LETTER | A nation divided, for now

LETTER | We are now a nation divided. Fragmented by the 3R (race, religion, and royalty), education, ex-prime ministers, fear, corruption, the South China Sea and even accidents.

The recent six state elections have confirmed the wide chasm between the populace. Every day, politicians seek and expound some new incidents or old attitudes and beliefs to widen and deepen the gulf.

Every day, we are told it is the fault and plotting of others that keeps most in fear - poor and poorly educated.

The 3R is stable for the division and fallback when nothing new comes along. Education always makes good division - god versus science, BM versus English, national type schools versus vernacular schools.

Two ex-prime ministers divided the nation by their own selfish need to exonerate themselves, one for the guilt of corruption, the other for alleged corruption and more importantly, the failure to lift up the majority race.

Fear is a great divider and usually of irrational justifications by devious politicians. Fear of hardline archaic religious regimes in the lines of Afghanistan or Iran by some and other dictatorial godless communists of China if the other party wins.

Corruption is not as simple as being divided into takers and givers in present-day politics and law. It is based on allegations that one minority race was the main bribe givers and the majority race bribe takers.

For the rich and powerful, it is about returning the bribe taken to be free of any penalties for taking bribes. For the masses, one is looking at long jail terms for taking small bribes.

The South China Sea divides East and West Malaysia and also East Malaysia’s specific and particular rights granted when joining to form Malaysia.

Accidents; devious politicians have milked this for any political mileage they can and divide the nation.

The unfortunate accidental death of a Malay firefighter when called to put out a fire at an Indian temple and even after two acquittals, a Chinese was hauled up for the third time in a horrific lethal car accident involving Malay children was played time and time again for nefarious gains.

These present issues are too divisive and huge to bridge over at the moment for the unity government and Pakatan Harapan especially.

The momentum of discord ignited by the opposition parties is barrelling down at an accelerating pace where fine words, generosity, inclusivity and magnanimity cannot stop or even slow it down.

Pandering, pampering and placation have not worked as proven by the recent state elections. The same approaches used time and time again have brought in the same negative results, and it is madness to carry on.

Realistically and sadly in life, some people will never like you whatever you do for them. It is time to do something new, at home where the support base is.

The unity government must take heed and heart a majority of the people have not put their shoulders onto the momentum.

Certainly, some fence-sitters have been cajoled, disillusioned and jaded and some angry and aggrieved have jumped over and added to the division.

The government still governs by the strength of most seats and even popular vote although this popular vote has been eroded by dubious compromises and ministerial and important government posts appointments.

Flip-flops and watering-downed policies, which the unity government had promised during GE15 and foot-in-mouth gaffes by ministers only further distanced their supporters.

The component parties of the unity government with their own infighting, backstabbing at each other and last-minute vindictive resignations further divided their electorate.

Consolidate power, stop pandering to the right

The government must now look into consolidating the power and support they have. They must cease temporarily from appeasing and being over generous and magnanimous to those who bite the very hand that serves them over and above their basic needs and wants.

The government and Harapan must ensure their support base does not flounder and those who were swayed over by the divisive momentum come back into their fold.

It is time to look after and ensure your own home is happy and content before looking after others.

The constituencies that supported and those which were lost or won marginally should receive full attention and more development until such time those on the opposite divide find life is better lived well and palatable on earth than a dubious promise passage to paradise with an “X” on a piece of paper.

Taking a leaf from our neighbour down south soon after the separation, opposition constituencies received less aid and development, and this went on until the government party won them over.

The government should aim for a two-thirds majority or at least a more comfortable simple majority frequently in any elections without having to compromise too much to remain in power.

There must not be a total demise of opposition parties as this is undemocratic or the best way to run a country. Once this status has been achieved, then the tasks of dismantling and bridging divides start.

This cannot be achieved before the next general election, it is a long-haul aspiration with many headwinds, discontentment and unpopularity.

Rome was not built in one day but once built, it lasted a thousand years and although gone, its impact is still apparent today.

The present government must consolidate and retain its base support. With a strong base, only then can it spring forward to ferment greater hope and trust for the rest of the nation and erode the divide to forge a united and prosperous nation.

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