The idea of 'ethnic' parties in this day and age should be laughable. Instead, it's Malaysian politics that are laughable, but in a sad and mirthless way :-(
The sentiments of hope. Or hopelessness? I sense more of the latter. In structural and institutional terms, despite the elections (whenever they're held), I do not expect there to be much or any substantive changes to that country's politics (and let's not forget the political links that underpins Malaysia's economy and the manifestly crony nature of capitalism). Indeed, I see more of the same. That's because the structures and institutions of old will not change, no matter who wins (I expect Umno will win it), by hook or crook (it's too often by crook). Pakatan had shown its unwillingness to change the "system" because it realised it couldn't afford to disenfranchise the bulk of the Malay population, specially the rural folk, who feed off Umno like a newborn calf on the teats of its mother. It's also clear, if history is any guide, that Malaysia's politicians, including not a few in the opposition, also feed off that same system. So why break the hand that feeds you? If you watch and listen and listen to everything Anwar Ibrahim says, you'd worry even more if you were a Malaysian. You'd know he hasn't got a leg to stand on, so he plays the system too, for himself, his cronies and his nepotists. And if you watch, listen and read what Rafizi Ramli says, you'd ask what in hell';s name is Anwar Ibrahim's game, much less end-game. Now, hypothetically, if Rafizi Ramli were in Anwar's shoes and leads Pakatan and wins the next election, will any fundamentally change in the "system" that undergirds Malaysian politics and economy? I'll stick my neck out now and say "no". And the reasons, though many, are clear. Few, if anybody in Malaysian politics, want to change anything, notionally or fundamentally. Not when bank-loads of money are involved day in and out.
The idea of 'ethnic' parties in this day and age should be laughable. Instead, it's Malaysian politics that are laughable, but in a sad and mirthless way :-(
Regarding 'the system' so diligently described below, it was Dr. Martin Luther King who warned everyone about 'the soft bigotry of low expectations.'
The sentiments of hope. Or hopelessness? I sense more of the latter. In structural and institutional terms, despite the elections (whenever they're held), I do not expect there to be much or any substantive changes to that country's politics (and let's not forget the political links that underpins Malaysia's economy and the manifestly crony nature of capitalism). Indeed, I see more of the same. That's because the structures and institutions of old will not change, no matter who wins (I expect Umno will win it), by hook or crook (it's too often by crook). Pakatan had shown its unwillingness to change the "system" because it realised it couldn't afford to disenfranchise the bulk of the Malay population, specially the rural folk, who feed off Umno like a newborn calf on the teats of its mother. It's also clear, if history is any guide, that Malaysia's politicians, including not a few in the opposition, also feed off that same system. So why break the hand that feeds you? If you watch and listen and listen to everything Anwar Ibrahim says, you'd worry even more if you were a Malaysian. You'd know he hasn't got a leg to stand on, so he plays the system too, for himself, his cronies and his nepotists. And if you watch, listen and read what Rafizi Ramli says, you'd ask what in hell';s name is Anwar Ibrahim's game, much less end-game. Now, hypothetically, if Rafizi Ramli were in Anwar's shoes and leads Pakatan and wins the next election, will any fundamentally change in the "system" that undergirds Malaysian politics and economy? I'll stick my neck out now and say "no". And the reasons, though many, are clear. Few, if anybody in Malaysian politics, want to change anything, notionally or fundamentally. Not when bank-loads of money are involved day in and out.