IT is puzzling that in spite of various challenges facing everyday Malaysians, such as inflation, unemployment, floods, heat, indiscriminate logging, and widening wealth gap, politicians are choosing to debate elitist topics.

Sadly, the nation is caught up in elitism where elites decide the nation’s discourse and expect Malaysians to be receptive to their tone.

An example of this is PKR president Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to take up former prime minister Najib Razak’s challenge to debate a bailout for the financially troubled Sapura Energy Bhd.

While debates are part and parcel of a democratic system, one has to assess whether a particular debate will resonate with and is relevant to the people.

Unless the underlying social-economic ideology is challenged, one would not go far in bringing about substantive reforms. There would only be piecemeal changes that tend to protect vested interests. 

The focus on the failures of corporate entities would miss the forest for the trees if the economic ideology that underpins it is not exposed for the systemic role it plays in forging a close relationship between political and business interests.

In terms of socio-economic vision, there is no fundamental difference between Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.  Both parties thrive on neo-liberal economics. This is the main reason the two agree on many environmental and labour issues, for example, raising the minimum wage alone without nurturing an eco-system of human capital development that respects human rights, the right to bargain and freedom of association, and protect workers from violence and harassment at work place.

Barisan National, Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harpan have no clear distinctive vision for a green Malaysia.

It is hoped that there will be more debate on substantive issues that affect Malaysians instead of focusing on a corporate entity.

There is a need to stop wasting time on elitist debates. We need debates on distinctive visions among political coalitions so that Malaysians would be well informed before they cast their votes in the next general election. – April 8, 2022.

* Ronald Benjamin is secretary for Association for Welfare Community and Dialogue.