LETTER | BN's notion of stability does not hit the mark

LETTER | Among BN’s political circles, the usual propaganda that it spews to Malaysians is that it would provide a stable government compared to Pakatan Harapan or Perikatan Nasional (PN).

The question that comes to mind is what does BN actually mean by “stable government”?

According to BN’s narrative, it has ruled the country for over 60 years, bringing prosperity and development since it had a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

To BN, stability means ethnic hegemony, where Umno dominates the government with lesser parties like MCA and MIC playing a subservient role and maintaining a decorum of reciprocal relationships with common political elites in Sabah and Sarawak that hinges on grand financial allocations.

MCA, MIC, and other parties are made subservient by ministerial appointments and allocations that help them in the immediate modus operandi of these parties and the needs of their supporters.

Umno, the hegemonic power, ensures that key portfolios such as Home Affairs, Finance, Religious Affairs, International Trade and Industries, and Rural Development are under its watch, while the component parties are given positions in ministries with lesser clout.

Stability to BN also means a patronage system that keeps the elites in power by keeping relationships between politicians, businesspersons, and supporters.

There has been an unknown number of opaque businesspeople and politicians working in the shadows in collaboration with the centres of power.

The RM 9.13 billion littoral combat ship contract fiasco bears testimony to the type of stability that BN propagates.

Its notion of stability also means the allocation of funds to supporters within the system and also those in rural areas where development means building physical bridges, repairing houses, places of worship, and palliative help to the poor.

Immediate gratification is BN’s notion of stability that generates votes, but it is not a sustained system that could empower the poor and the marginalised.

It needs to generate a lot of money to keep its supporters happy and stability fulfilled. Is this not part and parcel of the 1MDB story?

It is very rare to hear BN politicians crying out against corruption or issues related to human

rights.

If one compares it with the notion of stability of the neighbouring city-state, Singapore, it takes on a different paradigm. Even though there some are questionable aspects to Singapore’s model of governance, its notion of stability defers in comparison to Malaysia led by Umno.

Singapore’s leaders since the time of the late Lee Kuan Yew believe that corruption is a bigger evil that could destroy society in the tiny state. Its notion of stability means having a prime minister and cabinet ministers of integrity, merit, transparency, and honesty in dealing with the affairs of the nation.

One could see such professionalism in the way information is conveyed and debates are conducted in the Singapore parliament.

While material prosperity is critical for stability, the projects that it embarked on previously reflect its current prosperity and reputation as a country where there is the least corruption in financial dealings.

Stability not only means material prosperity but also the human development of its workforce. Singapore has a very high share of skilled workers at nearly 54.3 percent of its workforce, while only 29.6 percent of Malaysian workers are skilled.

What’s obvious is that there is a contrast between Singapore’s PAP hegemonic stability and Umno's hegemonic stability in terms of managing the affairs of the nation.

Therefore, it is vital for Malaysians to work towards a clean government in the upcoming 15th general election by getting rid of leaders who lack integrity and those who presided over corruption in their respective ministries, what more those who have betrayed the people’s mandate in the 2018 general election.

We just need to compare BN’s false notion of stability with that of Singapore to see what constitutes a durable foundation for stability.

This in no way denies that there are some bright politicians in Umno and BN, who tend to project some integrity.

It is unfortunate that they are in the minority in a coalition of politicians that desire a flawed notion of hegemonic stability.

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