IF it is difficult to deal with people with bipolar disorder, imagine how difficult it is for the Chinese to accept political parties like PAS which is seemingly portraying bipolar tendencies.
According to a definition by Mayo Clinic, “bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).” It was formerly known as manic depression.
Some political parties appear to also suffer from bipolar disorder when the mood swings are equally unpredictable.
At one point in time, PAS president Tan Sri Hadi Awang berated Chinese business people for all incidences of corruption in the country.
Now, PAS assistant secretary-general Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman’s speech in parliament is seen as a mere attempt to woo the Chinese hearts by highlighting their complaints about the economic uncertainties.
It is obvious that this was after Perikatan Nasional (PN) and the Islamist party realised that without the support of the non-Muslim votes, they cannot come to power.
Both Hadi and Syahir, who happens to be the Marang MP’s political secretary, appear to be at the different ends of the pendulum swing in PAS politics. They appear totally independent of each other.
What the right hand did, the left hand appears to ignore. To show that he is consistent, Syahir should have at least spoken out on behalf of the Chinese community when his party president used the Chinese as his punching bag.
Otherwise, Syahir should not blame the Chinese who choose not to believe a word that he uttered about their plight in parliament.
Everyone knows this is a deception of politics that promises the moon (coincidentally, PAS logo is a white moon) alongside the star, sun and planet in this universe but once in power, they will say that they promised only the moon and bring on their own political agenda.
Pragmatism drives the Chinese community
Having gone through the thick and thin under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration whereby they were also used as a punching bag by UMNO, Malaysian Chinese have decided that pragmatism is what works best for them.
Whatever the politicians say, it no longer matters. Whether the ringgit is up or down or the inflation is high or low, what matters most is that there is money in the pocket.
For this reason, many Chinese businessmen have taken on a more pragmatic approach to the festive season especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restauranteurs, for example, have no qualms running their restaurants throughout the entire festive season to cater to those who are still in their festive mood.
This is because there is more disposal income after the pandemic ended last year while good hospitality means bringing their outstation relatives to a restaurant for a meal together before they embark on their journey home.
Restaurant operators will make the most of the festive season and keep the reserve to tide through tough times. This is the current attitude of the local Chinese business community which is a drastic change from the pre-pandemic days.
Syahir who is the Bachok MP should probably explain to the Chinese community why during the COVID-19 pandemic when Perikatan Nssional (PN) formed the federal government, there were frequent unpredictable lockdowns.
It has been these uncertainties that forced the Chinese community to be pragmatic and work harder amidst all the uncertainties in today’s world. Therefore, it is nothing new for Chinese businessmen to work through the festive season and take a break during the low season.
It appears only now that Syahir who is touted as PN’s Shadow Economy Minister has become aware but his view is limited to just hearing from one Chinese Grab driver. He should listen to this young lady’s view and ask what PAS has done for cases similar to this Malaysian Chinese graduate.
Or at least, Syahir should make a visit to the meet people in Taman Sri Muda whose houses were badly damaged by the flood in December 2021. Till today, there is no explanation why the then government failed to respond to the floods immediately instead of blaming it to the “acts of God.”
At that time, PAS was part of the government in Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s short-lived administration. At the very least, being an Islamist party, PAS should have stood up against the federal government when it pointed its finger on the acts of God for the floods that have been plaquing Taman Sri Muda since 2019.
Do not blame the Chinese for being cynical but many residents of Sri Muda have since shifted elsewhere after the 2021 flood.
Wooing non-Muslim voters
If PAS and UMNO are serious about wooing non-Muslim voters, they must first put a stop to all the rabble-rousers.
They should emulate the way how Minister in the Prime Minister’s department in-charge of religious affairs Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar handled the controversy created by the operations manager of Berry’s Cake House Daniel Teoh Abdullah over the no “Merry Christmas” decoration on the cakes.
But has any of the political parties ostracised both former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and controversial Muslim convert preacher Prof Dr Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah when they played on race sentiments?
Both political parties should emulate former Sarawak Chief Minister the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem and the state’s current premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg who maintained that “the Chinese are not pendatang. They are locals. They have been here a long time. They give birth here. They get married here and they also die here.”
Abang Johari has summed up the spirit of Malaysia in these words: “Since years immemorial, we have been working together. We go to the same schools, we go to the same coffeeshops, we drink together, we eat together, we even go for the same girls. This is our culture.” – Feb 29, 2024
Main pic credit: Tan Sri Hadi Awang’s Facebook
