Both the by-elections in Galas and Batu Sapi lead us to a sorry state of Malaysian politics. Our politicians are caught in a deep political trap. Most of the candidates and politicians who are involved in the campaign are not able to get out from the racial/religious mould.
Every candidate claims to be able to serve the people better but stop short of providing the details. One candidate running for a parliamentary seat said that she wanted to improve the hygiene level of her constituents if elected. She was more comfortable with a musical instrument than trying to become a health care practitioner. Does she even know the role and responsibility of a member of parliament?
Another candidate is trying to sell 'change' to the mostly poor voters. What is the meaning of change if these voters can barely afford to live decently?
Most of them would not know what an 'autonomy' means to them. Politicians must show more interest in working to improve the fundamental issues faced by the largely disenfranchised citizens.
Most of them have been neglected over the last 50 years and are barely living on the fringe of a not-so-decent life. Many barely earn enough to put food on the table. As a result, many of their children did not get a basic education.
Our politicians must understand their own role and responsibility as policy makers. They must understand how their leadership and representation can help to improve the life of these poor and often neglected voters.
Public office should not be used to satisfy a lust for power and fame.
Unfortunately, our politicians and elections are still caught in the same unhealthy and dangerous political trap. Politicians are only good at running their opponents down by attacking their personality. It is a shame that both by-elections did not feature even a lively and meaning debate between the candidates.
The only thing we know is money, lots of it, is being throw around. It will be very unfortunate if the rakyat allow some crumbs to influence their sense of justice and real choice.
It is highly like that we will observe similar trend in the next couple hundreds of election. When can Malaysia get free itself from the political trap?