LETTER | Shift political narrative from numbers game to bold ideas for reform

LETTER | Projek Wawasan Rakyat (POWR) is troubled by the unceasing political instability in Malaysia caused by constant crossovers - both past and rumoured.

In these past few days and weeks, the media have been filled with rumours over who has which number: 129, 113, 112, and so on.

Hornbills are making random appearances on Twitter, while ministers call press conferences only to announce they are not quitting.

The entire political landscape is beginning to resemble a circus, with no end in sight.

POWR sees the Sheraton Move as being very ethically and morally suspect. It is precisely for that reason however, that trying to regain power, in the same manner, raises many controversial questions.

Instead of making who has what number of parliamentarians the focal point, people who are genuinely interested in meaningful change should be articulating exactly what they plan to do differently than before, and make that the centre of the discussion.

If Malaysian politics is only about who can entice who to switch parties, then Malaysia will forever be trapped in a cycle of corruption and backstabbing.

The new normal that Malaysia urgently needs is one where politics is no longer about numbers and zero-sum power games, but about bold visions for reform.

Individuals and groups who are committed to such reforms should shift the narrative towards those reforms, not focus excessively on political manoeuvres and machinations.

Change in Malaysia is a marathon not a sprint and short term gains should not be pursued at the expense of long-term principles.

The last few years have already shown what happens when political expediency is prioritised over a genuine commitment towards bettering Malaysia.

If existing political players are employing the same strategies within the same political culture, and have not solved the fundamental problems that brought us to where we are today, then there is no reason to expect that things will be any different, no matter how many times the government changes.

In looking towards developing a completely fresh new political culture, it is high time Malaysia looks beyond the old guard, and start exploring completely fresh new ways to empower our democracy.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.