LETTER | Democracy is being corrupted by bribing and buying the support of political frogs who are for sale. Principles are being sacrificed and the people’s mandate is being frustrated through money politics.

The foremost aim of these uncouth politicians is motivated by greed in wanting to cling to their positions and hang on to power. It is all about survival – the preservation of the self.

This has become even more blatant as the majority of the Perikatan Nasional is slowing eroding. When this majority is gone, they are finished. It would mean goodbye to the high life that they have been enjoying. The lavish lifestyle, the unbridled power to reward friends and lackeys to ensure their grip on power will all evaporate. This is something they cannot allow to take place.

The concern for the people’s welfare is not their paramount importance. So little is being done and hardly any concern is shown to look after the needs of the people. It seems all this can wait. What is of priority is the consolidation of their power to rule. Friend and foe are not spared when they are seen to stand in the way of their effort to continue in their pursuit of power.

See how even allies can be punished when they step out of line. The critical Najib Abdul Razak and the others in Umno had their RM3.7 million allocation reduced to RM100,000 for their constituencies.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the BN chairperson and Umno president, claimed that besides him, Najib (Pekan), Ahmad Maslan (Pontian), Mohamed Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas) and Ahmad Jazlan (Machang) had their allocation reduced to RM100,000 – the same amount that the opposition received. This is in stark contrast to the enormous allocation of RM3.7 million given to the government MPs.

The PN government controls the purse strings and this is how they punish those perceived as not toeing the line.

Mercilessly, the PN government goes after the opposition MPs in coercing them to switch camps. According to Zahid, "The pressures placed on them, be it in the form of taxes, projects (offers) or other pressures until they have no choice.”

But these turncoats always claimed to do it for the sake of the people when in fact it is their future and fortune that are being safeguarded.

This is how their allies who step out of line are disciplined and degraded.

And take note of how opposition constituencies are squeezed and denied the much-needed assistance so that opposition MPs are seen as ineffective. Then these representatives are enticed to jump party to receive the handouts.

This was how recently the PN won over two MPs to bolster their support. And typically, these representatives claimed that they were doing it for the benefit of the people.

This is a time of great poaching for support before Parliament reconvenes. Without having secured this majority support, the PM is not going to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to reconvene Parliament at any time soon. Time is needed to play this corrupt game of politics as long as it is necessary. The longer it takes, the greater the corruption will be.

Let Parliament meet soon and let’s resolve the uncertainty of the majority support that is preventing the august House from playing its role as a check and balance in our democracy. Billions of ringgit are being spent without being accountable. In such a situation, reckless spending takes place. This is not good for the country.

It has been pointed out that it is not necessary for the Agong to be advised by the prime minister to reconvene Parliament. It is argued that His Majesty enjoys inherent power and authority to order the House to meet at any time. Caring and loyal Malaysians beseech His Majesty to facilitate Parliament to meet soon so that the welfare of his subjects – who have been neglected – will be taken care of.

It is correctly observed that, “The care of human life and happiness […] is the first and only legitimate object of good government” – not its self-preservation.

The writer is Aliran's former president.

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