LETTER | Stop wasting time on elitist debates

LETTER | It is puzzling that in spite of various challenges facing ordinary Malaysians, such as inflation, unemployment, floods, heat, indiscriminate logging, and the widening gap between the rich and the poor, politicians try to pick and chose their favourite topics of debate, assuming that ordinary Malaysians will be very receptive to such political manoeuvring.

Sadly, the nation is caught up with elitism where elites decide the nation’s discourse and expect Malaysians to be receptive to their tone.

News reports that PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has accepted former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s challenge to debate the financially-troubled Sapura Energy Berhad reveal the shadow of elitist politics in the country.

While debates are part and parcel of a democratic system, one has to assess how a particular debate resonates with the overall political, social and economic system where its underlying ideology shapes the mind of the elites.

Unless the underlying social-economic ideology is challenged through the standards of the common good, one would not go far in bringing about substantive reforms. There would only be piecemeal changes that tend to protect vested interest.

The focus on certain failures of corporate entities could miss the forest for the trees if the economic ideology that underpins it, is not exposed for the systemic role it plays in forging a close relationship between political and business interests.

In terms of social-economic vision, there is no fundamental difference between Pakatan Harapan and BN. Both these parties thrive on the ideology of neoliberal economics. This is the main reason we do not find major differences between both parties on environmental and labour issues.

For example, raising the minimum wage alone without nurturing an eco-system of human capital development that respects the human rights to bargaining, freedom of association, and protection of workers from violence and harassment in the workplace. there will not be substantial change in the lives of workers.

The BN, Perikatan Nasional and Harapan have no clear distinctive vision on how to green up the country from a holistic dimension.

Therefore, it is hoped there will be more debates on substantive issues that would create an impact on Malaysians instead of focusing on a mere corporate entity.

There is a need to stop wasting time on elitist debates. We need debates on distinctive visions among political coalitions so that Malaysians would be well informed before they cast their votes in the next general election.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.