a fifth attempt of a claim of “having the numbers”  to take place this week.

This latest attempt drew the ire of former PKR Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, and even criticism from Anwar’s staunch supporters, the Otai Reformasi group.

The one “proper” chance to protest the budget and by extension, the administration, in Westminster tradition, the budget policy vote fell victim to a failed political strategy, which subsequently saw the next 16 votes at committee stage for individual ministries pass with little opposition. This includes a smaller, but still unnecessary budget for the Special Affairs Department, at a time frontliners are stretched to capacity without additional pay or allowance to help them cope.

At the state level, it is not much different. We saw the governments of Kedah, Perak, Johor, Malacca and Sabah change hands.

To Warisan, who fought bravely but lost in the Sabah elections that led to a huge Covid-19 wave in the state, this for some reason seems the best time to open a Semenanjung branch.

Perak has had three mentris besar swear-in – one lost an election, another because of party defection and the third due to infighting. What’s tragically funnier, after making much capital about DAP’s “chauvinist” ways and the need for Malay-Muslim unity, the infighting occurred between three ideologically identical Malay-Muslim parties over who should fill the state’s top post.

On the administrative front too, we don’t seem to have our priorities straight.

There could be a better time to go ahead with grand-standing projects like naming stadiums after oneself, building memorials, or threatening to block off river flow to neighbouring states.

We are supposed to be taking Covid-19 seriously, but the signals from the administration are anything but.

While it is understandable that the economy needs breathing space to survive, consistency and predictability is also an important economic consideration.

There is no point announcing hundreds of summonses, enforcing SOPs that make little sense a day if factories are allowed to flout housing rules, costing the taxpayers millions in hospitalisation fees for thousands of affected employees, and putting ten times that number of populations at risk. Nor does it make much sense to lock down entire districts and states while allowing infected factories to operate as usual.

On one hand we are telling people to stay at home and avoid going out unless they have urgent business, and with the other, promoting local tourism.

Instead, why not expend all that energy on promoting and enforcing good, understandable and logical SOPs?

This week’s parliament sitting saw the opposition stage a walkout when two government ministers attended the session in full PPE attire.

What is the point of even having a quarantine if we are to grant exemptions for every reason, and who can be expected to obey the order when ministers in charge themselves don’t see fit to, hiding behind speaker’s rulings and permission from the MOH?

Not all politicians, thankfully, are about battle lines.

The state assembly of Johor, for example, shows mature debates and good cooperation in promoting Covid-19 awareness. In Selangor, the opposition plays a constructive role instead of politicising the water crisis. In Perlis, the smallest state took the biggest step of any PN-led government in approving funds for opposition representatives.

The coming months are the most critical in preserving our already fragile economy and keeping the numbers of infections manageable, while maintaining stable administration and in a volatile situation.

Furthermore, while it is important to secure safe, effective and affordable vaccines and deliver them to a country of 30 million tired, spent rakyat, there is also a need for the leaders to lead and practise what they preach for once. – December 16, 2020.

* 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.