Hijacker MPs
PKR has become a platform of launch pad politics. It’s the political trampoline for virtual nobodies to come to some prominence as a result of being fielded as candidates. Even whistle-blowers get a ticket.
By P. Jayendran
When personal aspirations outweigh the interests of those who have appointed these MPs to do a job, it becomes a sordid affair. The one that’s been most plundered is the public. For the fact that those who voted in that MP only means that the public has accepted PKR and that the MP is PKR’s representative.
When MPs defect or abscond, then it’s tantamount to betraying the ones they represent. In the commercial sector, it’s equivalent to criminal breach of trust. If it involves a country, it would be treason. When they defect, they would have in reality hijacked the dignity and rights of those they were appointed to represent.
Democracy’s foundation is one person one vote. Even the PM’s personal vote is on par value. The MP too has one vote. So you see where “hijacking” comes in. Logically, if he is unfit to carry out his/her duties for whom he/she represents, then a replacement should rightfully come about. A by-election should have taken precedence as it’s the right of the people to choose a replacement. Otherwise, this would go against the very virtue of democracy which is the right to choose. How then could an MP be legitimate? Would the government that he is a party be implicated in arguments of legitimacy? The implications are more than just packing their bags and go. Going independent carry the same implications too!
On the other hand, the party affected by defections can vehemently claim that it’s not their fault. And that the party as well as the people have become victims to betrayal and hijacking. The party can howl and appeal for support and solidarity to right a wrong for their MP has absconded.
But who is to say the next candidate will not commit the same betrayal? Power and money goes hand in hand much the same way as power and dominance. It is easier to go astray when there are temptations of greater magnitude. After all, humans are inherently subjected to temptations of sorts no matter what religion they subscribe to. Therefore, not until and unless a law is passed to curtail this sardonic thievery of rights, risks would be overwhelmingly high. There’re flaws in our democracy but this cuts through the very marrow of democracy. The bane of democracy today is hijacking MPs!
The majority of Malaysians are simple-minded people and easy to govern. We do not like all these trouble, loudness, fighting, demonstrations etc. Just keep the flow of sugar constant, keep makan cheap and for the government to be opening up more chances to make money. The boys want to party Saturday nights and want less harassment. Religious officers should be given more desk duties and get involved in social programs rather than enforcement. Banning concerts is bizarre if not nonsensical. We are all concerned about the scourge of illegal immigration. We all want our kids to be properly educated, be respectful to elders and if possible, contribute to society.
In comparison, let’s look at our neighbours. The voter turnout in this Presidential election won by Aguino is very high. We have a thing or two to learn from them about taking our voting rights seriously. In Thailand, the Red Shirts have brought Thailand to a state of emergency in most provinces. Bangkok, its economic hub, has been badly compromised. In Indonesia, the government faces acute challenges because of the diversity of ethnicity combined with the complexities of an archipelago nation.
Malaysians want ASTRO, mobile phones and computers with Internet access. Every household should have these then no matter if we live in a hut somewhere, we would still have some semblance of sophistication. We want the electricity to do everyday things, cool clean water and decent roads to drive on. We realize that the government cannot just buy over all these from the existing entrepreneurs probably because these are part of their political foundation. But perhaps those commercial entities which hold these peoples’ interests should lower prices to a level more realistic for average families. Otherwise, we would be grabbed by the short and curly! When you take into consideration what a lot of families make, these basic modern things would have cost a whopping chunk of their salaries. People expect subsidies. They consider them as dividends from those they elect to power.
We are a multi-race nation and have been able to get along fine until politicians caused the May-13 racial riots. Still, during the darkish interlude and way after it, Malaysians were able to get on well with each other. Semua orang pun kawan! During pre-independence, we had the British to be made the bogeyman. Then there were the communists; then drugs; then corruption; and now race relations.
I am sure most Malaysians would be happy if the administration of the day would concentrate on making money so that we can all have a piece of the action – no matter if they are crumbs.
