Avoid popularity if you would have peace. – Abrahim Lincoln
The approval rating of the prime minister has gone up and down. It
went up with the lower income group and down with the middle class
segment. Why is the premier popular with the poor and downtrodden? It is
simply because the premier gives them goodies to lessen the pangs of
poverty. These are ordinary folk who want food, shelter, decent wage to
lead a simple life. Give them carrots and all is well with their health –
and their votes.
People who have to struggle daily to make ends meet are easily
influenced by the sweet talk of smooth politicians. In their eyes,
political leaders become god-like figures if they come visiting, loaded
with cash and other promises. The adoring crowd can see no fault in
ministers with bottomless pockets. A prime minister who waves the magic
wand that makes money appear in their pockets can do no wrong.
Politicians are crafty old devils when they want to capture power,
and sinister characters when they want to keep power. When they campaign
for public office, they put on their charm to woo, to plead, to cajole
all classes of society. Once on the commanding heights, they lay out
plans – to attack opponents and disillusioned citizens alike. As the
years roll by, power corrupts them absolutely and they turn menacing in
order to stay politically alive. At this phase of their waning political
career, they seek out the vulnerable group to forge a partnership.
The prime minister of Malaysia is pursuing a similar course of
action: he is building bridges with the lower income group who forms a
sizeable portion of the electorate. Wherever he goes he throws out
goodies to the settlers, the hard-pressed rural folk, the urban poor,
the toiling workers. These are the people who little care or least
understand the big issues rattling the country. Shady business deals,
failed corporate ventures, environmental hazards, deep-seated
corruption, abuse of power, dirty politics – all these unhealthy
developments have little or no impact on the daily miserable life of the
impoverished masses.
Limping on crutches
The prime minister only have to dole out some relief to this teeming
poor to win hero status and soaring popularity. His last carrot is the
national budget, the biggest basket from where he can liberally
distribute more largesse to his hero-worshipping fans. He will propose
more benefits but the distribution will hinge on what comes out from the
ballot boxes. More gifts for the less wealthy class means more votes
for the elite class. It may be good strategy for the prime minister to
exploit and manipulate the sentiments of the ignorant many but a bad
tactical move to ignore the groundswell of dissent from the few.
It is the minority that can decide the destiny of the country because
they can ferret out the truth from the lies emanating from the mouth of
the government. It was the vocal few that dug out the dirt and brought
to light government-linked business ventures that went off tangent,
defence contracts that stink, stock listing that only enriches the few,
tainted electoral rolls that will put more votes into the pouches of the
ruling party. The prime minister did not like the insistent chant for
reforms here and abroad because it was not music to his ears when the
whole world now knows that democracy in Malaysia is limping on crutches.
If not for the courageous stand of the minority – be they ordinary
citizens or political opponents – the country would never have known the
dark side of their leaders. The minority, mostly from the middle class,
is never popular with the establishment for standing up to what is
right and just. It has always been classified as enemies of the state
bent on destroying the institutions of the state. But this strident
criticism does not hold water because it is these very cherished
institutions that the minority is defending against the might of the
majority. It is the majority that often imposes its brutal will on the
lesser numbers.
A good prime minister is one who serves all people. He cannot be
riding high with just the majority while the minority is being pummelled
into submission. In a democracy the will of the people – the majority
as well as the minority – is what matters the most. Trying to split
society into two antagonistic camps will not guarantee permanent peace.
Playing the bigger side against the smaller one is a sure recipe to
eternal enmity. It serves little purpose to be a popular prime minister
with the majority when the minority unceasingly uncovers more sins of
the government. Eventually, the majority will find common cause with the
minority to send the prime minister into political oblivion.
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