What is your political ideology? - The New Seekers and the Third Force have yet to materialise

One thing that irks me about the political paradigm in this country is that many people believe you either have to choose between the right or left wing -- meaning, either you support the current government coalition i.e the powers-that-be or the opposition (or one of the many opposition parties).

This simplistic dichotomy is downright irritating.

Yes, you can opt to choose neither, but you have to keep silent from commenting on current political matters or issues. The moment you open your mouth and say something against one of the two choices, you will be branded and stereotyped as a supporter to either one of the political parties/coalitian. 

Another simplistic dichotomy that revolves around the framework of political ideology is the question of whether you are a liberal or conservative. This simplified trait of stereotyping people by generalising them as liberals or conservatives works well within the Muslim community.

If you are a Muslim man and you are spotted with a long beard and wear a songkok or scull-cap, the Arabic robe, kurta' or baju Melayu, then you are definitely a conservative. This is the same with women who wear the tudung or the Muslimah headgear. 

So, beware of the conservatives, they are so kampong and close-minded, they won't even smile or shake hands with us, the liberals would chide.

If you are a Muslim man and speak English with an accent and wear western style clothes with a tie or jacket, then you are probably a liberal. For the liberal women, it's the same. They are the ones who do not don the tudung, wear make-up and lipsticks and colour their hair. 

So, beware of the liberals, they might turn the tide on you and one day your aqidah will be revoked, the conservatives would chide.

And that's where the problem starts.

But then, the political division in this multi-racial, multi-religious country of ours is not that simple to analyze or conclude by compartmentalizing them through their religion, ethnic groups or political stance. They are difficult to understand, each and every category is puzzled with various complexities, wrangled and squashed with so many variables.

We can't signify them by their political ideologies, as their ideology sometimes overlaps or intertwine between religion and one particular stance to another. Some people also change their political stance like they change cars once they have enough extra cash to buy another.

A Malay Muslim can be a conservative in his devotion to God, but also a liberal in his worldly practices or vice-versa. The same Malay Muslim man can also be a supporter of the government-of-the-day or a left-wing opposition and these political stance can change overnight according to their whims.

One day he sokong and the next day he jumps ship.

It all boils down to whether there is something amiss or some leader he dislikes in the political party he supports or if there is something better for him to grab if he jumps ship. Another thing could be that he needs to be in the winning party to save his skin for he has done something wrong with the law.

Irony, ain't it?

So, what is your political ideology?

If anybody ask me this question, I will give a very simple answer, and that is pragmatism or practicality. But before you read further, I would like you to know why I am writing this entry. 

In Facebook profile, when we register an account, we are asked to set a profile page (optional) by stating our philosophical believes. This is to denote what our religious and political views are. 

I find this quite relevant and interesting. I think Mark Zuckerberg did a well researched study on this matter before putting up Facebook on the world-wide-web map for all and sundry to join his brilliant idea of a social networking site. 

So, in my FB account, after filling this up I have set the status open for everybody to see. So that other people who wants to add me can know before hand what my religious and political leanings are.

But I did not put pragmatism or practicality as my religious and political views, as I do not want others to misconstrue or associate those words with liberals and liberalism. 

I do not also want people to misunderstood that due to my pragmatism and practicality, I am putting aside all other ideological culture and idealism -- meaning by being pragmatic and practical, one can be mistaken as a Machiavellian, and that the end justify the means is one of the policy.

Middle of the Road

However I entered "Middle of the Road" as my religious views and "The New Seekers" as my political views. You can let your imaginations run wild as to what those words mean!

Actually those two are the names of my favorite bands from the 60's and 70's..hehehe! 

No, I wasn't trying to be funny.

I was trying to look smart. Those who knew me know that I like to use puns (without indicating "pun intended"), metaphors or the like in my writings. 

"Middle of the Road" may be regarded as my religious views and practices - I am a moderate and progressive Muslim and I would always try to find a solution to a middle ground in solving and ending a problem or conflict, be it in religion or worldly matters.

"The New Seekers" as my political views signify that I am fed-up with the current political state of affairs in this country, and I wish to seek the existence of a better, stronger and more principled brand of politics from a party of dignified, incorruptible and trustworthy men and women (or even unpronounced gay) who can turn-over the political tide and then rule the country with fairness, compassionate, accountability and without greed.

Like many educated, well-read and well-traveled individuals, I have tried very much not to be equated with supporting a brand name; political figures; real-life legends or even fictional super heroes. And these stances include not having myself associated with any political ideology and what more support any political party.

Well, of course until there exist such a respectable party that can be associated with fairness and compassion and when entrusted with power would enforce the rule of law without fear or favour. But to be able to rule fairly and compassionately, the winning party's credibility will not just be portrayed in their statement of policy or motto but also implemented in practicality. 

And let the people be the judge to that -- when they are given the mandate in a free, democratic election!

But there are also some highly educated, well-read and well-traveled individuals who are indifferent to all this politics and ideology thingy. By not supporting any political party, these people think they are the Grown-Ups who supposedly don't meddle with politics. 

They are the cool guys. Only young boys play with politics, they say.

These people would sometimes flaunt their nonpolitical stance, by putting it on their Facebook profile, Political views: Apolitical.

Some would even brag all along that they are an apolitical being and that they don't like such and such party or make statements that politics are dirty bla..bla..bla... 

But I beg to differ. Being apolitical means you must not only be impartial, but also not have any interest in any political affairs or leanings. But if you say you are apolitical but at the same time make comments or cast aspersion against a political party, that is not apolitical. That is also like having a political stand, which in itself is a political ideology.  If you know and understand the political situation of the country, but by opting not to vote (or register as a voter) but at the same time show your disgust against a political leader or party, shows that you are a political being.

So, I do not consider myself apolitical. But what am I?

Can MCLM be considered the third force?

For quite a long time I have been searching in vain for the answers about what political ideology or leanings I belong to? I can't rely on The New Seekers or continue dreaming of having a third force, because they don't exist or have yet to materialise. But until yesterday, I finally had the answers and be able to put it down in words.

At last, I am able to find a social-political 'principle' or path which is close at heart to represent my current stand on what type, stand or brand of political support i should give to my country. I believe this 'principle' should be understood well by all Malaysians who aspire that the country be relieved from its social-political woes it is currently in, and why it is practically needed in this hard and trying times. 

This 'idea' was actually articulated by a Malaysiakini commentor by the name of ghkok. His one para comment was then supported by two other commentors, SusahKes and faz, whom I find equally appealing in their arguments. Thank you ghkok, SusahKes and faz for helping me put your ideas into a posting. I will use this arguments and gather some more and hopefully rewrite them into a another posting. And this other posting will be themed as such: What I would like to see Malaysia achieve in ten years from now.

 

Below are the comments from ghkok, SusahKes and faz taken from the Malaysiakini article Najib will have to go for broke by Terrence Netto, published yesterday (27 Jan 2011). If you do not have a Malaysiakini subscription, you can read the whole article from beritamalaysia. The comments can only be read from the Malaysiakini article by scrolling down the article and clicking on the View Comments (28)

ghkok wrote: The next General Elections is not about Najib, or even Anwar for that matter. It's about CHANGING THE SYSTEM. It's about the need to put an end to 53 years of one-party rule and to transition the country to a two-party system where GENUINE democracy thrives. It's about liberating the country from the suffocation of one-party monopoly. It's about cementing a system where PR and BN compete to offer the best solutions in an oppression-free arena. It's about voters regaining their power. It's about starting a culture of changing the Fed Govt every two or three terms - no matter whether it's PR or BN. It's about NEVER AGAIN letting one party stay in power for 53 years. 

SusahKes I agree with ghkok. It's not just about the man that Najib is; it's about changing this decrepit political system that demonises Malaysia. For all his pseudo-liberal posing, Najib has no qualms in pulling the rug under from a democratically elected government like Perak, nor is he shy of offering "electoral tidbits ala I help you, you help me", nor in censoring the Net. Reform from Najib? Aisay, mana boleh la..??..Altantuya punya kes pun belum solve; macam mana boleh ada reform? But even if Najib was clean & pure as a virgin who'd never seen a man, his political Godfathers aren't; which is UMNO. We desperately need a 2 party system in order to allow for political competition, which in turn should turn the tide towards healthy democracy. Whether Najib charms everybody with his pink lips or by putting a cut out that is larger than the gods at Bt Caves, he is part of the system that has no moral compass. A system that gave us Mahathir, Perkasa, PKFZ and lost USD100b of our money.

faz I support the call by ghkok. What we need is a working 2-party system that will compete for our votes. This is the best solution to the current turmoil. But, in practice, UMNO-BN has to lose an election first as UMNO-BN will not want the system in place, to limit their current corrupt ways. So, let us work together to make this a reality. NEVER AGAIN a political party stay in power too long as evident of the long staying UMNO-Alliance-BN group had. It will then be win-win situation for all the electorates and the political parties of the future.

Can a two party system become a reality in Malaysia? Why must it be a two-party system? Can't a single party system work? 

The two party system in America works because it is stable

Look at our neigbour, Singapore! There is only a single party that dominates power and yet justice prevailed. All is fair in love, war and election over there although we often hear grouses from individuals and from the opposition parties once in a while, but those are rare cases.

Over here, we hear complaints and grouses every day. 


Billions in Malaysian ringgit are lost every year through illegal transactions to offshore banks and all these money supposedly belongs to the people, it was revealed a week ago. Up till now no government officials bother to explain who transferred them, to where, how or why?

Over here millions are paid to build roads and buildings without proper documents and specifications and the contracts are awarded to crony companies through direct negotiations, even when the rule says it should go through open tenders. All these with the excuse that the development in this country must advanced in a faster pace so that by the year 2020 we can be recognised as a developed nation (whatever that means?). 


No need to provide proof to make people believe the story. It is an open secret, everybody knows it happened and is happening in front of everybody in broad daylight. The doers are also not hiding the fact that they are part of the misdeed.

In Singapore there are vast developments too and their people are more advanced in their thinking. But there is also very little corruption. Their MPs and Ministers are the best of the best in comparison. All the institutions are very competent and there is meritocracy. People with the best qualification get jobs or places in universities, without taking any consideration to their ethnic background or political affiliation.

As the Malaysian Maverick, Dr Mahathir Mohamed once said quoting a comedian, there are so many rules and don'ts over there until Singapore was once called a 'fine country' where everybody gets fined for doing silly little things like throwing rubbish around. 

But what we have here is at the other extreme. We throw rubbish around, we do silly things, we break the law. But if we belong to a special group or the privileged few, or we have cables laid here and there, we can get away scott free. Only those without any cables pay the fine. 

Yes, we do have A LITTLE more freedom here, but at the expanse of others, and what else do we have? I am not proud of all these so called 'freedom' unless it is fairly applied and distributed.

Dear people,

Come next GE we should think hard and not let our country slip away and be sold to the dogs, even though the dogs that we have are the sons of our founding fathers.

Please God help save Malaysia.