Blind faith in politics
Even if the Pakatan Rakyat takes over the office, it is impossible for it to solve the national debt problem within three to five years, particularly the Pakatan Rakyat also advocates populism, and promises to increase oil royalty for oil-producing states by 20%. Unless if the Pakatan Rakyat can control its spending and open up new revenue, or it will fall into the same financial predicament of the BN government.
Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew Daily
I do not know if others are sick of politics just like me. I have been skipping news reports about mutual attacks between the ruling and alternative coalitions.
However, many people are still passionate in politics. For example, a recent political dinner organised by the DAP in Skudai had attracted 11,000 people and some stayed until midnight and were reluctant to leave. The dinner collected RM63,110 and one of the supporters bade RM30,000 for the “Ubah” mascot with the signatures of party Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang and his son, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was also welcomed by passionate people when touring the country.
On the other hand, social media have also been passionately talking about politics. Some people even believe that all the country’s problems will be solved once the regime is changed.
Is politics so magical? Is it true that everything will become better after the general election? I am not pouring cold water here, but I am afraid that everything might remain as the status quo after the election.
The runway landing lights failure at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) had caused thousands of passengers stranded. Such imperfection can be reguarly found in Malaysia and the government is not a panacea that can cure the sloppy working attitude.
The flaws in the Automated Enforcement System (AES) reflected execution problems and politics is not a miracle drug. It is impossible to be cured completely even if the government is changed.
The various absurd acts in financial management exposed by the Auditor-General’s Report involve frauds and it is an institutional issue. The decision made by the Finance Ministry at meetings did not reach the borrowing department and as a result, the department continued lending money to the National Feedlot Centre. It is a problem of blocked communication. The disappearance of evidence in police stations is a result of the lack of discipline.
The turtle-speed progress of the road upgrading works in Petaling Jaya is a result of low efficiency and it is a waste to place dozens of 3R recycling bins in Section 13 and 14 where there are not may pedestrians.
All the above mentioned drawbacks require a long time to reform and correct. It is impossible to be solved by politicians alone. The greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment. It is also not practical to apotheosise any political leaders. They also have to face institutional and human problems.
Even if the Pakatan Rakyat takes over the office, it is impossible for it to solve the national debt problem within three to five years, particularly the Pakatan Rakyat also advocates populism, and promises to increase oil royalty for oil-producing states by 20%. Unless if the Pakatan Rakyat can control its spending and open up new revenue, or it will fall into the same financial predicament of the BN government.
In terms of work efficiency, Pakatan Rakyat state governments are not doing better than the federal government, unless if the Pakatan Rakyat rectify the administrative system immediately after taking over the office.
The national economy has currently slowed down while the US third Quantitative Easing (QE3) is expected to bring inflation problems. Regardless of whether it is the BN or the Pakatan Rakyat, the federal government must have appropriate measures to cope with the situation after the election.
Therefore, it is over optimistic to hope that the general election and politics can change the country. It is also only an idle theory to compare the BN with the Pakatan Rakyat. The key actually lies on who has the ability to implement institutional reforms and eradicate the deep-rooted malady.
It requires time to clear administrative drawbacks. A few politicians and a general election are not able to bring massive changes.
You may be passionate in politics but please do not put blind faith in it. There is hope in politics only if we purify our minds first.
