Tulisan Shed Pele dlm Malay Mail 02.02.2009

Politics shall redeem itself
By Rashid Yusof February 02, 2009 Categories: Opinion

The languid tale of kisah rakyat, or philosophies of the common man, often found in this space shall resume some other time. Politics unleashed last month the nearcapacity of its noise-potential by way of a by-election, a defection, hints of tit-for-tat and the impact of a crackdown on alleged vote-buying.

The atmosphere, as a result, is rather pregnant with politics. For starters, politics was a by-theway stuff when I met Pak Mad who turns 85 in November. I have borrowed heavily from the repertoire of his Penang-speak for the pleasures it gives. An example is duit keluaq kut telinga (‘money oozing out of one’s ears’ – connotating successful business). The stunning simplicity of his ideals and ways – including his passions for travel, food and music – is celebrated by his narrative style of chronicling passages of history backed by his remarkable IT qualities. He is an iconic figure.

When the good Tan Sri (newly minted) graciously turned up the other day at my usual kedai makan after his morning walk, a laughterfilled chat proceeded.

Politics was however far from being casual in subsequent conversations I had had during a whirlwind visit of Kelantan and Terengganu last week.

The Masjid Kristal in Kuala Terengganu, a family in Kota Baru told me, erupted as an issue largely because Muslims are barred from praying there! Most curious, I said, and duly promised to check. At the said mosque a day later, a big crowd converged under the blistering sun marking the definitive monsoon end.

An out-of-town family rolled out the picnic paraphernalia – the whole works. I sauntered into the mosque and prayed. Many others did likewise. No restrictions, nothing.
Muslims are not supposed to boast about their religious duties but I am making a point here as we remain hopeful that the distressing schism triggered by so-routine a matter like electing wakil rakyat and forming government, does not rob us of our head, or terrorise whole populations, and sensibilities.

Should Umno add “Islam” to its name to equalise this cherished, shared pursuit of religious enhancements, I asked a retired educator, at another household in KB, hinting of exasperation at the tone of Malay political divide of decades.

That would not make Umno as Islamic as Pas is, he reasoned. Why so? Because, came the reply, Umno will curb the rise of the ulama in its ranks!

Of a more immediate concern is the question of will politics interfere with the job of managing the economy during a world-scale crisis?
Pakatan Rakyat, despite its Bota “conquest”, shall be restrained about mounting another attempt to usurp power via mass defections of MPs.
Common sense dictates that the Pakatan dreads threading into an economic minefield as the government, one that has to produce instant results.
If the economy slips into a meltdown under Pakatan’s watch, Umno- BN shall secure a landslide victory come 2013, an election that shall also feature six to seven million young voters. This 20-something constituency has a political mind filled with ideals of democracy and of justice, justifiably so. They have been apportioning blame for what they perceive to be transgressions of these virtues. What they distinctly lack is memory of party-hopping of elected representatives. The episode of early-1994 when Parti Bersatu Sabah Adun (State assemblymen) joined BN parties is too distant for them to chew. That makes Bota a powerful landmark as it came at a time of apparently greater civil liberties.

Pakatan may have entered their consciousness as the first offender of a democratic principle, of failure to accord the vote the utmost respect. Sept 16 was not a transgression because there was no actual defection.

Umno-Barisan, on the other hand, allowed Pas to carry on in Kelantan from 2004 to 2008 despite its razorthin edge in the Legislative Assembly, as was the case in pre-Bota Perak.
Politics tends to keep redeeming itself by reverting to the good causes. After a brawl, what? Bring on the good stuff. One ready platform is energising the Senate (Dewan Negara) to match the new-vigour of the Dewan Rakyat. The ruling coalition will earn plaudits for appointing Senators outside the realm of party politics.

The point – generate tangible ideas to draw more into the actual political process, or risk being overwhelmed by the din, derision and fatigue.

● Former journalist on sabbatical Rashid Yusof, in the explicit spirit of full-disclosure, wishes to declare that he is an Umno sympathiser who now serves as a Public Relations person for Rembau MP, Khairy Jamaluddin.