Politics, politics, politics. It looks like we can't never be bored of talking about politics, and that includes myself.
Certainly it is not exclusive to Malaysian politics, but these corridor of power talks have been conquering the air from Palin's favourite shooting range in Alaska to Tsvaringai's mansion in Zimbabwe and finally to the southernmost tip of Asia continent, Tanjung Piai in Johor.
One should not venture to look for the reason why these political talks are interestingly contagious and time-consuming but one should embrace and indulge them. CNBC can talk about politics all around the clock and Wolf Blitzer will be happy to not sleep but just to talk about the tussle between Obama and McCain.
Is the situations different in Malaysia? I guess not. Our ‘Wolf Blitzers’ come in the form of ‘coffee shop addicts’ burning the midnight oil not for the coffee but for the political stories that go with every single sip of the coffee.
Less than a month before the Americans decide who is going to move in to the White House, all of a sudden ‘Joe the Plumber’ caught the interest of everyone in America. 'Joe the Plumber' was mentioned by both Obama and McCain in their third (and the last) presidential debate.
What's so special about this guy? Some even questioned if he really is a plumber. But seriously, who cares? The important thing is that both candidates are trying to win Joe the Plumber's heart, anticipating that if they get Joe's vote, they'll get the other Joes’ votes as well. But this time it's no longer Joe the Plumber, but Joe Regular.
Joe Regular goes by many names; some call him Joe Average and Joe Biden calls them as Joe Six Pack. But Joe Biden is no ordinary Joe, he is the Democrat candidate running for vice- president with Obama.
Back home in Malaysia, Joe Regular is much known as Joe Rakyat, or simple names as Ahmad, Ah Chong, and Muthu. They are named differently, but that doesn't take away the politician's effort to win their hearts in order to be in power. Joe Rakyat in Malaysia is no different with Joe Six Pack in America.
To be the front runner, a politician today must include reform in his/her agenda. Reform is compulsory as reform means for betterment and improvement. Nobody will ever want to vote for a ‘no change’ agenda.
Something has got to change be it the prime minister or the agendas that bind with the head of the state. Therefore, these constant demands for change will give rise to another type of Joe, similar to the other Joes.
This guy is also a voter and not only that, he will rise from the group that put themselves on the ballot paper, the politicians. This Joe goes by the name of ‘Joe Reform’.
What's happening in America is almost similar to the political tarik tali in Malaysia. It's about which Joe Reform can win over the hearts of most Joe Regulars.
The agenda for reform is the X-factor in pulling votes into the politician's pocket. Barisan Nasional must come up with a substantive reform agenda which appeals to Ahmad, Ah Chong and Muthu to catch up with the fast-moving political pace in Malaysia.
In order to overcome Obama's ‘Change’, even McCain is differentiating himself from Bush's administration and portraying himself as not the usual Republican candidate with his ‘We Believe In’ campaign.
So, I don't see the reason why Najib Abdul Razak or Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (maybe) refuse or choose not to table their agenda for reforms for the benefit of BN.
The pressure for change brings about surprises, shocks and unexpected news. BN was surprised in the last general election result. If there is no major overhaul of BN's engine, I'm anticipating that more Joe Rakyats will turn into Joe Reforms.
