MAY 26 — Loose cannon is not how a potential prime minister would like to be referred to, though Rafizi Ramli might be overly-enamoured by the examples of past drama masters.

In the past week he has drawn the ire of those in and out of his party which is quite an achievement even in the murky world of Malaysian politics.

With cocksure prose he waxed lyrical about the need to act against all corruption by friend or foe with equal rigour, referring to unnamed individuals in Selangor government acting wrongly. In the days that followed his outburst — probably prompted by his eagerness as the boss of NOW (National Oversight & Whistleblowers), a set of protectors stronger than the Guardians of the Galaxy — he belatedly realised he was also an elected vice-president of the party where these individuals are probably from which means they are his key stockholders. 

Worst, it hit him around the same time that he was the appointed Secretary-General of the party, which means he has an obligation to protect the overall good name of the party which includes not spewing without considering the full ramification of his actions. 

He might have at a lesser level remembered he was part of the Selangor government before as CEO of the Economic Advisor’s Office and therefore find some sympathy for the high scrutiny faced by his colleagues under the glare of the federal government’s agencies.

He’s surely aware as he has had personal dealings with those federal agencies that once the dogs are set upon opposition politicians, they need to run for cover perpetually. Was Rafizi himself not literally handcuffed in similar situations?

So, why do this to a comrade when the game is high stakes?

All in all, he could have thought a bit more, and not used his fear of the afterlife to bite various hands without examining if they were feeding him or not. 

I’m of the opinion he was just excited by the prospect of raising hellfire and therefore raising his own profile in the eyes of the public, and become the darling of the media.

Donald Trump might be new to American politics, storming a nation and now on an unstoppable march to the White House, but here in Malaysia there have been Trumps ruling the roster for decades. 

The maestros 

They have been at it for years. The divas, chest-thumpers, caravan preachers, street vendors with bum potions or messiahs; call them what you want but the modus operandi remains the same.

Mahathir Mohamad was spouting nonsense a long time before a citizen’s declaration, even before rolling Abdullah Badawi over in the Noughties, like in the Sixties against first Prime Minister Abdul Rahman. It is about being relentless, consistent and damn the evidence or consequence. A lie only needs a head start.

Anwar Ibrahim ran roughshod over our institutions and the spirit of the country in forcing wholesale Islamisation in record time without considering how it would fracture Malaysian society. 

In return hordes followed him for being the only man bold enough to do things with only regard for his professed faith, not his multicultural population. 

Semangat 46, in their infancy, felt Ampang Jaya in 1989 with its large Chinese population would elect the former mentri besar of Selangor who was a large figure in the communal May 13 clashes 20 years prior. 

They thought the big name of Harun Idris was enough excitement to overcome any normal candidate. He lost. Ironically, Rafizi is the MP now of one half of Ampang Jaya, now Pandan. 

Khir Toyo felt that the same state would be more interested in his campaign to have zero-opposition rather than the piling up allegations of Selangor’s financial impropriety. 

Khir was convinced the noise generated would wash away all the bad stories about him. But hey, he went to jail and now is in the running to be MP next month.

The Umno assemblymen and division heads in Terengganu are constantly providing “continuing stories” on why the present mentri besar is not up to snuff, lamenting the loss of previous MBs and forecasting the rise of another prodigal son. So there is unending rife in a largely unprosperous state. How do the voters feel about that?

And then there are sideshows. Like shrines in parks and their mesmerising effects on unsuspecting walkers, the denigration of the soul of resort islands of highly conservative societies by foreigners baring their bodies and those milking the various shows of defiance in Johor.

The constant is to ride the wave of populism without thought of the outcome.

All about headlines

The question that emerges therefore is, do the people in Malaysia only respond to drama? Will they ignore common sense and propositions which can change their lives for the better?

I ask this not rhetorically, I ask this because I too am wondering where Malaysians stand on decent people trying to improve their lives and not compete with tabloid headlines.

This is important because way too many new faces — and unsurprisingly old faces — are relying on what “excitement” they can cause and surf on the controversy to high office without the need to have a smart idea about policies, development and most importantly, people.

I have attended enough press conferences where the opposition politicians suggest it is the mother of all press conferences, probably few notches more than if they were to unveil the Holy Grail with real Jesus DNA on it. Are tall tales the only way to draw attention to the opposition and turn voters against the government of the day? 

As if it were just about cold ideas, the media would be turned off and citizens indifferent to it.

The country needs ideas presently, not those with the ability to point the finger at other Malaysians. If these ideas are transmittable, plain but meaningful, short but insightful, and honest then even in the convoluted reality of Malaysian politics the people will know about these ideas.

Because you see, ideas are bulletproof. We just need leaders willing to cast aside the drama and prop themselves up with bright ideas that can elevate this sluggish nation from the muck. If ever there was a time there was widespread agreement that we are drowning in sludge, this would be it. 

Except, right now there are no leaders with ideas. Just hate to peddle and no money changer recognising this currency.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnists.