MARCH 23 — “Choosing money over power is a mistake almost everyone makes. Money is the big mansion in Saratoga that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is that old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who does not see the difference.”
Fictional politician Frank Underwood, from the political drama House of Cards, was referring to Remy Danton, his Press Secretary-turned-lobbyist, implying that he should have stayed in politics instead of opting for higher pay as a lobbyist.
But is power really superior to money?
Recently, an overwhelming majority of Malaysian students rejected a motion to lobby the University of Nottingham to remove the portrait of the Prime Minister Najib Razak, a former alumnus, from King’s Meadow campus.
The petition had been set up by Cassandra Chung, a third-year law student at the university, as a “collective act of disagreement on the prime minister refusing to answer for the suspicious circumstances surrounding the transfer of RM2.6 billion into his account.”
But this was something the students sponsored by the government were wary of. Will students receive threats? Will they get in trouble with the authorities? Will the government stop sponsoring those who were critical of the government?
These concerns are very real. Studying overseas is a pipe dream for most Malaysian students. The government gives them that opportunity. In return, scholars surrender their right to be critical of the government.
A clear example is the outcome of the motion during the Nottingham Malaysian Society’s Annual General Meeting. An overwhelming majority rejected the idea of lobbying the university to remove the portrait. Out of over 300 students, only 60 attended. Only 10 people voted for the motion, with the rest either voting against or abstaining from the motion.
The argument for rejecting the motion? The fear of scholarships being taken away. No money, no scholarship, no education, no bright career prospects boosted by a respected university.
Now, employees working in government-linked companies and public agencies are also like these students sponsored by the government. Job security, a decent living wage, great working conditions—all of these benefits are offered in return for silence and implicit political support for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), the incumbent coalition government since 1955. This represents another extension of power into the lives of Malaysian, using money.
Frank Underwood’s statement implies that power is superior to money. But frankly, power goes to where the money is. But the press and media, the Fourth Estate, functions as a check and balance. However, without sufficient monetary support for the press, even journalism companies cannot carry out their aim.
The Malaysian Insider (TMI), a privately-owned news site known for being critical of the government, was shut down by its owner recently. Before this, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had blocked the website for reporting that the local anti-corruption commission had enough proof to charge the prime minister for illegal money transfers.
In recent times, the freedom of expression in Malaysia has been repressed with new laws that make it even harder to openly criticise the government. In 1971, the University and University Colleges Act passed, and made it difficult for students to participate in politics in any way though an amendment in 2012 allowed students to be part of political parties.
Since then, the government has strengthened its Sedition Act and established a security council with a wide array of powers
TMI’s parent company, The Edge Media, reported losses that totalled RM10 million since they acquired the news portal in June 2014.
No money, no power, no check and balance.
Look at it this way: on one hand, the government reaches into the private lives of those who can’t afford overseas education and workers seeking a decent wage. This is in return for silence and implicit political support. On the other, the press, the Fourth Estate, the check and balance against abuses of power, needs money too.
Sceptics may question the effectiveness of Cassandra Chung’s efforts to do good for the country but they do not see the impact it has made although the motion was rejected.
Reigniting this issue in the public through the press goes a long way towards reminding people that any degree of corruption must be condemned. Major journalism sites — Asian Correspondent, Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider, and Yahoo Singapore — covered her story. Her initial petition to bring up the motion received close to 5,000 signatures.
What is this article, if not the product of her petition too?
Cold, rational “realists” may dismiss her actions, but I contend that Chung’s efforts should be applauded, especially in current times of student repression.
The press functions as a check and balance through covering stories like these. But it is unfortunate that a major journalism website such as TMI, well-known for its critical voice, must shut down because of monetary reasons.
Journalism in Malaysia now exerts less power as the Fourth Estate, and government-sponsored students and government employees, are impotent avenues for check and balances against abuses of power because of money.
Frank Underwood may think power is superior to money. But he’s wrong. Power and money are inseparable, and that is the reality in Malaysia.
* This article was written by an Associate Editor from CEKU, the editorial arm of the United Kingdom and Eire Council of Malaysian Students (UKEC).
** This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
