In The Ring > Opposing roles and goals

Not veering far away from general expectations, it was another eventful week in Malaysian politics. A few days after the Pakatan Rakyat win in Permatang Pauh, the government responded with a Budget, in it, policy actions that appeared to address the plight of the lower and middle class segment of society head on.

Permatang Pauh, apart from returning Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Parliament after almost a decade of absence, has revealed a new chapter in Malaysian politics. It was not so much the outcome as the emergence of the more sophisticated election machinery and communications technology involved that is an eye opener.

From what transpired in Permatang Pauh, we can say goodbye to the sentimental images of families making banners together, painting on a white piece of cloth individual messages that come from the heart.

Today, the well-oiled propaganda machines churn out concerted messages on banners printed in mere seconds, multitude sized T-shirts, masks, and you-name-it paraphernalia all just as speedily,

In ushering in this new era of politics, however, I feel that opposition leaders have yet to show maturity and the competency to rise above political rallies, ceramah, innuendos, conspiracies and staged walkouts. The response to the recently tabled Budget is an illustration of this failure.

To a large extent, in terms of policy initiative and the ability to think out of the box to challenge the government on substantive issues, the opposition has failed to meet expectations.

Criticism without intelligence will not fill the vacuum of the peoples aspirations to see quality debates that would transform into policies beneficial for all. The cornerstone of an effective opposition is to propose alternative policies. Parti Keadilan Rakyat did come out with a last minute response to the Budget but can this be taken as the collective voice of Pakatan Rakyat?

It is a steep learning curve. Household names like Jeff Ooi and Nurul Izzah have yet to capture the publics imagination and expectations. For a coalition that is hell bent on forming the government in a matter of days, the Pakatans collective policy lacks clarity and is absent of any strong champions.

With its newfound vigour, the oppositions functions should not be limited to the definition given by Tierney centuries ago that: The duty of an opposition is to propose nothing, to oppose everything and to turn out the government.

A few months after the March 8 results, prominent bloggers wrote about the need for the opposition to form a shadow Cabinet. Maybe due to political reasons within the Pakatan Rakyat framework, this has not materialised.

Many feel that the opposition should set aside their differences and form a shadow Cabinet that is able to give well thought-out feedback on all proposed legislation and not succumb to the desire to play politics at every turn.

Malaysians have proven again that they are a matured and rationale electorate. The message for change naturally transcends to Umno and Barisan Nasional. They, like the opposition, have to up the ante and make room for fundamental changes.

As with the 12th General Election, it is apparent that the electorate rejects negative politics and at the same time, positively responds to substantive measures that will benefit them directly.

The Budget highlighted awareness of this shift in thinking on the part of the government, but it is only a start. The opposition, with a new head at the helm, must realise that they too have an important role in Malaysia.

It is unfortunate that the spirit of Ramadan will not deter the continued drama in the sphere of politics. The sad truth is that the tug of war for the peoples support has not ceased since March 8. The estimate as to how long the politicking will continue and have to be endured in the event Sept 16 being postponed, does not augur well for apolitical Malaysians.

It is hard to explain to the electorate that their choice, made through the ballot boxes across Malaysia for a government with a strong opposition to provide check and balance, may not be acceptable to the politicians of the day.