COMMENT | How Harapan can motivate disillusioned urban voters

COMMENT | Many urban, middle-class voters have become disenchanted with politics since the Sheraton Move. Several of my friends recently grumbled, “Aiya, no use to vote la, they just jump.”

Somehow, they have totally tuned out of politics and don’t even know (or care) that there is a new anti-hopping law. Many are also disappointed that Pakatan Harapan did not transform Malaysia into “paradise” overnight, while some are still angry over three pages of Jawi-khat. Or school black shoes. Whatever la.

Urban voters are hard to please and quick to complain. They forget that Harapan was hobbled by Dr Mahathir Mohamad's and Bersatu’s reluctance to do real reforms. Moreover, 65 years of racial programming can’t just be waved away like magic. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Yet if I was such a cynical person, some election promises may still motivate me to vote – for my own “selfish” reasons...