I’m becoming increasingly convinced that the internal dynamics within political parties and political coalitions are one of the biggest problems in Malaysia.
These last few days, there were perhaps two developments in this field worth taking note of: Zuraida Kamaruddin’s decision to jump from Bersatu to Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and the PKR internal elections.
As an aside, I must say it’s personally very frustrating to see the Bangsa Malaysia concept that has been worked on by many good people within civil society become the latest idea to be hijacked by unscrupulous politicians.
It’s a little depressing to see toxic politics infecting almost every wholesome phrase or brand that can be thought up, here in Malaysia.
The concept of "Bangsa Malaysia” can truly be the unifying concept that Malaysia needs so badly right now.
But if the concept is hijacked by politicians - especially a set of politicians who are probably most famous for heinous betrayals and incessant party hopping - then this negative association ultimately hampers the efforts of those who are truly invested in the idea of a genuine Bangsa Malaysia.
In any case, some rumours have it that Zuraida made a move to exit Bersatu as part of upcoming negotiations between Bersatu and Pakatan Harapan to team up against Barisan Nasional in the 15th General Election (GE15).
The likes of Zuraida and Azmin Ali know they will never be accepted by PH, and probably want to back BN, who remain the favourites to prevail in GE 15.
In this sense, Parti Bangsa Malaysia is likely to be trying to position itself as ‘BN-friendly PKR’ of sorts. A replacement of the Gerakan of yore, maybe.
I personally doubt the people involved in that party have anything of value to add to BN, or to anywhere else really. They exemplify all the worst there is in Malaysian politics, and are likely to be a liability to any coalition they are trying to associate themselves with.
I wonder if it is worth considering it a curiosity if the likes of Zuraida and Azmin believe they would not be accepted by parties like PKR, in a scenario where PH as a whole would consider working with the likes of Muhyiddin Yassin.
Are the levels of betrayal so very different?
I suppose we come back to the dictum of how in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies.
The question of political expediency must have featured largely in the recent PKR polls as well, where newly minted Deputy President Rafizi Ramli campaigned long and hard against the concept of ‘big tent’ politics, in reference to any sort of cooperation with Perikatan Nasional.
I don’t have much new to say about the winners and losers in the PKR polls, except to congratulate those who did win, and console those who lost.
Perhaps the most important thing to note about the PKR polls was the voter turnout, which I last saw to be estimated at roughly 12%.
I later read some additional context to this initially highly alarming number.
It seems that the total number of members who voted from election to election within PKR has not changed much, and has even increased a little bit in these most recent elections.
Even though this may be viewed as some slight consolation, it raises questions of whether there was some sharp increase in members after GE 14, who are not actually active or participating in party affairs.
Whatever the case, 12% is still a number that should raise great concerns. A number of excuses were offered but none seem to really account for the most likely explanation: people simply did not seem to care.
Political apathy runs extremely high in the general populace, but it was eye opening to see this level even amongst those who (apparently) took the trouble to register themselves as members of a political party.
If even they seem to have lost faith in the system, then perhaps that is even more reason we need to re-examine the system.
There was also a recent comment by Shafie Apdal, in response to Zuraida’s most recent defection.
Shafie took this as a sign that the system of political coalitions was broken, and that there was no point in his party Warisan joining one anyway, because they were always in a state of unstable flux.
He also said this was why it was best for Warisan to go alone, and not share seats in Sabah with the many other parties vying for power there.
Some in the past looked to Shafie as some sort of saviour in Malaysian politics. I’ve never held that particular view. But I suppose the views he espoused on this issue are not without logic. From his own perspective of course, it’s certainly easy to see how they make sense.
As usual though of course, with everyone in a broken system working only in their self-interest, we are highly unlikely to see any significant change to the upside.
What we need to look towards re-engineering is that broken system itself. If we can change some key incentive structures, then we may finally see a glimmer of hope.
NATHANIEL TAN works with Projek #BangsaMalaysia. Twitter: @NatAsasi, Email: nat@engage.my. #BangsaMalaysia #NextGenDemocracy.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.