The top 3 dirty tricks in Malaysian politics

The top 3 dirty tricks in Malaysian politics



For the longest time, we had an “election season” which came round once every five years. This is when politicians would earnestly kiss babies, resurface local roads, and make grandiose promises.

While there was always an air of anticipation, in Malaysia the result was usually a foregone conclusion.

As a kid, I even remember the quaint little ditty that was aired on television to encourage voter turnout. It had a really catchy tune and if you were born before the 90s, you’d recognise the words, “…mari lah mari, pergi mengundi, jangan lupa kewajipan pada negara”.

But since our last general election in 2018, it feels like we’ve been on a permanent election season.

It’s anyone’s guess if another state government or even the federal government will fall soon. Allegiances shift willy-nilly, and our elected representatives hop around like frogs from one side to another.

Citizens seem to find themselves on permanent election duty. And, each time we vote, it becomes more apparent that these politicians have little regard for what we actually want. They keep justifying their decisions and carry on hopping from party to party, after we vote them in.

So, here we are again, in familiar territory. There’s going to be another state election in March 2022. This is our fourth, since the last general election, and there could be more round the corner.

Let’s think about who we want as our elected representatives.

Research by the Institute of Global Ethics says that people want to vote for candidates who tell the truth; are forthright about their stand on issues, are independent, and who don’t engage in dirty politics.

In Malaysia, we may want this too, but I really cannot see if any of our politicians fit this description.

I reckon we must send a strong message that ethical candidates will get our vote. In order to that, we first need to be able to identify ethical politicians.

But to be frank, we really cannot expect Malaysian politicians to reign themselves in, and behave ethically on the campaign trail.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon us, the voting public, to be aware of all the dirty tricks to look out for, when evaluating the ethics of a candidate.

I decided to educate myself on some of the dirty tactics prevalent in Malaysian politics and I am happy to share my learnings with you.

Number one on my list is the whisper campaigns.

Rumours, innuendo, and slanderous statements are quietly conveyed to damage the reputation or drain support away from a candidate. These campaigns are used as a method to shape discussion without being seen to do so.

We are already witnessing them now, in the run up to the next state election in Malaysia.

Just a few days ago, the president of one of the newest political parties, Muda, had to refute claims by “several quarters” that he owns a bungalow worth millions of ringgit. The leader, who is also a member of parliament went on to say that “…with the Johor state election nearing, I have been subjected to slander by many…”

The big question is who the “several quarters” are who are alleging this. Doesn’t it look like a whisper campaign has begun to make the dialogue about questioning the integrity of this young politician?

Next on my list is unfair competition.

Practices that hamper a candidate’s ability to fairly compete are simply unethical.

In Malaysia, we don’t have proper regulations about campaign funding. Apparently, the Political Financing Bill has been drafted, but it hasn’t surfaced yet in parliament.

Corruption watchers in Malaysia have long been arguing that we must stop opaque foundations and government-linked companies from being used as conduits for political funding.

They further go on to claim that vast sums of money have flowed into the political system from foundations meant to eradicate poverty and do social work.

Fairness in competition is vital for free elections. As citizens, we have to hold watch on this.

And, number three on my list is the “October surprise”. In US political jargon, it’s an infamous term.

It is a news event that may influence the outcome of an upcoming presidential election. Their presidential election is traditionally held on “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November”. Hence the surprise is usually in October.

In Malaysia, we now have our own types of this old political manoeuvre.

If you suddenly see the shocking revelation of an inappropriate video, usually of a sexual nature, involving a candidate or a politician, or if out of the blue, a candidate is summoned before the authorities on some alleged corrupt practice, just before an election, it is our “October surprise”.

Perhaps, it is time for us to see these actions for what they are – pure political sabotage.

As we approach yet another election in Malaysia, we need to get out of our habitual civic disengagement. Granted, we are all fatigued by the nonsense created by political power brokers. But we cannot allow our political process to turn a blind eye towards unethical campaign practices.

I recommend that we educate ourselves on some of the top dirty tricks in Malaysian politics.