According to Pericles (Greek statesman, supporter of democracy, b. 500b.c.), just because you do not take an interest in politics, doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you. In other words, there is no escaping politics. Like it or not politics will affect our lives no matter how non-political we pretend to be.
The Malaysian political landscape changed tremendously since the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim in 1998. I feel that historic event lowered the political entry age for most people. Maybe the pretty Nurul Izzah played a part in encouraging young Malaysians to be politically aware and active but mostly I think the advent of the internet coupled with the unique circumstances that brought to Anwar's dismissal played an equally big part.
Anwar managed to do what Dato' Onn, Tengku Razaleigh and to a certain extent the Labour Party of the 1960s failed to do - create a viable alternative to the present ruling government. Power is dangerous in the wrong hands, more so if it is absolute and unchallenged, like what Lord Acton said, "power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely". A viable alternative is crucial for the purposes of check and balance for without check and balance, dictators flourish. Voltaire's view of the government is that it takes as much as possible from one (large) section of the population and gives to the other (chosen) section. Fahri Azzat echoes Voltaire's view and penned an interesting view on the mechanics of corruption, titled "The Mechanics of Corruption".
But is PR a viable alternative? The on-going PKR elections have shown the true colours of some party members, unprofessional attitudes of aspiring leaders and most of all showed their lack of unity. Maybe what they say about the party being all about Anwar is true? It would be sad if the party turns into a mere Anwar fan club because PKR has unearthed some very talented and dedicated lawmakers. It would be a waste if these people are prevented from serving the people due to some petty tussle over the deputy president's post.
DAP may have a sensible leader in Lim Guan Eng but the party may not be able to gain the full trust of the Malay/Muslim masses while PAS despite the large non-Muslim supporters wing (apparently membership is more than 20,000) still may not be able to gain the full trust of the non-Muslims. Their only option is to work together.
Then there's PERKASA. An NGO who claims to have the powers of a king maker. An ultra racist NGO who defends every racist remark made by a Malay and makes police reports on everything else. PERKASA may think they are doing Malays a favour by fighting for their rights but I feel PERKASA is a huge liability to the Malays. Their actions will give the wrong impression of the Malays to the other races, both locally and internationally. PERKASA's Malay supremacy policies doesn't fit with how the world works. It is even against the words of Allah (Quran, 49:13). What PERKASA promotes and encourages are bigotry, racism, unfair practices, laziness and greed. PERKASA is also splitting UMNO into two factions, which Utusan Malaysia fails (refuses) to see.
What is a Malay? The biological and (Malaysian) constitutional definition of a Malay differs. In fact the ultra Malays are probably not 100% biological Malays like Mahathir, Riduan Tee and the PERKASA sec gen Syed Hassan (aren't Syed supposed to be Arabs? Rumour has it that Syeds are not allowed to buy Malay reserve land in a certain Malay state [I stand to be corrected] and we inferior Malays even address them as "Tuan" instead of the commonly used "Encik").
I am a Muslim first and a Malaysian second which makes me a Malay third. Before PERKASA asks me to bertaubat for being a traitor to the Malay race, let me present my case.
My rationale for having that stand is based on the fact that I cannot see myself leaving the Islamic faith. I however may, if circumstances requires me to, denounce my Malaysian citizenship. As far as being Malay, article 160(2) of the constitution may be amended and I may cease to be constitutionally defined as a Malay.
Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "stupidity is not a handicap in politics". PERKASA proved him right.
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