COMMENT | It is true. An unknown politician has to stir up a controversy or be involved in a sensational issue to get himself noticed by people like me, and my colleagues in the media.

And they know it. Most failed at the job miserably, making fools of themselves, in the process. They do not amuse me. At least, that’s what I think, anyway.

Older journalists like me normally do not pay much attention to newbie politicians (and there are many of them around these days) because all, if not most of them, are in the “so-so” category.

I am actually very disappointed that I have not seen politicians with charismatic personalities and strong communication skills emerging in the Malaysian political scene for a long while.

These are the people who tend to command more attention as they are better at engaging with the public, expressing their ideas, and connecting emotionally with voters.

So far, there is nothing extraordinary, spectacular or super exciting about the politicians who have appeared in recent times to make us sit up to attention. Again, that’s my view, anyway.

I don’t think I was way off in my assessment of politicians, the newbie ones in particular, as this recent example has illustrated.