MySinChew: Getting fed up with all the politicking — by Lim Sue Goan

Getting fed up with all the politicking — Lim Sue Goan

February 22, 2011

FEB 22 — Sometimes, I do really hope that the next general election will be held soon so that the increasingly worsening politicisation phenomenon would end too.

There have been no end to political controversies over the last two years, the major ones being the mysterious death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, the controversy over the Port Klang state assembly seat, the current university campus elections, the debate over a proposal to set up an auxiliary police force in Selangor, the interfaith issue and the related non-Muslim affairs portfolio set up in Penang, and the setting up of the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus in Serendah, Selangor.

After a long inquest, coroner Azmil Muntapha declared an open verdict for Teoh’s death. A six-member royal commission of inquiry (CI) was then set up by the prime minister. However, the Attorney-General has filed an application for a revision of the coroner’s verdict and Teoh’s family withdrew from participating in the RCI after their requests were dismissed.

Who is right and who is wrong? In addition to the loss of a precious young life, Teoh’s demise also involves the questions on the investigative procedures of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and human rights. How unfortunate it is to be politicised with the focus being shifted.

Selangor state assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim had declared that the Port Klang state seat vacant after assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah had not attended sittings for six months. However, the High Court ruled that the seat is not vacant and Badrul Hisham remains the Port Klang member.

It is not the first time the court has overturned a state assembly speaker’s decision. When former Perak state assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar declared three state seats vacant following the decision of the three constituency’s representatives to withdraw from the Pakatan Rakyat, the Federal Court had, on April 9, 2009, ruled that the Speaker had no power to declare the seats vacant as it was the right of the Election Commission (EC) to confirm whether or not they are vacant.

As political dogfights continue, the check and balance mechanism of executive, legislative and judiciary is shaken and questions on whether the judiciary should intervene in the legislative have been brought up. Such events are not good for a country marching towards democracy.

It is good for the Selangor state government to suggest an auxiliary police force to maintain law and order. Unfortunately, just like the water supply issue, once it has been politicised, it can hardly be implemented.

Meanwhile, why are they quarrelling over the non-Muslim affairs portfolio in Penang since it is the state government’s right to set it up?

Even worse, the campus elections have also been affected. Campus elections are held to allow students elect their representatives to express their views in the student representative council. It is a simple election but some people have made it complicated.

The campus elections this year are full of events, including the outbreak of physical conflicts during the UM Pro-Mahasiswa press conference when a security guard actually covered the mouth of a student to prohibit him from speaking. Later, the pro-Mahasiswa accused the pro-Aspirasi of requesting funds from the MCA and Gerakan, pro-Mahasiswa candidates claimed to have received disturbing SMSes, and election campaign banners were burned while vehicles were spashed with paint. Also, a female candidate “mysteriously” went missing on the eve of the polling day and was “mysteriously” found in a mosque the next day.

It is an academic misfortune when politics penetrates into campuses. Why can’t they just leave the campus elections alone?

In short, politics should not turn out as a vulgar game in which players attack their opponents with all kinds of dirty means, including lying, slandering and bringing in national institutions. It will only repeatedly damage the country’s image.

Pan-politicisation will never stop as long as the next general election is not being held. Hence, it is good to have an early general election, isn’t it? — mysinchew.com