LETTER | 'The people see, Hannah'

LETTER | In our country’s neverending political drama, where power, struggle, and contradictions interlace, a recent unfolding compels us to pause and delve deeper into its complicated narratives.

The elephant in the room, Hannah Yeoh, finds herself at the heart of scrutiny from the rakyat - astute and insightful observers well-versed in deciphering the subtleties of political discourse and manoeuvring.

The assertion that Perikatan Nasional is solely engaged in racial and religious baiting now seems to be less an absolute truth and more a strategic element in the broader game of politics.

At the centre of this discourse is the notable development involving Umno Youth’s Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and his call for boycotts - a campaign that has notably struggled to gain momentum, primarily due to the lukewarm response from PN.

This focus, while capturing the essence of the immediate discussion, perhaps overlooks a crucial moment for introspection among those within the coalition, including Yeoh (above) herself.

Consider the bak kut teh dish controversy or the KK Mart Allah socks incident - situations that have ignited the ever-present issues of race and religion within our national dialogue.

Yet, a division arises. A glance of skepticism is cast towards the dynamics within Yeoh’s coalition. The word “hypocrisy” echoes, highlighting the once-unthinkable alliances now seated on today’s government bench.

PN’s decision to pursue legal action over a boycott signifies a preference for procedural methods over populist appeals, underscoring that in politics, the approach to addressing grievances is as revealing as the grievances themselves.

The narrative surrounding opposition provocations increasingly serves as a smokescreen, shifting focus from pressing issues - such as the plummeting ringgit, the SST increase from six to eight percent, and the hikes in water and electricity tariffs, alongside Zahid’s DNAA.

The people see, Hannah. They look past the superficial accusations to discern when political strategies overshadow authentic governance.

MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is Perikatan Nasional Federal Territories information chief.

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