THE state of Malaysian politics, it can be argued, has never been as fragmented as it is today. 

We have a record number of candidates, coalitions, political parties and independents all vying for the same number of seats since 2008, to match a record number of new electorate, at seven million. Contextually, the total number of voters in 2008 was around seven million. 

An overwhelming majority of the voters, or around 60%, are Malays, and the primary age group of voters, around 77%, are aged between 21 and 50, the prime working age range. 

Perhaps playing to this gallery, the fear-mongering against DAP has not only continued, but intensified. 

It has become synonymous with anti-Islam, anti-Malay, and anti-royalty sentiments, and the erosion of the position of the three, despite little to no proof other than disproven rhetoric, rather the opposite, lawsuits won by DAP leaders accused of it, that prove that it is mere rhetoric. 

But the political fragmentation goes beyond that of Malay-Muslims versus the non-Malay-Muslims. 

Even the Malay ground is split further than before. If it had Umno, PAS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to choose from the last time, PAS has teamed up with a former PH party, forming another coalition, while the other half of the same party has formed a fourth coalition, comprising a nearly full Malay-Muslim component and candidate list. This gives the Malay demographic even more options. 

This increased uncertainty has created a scenario where no one party will likely command a strong majority support, and likely not even a simple majority. 

This is despite two of the coalitions that preach stability (ironically, the ones that created the state of politics that we are in), that, barring a unidirectional political tsunami, is unlikely to place us in a position less shaky than we were in the first place. 

It is not necessarily a bad thing; quite the opposite, even. 

We have all seen how Barisan Nasional (BN) tamp down on its arrogance after one shock loss in the last general election. 

PH quickly learnt that haste and bulldozing decisions is not something the civil service nor the rakyat appreciates.

Having parties’ neck-and-neck keeps them all on their toes, and minimises the likelihood of corruption and abuse of power. 

Yet so unaccustomed are we to this concept, perhaps in no small part by the theme of stability played up by BN since its inception, that even before the elections are completed, talks about a “unity” government are already being floated. 

The irony is, the theme isn’t one that is positive, nor in the spirit of unity. It is instead in the negative, or the express exclusivity of it. 

Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Mahyudin Yassin has come forward to insist the coalition is going at it alone, denouncing a PAS leader’s comments that the Islamist party is open to forming a government with BN. 

BN and PH have both come forward to say they aren’t working with each other, and in what is believed to be a narrative by PN, there is rumoured to be a secret pact between the two. 

Gabungan Parti Sarawak has come forward to say, ironically, while claiming neutrality, that it would rather see BN win. 

Smaller parties perhaps are looking to be kingmakers in this chaos, with many joking about this disunity, say maybe Dr Mahathir Mohamad will see a third term after all, a joke that doesn’t seem too far from possibility! 

But everyone seems to be missing the point – to respect the wishes of each community is the very essence of a successful unity government. 

Even if sworn enemies PH and BN form the bulk majority, it is incumbent on their leaders to find a way, or at least put in order a confidence and supply arrangement. 

To negate the possibility this early on, or to claim it is not possible, is to potentially waste an electoral process to mature our democracy and normalise mature politics in Malaysia.

Politics is after all, as they say, the art of the impossible. – November 17, 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.