There is a word for the politicians in Malaysia - megalomaniacs.
The recent bungle by Bung Moktar Radin qualifies him to be named into this category along side many others we can name.
Bung's attempt to jostle his way into the Chief Minister's position fell flat right at the get-go. His gambit failed because he was unable to convince five of his party’s own assemblymen that he was the better candidate for chief minister. Allowing chief minister Hajiji Noor an avenue to prove to state governor Juhar Mahiruddin that he retained the support of the Sabah assembly members to stay on as Chief Minister.
Speaking to Sinar Harian on 8th of January, Bung Moktar was adamant that even-though Hajiji still had the support of 44 assemblymen, the Sabah state government was non-existent. And that the ‘game’ was still in play. Pending the visit of the Prime Minister on the 9th January.
Come 9th January and a spectacular backfire for Bung happened, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim advised the Sabah assembly to seek peace by forming a unity government in order to move forward.
And in a span of a few days, from sitting next to the Chief Minister, Bung has now moved over to the opposition side of the Sabah state assembly. And in turn, losing his place as Sabah's Deputy Chief Minister and an embarrassment he will never be able to live down.
What has the rakyat of Sabah gained from all these snaking about? Nothing.
Malaysians are tired of the political dramas currently playing out on an almost daily basis in our country. It is drama that takes away from the important work of nation building and ensuring the welfare of the every-day Malaysian is secured. A distraction that drains precious time from the real work of governance.
It is drama that sends the message, that the vote of the rakyat is of no more importance in the bigger scheme of things. That our voice accounts to no less then just choosing between the lesser evils; who in turn is given the ticket to abuse us.
It is a drama that says, the government chosen by the people may not be the government ruling the people.
It is a government that is at the whims and fancies of megalomaniacs who thirst power and grandeur and detest the actual role of governing people. It is a political environment, encouraged by politicians themselves, where political coups and turning a deaf ear to voters are a norm.
Megalomaniacs in our politics make a mockery of our vote. There is no fear of the voter within the ranks of our politicians. There is no urgency to listen to their voters, no memory of their position as "wakil rakyat" and no empathy towards the ailments that cripple our nation.
The insatiable need for these megalomaniacs to gain and retain political power creates a vicious and dangerous cycle that perpetuates further the erosion of Malaysian democracy; eventually destroying the very basis of the democratic process - the idea of consensus by the people.
Maclean Patrick is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
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