GOING by recent political developments, it is not hard to see why people are discouraged. 

It feels like they have no control over the fate of the country, its political direction or its policies. 

Despite overwhelming, near-impossible odds – lopsided electoral boundaries, misuse of government machinery, stoking of sensitive topics, barriers against government opponents, the opposition succeeded in creating history – overthrowing a government in power since Independence, only to be outmanoeuvred by Machiavellian tactics by people who are more accustomed to the crueller, raw side of politics.  

It was as though their efforts – 15 years in the making – were in vain. 

Setbacks aside, the opposition swallowed their pride in the interest of national stability, and worked with the government that only just stabbed them in the back, working to accomplish reforms that benefit the nation, but that they know they will have difficulty claiming credit for. 

Despite early proponent lawmakers like Dr Ong Kian Ming and Tony Pua being martyred for pushing for it, the now-infamous “memorandum of understanding” patched together between political foes worked relatively well, arguably even better than when Pakatan Harapan helmed the government!

More reforms were able to see the light of day, even those feared to have been shelved – the anti-party hopping bill, the anti-stalking bill, the voters – Undi18, automatic voter registration and so on. 

Still on the table – amendments to improve road safety and public transport and health – in the form of an ambitious smoking ban only achieved in one other country in the world so far! 

Yet all these good efforts seem to be lost on the political operatives ever so keen on having elections right now. 

Smack in the middle of a flood alert, with experts mobilising against the clock to secure housing and industrial areas to avoid loss of lives and property like last year. 

At a time of job layoffs, with reports of e-commerce companies letting employees go, and of banks cutting down on their number of branches.  

The ringgit doesn’t seem to be doing too well either and as a trading nation, this affects both our sales that happen in that currency, as well as our imports from food items to precision machinery. 

Rising interest rates, while benefiting the rich, will only further burden the poor already saddled with growing debt from downsized businesses, job losses and higher medical bills from wave after wave of Covid-19 and influenza-like-illnesses. 

It is against this backdrop that a handful of five politicians are said to decide our fate, when we go to the polls. 

Five, from a party that controls 37 seats in parliament, or just under 17% of the house. A party whose other partner coalition members disagree with calling for an election – two parties that control 45 seats between them. 

Of the five, only four are lawmakers – one of whom isn’t a parliamentarian – and of the three remaining, one is facing around 40 charges in court. 

None of these political positions are mandated to be consulted before in any law, constitutionally or otherwise.

The convention only mentions the king and the prime minister. That the prime minister used to be the Umno president is no convention broken by three consecutive prime ministers already. It is therefore a purely political consultation.  

In the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, perhaps the needs of the nation should outweigh the political realism of one party, or more accurately, one faction of a party. 

It is in a spirit of similar vein – the “greater good” that elections were denied, in Perak and Putrajaya before this – despite cries for democracy in much less dire times.

At this juncture, the party demanding for elections most, is already part of the government, and already holding the prime minister’s post. 

We cannot pick and choose times to suit our political ambition, or at least to have enough decency to think of the “bigger picture” as often claimed, rather than exposing the lust for naked power. – October 5, 2022.

* 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.

* 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.