By Niza Shimi
There’s a lot of cooking in politics these days. While politicians are busy waffling, sadly, we won’t get to eat any delicious waffles. Waffling is Americanism, according to the online dictionary, which means “fail to make up one’s mind”. Apparently, waffle season in Malaysian politics has begun in earnest.
(The British use waffling to mean being long-winded in speech and writing in a vague or trivial manner. That is also apt when referring to politicians)
In Malaysia, the land of nasi lemak and roti canai, we sometimes refer to the waffling situation as “making U-turns”, which is more appropriate considering the way we turn into kings of the road behind the wheel. Apparently, the 15th general elections (GE15) have begun with much waffling.
To begin with, is the decision by the Penang state government to hold state elections concurrently with GE15. As reported by Free Malaysia Today (FMT) on October 13, 2022, that chief minister Chow Kon Yew said holding the elections simultaneously would ease logistics.
Chow, who is from the Democratic Action Party (DAP) added that there were calls from Penangites for the state polls to be held concurrently with GE15. An official announcement is expected today from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leadership.
To be fair, DAP has always be practical about elections. FMT also reported that DAP was at odds with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) when it comes to whether PH-controlled states should hold their elections simultaneously with the federal polls, according to sources.
DAP is of the view that many would stay away from the state election if it was held next year, and that those staying outside the state, especially in Singapore, would be deterred from returning home twice to vote because of costs. More waffling might be expected from other states.
Another bit of waffling has to be a classic. Berita Harian (BH) reported on October 13, 2022, that PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as saying the door for cooperation was still open with political rivals Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if based on certain common principles.
However, New Straits Times (NST) reported that in a statement released yesterday, PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said the party had no intention of working with GTA (Gerakan Tanah Air) or PN (Perikatan Nasional). Is the door open or shut? Has Fahmi overruled the PKR president? Who holds the door knob?
But the waffling prize has to go to Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS). After much drama, akin to being torn between two lovers, trying to make peace between PN and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the love triangle is no more. BH reported that PAS has decided on PN.
It wasn’t for lack of trying and loving overtures about keeping the “penyatuan ummah” (uniting the community) ideals and bringing PH and UMNO together wasn't easy. How does anyone reconcile two sulking political parties? Perhaps the decision was inevitable as UMNO prefers to go solo.
There is no lack of drama in Malaysian politics, that’s for sure. What flavour of waffles can we expect? GE15 seems to be waffling season, silly season and flood season all at once. Nevertheless, it will be riveting.
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