PMX and the Politics of Power and Patronage?

PMX made it to power through elite deal-making. PMX and his coalition did not win a majority at the last election. (This article is based on Bridget Welsh’s comments on 26 October 2024 in Malaysiakini).

Deal-making continues to reshape political alliances in this “unity” coalition, (the Madani government). Those who wanted a different government from that of Umno now have the same party and practices in power. PMX has provided the means for the party’s leaders and their family members to be rehabilitated, including through taxpayer-funded patronage. 

Political charges are being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) and halved for political support for loyalty and political support as part of deals. Latest is the groundwork for house arrest. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

Reformasi is seen to be ending at the hands of the person who used it to gain political power. Little meaningful changes have been made to address electoral reform, expand political rights, bolster the judiciary, improve race relations, curb corruption and check abuses of power and patronage. 

Rather than strengthening political accountability, political institutions and building inclusion across groups in Malaysia, the focus remains on maintaining political power, to even include a personal mention of house arrest in a budget speech. 

The “attack the rich” Budget 2025 targeting the notion of Top 15, a concept that does not account for the spending needs of families, especially in urban areas, is feeding discontent and feelings of betrayal. This group pays 80 percent of Malaysian income taxes, funding infrastructure and increased salaries/bonuses of civil servants. Negative sentiments will only worsen. 

There are better ways to increase revenue fairly and less divisively. Taxes on the rich should focus on the super-wealthy, the top one percent and those who have taken advantage of patronage. Malaysian political history (or that of other nations) shows that alienating your political base comes with political peril. 

For now, the negative sentiment among the public has been evident in greater political disengagement and ambivalence, with fewer people voting especially. As in 2018, one should not underestimate the politics of quiet disappointment and frustration. 

Courage is not an ingredient with PMX. That is surprising, after all the jail term he has been through. If he is truly courageous then go for all the reformasi steps and see if his partners will walk away. Then face the consequences. At least the people will support him for the next GE! 

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Comment: Politics of betrayal? Bridget Welsh, 26 October 2024, Malaysiakini