CHOK SUAT LING: National ideals versus political realities

(NST) THE scene: Perak. Where daily business came to a standstill during the political standoff last month, especially in the State Secretariat.

Civil servants within the imposing white building had to resort to playing ping-pong to occupy their time while the hordes of protesters outside vented their ire at the unfolding political situation. Appointments and all other business had to be cancelled. That was inevitable, as the main entrance was sealed. No one was allowed in except those who worked there.

When staff were able to return to piles of backlogged work, days later, the building's expansive car park was filled to bursting.

The scene: Parliament. Where exhausted and grumpy aides to Yang Berhormats litter the lobby. Ministers and deputy ministers chafe at appointments and important functions missed. The day's session has been extended again to allow for debates to continue and bills to be passed.

It does not help that daily sessions have been disrupted, constantly of late, by theatrics and hysterics from within and outside the august house. Time that should have been spent on fruitful discussions and debates is wasted on quelling such disturbances and ensuring wayward members of parliament are dealt with.

When Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo called the deputy prime minister a "murderer" in Parliament earlier this month, two hours were wasted in the ensuing histrionics. Even though Gobind had been suspended for 12 months for his pugnacity, the two hours that could have been spent examining government policy — debates were then centred on the just-tabled mini-Budget — were irretrievably lost.

A week before, a shouting match between supporters of Karpal Singh and members of Umno Youth at Parliament's lobby resulted in similar dramatics within the house. Almost an hour was squandered by MPs ranting about the incident.

These are just a few illustrations of how politics has entwined its grubby tendrils around the people and country and permeated their lives — uninvited and unwelcome — since March 8.

Malaysians are disdainful, disillusioned, even disgusted, with the excessive politicking going on around them.

For over a year now, it has been one drawn-out game of one-upmanship and high drama. What would have once been surreal is now as real as the hulking trunk of the "Tree of Democracy", clear and present under the sweltering Ipoh sun.

Life as Malaysians know it has warped into something unfamiliar and frightening. Even open houses are no longer sacrosanct. Nor are people's private lives, as Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek learned the hard way. Their most intimate moments were splayed out for all to see and, worse, used as political fodder.

The hubbub following the invasions of their privacy distracted the entire nation for weeks, and with police investigations pending in Dr Chua's case, continues to do so.

Cyberspace is sick with vitriol. Lies, slander and venomous comments calculated to hurt and injure are spewed without restraint or inhibition.

"Respect", "tolerance" and "honour" are words that now have an ironic ring. There is no respect for the country, its institutions or its rulers, or everything that once made this nation an exemplar of rapid development and good governance.

While some have been hauled up for defacing the sultan of Perak's website with rude comments, others will continue to incite and instigate on the World Wide Web, and indeed everywhere else.

When some maturity is called for, there are instead demonstrations and protests at any given opportunity and for every conceivable reason. Dissenting mobs gather on any issue.

And it no longer matters what these issues are: police brutality, community marginalisation, even the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, are all capable of bringing protesters onto the streets.

Being water-cannoned or tear-gassed is now a badge of honour, worn with pride.

It is disturbing that so much energy is invested in what only inflames when there are so much more pressing matters to attend to; the economic downturn being just one.

What is most difficult to accept, however, is the notion that nothing can be done to turn back the tide. The opposition is emboldened by its unprecedented gains in last year's general election and confident that it has a foot wedged firmly in the door to power.

The ruling coalition is trying to keep the door shut against the marauding mobs outside. The atmosphere is volatile and taut with restless energy. This will persist for a long time. In the end, if there is one, the nation's political and social terrain will not be the same. And neither will its people.