WE now have a tussle for control of the government with an incumbent, a perennial aspirant, as well as a lurking of few fringe players.
It is almost like a joke in search of a punchline, if not for the gravity of the situation.
Why this is happening in the middle of a pandemic is because politics never stops; neither war nor famine, nor a global health crisis, can dampen the enthusiasm of politics. Also, politicians live in their own echo chambers that only counsel the converted.
The ways politics and politicians behave and the means they employ to reach their objectives often leave the people bewildered, confused and exasperated.
The methods employed can leave much to be desired, but the means are always justified by what they ultimately do with the power they attain in the end. This in essence is politics the world over in the quest for influence and control.
We now have several challenges to the government of the day, from within and without. It is obvious that these challenges will see some serious deal-making, one way or another. This is where we the people are slightly at a loss at the machinations of politics, where the proverbial no permanent enemies or friends is a way of life.
A coalition government, like ours, is held by tenuous vines of common interests and will often be tested. It is the curse of a coalition, where members are kept together by a series of trade-offs and compromises. We are quite new to this concept of coalition government, unlike in other countries where it is often the order of the day.
A coalition government is in essence a truce until the next big thing shakes its foundation. I think the concept of coalition government will likely be our political reality going forward, as our society gets more fragmented by a variety of ideologies, objectives and dreams. Key political parties in the governments of the future may likely not hold dominance over their partners, but instead secure trust of minorities holding briefs over them.
Going forward, we should get used to this. Unfortunately, we should also live with the likely consequences of governments being shaken by allies and opponents at the slightest discomfort, as what we are seeing now. In many ways we are complicit to the politicking that is going on because our moral compasses have been compromised by our politics, too.
We are enablers by sitting on our hands when our guys are in play, or throwing them in the air in exasperation when they are not.
Our outrage has been selective, and politicians know this. As a result, our anger does not really carry much weight. We do not take to the streets, like, say, in other countries.
Or to be more precise, we do not go out in the thousands, any more — as at that time when we wanted to get rid of an elected government, and yet now we express displeasures over an unelected majority or a coup attempt to unseat a prime minister by merely forwarding mobile texts and memes.
We have been compromised and are forgiving even of those transgressing our sense of right or wrong.
We have then, essentially, become political creatures, full of compromises, justifications and never-say-never. However, we should not be too hard on ourselves.
This is often the case in realpolitik. Democracy requires trade-offs — we endure politic-speak on the stump and on the campaign trail with a pinch of salt, anyway. We forgive or forget some promises and untruths, so long as we think we can get close to what we think will make us happier. Politicians know this, too, and thrive on this.
Hence, they offer outrageous agenda, promises and declarations, many of them we know to be pie in the sky. Yet we seldom hold their feet to the fire, especially the ones we like and support, to be accountable for what they said.
Thus, while many of us are tired of the aspirants' game of musical chairs for Putrajaya, and are imploring them to look at the pandemic and how people are not liking these political high jinks, we are also cognisant of the fact that these political diversions could perhaps see our guys get on top, and… errr, then things will be okay.
The moral high ground that we stand on is shaky, convenient and expedient, and does not necessarily subscribe to the democratic values and principles that we claim to breathe. But that is politics, in a nutshell, I suppose — a series of compromises.
As much as we blame politics and politicians, who are convenient whipping men and women, we nevertheless must share some of the blame. We are enablers when our righteousness is selective.
Perhaps we have not spoken in loud enough terms, preferring instead to twiddle on our smartphones, and to leave it to institutions like the palace and courts to deal with these issues. Ironically, in a way, it is also a sign of political maturity.
We do not take our anger to the streets and we let our institutions deal with constitutional issues until such a time when we can call for a revolution, with compromises, of course, via the ballot box.
Ahhh, the contradictions of democracy.
The writer, a former NSTP group managing editor, is now a social media adviser and can be reached at zainulisa@gmail.com