IMPORTANT decisions made by the Government are often done at the spur of the moment. More often than not, the decisions are based on narrow political calculations. Of course, the intended consequences of the Government’s decisions might be beneficial to the society as a whole.
Hence, the recent announcement of allowing teachers and community staff to engage in politics is something to be welcomed. Since politics affect all citizens in varying ways, there is a need for political participation to bring about favourable outcomes.
Long before the emergence of business, commercial and corporate elites, teachers and community leaders played an important role in national politics.
In fact, UMNO itself could not have risen to its present prominence without the pivotal role played by school teachers and other grassroots leaders during the early days of our nationhood. The same goes for other political parties in the country as well.
Just that the rise of the business and corporate elites in the last few decades had eclipsed the role of teachers and community leaders in parties like UMNO. With its sights set on the next general election, the nationalist party is looking back to get support from its traditional base.
The party over the years, given its association with big businesses, may have gone astray and had neglected its once hardcore supporters.
Having lost the 2018 General Election to Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), UMNO and by definition, Barisan Nasional, needed to gain back lost ground and what better way to do it than going back to the segment it has ignored for years.
Teachers and community leaders constitute a huge segment of the population. They have direct links to the grassroots, unlike the corporate elites.
The devil is in the details
But the question is, can teachers and community leaders join as members of political parties, if they are not members already? Can they take part in party elections and hold positions? What about their participation in the national and state elections?
If teachers and community staff hold positions, either at the party or Government level, will this affect their traditional roles?
These and many other related questions need answers but I believe the Government, like in so many other decisions in the past, seems to have made the announcement without the necessary planning. – Jan 23, 2022.
Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
