LETTER | I am afraid I can’t be as magnanimous as Lim Kit Siang who asked Muda, led by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to merge with DAP.
We do not need another thorn in the flesh. Muda should be dissolved. Forming a political party based on “youth” is pure nonsense to me.
So many young people can’t even handle their life sensibly and yet, we expect them to decide on the future of this country.
I was young once. I believe I have the locus standi to comment on young people indulging in politics or being given the right to vote.
Syed Saddiq was a cabinet minister before. His cohorts may be social activists but I think their naivety is unmatched.
What are they thinking really - a shortcut to becoming assemblypersons? Do they seriously think they can win or are they being delusional?
I think Muda does not care what the country is facing now. They know well the toxic politics that are being dished out day and night and yet they choose to further dilute the votes of those struggling to keep the country together.
Similarly, for many young people. They are swallowing hook, line and sinker the toxic ideologies being propagated to them every day. Maybe Undi18 was a mistake.
The recent state elections were not about policies, competency, corruption or even livelihood. It was all about false accusations, supremacy, racism and religious bigotry not unlike Trumpism in the US.
‘Extremism, bigotry sell’
Like what Joseph Goebbels of Nazi Germany did - “repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth.”
I do not know for how long Malaysia will wobble along. Political parties or coalitions that fight for moderation, good governance and inclusiveness will face immense challenges while those appealing to raw instincts based on race, jingoism and religion will continue to gain ground.
Sadly, this is the irony of politics. Extremism and bigotry sell.
There must be a way to push back the tide of extremism. There cannot be a situation where the extremists can say anything they want but the moderates cannot act or counter the arguments.
We have four to five years to rectify the situation before the country is changed forever.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
