The myth of the two-party system

Malaysian politics has been at a crossroads since the 2008 general election. Politicians have engaged in a life-and-death confrontation while the people were forced to take sides of either to support the BN or Pakatan Rakyat. They are not allowed to be neutral or impartial.

Lim Sue Goan, Sin Chew

The general election is approaching and all kinds of dirty political means have been used to achieve personal political aims.

The past two weeks have been filled with political violence. The disturbances at PKR dinners in Perak, Malacca and Penang indicate the deterioration of political culture.

On March 8, the fifth anniversary of the 2008 political tsunami, father of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan suddenly claimed that Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a victim of a political conspiracy in the whole sodomy affair, before making an announcement of joining the PKR on March 11.

Screenshots of a sex video clip allegedly featuring the opposition leader and a man were then spread across the Internet on March 14 and the video clip is expected to be released soon. I think that everyone believes that the two events could not be a coincidence.

Malaysian politics has been at a crossroads since the 2008 general election. Politicians have engaged in a life-and-death confrontation while the people were forced to take sides of either to support the BN or Pakatan Rakyat. They are not allowed to be neutral or impartial.

To win the election, one after another muckraking game has been staged. Words like sodomy, anal sex and oral sex can always be found on newspapers, affecting children’s morality.

The political climate of loyal support has turned the people’s thinking radical. Political violence can be found in both real life and the online world, penetrating every corner of the society.

Political fanaticism has reduced the people’s ability to judge while affecting their views on the freedom of the press.

Initially, the people wanted the two-party system to make the country a better place but due to political myth, the two-party system has become a system of supporting a particular political party.

The two-party system should be a political concept that helps to improve the country’s political system, with the ultimate goal of reforming the country’s system, improving governance and making the country financially sound through checks and balances.

If we narrowly position the two-party system as supporting a political party, we will then be hostile to those with different views and even prejudice against them in political discussions.

The political confrontation between the two coalitions has shifted the focus. Today, the system has not been changed while the debt continues to increase. Fanatical supporters must also bear the responsibility.

Members of the public should support all political ideas that can bring the country a positive change, regardless of whether the ideas are from the BN or Pakatan Rakyat.

I support Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s removal of the 30 per cent Bumiputera quota on new shareholding, the abolition and amendment of demonic laws, as well as electoral reforms.

I also agree with the Pakatan Rakyat’s open tender and the idea of making state assembly members’ properties public and abolishing the New Economic Policy (NEP).

I do not agree with money distribution measures, which are not cost-effective. Only by changing the economic structure, the people’s incomes can be improved and root of the problem can be resolved.

I support the two-party system with the hope that those in power will be restricted through checks and balances. We must determine who has the ability to bring changes to the country and curb corruption, instead of blindly support without caring about the weaknesses of leaders.

We must also assess which management approach is able to reduce debt and consolidate the country’s financial situation, instead of supporting the one that can distribute more money.

Today’s irrational politics originates from the wrong interpretation of two-party system. Fanatic supporters have caused the ruling and alternative coalitions to take the wrong directions. It is a misfortune for the country.