Not another Election now

I'm sure every (well, most) Malaysian is totally dismayed over the manner in which political power appears to be peddled from a legally elected government by the Rakyat in 2018, to one that is now called a "Back Door Politicians" (BDP) team.

There is, at this time of writing, every likelihood that this deadlock may be resolved by going to the polls. I know that many of us are screaming, let us go back to the polling booths to decide on who should run the country. This cry is filled with, I'm afraid, irrational motives. Mostly anger. And when we vote with anger, the results are always....disastrous. I am not in favour of a snap general election at this time. These are my reasons:

1) The BDP kleptocrats have nothing to lose at all. They have been charged in court, being tried and indications are that some if not all, will be found guilty. By calling for a fresh mandate, their trials will be postponed and they get to live to fight another day. The Rakyat had booted out their govt in 2018 precisely to see them jailed for their alleged crimes, if found guilty. Up until a few days ago, the Rakyat's aspirations were on track. Let's not scupper this process of righteousness. Justice must be done.

2) The country's finances are being repaired by Pakatan Harapan (PH) (now demised) and the confidence level index was on the rise with world markets. With a new election that will definitely change the economic drivers, the good work done so far is definitely going to be derailed. The ramifications are quite certainly negative and will be long felt by the Rakyat who had no part in these political charades.

3) The BDP fellows who were booted out by the people, have nothing to lose by clamouring for a "recount" now. If anything, they have a chance to make a comeback with a fresh election that they will almost certainly, manipulate, with the assistance of the deep state. Afterall, this was their modus operandi for years. Remember, most of the missing billions may reappear mysteriously to appease some hungry vote devils in 2020. Do we want to risk an election that has the remotest possibility of being rigged? 

4) We have seen the Rakyat's anger at some underperforming PH ministers, namely from Bersatu. Because of this anger, I worry very much that there are elements in society that will punish other former PH reps (who are doing good work) simply because of being associated with Bersatu. We all have read blogs and social media posts where the impatients have vented their frustrations at the delays in implementing election promises. I had written about this before...."Cutting my nose to spite my face". I'm afraid that we cannot risk a backlash of voters that will ultimately "cut off our noses" by their emotional act(s) at the polling booths. We may make an error in choosing the "lesser" evil given the choices we will be presented with.

5) I dare say, if an election was called now, there will be many "independents" who will run, and not surprisingly, will get elected. Given the state of political flux currently, many of these independents are unlikely to have well defined political manifestos. This fractioned election will lead to many camps in the new cabinet, something that will make governing very difficult for an elected Executive. I'm positive that we will have a minority govt with a sizeable elected independent MPs. Independents ruling the floor are not necessarily good when we need a wise decision in the August house. It may well happen that we end up having a lame-duck parliament.

6) Given the hightened racial and religion-centric state of the country currently, I fear that the Rakyat may vote along ethnic lines with more gusto than before. Many good candidates may end up losing because they are a victim of this polarised voting vendetta. We have seen this happen in the several by-elections held in 2019. UMNO and PAS (and even maybe Bersatu now) will certainly go on a racially pronged strategy to garner support. We fought for 61 years to vote as Malaysian and now to regress into parochialism is definitely a major disappointment to those of us who believe in the "best man for the job" dictum.

7) From the above reason, it is my believe that Bersatu, Azmin's faction of PKR, many PKR reps, some Amanah reps and perhaps, some DAP reps will lose the seats they previously won. Whatever it is, I will expect a net loss (compared to 2018) collectively in the PH camp. We all know, the beneficiary will be the BN parties who will undoubtedly run along chauvinistic lines. And with this expected pattern, some kleptocrats will be the winner. Are we ready to reward their past misdeeds?

8) A fresh election will cost at least RM 2 bil in public funds. And the mis-allocation of human and capital assets that can be elsewhere deployed for genuine national needs, especially now. I just dread the financial and rhetorical waste that will ensue with a fresh election. 

9) If the BDP does indeed form (part of) the next government, we can expect 90% of the current charges faced by some of them to be dropped, or the courts to rule those charges as "flawed". Imagine, murders, CBT, thefts, abuse of power, corruption and so on, all of which details were graphically described by witnesses and publicized in the media - to simply vanish. We must also be cognizant that besides the millions wasted in the trials so far, there will be 100% "revenge" actions.....many heads will roll with a new Executive team in place. Everything will swept under the carpet. Justice that the Rakyat was waiting for eagerly, will be chucked into the dustbins of polarized politics. 

10) Post election, I can almost definitely forsee a populace, if the inevitable happens, that would have lost hope in a Malaysia Baru. Freedom of speech will be further limited, arbitrary detentions will increase, rule by law be the norm and many of the liberties the Rakyat now enjoys, be reduced or even removed. Odious laws that are in the process of being repealed, will enjoy a rejuvenation. ISA or it's ilks, may make a comeback. This time with more bite.

11) If a fresh election is called, I expect Tun to be the 8th PM in the new coalition. However, with reduced input from PKR, Amanah and DAP in the national administration, many of the rational policies we enjoy in Malaysia Baru, will almost for sure be curbed by his hard-core lieutenants, now empowered by the fresh vote. I have no doubt that religious extremism will become institutionalized in Malaysia, to levels never seen before. The Muftis of certain states will enjoy movie-star fame and liberties. Some permanent residents who are till now treading softly, will be granted facility to insult other races in Malaysia with impunity.

12) With a BDP team, the sacred offices of the Judiciary, MACC, Audit Dept and the Public Oversight Committees will likely be compromised. I expect Latifah Koya and Tommy Thomas to be replaced within 30 days. In place, cronies and old favour collectors will be given coveted positions to look the other way. This has happened before and there is no reason why we should doubt that this will not recur.

I could go on and on but just these frightening prospects highlighted above, are enough to make us rethink a fresh poll. My belief is, we should let the interim prime minister form a government based on his experience of working with PH (but not necessarily with all the politicians who held office before). Those who performed well should be retained so that there's continuity of execution of the Rakyat's mandate given in 2018. Those who were laggards, let's get new blood to do the work.

But one thing's for sure, we should not include the BDPs who have been charged for various offences against the interest of the nation. The billion dollar question is, will politics of Malaysia allow him an unfettered right to do the right thing for Malaysia Baru ?

And if he does not do the right thing, we still have GE15 to redress this.