The unsatisfying vote

Praba Ganesan, Malay Mail Online

This column has no good news today. Sorry.

Probably because it is about the impending general election, and its key participants, voters, or pertinently, the perilous situation they’ve inherited.

It is unarguable, especially to the savvy, voting in Malaysia deeply sucks. Big time.

Even in a world of underwhelming political realities — Trudeau to Trump, across the Great Lakes — Malaysia struggles to have the bare minimum, an election of interest to its people.

To begin with, one voting chit is expected to express a universe of pent-up feelings.

All our hopes and dreams. All our disappointments and betrayals. All our support or objection to various leaders. All at one go.

It is the equivalent of waiting an eternity to meet the object of our obsession and then expected to blurt out within of seconds our private thoughts, while retaining poise and dignity. We will bungle it and nothing satisfactory emerges. If anything, it depresses.

Then we are asked to wait for years again.

As such, the politically tuned-in are unsurprisingly flustered. And they argue among themselves with no outcomes, since they seek a compromise with the least bad, from their vantage point. How to make do with the situation where the idea is to be least upset. Not happy, just not too pissed off.

Elsewhere, the disinterested cringe at the word politics, let alone the actual thing. There is no payment, so why bother? It is on a weekend, why bother? Too many voters to render any value for single votes, so why bother? Can’t understand it, despite 11 years of primary and secondary education, so can’t be arsed to bother.

The average Malaysian is denied meaningful media or discussions, therefore being swayed by positions is an anathema to him. Opinions are handed down, and therefore his policy comprehension is stunted.

Linguists famously quipped children unaware of languages by six years of age are doomed to never possess any language. It’s about the necessity to trigger certain brain developments, which expires if not activated.

In short, Tarzan probably only speaks lion even if he is Earl Greystroke in a suit.

At times, I fear Malaysia has missed its incubation period and is destined to float in democratic limbo.

It appears Malaysians strive to survive politics, not command it.

Not interested

Malaysians have ignored politics long before #UndiRosak.

The new arrivals are minor characters in the play.

They only protest the choices, but they are fully cognisant of the choices. They are conscientious objectors of the process. Previously, they voted eagerly.

Many are already in the “Not me, please” ark prior. Like the unregistered to vote and won’t worry on election day. They share the top deck with the unexpectedly registered — maybe by mistake, on a mall dare or by a pushy relative — who can’t be arsed and obviously remain unworried on election day.

In second class, those abroad — on short stints or in the interiors — who won’t arrange for overseas voting.

The overemphasis on the new group — #UndiRosak —, misses out the bigger point, for a long time, a lot of Malaysians never cared.

Politics has failed to satisfy.

Repercussions

All actions cost, it is the who. In this matter, all of us, just a matter of segments.

First, the seeming benefactors, election winners. They win, and rule, but as it appears clearer by the year, the certainty and ease of victory creates complacent and indifferent administrations. For the class, and the parties they command.

They can’t improve. It’s not malice or a lack of effort from reformers within, it is just how it is. Can’t improve when there is victory. The very definition of improvement is the need to better in order to triumph.  When triumph is a foregone conclusion, why strive to better? Spend all the time to appear to strive.

It’s exhausting.

Right behind, a frustrated, petty and angry sea of people who are or support parties out of power. Losers stay with losers. Moral reprehension will offer them some votes, but incompetence borne out of low resources, media blitz and nepotism guarantee their second place.

In a two-horse race, second place is also last place.

They are hopeful, always.

The third layer, incidentally the numerical majority, is a lacklustre population.

An economically disempowered community further emasculated by political disempowerment. They live at the mercy of the system as factors of production, in a time of shrinking human presence in production.

The psychological effects are immeasurable, they are merely pawns in the system. Social mobility a fleeting thought.

For them, social risks compound. They are prime meat for extremist groups’ recruitment, oblivious of modern entrepreneurism, and drawn to escapism dressed up as leisure pursuits such as drugs, video games, rempit culture and junk food. They generally hate politics, even if that’s where their numbers can swamp and force changes for themselves.

Finally, looking on the non-political intelligentsia, constantly on the lookout for opportunities and safe gated communities, so that they may survive the sweat of the masses which includes refugees these days. They are well-equipped to thrive inside an economic system sat on top a brittle political wasteland.

They secretly — even if they deny it — hold out for a great change without offering their participation. They like to point out to liberal democracies and in-depth analyses. They think Cheras is hell.

It is absolute shambles. It appears our political debilitation is reaching terminal stage.

After this

It is tempting to skip this and give up on democracy. Better to not have the deception than a fugly system parading itself as the paragon of free choice.

The truth is the powerful must choose to withdraw the madness. They have to remember cricket, that fairness means entering a contest with the actual possibility of defeat. If defeat is improbable under all conditions despite their worst efforts to wreck it, then there are more important issues for the country than vote counting.

Those in power have to voluntarily devolve power regardless of a political mandate they’ve won at elections in order to let the country grow politically. A nation without political development will fail itself, as it won’t realise political power for its people.

Let’s learn from the ongoing postal vote to determine Germany’s government.

While the SPD (Social Democrats) and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU (Christian Democrats) have agreed to a grand coalition after five gruelling months post-election, it is not a done deal. Europe’s economic engine is without a captain, the situation is dire, but the SPD claims democratic fairness must come through its rank and file.

So, 145,000 SPD members, will endorse or not the proposed coalition.

The socialist leadership wants actual support rather than assume it for the party. Dangerous? Indeed, but what a grand gesture about democracy!

To echo a basic idea.

Democracy is the function of participation. Not token, but real.

We don’t have it.

Here, the people can only benefit from political benevolence, not from political might of the voter.

It is no different from an old feudal system, and old feudal systems are not democracies.

Persist on this course and we cease to be a democracy, both functionally and symbolically. The psychological consequences are devastating, even if the people fail to appreciate the gravity of the situation.

When the system ceases to inspire, in time, it ceases to be.

I can’t imagine those who need to act are impervious to this fact.