To some Malaysians, the present government is not strong. They have come to this conclusion because the Barisan Nasional does not enjoy its usual two thirds majority.But, as we pass the one year mark after March 8, the government has been able to function without much difficulty.
Federal agencies still maintain their strangle-hold over the various state governments. In fact, Pakatan Rakyat state governments can testify to the strength of the federal government.Few understand the concept of a centralised and unitary state that is Malaysia. But everyone who lives in the Klang Valley knows that there is a buzz in the air. It is here that decisions are made and instructions channelled to the outlaying cities, towns and districts.
So, if strong government is equated with the wielding of administrative and fiscal power, the BN federal government is still quite a giant.When the BN lost its two thirds majority, it lost the power to arbitrarily amend the constitution. Basically, this meant that it could not, for example, amend the constitution in such a way as to justify the Perak takeover. This is bad if one presumes to think of our members of parliament as mere rubber stamps.
Over the years, MPs have been brought so low that too many think of them as the people we go to to complain about clogged drains, potholes, noise pollution, business deals that have gone sour and all sorts of things that are totally unrelated to why they were elected.
Members of parliament were elected as legislators. Their job is to make sure that the laws of the land continually benefit the people. They are in parliament to represent the aspirations of their constituents.But the result of 52 years of governmental two thirds majority is that we have no memory of parliamentary democracy.
Federal agencies still maintain their strangle-hold over the various state governments. In fact, Pakatan Rakyat state governments can testify to the strength of the federal government.Few understand the concept of a centralised and unitary state that is Malaysia. But everyone who lives in the Klang Valley knows that there is a buzz in the air. It is here that decisions are made and instructions channelled to the outlaying cities, towns and districts.
So, if strong government is equated with the wielding of administrative and fiscal power, the BN federal government is still quite a giant.When the BN lost its two thirds majority, it lost the power to arbitrarily amend the constitution. Basically, this meant that it could not, for example, amend the constitution in such a way as to justify the Perak takeover. This is bad if one presumes to think of our members of parliament as mere rubber stamps.
Over the years, MPs have been brought so low that too many think of them as the people we go to to complain about clogged drains, potholes, noise pollution, business deals that have gone sour and all sorts of things that are totally unrelated to why they were elected.
Members of parliament were elected as legislators. Their job is to make sure that the laws of the land continually benefit the people. They are in parliament to represent the aspirations of their constituents.But the result of 52 years of governmental two thirds majority is that we have no memory of parliamentary democracy.
Legislators themselves are no longer able to distinguish between their roles from that which is expected of them by the chief whip.If the expression "whip" scares, it is because it is meant to. It is a threat that hangs over the heads of every party member to toe the party line.
Why Umno is courting PAS?
In mature democracies, MPs are at times allowed to break ranks and vote according to their conscience. This is because the government knows that the legislation MPs have been asked to support is not something that the electorate wants.This is why the Britain's Labour Party did not get the full support of Labour MPs when deciding to invade Iraq. But Britain went ahead because the Prime Minister of the day had the support of the opposition Conservative party. Consequently, Britain invaded Iraq, and quite possibly, entered an illegal war.
Today, the BN government has a fairly large majority although it has only about 51 percent of the votes of cast in March 8, 2008. In Peninsular Malaysia, it lost its majority of the popular vote and five state governments. Despite this setback, the BN's dominance of parliament and of federal agencies remains. The silver-lining here is that a strong opposition means that the BN is not left unchecked hence the revision of toll and water supply agreements with BN-appointed concessionaires.
So, why define a strong government as one that needs two thirds majority? Why entice only PAS to form a unity government? Why not court the DAP or the PKR? The reason is fairly obvious if we were to look at how the BN defines the nation.
Why Umno is courting PAS?
In mature democracies, MPs are at times allowed to break ranks and vote according to their conscience. This is because the government knows that the legislation MPs have been asked to support is not something that the electorate wants.This is why the Britain's Labour Party did not get the full support of Labour MPs when deciding to invade Iraq. But Britain went ahead because the Prime Minister of the day had the support of the opposition Conservative party. Consequently, Britain invaded Iraq, and quite possibly, entered an illegal war.
Today, the BN government has a fairly large majority although it has only about 51 percent of the votes of cast in March 8, 2008. In Peninsular Malaysia, it lost its majority of the popular vote and five state governments. Despite this setback, the BN's dominance of parliament and of federal agencies remains. The silver-lining here is that a strong opposition means that the BN is not left unchecked hence the revision of toll and water supply agreements with BN-appointed concessionaires.
So, why define a strong government as one that needs two thirds majority? Why entice only PAS to form a unity government? Why not court the DAP or the PKR? The reason is fairly obvious if we were to look at how the BN defines the nation.
To a race-based party, the nation is defined in genealogical ethnic terms. To say it in simple English such people see the nation as defined by memories specific to a particular ethnic group and made up of cultural symbols associated with the "original" peoples.
After 52 years of BN rule, Malaysia resembles a composite of many "ethnic-nation states" all cohabiting within a single geographical space. If nations can be "imagined", many are imagining different things. Under the BN, the basis of Malaysia include myths, history, language, religion and cultural emblems that they associate and define as "Malay". That is why Umno is now carrying the cudgels on behalf of the royals, their one-time rivals. That is also why so many Malay NGOs are lodging police reports about blogs, letter writers etc.
After 52 years of BN rule, Malaysia resembles a composite of many "ethnic-nation states" all cohabiting within a single geographical space. If nations can be "imagined", many are imagining different things. Under the BN, the basis of Malaysia include myths, history, language, religion and cultural emblems that they associate and define as "Malay". That is why Umno is now carrying the cudgels on behalf of the royals, their one-time rivals. That is also why so many Malay NGOs are lodging police reports about blogs, letter writers etc.
Wanting a strong ethnic state again
But what exactly happened on March 8 that gave rise to this sense of insecurity? Did we suddenly have less rice to eat? Did we loose so many jobs as to warrant a panic? Even when the BN lost five states, the people in those states, including those who voted for the BN, were not driven out of their businesses or their homes.The real problem is the rise of PKR or to be particular, political parties that support the idea of the "civic territorial nation", to quote a local political scientist.
Today, these parties call themselves Pakatan Rakyat. Their platform is to put the "people" ahead of ethnicity and religion. This strikes at the heart of the BN's ethnic-nationalist state.The BN also has component parties who are responding to the change of mindset amongst the electorate. In urban centres, political parties that perform well are those that champion the civic territorial state.This is why the call for Umno members to 'join' the NGO movement. But this may ultimately backfire on the race-based party. Most of the credible NGOs are non-sectarian in nature.
But Umno knows that it must take the risk. It cannot roll-back into its ethno-nationalist stance and must be more than a party for the Malays. Its latest slogan is Umno for all Malaysians.This is not sitting well with the party's right wing elements. Many are veterans of the days of a strong Umno, when the party had undisputed control over parliament. They want to see the ethnic state strong again.By proposing a union with PAS, the veterans are hoping to strengthen the Malay voice in government. No more pandering to the non-Malay voters especially now that their votes are solidly with the Opposition.
Some in PAS are also uncomfortable with the prospect of a strong civic territorial state. They want to set up a theocracy. These people believe that a faith-based nation will bring stability, justice and equality.
But what exactly happened on March 8 that gave rise to this sense of insecurity? Did we suddenly have less rice to eat? Did we loose so many jobs as to warrant a panic? Even when the BN lost five states, the people in those states, including those who voted for the BN, were not driven out of their businesses or their homes.The real problem is the rise of PKR or to be particular, political parties that support the idea of the "civic territorial nation", to quote a local political scientist.
Today, these parties call themselves Pakatan Rakyat. Their platform is to put the "people" ahead of ethnicity and religion. This strikes at the heart of the BN's ethnic-nationalist state.The BN also has component parties who are responding to the change of mindset amongst the electorate. In urban centres, political parties that perform well are those that champion the civic territorial state.This is why the call for Umno members to 'join' the NGO movement. But this may ultimately backfire on the race-based party. Most of the credible NGOs are non-sectarian in nature.
But Umno knows that it must take the risk. It cannot roll-back into its ethno-nationalist stance and must be more than a party for the Malays. Its latest slogan is Umno for all Malaysians.This is not sitting well with the party's right wing elements. Many are veterans of the days of a strong Umno, when the party had undisputed control over parliament. They want to see the ethnic state strong again.By proposing a union with PAS, the veterans are hoping to strengthen the Malay voice in government. No more pandering to the non-Malay voters especially now that their votes are solidly with the Opposition.
Some in PAS are also uncomfortable with the prospect of a strong civic territorial state. They want to set up a theocracy. These people believe that a faith-based nation will bring stability, justice and equality.
Umno is feeling weak
There are also an ethno-nationalist dimension here, particularly from those party members who live in predominantly Malay-Muslim states. But the last one year of working together under Pakatan and the solid non-Malay support for their candidates in two by-elections have made even the most ethno-nationalist PAS member a bit ambivalent.
There are also an ethno-nationalist dimension here, particularly from those party members who live in predominantly Malay-Muslim states. But the last one year of working together under Pakatan and the solid non-Malay support for their candidates in two by-elections have made even the most ethno-nationalist PAS member a bit ambivalent.
If the Umno ship is to sink, PAS' best hope of influencing the direction of Malaysia's political evolution would be to win over the bulk of the Malay-Muslim vote. Of course, it can come to power by way of joining the BN now but it cannot hope to maintain power from within the BN. More importantly, it would mean setting aside the Islamic agenda for the ethno-nationalist state.
For Tok Guru Nik Aziz PAS will be used to smash the Pakatan Rakyat and then be spat out once Umnno regains its strength. He has experienced it himself in the 1970s. Today, PAS and Umno may have some common interest but there can only be one proverbial tiger on the Malay hill.
At the end of the day, politics is about power. The power to influence, define and implement ideas. That is fundamentally why we have members of parliament and in that parliament the BN is still very strong.
But Umno feels weak because it has to depend on its coalition partners and they are not used to sharing power. Thus it is Umno that needs the two thirds majority.
On the other hand, Malaysia needs members of parliament who are aware of their roles. This is the best of times for parliamentary democracy because MPs can finally find their voice again.We did not make a mistake on March 8, and the road towards a responsible government, one that looks after the interests of all, is finally taking shape.
(First Published on: May 1, 09 12:51pm)
For Tok Guru Nik Aziz PAS will be used to smash the Pakatan Rakyat and then be spat out once Umnno regains its strength. He has experienced it himself in the 1970s. Today, PAS and Umno may have some common interest but there can only be one proverbial tiger on the Malay hill.
At the end of the day, politics is about power. The power to influence, define and implement ideas. That is fundamentally why we have members of parliament and in that parliament the BN is still very strong.
But Umno feels weak because it has to depend on its coalition partners and they are not used to sharing power. Thus it is Umno that needs the two thirds majority.
On the other hand, Malaysia needs members of parliament who are aware of their roles. This is the best of times for parliamentary democracy because MPs can finally find their voice again.We did not make a mistake on March 8, and the road towards a responsible government, one that looks after the interests of all, is finally taking shape.
(First Published on: May 1, 09 12:51pm)
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