GE15 and the ‘darkish forces’ in Malaysian politics

From Kua Kia Soong

The gathering of the Pakatan Harapan devoted over the weekend to debate the “darkish forces” in Malaysian politics makes me marvel if “demonisation” of their opponent, Barisan Nasional, goes to be their technique within the coming basic election and if it is going to work in producing assist from the voters.

In GE14, PH carried out a profitable marketing campaign based mostly on personification of “kleptocracy”, particularly, pinning kleptocracy squarely on Najib Razak and the 1MDB scandal.

It labored though the nice chief of the PH coalition portrayed because the “saviour of the nation” was none apart from the person who had established the rot in Malaysian governance since 1981.

That man, in accordance with Lim Package Siang of DAP, was Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was then rebranded as a “born-again democrat” in GE14.

The truth is, kleptocracy beneath Mahathir was amply documented by Barry Wain in his guide “Malaysian Maverick”, who estimated that his first reign from 1981 to 2003 value the Malaysian taxpayers some RM100 billion. Thus, for PH to personify “kleptocracy” in the best way they did in 2018 was disingenuous and patently opportunistic.

So, what would be the new tagline for PH in GE15?

They can not “refry chilly rice” by drumming up 1MDB once more since Najib is already in chilly storage. Will they attempt to demonise their opponents because the “darkish forces” lurking within the shadows to pull the nation to additional damnation?

Firstly, they should be exact as to what they’re referring to after they elevate the query of “darkish forces”. For instance, are they only speaking about corruption, or are they referring to even darker situations such because the unleashing of racist bile that would result in one other pogrom, or darker nonetheless, to a attainable coup try by the “deep state”?

Nevertheless they spin this demonisation, Malaysian voters will wish to know their particular focus, who and what these “darkish forces” are in Malaysian politics.

Now, unquestionably, Umno is the dominant accomplice within the BN coalition. It has been the “ruling celebration” since 1957, and the Umno DNA was nonetheless imprinted in PH prime minister Mahathir from 2018 to 2020. If Anwar Ibrahim ever turns into prime minister, possibly he too ought to take a DNA check to see if he nonetheless has any remnants of Umno in his political blood.

Umno has not solely been the celebration that has dominated the financial system since independence, however particularly after Might 13 in 1969 when the NEP was applied. And each time Umno has confronted an inner disaster, we’ve witnessed the darkest episodes in Malaysian historical past, for instance Ops Lalang in 1987 and others. So, who else may characterize the “darkish forces” in Malaysian politics?

DAP now keen to work with Umno

Regardless of their lack of readability as to what these “darkish forces” are, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook has just lately acknowledged that DAP is now keen to work even with Umno (“there aren’t any everlasting enemies in politics”, and so forth).

From the foregoing dialogue, he might not realise that this has completely shattered any chance of attempting to demonise Umno and BN in GE15.

 

Kua Kia Soong is a human rights defender and a former MP.

The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially mirror these of FMT.