Written by Maclean Patrick, Malaysia Chronicle
A recent chat session on Yahoo! with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim prompted an impromptu poll where Netizens were asked their opinions on what problems were deemed the biggest problem facing Malaysia.
The results are telling, 57 per cent mentioned dirty politics, corruption drew in 21 per cent, while racial and religious issues came in at 11 per cent and economics, brain-drain and education tied at 2 per cent each.
More than half polled are of the opinion that dirty politics is the biggest problem to hit Malaysia to date. And the polling public are not far off in this regards.
It began with Dr M, while Najib took filth and smut to new heights
Never before in Malaysian history have we seen a barrage much like the one since Najib Razak assumed the role of Prime Minister in April 2009. We were introduced to sodomy, sex video tapes, assassinations, murders, religious conspiracies and money politics - to name a few.
Malaysians got a taste of this in 1998 when, then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed sacked his deputy Anwar Ibrahim. This event marked a turning point in Malaysian politics. The accusations came in thick and fast, and created a political divide of sorts.
It was here that we were introduced to the term sodomy, police brutality and the intensive push by main stream media to character assassinate a political figure.
Politics at this time became a national obsession, reaching the masses in all forms.
While mainstream media was the domain of the government of the day, alternative media was conquered by the opposition.
It can be said that the opposition helped pushed the Internet revolution in Malaysia. Blogs, news-portals and forums - both pro-government and pro-opposition pushed politics into the laps of everyday Malaysians. Finally, the everyday Malaysians were able to state his mind on a stage where it can be heard and shared.
Dirty politics, which previously were mostly confined behind close doors, was thrust into the public eye.
More-so as the attacks against the opposition intensify in the years since 1998 forcing them onto the defensive as the government pushed harder to crush them using all means possible.
Under Najib Razak, we were further introduced to even greater and more sordid examples of dirty politics.
The Sodomy II case that continues to be played out in main-stream media, the distribution of 'Datuk T' pornography over national television and YouTube, the use of an Umno-owned national daily to insinuate that an opposition party along with religious leaders were seeking to turn Malaysia into a Christian state are just some examples.
The endless deluge just keeps growing by the day, yet the question that begs an answer is, what is it all for?
A childish and foolish government fearful of growing up
Dirty politics does not benefit any party within the long run.
Instead it highlights the immaturity of the leaders of the country in dealing with rivals who have differing views on governance.
It highlights the fragile nature of the nations’ politics where one must resort to the use of public humiliation in order to defeat a political rival. Politics is first won and lost at the stage of public opinion before ever reaching the ballot box.
Trial by media is first initiated before a person has fair say in a court of law. And even a court of law can be manipulated by the politics of the day.
And when it does reach the ballot box, the use of money and various development incentives to purchase votes is a norm. Blatantly playing and paying it out under the public eye - might is right. But is it?
It is no wonder that on May 19, 2011, that 57 per cent of Malaysians pointed out that dirty politics is the biggest problem to affect Malaysia at this current time.
It is not merely a change of government that is needed, but also, a change in the form of government. Only then can we get rid of the stench of dirty politics.
Malaysia Chronicle
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