POLITICIANS’ disregard for the Covid-19 standard operating procedure has made the public more conscious of injustices and double standards, said analysts.

However, the negative public sentiment will not necessarily have an impact on votes in the elections.

They told The Malaysian Insight the people are more upset by the constant U-turns on policies than by public figures breaking the law as the latter has little effect on the people’s livelihood.

Over the past few months, social media has seen an overwhelming number of Malaysians expressing their disgust at the politicians’ exploits, using the hashtag #KerajaanGagal.

Senior analyst at ISIS research, Tashny Sukumaran, said she believes the public has become far more conscious and irate about the double standards related to the lockdown.

Whether or not these sentiments will work against politicians is less clear, she said.

“While there may be individual pockets of resentment when elections approach, candidates will have plenty of room for ‘redemption’ by way of handouts and promises,” she said.

She said politicians are certainly aware of the widespread public disgruntlement.

“However, it does not seem to be a key factor in their larger decision-making processes despite the odd small U-turns or sacking here and there,” she said.

Independent political analyst Ooi Kok Hin said the people are now more willing than usual to confront the elites including celebrities, royalty, and millionaires.

This is because it is the people who bear the brunt of the consequences of their actions, he said.

“If new virus clusters and cases remain high, the lockdown could be extended. It is their livelihoods and movements that get restricted then.

“The elite can still move around, see their family, test drive a new car while some of us have not seen our family for a year,” he said.

He said it does not matter if the rule breakers are aware of this. “What matters is the failure to punish double standards.”

Dr Rabi’Ah Aminudin, assistant professor in political science at International Islamic University Malaysia, said politicians are aware of the online mobilisation of the public.

“We can see this in the instances where the government has clarified or changed the Covid-19 standard operating procedure (SOP) due to public sentiments on online platforms,” she said.

Rabi’Ah said while politicians are aware of this, they do not necessarily take it seriously as they know they still hold much influence and power.

“We have seen politicians who have caused anger win elections by a large majority.

“Therefore, as long as their position in their constituency is strong, we cannot say that public backlash in general will have a strong impact on the politicians unless they are aiming for bigger positions in government,” she said.

Dangerous development  

Aira Azhari, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs democracy and governance unit manager, said growing public distrust of the government is a dangerous development.

“It is obvious that Malaysians’ trust in government, politics, and ultimately democracy has been shattered,” she said.

“The government received a lot of praise earlier on in the pandemic, but post-Sabah elections especially, Malaysians have increasingly lost faith in the politicians’ ability and sincerity in getting us through this pandemic,” she said.

“This is a dangerous development as erosion of trust in democratic institutions presents a ripe situation in which extremism, populism, and authoritarianism can fester,” she said.

In India for example, she said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party has greatly exacerbated the impact of the pandemic.

She said that in Malaysia it is rare for public anger to negatively impact a politician’s popularity or position of power.

“Bear in mind that incompetent ministers are voted in by a majority of their constituents, which means that the only way to really threaten their positions is by voting them out.”

“This is why voter education is equally as important as institutional reforms.”

Since the start of the pandemic, several politicians and public figures have been caught flouting the rules. The list includes:

1. Former Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman Tajuddin Abdul Rahman appeared wearing a face shield without a mask at a meeting with the media following an LRT train crash on May 25. His behaviour at the press conference led to his being sacked by Prasarana. He was fined RM1,500 for violating the Covid-19 SOP.  

2. Terengganu exco Azman Ibrahim was fined RM2,000 after he breached the SOP by allowing his neighbour to visit him on the first day of Hari Raya.  

3. Singer Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin and her husband Khalid Mohamad Jiwa were each fined RM10,000 for violating Covid-19 SOP by hosting a large gathering for their child’s naming ceremony. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Zulkifli Mohamad and three religious speakers present at the event were fined RM2,000 each.

4. Celebrity Noor Neelofa and her husband have been fined for multiple offences; for not practising social distancing during the solemnization of their marriage, for breaking the interstate travel ban to go on a honeymoon, and most recently for failing to use the MySejahtera app and wearing a mask. She and her husband have paid RM20,000 in fines so far. – June 12, 2021.