THE campaigning for the six state elections starts in full swing today. Any efforts before this to reduce the political temperature goes out the window as the ceramahs and rallies go into full throttle.
The accusations and allegations; the snide and slander if not regular enough this past eight months will be louder and more frequent these next 14 days.
While politics and politicking may excite and entertain and give media organisations an endless supply of content, to the rakyat and the nation, political fatigue must be unbearable – irritating at best; devastating at worst.
Five prime ministers in five years; and despite the people’s mandate in the general election of November 24 last year and the decision of the Conference of Rulers for a unity government for political and economic stability, the talk of bringing down this mandated federal government has been constant.
It does not augur well for the economy when a government consistently gets undermined. When leadership changes; so do policies. And such fickleness cannot be good in promoting a conducive environment for trade, business and investment.
However, these are the pitfalls of a less than perfect democratic system.
But one hopes that once the votes are counted and the state legislative assemblies and subsequent state governments are formed, all talk about destabilising and unseating an elected government will cease.
And these state governments will be allowed to govern throughout the duration of their term.
As the saying goes, you deserve the government you elect. May the people’s choice be respected and the government they chose – warts and all – be allowed their full term.
Let these two weeks of campaigning be more about caring for the people than taking power. Let the debates be honest and passionate; not deceitful and offensive.
And once the dust has settled, may they come together for the greater good of the nation – as we have seen possible in Putrajaya. – July 29, 2023
Terence Fernandez is Group Editor in Chief of Big Boom Media which publishes Scoop