The Child That is UMNO and our Democracy

In 7 years time my daughter, who is now 5 months old, can totally relate with UMNO and Malaysia's democracy. If of course she wants to draw such comparison. Or you know I can draw such comparison for her...ehem. Moving on...

Because at the moment UMNO and democracy in Malaysia is at a stage where maturity is still out of sight and out of mind. No one can think rationally, and that is the biggest obstacle towards maturity.

Recently the International Herald Tribune (IHT) published an article which touches upon the failing democracy in Malaysia and relate it with our immaturity and our nonacceptance of the principles of democracy.

The way I look at it is we practice democracy because other people are doing it. To draw comparison; a child wants what others their age are having. "Mum, Sofeah's mother bought her a barbie doll and I want one". But then that child who wanted that doll -and in fact gets the doll- would later on not appreciate it as much and leave it all torn and raggedy. In Malaysia's case, "Look we will practice democracy because we have seen how successful it is in our mother land, England". But now we are being treated to a failed democracy whereby the 3 organs of government are so intertwined that it doesn't even conform to the grounds in which democracy works.

The entity which failed our democracy does not know that it is their dirty hands that's doing all the dirty work. We see reasonings like; it has already been a practice that we elect the leader of this country from the leader of one party. It is illogical for someone to plea to the ruler not to appoint him as the PM because the party which elected him supports him.

Isn't democracy about people's power? Since when does democracy define "people" as those who are within a certain party? If it is up to the people, Abdullah would still be in power come the end of April because his approval rating is even higher than Najib's.

The use of the word "tradition" is rather immature in itself. Since when is democracy about tradition? It is about a system and therefore tradition does not play a part. Democracy in this country is written in the federal constitution and since when is the federal constitution a tradition?

A child could be forgiven for saying something like, "We must go to the grave on every hari raya because that is the tradition" or "What? There's no tahlil for your grandpa? But that's tradition!". A child doesn't know the reasoning behind each and the actual ruling of each. But when a grown man says something like "The leader has always been picked from this party, that is tradition, and it is illogical to act otherwise", then that's just plain dumb isn't it?

I can understand Dr.M's remarks regarding the plea by Zaid Ibrahim and branding it as "stupid". It is because he does not believe that the monarchs in this country should have a mind of their own. So "stupid" in this case is anything that does not kowtow to his ideas. Furthermore, after years in power he has the cheek to say, UMNO has failed to turn things around and clean up when in 22 years of power he didn't do anything to shake things up. First of all, he created the corrupt mess we're in and then fails to clean things up himself. Therefore his talk about "cleaning up" is what is rather stupid and childish.

When anyone from UMNO speaks of "change" and wants "change". it is nothing more but hopeful talks of a man (a child) who does not really believe that they will do it. That is also child-like. A child, some not all, would say something like, "I'll definitely fast till the end of the day today" and would break his fast not long after. Or he would say something like, "Yes ma! I will clean the room right away", but instead, makes more of a mess. UMNO's promise of change is along the same line.

The fact that they use independent bodies like the judiciary, the ACA (then) and the police force for their own self-interest also speaks volumes of our failing democracy. Such bodies are supposed to be independent for a reason. It is called check and balance, but check here is spelled cheque and balance, well let's just say it is the balance between having a paycheck or unemployment.

A child could not accept defeat easily. If a child loses in a game, he will sulk or throw a tantrum. Worst case scenario, he would cheat.

One of the points made in the IHT is the fact that political parties in Malaysia have failed to accept defeat in elections. That is very true. A mature democracy wouldn't have talks about party-hopping or defections as much as we have here in Malaysia. Both the opposition and the ruling coalition has failed to recognize "people's choice" and that is the reason why we have all these talk about constitutional crisis.

In Malaysia's case, sulking has already been done. Much of the ruling coalition's members talk about how the people have failed to recognize what they have done for 50 years. They blame the people. Then came throwing a tantrum here and there. Road block all over the country. ISA being used on innocent individuals. Charging people for questionable offences. After much of the sulking and tantrum throwing have passed, they cheat. This needs no further elaboration.

So yes, democracy is still at an infant age in Malaysia. The ruling coalition, especially, is at a different age then their old wrinkly face would suggest. But in order to truly determine where our future lies, (will we mature any time soon are we doomed to be a child forever?) we have to wait awhile. Some child matures late, and maybe this nation is like that. I know that the people themselves have somewhat mature, now it is the government's turn.

Peace :)