THE early 1970s was a new beginning in Malaysia, with the introduction of the Barisan Nasional (BN) concept of national unity and a new social contract as outlined in the New Economic Policy. Many of us looked forward to the possibilities that lay ahead. 

Some of us even hoped that the BN coalition would coalesce into one party that was representative of the diversity of the nation. The ethnic parties that make up the coalition would then be less significant than the coalition itself that holds them together.

However this was not to be. The ethnic parties were bigger than the sum of all its parts, namely BN.  The ethnic chauvinism of each coalition member reacting to the chauvinism of the other created so much disillusionment. Citizens were called “pendatang”; the kris was bared at general meetings. Each coalition member spoke to its own ghetto at the expense of the other. 

Umno could not provide the leadership for a united Malaysia. They were more focussed on Malay rights and entitlements. There was no moderation when it came to religious issues and very little consultation. This lack of leadership has seen the growth of Islamic religious institutions that speak insensitively about Malaysians of other faiths.

The last 48 years have seen many Malaysians give BN chance after chance and and the last three election results tell the story of dis-enchantment, loss of faith and any hope that BN could make a difference in the lives of Malaysians as a whole.
 
In the 2004 general election, in Peninsular Malaysia, Umno won 96 seats, MCA 31 seats, MIC nine seats, and Gerakan 10 seats in Parliament. Excluding Umno, the others contributed 50 seats.

The tide changed in 2008 with Umno securing only 67 seats in Peninsular Malaysia. MCA dropped to 15 seats, MIC to three seats and Gerakan, two seats. The three parties’ contribution dropped to 20 seats.

In the last elections in 2013,  in Peninsular Malaysia, Umno secured 74 seats, MCA dropped to seven seats, MIC increased by one to four seats, and Gerakan was down to only one seat. The three components’ tally plunged to a mere 12 seats.

What does this reveal? Is this not a coalition only in name? MCA, MIC and Gerakan’s total 12 seats in the last election, from 50 seats in 2004, tell the story of their increasing irrelevance. 

Why did the electorate reject them? Is there any attempt to devise strategies that are people friendly to win back the electorate? It seems to be all about money, titles, payouts and handouts.

The predominance of Umno has not led to soul searching. This seems to be the new normal. There are no real attempts to even ask why BN has failed. Neither MCA, MIC nor Gerakan has come out with candid reasons. Their singular failure is subservience and they lack the moral fibre to speak truth to power and hold Umno accountable.  

With great power comes great responsibility. Umno leaders have failed Malaysia by destroying institutions of governance and accountability. They have played with race and religion to sustain their hold on power at the expense of the larger good. Visionary leadership with conviction remains sadly lacking. The goal of BN now seems to be to hold on to power at all cost.

This is best demonstrated in the way party elections are often postponed, positions are protected, and only those who have connections can go up the political ladder. There is little if any space for new leadership to step up, except for those who are mediocre, cronies and blind supporters.

This begs the question: What does BN stand for? What cause does it champion? There may be many answers to that, depending on which coalition partner you ask. It could be TN50, the latest slogan and subject of much glorification.

The political fragmentation which results when the parts are bigger than the whole leads to party members working for their own selfish interests.

Just consider the retired leaders of MCA, MIC, Gerakan, not to mention Umno itself, and where they are today. With titles and money, they have done well for themselves despite being shunned by the electorate in the recent elections. 

Corrupt Umno leaders are nominated to lead organisations like Felda. No one takes responsibility or are held accountable for their wrong choices.

Serving and promoting ethnic interests is not a big enough reason to manage and provide leadership to a nation as diverse as Malaysia. When mediocrity becomes the basis for leadership, what else can we expect?  

Umno must be held accountable and responsible for the state of continued fragmentation in our nation today.

Without self-reflection and an honest appraisal of the state of leadership within MCA, MIC and Gerakan, life will go on as before. How are we to have faith in their nation building  goals when they seem comfortable with the status quo?

Umno is the leader of the pack and the others coalition partners are merely subservient.  The current state of affairs is that these partners  are even reliant on Umno for funding support. Their irrelevance is so striking that it emboldens Umno to lead them not only into disarray but to exploit them to showcase a multi-ethnic front for the purpose of tourism.

The opposition also have its chunk of problems. However, I do know that Keadilan stands for justice; DAP stands for social justice and democracy; and PAS pushes the religious line. They are at least clear on their positions and standpoints, whether you agree with them or not.

When the election nears, we hear of the Indian blueprint as though BN has after decades awakened to the need for such a blueprint. Race is not a cause that unites. Justice, fairness and equity, poverty, health care and accountability are issues that concern all Malaysians and need to be addressed.

The Malay vote will be further splintered in the forthcoming elections and if MIC, Gerakan and MCA are mauled then we have the prospect of a new future. There is nothing else on the horizon. We have to regain the fundamentals of our democratic state, our constitution and our rights as citizens.

Twelve seats among three coalition members do not reflect an effective coalition. Yet with gerrymandering that results in disparity in number of voters per constituency, the setting up of army camps, and a range of unethical methods, this coalition would do its utmost to hang on to power.

So many embarrassing events and scandals – in the judiciary, GLCs, Felda, IMDB and MAS, to mention but a few – have damaged the international reputation of the country I love. 

Even the auditor’s report on 1MDB is classified. How long are we going to live this lie?

Our fate to some extent lies in the hands of voters in Sabah and Sarawak. Their votes and determination to save this nation will make a difference. It would be humbling for us in West Malaysia to realise that they hold the key votes. They have a sense of being Malaysians unlike our polarised society on the peninsula.
 
A people who value their privileges above basic acceptable principles will eventually lose both. The power of individual choice is the corner stone of democracy and you and I can exert this choice to get rid of what has become irrelevant in our politics. No Malaysian leader  has been so insulted by the international media as the kleptocrat, with the result that the nation’s standing has been brought low in the international arena.

While you definitely cannot have monkeys looking after bananas we need more than pledges regarding integrity. Who are the BN leaders who walk the talk and stand for what is right even at the cost of their political future? Will any right thinking person cast a vote in favour of the present leadership based on their performance? Serious questions to consider as we look ahead to 2018. Vote for a better Malaysia instead of the Malaysia of 2017.

* K. Haridas reads The Malaysian Insight.

* 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.