Charles Chia Yong Tai
Déjà vu. The same old narrative keeps repeating itself even as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Harapan coalition are on the verge of losing power.
But do his progressive critics care? Probably not. They already have a ready-made answer: everything is Anwar’s fault because he has failed to deliver reforms.
Too many people analyse politics based on what they wish to see rather than on political reality. They fail to appreciate the constraints of governing without a clear mandate.
Even if PH had secured more than 112 seats outright, it could not have gone much further within three or four years. How does any government reverse more than half a century of institutional decay in such a short time?
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Politics is not the pursuit of moral purity. It is the art of advancing change through compromise, negotiation and strategic timing, without abandoning one’s core principles. As the French saying goes, donner du temps au temps (give time its time). Enduring reform cannot be rushed.
What is even more troubling is that many progressives seem unable to see the larger political picture. The ongoing realignment between Umno and Pas confirms exactly what Aliran’s Henry Loh has pointed out in his latest newsletter. Malaysia is becoming increasingly polarised along racial and religious lines.
If that is the reality, shouldn’t progressive forces close ranks to confront the common threat rather than attack one another?
Yet Anwar remains the principal target. We keep hearing the sweeping claim that “he has done nothing on reforms”.
That is where we fundamentally differ. We have very different understandings of what meaningful reform is and how it is achieved. We also disagree on the political conditions needed to sustain it.
When we fail to recognise these realities, we not only neglect to defend the progress that has been made. We may even end up weakening it ourselves.
Sometimes this is deliberate. But more often, it stems from a superficial understanding of politics, reform and the time and strategy that genuine transformation demands.
Charles Chia Yong Tai is a member of Monsoons Malaysia.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
