LETTER | When political hypocrisy handicaps an entire nation

GE15 | Every five years, and sometimes prematurely (as is the case now for Malaysia), a democratic nation walks to the polling station to choose a political party to govern and a prime minister to lead their nation.

Since 2018, despite having three prime ministers and if we have to march to the ballot box prematurely, it simply means our nation is in peril.

Despite the fact that politically we are unstable and in our weakest moments, which impacts our economic recoveries, social well being and capabilities in addressing environmental concerns, Malaysians unlike their counterparts in neighbouring countries, seem to be buried in political hypocrisy.

One, within the corridors of Putrajaya and the state machinery of government we see civil servants and the myriad of contractors, enjoined to the purse strings (government spending) shying away from discourses and opinion sharing on the political situation, its failures, concerns and opinionate the way forward.

Two, professional institutions and guilds unashamedly edict that one should "Keep politics out" of their turfs.

Three, even among the private sector's corridors it is common to hear colleagues claim that it is wiser to be "apolitical".

Four, this hypocrisy of distancing oneself from politics is also noticeable among the various religious congregations in the country as the leaders of their respective faiths will stay clear and far away from anything that is deemed political.

They will preach thundering "Vote wisely!" but fall pathetically short of qualifying what that wisdom should be.

But the reality is, our nation is in crisis mode, said or denied, because the very pillar that navigates, resuscitates and strengthens the economic, social and environmental paradigms that make a nation of people overcome the challenges and progress is politics.

Politics gives you the government. Government determines your social, economic and environmental well being with every citizen having a role in it.

Hence politics is the fulcrum that builds, strengthens, motivates and gives meaning to a nation of people.

In many nations, people are not ashamed to be politically aligned in thought, word and deed and remain respectful of the differences.

It is this publicly displayed political awareness, participation and association among citizens that strengthens the country's political maturity thereby enabling the growth that we are witnessing around the world and especially in the Asean belt.

It is most hypocritical of those Malaysians who claim that they are apolitical or even vouch that political thoughts are secret, private and should be kept under wraps just like the secret ballot one casts at the polling booth.

It is a maligned mindset - thanks to the governments of the past six decades - to stay divorced from public discourse, not stand up for what you believe in, and pretend that politics has no connectivity with your daily lives.

You cannot preach God and salvation with a political disconnect.

You cannot build your economy (business) devoid of political thought.

You cannot build a resilient, strengthened, matured society with the harbouring of hidden fears over anything and everything that is politics.

When a nation of people shy away from political thought, word and action - either by association or participation, they will only bring upon their nation seizures of “security threats to peace” - as is, unfortunately, also often drummed by the self-serving powers that be.

For as long as we suffer from this “apolitical” seizure we cannot resuscitate the almost dead Asian Tiger as we will be paralysed by the lack of a maturing political philosophy.

As illucidated by Pericles, "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you".

Political thought, word and deed are not sinful; it is not shameful; it is not even criminal.

Conversely, it is very relevant and central to our lives and the future of our beloved nation.

It is the lack or absence of or even fearing political thought, word and deed which is a disservice to progressive nation-building.

As Louis D Brandels said: "The most important political office is that of the private citizen.”

So to shy away from politics or to deem political discourse and affiliations as dangerous or improper is a failure of that office of the private citizen.

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