Letter to editor
SINCE mankind started organising themselves into political hierarchies, the ruling elites have been lying to those who are ruled.
This violation of the ninth of the Ten Commandments comes in different shades. Sometimes, it’s just a white lie or expedient omissions, other times politicians blatantly lie through their teeth.
Malaysia is no exception to lying politicians. In fact, ALL politicians lie, and it’s a fact we have come to accept, often grudgingly in the past.
But of late, Malaysians are being dished with lies so appalling and so frequent, so much so that we have come to accept it as part of our political landscape. More worryingly, some of us justify the lies told by politicians as though it’s the latter’s moral right to deceive, fabricate and even slander.
Have we lost our moral compass as a nation? What kind of examples are we setting for our kids if we not only let those in power lie and cheat, but we cheer their deceitful ways as though we are rooting for our football club?
We must draw a line in the sand. Lying has no place in our society, much less in the corridors of power. When politicians who promised to reduce our fuel prices do away with the Sedition Act or scrap political appointments in GLCs (government-linked companies) when they come into power, did not keep to their words, why do some of us explain away the broken vows?
It’s one thing for politicians to drink their own kool aid, but it’d be downright silly for voters to lose their sense of objectivity – or worse – moral bearings. Does a robbery victim justify the crime committed against himself or herself? Would the victim come to the robber’s defence and say that “I could have been robbed by a bigger robber”?
If we allow this to continue, are we not encouraging politicians to continue lying? Are we allowing politicians to tell even bigger lies with each successive election cycle because we embolden them to do so instead of punishing them? If so, the snowball of lies will in no time only demolish the very foundations this nation is built upon.
When the governed lose trust in those governing, we are setting ourselves up for a dystopia. When we justify being lied to, we only expedite the journey.
It’s time politicians stop lying, whether it’s the Prime Minister or the Opposition leader. But more importantly, it’s time we become honest with ourselves too. – July 25, 2023
Ku Kuan Song
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main pic credit: BBC Radio 4
