Ten thousand idiots and the politics of convenience — Khoo Ying Hooi

In the world of politics, it is easy to lose track of the truth when faced with a multitude of conflicting opinions and ever-shifting alliances. One such instance comes to mind when pondering the quote, "One idiot is one idiot. Two idiots are two idiots. Ten thousand idiots are a political party." While this statement may seem rather cynical, it resonates with the reality of Malaysian politics today.

The election cycle in Malaysia has become increasingly convoluted, with political parties seemingly willing to abandon their core principles for the sake of convenience. In 2018, Barisan Nasional (BN) lost federal power after more than six decades, and the opposition party, Pakatan Harapan (PH), celebrated the victory as a democratic milestone.

However, two years later, the government collapsed due to political realignments. By 2022, PH and BN were governing together, a far cry from their earlier claims of irreconcilable differences.

As the political landscape continued to evolve, BN formed a coalition with Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Negeri Sembilan and entered into an electoral arrangement with PAS in Melaka. This flexibility in their political principles has become more sophisticated over time, with alliances varying according to constituency and electoral circumstances. It is as if the parties have learned to rearrange their principles with the agility of a skilled acrobat, ready to adapt to any situation.

While it is essential to uphold legal principles such as due process and the presumption of innocence, it is equally important to acknowledge the selective application of these values. When an Opposition politician faces corruption allegations, Malaysians demand accountability. However, when a member of the governing coalition is under scrutiny, the same individuals suddenly remind everyone about the necessity of following due process.

In contemporary Malaysian politics, it is not uncommon to observe a reluctance to describe the situation as one of blindly loyal followers. While that description may be unfair to all voters, it does highlight the extent to which political support has changed. Many Malaysians are increasingly skeptical of political parties, aware that today's promises can easily become tomorrow's embarrassing failures.

Some vote for a party because they genuinely believe in its agenda, while others do so out of distrust for the alternatives. Some support individual candidates despite reservations about their parties, and there are those who have become so disillusioned with the political establishment that they no longer expect much from anyone.

This cynicism is further exemplified by the fact that many Malaysians still vote for a party without believing everything its leaders say. Instead, they opt for the option they find least objectionable, choosing the lesser of two evils. In this sense, the political landscape becomes rather absurd, as parties continue to behave as if they command unquestioning loyalty, even when voters may be supporting them reluctantly.

In such a world, it is no wonder that politicians find convenience in this situation. They no longer have to convince voters that they have kept their promises; instead, they only have to convince enough people that someone else would do a worse job. In this way, the political establishment benefits from a system that allows them to maintain power through the art of deception, with voters left to grapple with the consequences of their decisions.