Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s corruption charges: An analysis of perception
The only way that Anwar can bring certainty to the question whether the government he rules today will fulfil its term, is by thumbing Muhyiddin and PN down. Only if Anwar manages to thumb Muhyiddin and PN down to a point that they are seen as not being able to garner the support of Sabah, Sarawak and Umno, is Anwar’s government safe.
Nehru Sathiamoorthy
Will Wan Saiful Wan Jan being hauled by MACC under corruption charges be seen as a political persecution?
Yes.
Do we see Wan Saiful as innocent of the charges laid out upon him?
Nope. As a rule of thumb, we see all politicians as corrupt. If we hear of any politician being charged of corruption, we are more likely to believe that the charges laid upon them are true rather than false.
If we don’t perceive Wan Saiful as clean, then why do we see him being charged for corruption as a form of political persecution?
Because we see it as selective persecution. When we see all politicians as being corrupt, to see just a few politicians from one side being charged for corruption, will appear to us as a sign of political persecution.
Are we against political persecution?
It depends.
Depends on what?
It depends on how it affects us. If a politician who doesn’t represent us is charged with corruption, we are ok with the selective persecution. We have long resigned ourselves to the fact that selective persecution is the only way that politicians will ever be charged with corruption in this country. If one side wins, then the politicians on the other side will be charged with corruption, vice versa. If not for selective persecution, no politicians will ever be charged for corruption in the country.
Will Wan Saiful’s selective persecution affect us?
It will affect the Malay electorate.
How will the Malay electorate perceive Wan Saiful being charged?
It will be perceived as Anwar attempting to intimidate Muhyiddin. It will be seen as Anwar telling Muhyiddin to back down, by telling him that what happened to Wan Saiful can also happen to him.
How will the Malay electorate react to the perception that Anwar is intimidating Muhyiddin?
They will react by throwing their support behind Muhyiddin in the upcoming state elections.
Why?
Because the Malay electorate doesn’t fully trust Anwar and the PH government yet. As yet, they see Anwar’s and PH’s promise of a more just, equal, compassionate society as nothing more than sweet words. They are worried that if they put too much trust upon Anwar’s and PH’s words, they will find themselves in a vulnerable position, where a knife will be put down their throat. They want Muhyiddin and PN to remain relevant in national politics until they are sure of PH’s and Anwar’s sincerity and goodwill.
Why does Anwar want to thumb Muhyiddin and PN down ?
Because unless Anwar pacifies Muhyiddin and PN , there is always a chance that PN and Muhyiddin might capsize the PH government at the most inopportune moment. PH rules with the support of Umno, Sarawak and Sabah. The support that Umno and Sabah provide the current government is extremely suspect. They can change their allegiance to the PN in a snap of a finger. Sarawak too has a mind of its own. If Sarawak perceives that the present government no longer commands the support of Umno or Sabah, there is no telling what it will do. The only way that Anwar can bring certainty to the question whether the government he rules today will fulfil its term, is by thumbing Muhyiddin and PN down. Only if Anwar manages to thumb Muhyiddin and PN down to a point that they are seen as not being able to garner the support of Sabah, Sarawak and Umno, is Anwar’s government safe.
Is what Anwar doing reasonable and rational?
It depends on how he pulls it off.
Depends how?
If Anwar and PN thumbs down Muhyiddin and PN AFTER proving his sincerity and goodwill to the Malay electorate, what he is doing is reasonable, rational, inevitable and necessary. If he does it BEFORE proving his sincerity and goodwill to the Malay electorate, he is pushing Malaysia into a dangerous situation, because the Malays are likely to feel threatened by his move ,and they are likely to respond by putting their trust on the more fanatical elements of their society.
Why?
Because people always put their trust in their fanatics when they feel threatened. It is your fanatics that you can depend upon to make the utmost sacrifices and defend your people to the last man if ever your people are facing a threat.
What will happen if the fanatical elements amongst the Malay electorate become dominant?
It might pose existential questions to the Federation.
