LETTER | Harapan shouldn’t be too gentlemanly

LETTER | Recently, there have been debates about whether or not allocations of funds to each parliamentary constituency are democratic.

I am not here to argue the virtues of democracy and fairness. I am here to look at what is at stake in our state of democracy.

Unfairness in allocations to opposition-held constituencies has been in existence since this country achieved its independence.

It has been used by successive governments to strengthen themselves and weaken the opposition for as long as we can remember. Sometimes, the opposition was rendered almost non-existent.

That was why it has taken us 60 years and a major mind-boggling event to change the government.

The first Pakatan Harapan government was betrayed from day one and so nothing of significance had happened.

Too many ‘rogues’ in opposition

Now the second Harapan-led government was given another bite at the cherry. For the sake of this country, I urge the present government to be a little wary of democracy and hold on to power resolutely.

Do not be too “heroic” and gentlemanly.

There are too many rogue politicians and political parties in the country. Frankly, they don’t really believe in democracy and fairness. They ignored and abused democracy when they were in power.

However, once out of power, suddenly democracy is back at the forefront. They are now using democracy, which they despised when in power, to try to gain power.

I urge the government to be wary of the opposition’s antics. I believe people asking for fairness and equity must come with clean hands. It is not democratic principles that are at stake now, it is their primary aim to regain power.

And once the power is regained, we can all kiss goodbye to democracy, this time, probably for good.

I have long lost the idealism of democracy. So long as we have a group of politicians who are sufficiently capable and ethical, we should let them govern without continuous distractions from the opposition.

Our country does not have the luxury to be saddled with endless polemics and instability.

I have genuine concerns for the present crop of opposition politicians. Their track records do not seem to be in congruence with democracy and open government.

So I guess it is okay for the government to act a little undemocratic. Sometimes we must do a “little evil” to achieve a greater good.

I believe the former Singaporean prime minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew has done this very well.

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