N9: An election devoid of substance

N9: An election devoid of substance



Thursday, 30 Jul 2026 8:42 AM MYT

By Praba Ganesan


Summary

• The article critiques the political landscape in Negeri Sembilan, highlighting a divisive campaign atmosphere fueled by racial rhetoric primarily targeting the Democratic Action Party (DAP).
• It underscores voter disillusionment with Pakatan Harapan, emphasizing a potential decline in voter turnout which could benefit opposing coalitions, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
• The commentary also calls out the failure to achieve reforms promised by Pakatan and warns about the continued erosion of multiculturalism in Malaysian politics.
• The author concludes with a hopeful plea for greater unity, transcending divisive tactics.

JULY 30 — “Be a proper Malaysian, possess the right amount of racism” is the Negeri Sembilan campaign in a nutshell.


What that means in the sane world, no one really knows. But that’s what’s on sale in the state, oversaturated with traditions — which no one can talk about too much, less falling on the wrong side of the acceptable interpretation.


But the selling has gone thermonuclear.


When all is done and dusted, certificates should be issued for all, winners and losers. For the ability to take cognitive dissonance to the edges of the galaxy within every participant’s stump speech is beyond comprehension.


What is not talked about and operates in the fringes which may ultimately decide the success or lack thereof for Pakatan Harapan is how disappointed are its voters. Which translates to them not so much voting for the other side but not turning up on August 1. Let’s explore before we deplore this election devoid of substance.


DAP The Impossible

The same side of NO DAP, is the pond Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional swim in.

PN are unashamed to bash DAP to the rafters. Which then of course leads them to rhetorical genius lines like how half the country has a back-up country, but not the Malays. They could have copied it wholesale from anti-migrant posters in Jawi from the 1940s.

Their enthusiasm gets the better of them, like in the case of Kedah Mentri Besar Sanusi Nor who trips into the race bait unwittingly in the zeal of his speechmaking.

By the way he rampages through with anti-DAP language, he’d have been absolutely miserable in the seven years PAS shared meals with DAP in the Pakatan Rakyat years (2008-2015).

He backtracks on his language, saying how multicultural he is. I half expect him to talk about how being a good old boy from Sik and then to boarding school in Sungai Petani, he was unable to form meaningful friendships with those who look different from him.

But thank the heavens, he had the great opportunity to share lecture halls with minorities during his Universiti Sains Malaysia days.

Listen, I am OK with Sanusi being partial to people completely because of their DNA. He’s not alone on this. I prefer him all guns blazing rather than dishing out canned lines about how wonderful it is to be all together in this great united colours of Benetton. He is funnier at his provocative best.

On the same token, it’s quite the torture to hear from PAS’ supporters wing, Gerakan and MIPP and Wawasan minorities explaining how Sanusi and those who feel home is not the same for all of us, actually means well.

How about the new BFF?

BN, led by deputy president Mohamad Hasan, are completely against over the top racism. They won’t flog minorities but a proper scolding is necessary. So that they know real peace and harmony can only be achieved by unequivocal Malay leadership, primarily by Umno.

The minor leaguers, at times referred to as MIC and MCA, prefer elegant silence, and as they did in Johor, collect their dues in the form of state seats on Saturday.

Umno also conveniently leaves out the productive years it continues to experience in federal government with DAP, and that their grip on power in Perak is due to DAP assemblymen.

The overall summary from PN and BN, is that DAP through strategic vote canvassing, competency and track record in locations like Penang and Selangor may win. In an election.

This is unacceptable. All minorities must play a dutiful secondary role because this is what BN and PN can live with.

That’s it. The whole campaign. Fear the DAP.

I have a bucket of issues with DAP. But I am fairly certain they are still Malaysians and deserve respect and civility. Certainly not attacks grounded in irrational fears. Again, DAP chooses the ethnic path but it is not grounds for ritual lynchings online.



Whether or not the running down of multiculturalism persists after the elections, that is really in the hands of voters, both those who stomach haters and those who’ve lost the love. — Bernama file pic



Too blue, not that blue

Those infirmed Pakatan folks.

They won’t vote because those they believed in came astronomically short. By not voting they hand the results to those who want to reverse even the minimums achieved. A cruel twist of fate.

It’s horrendous, the mood of traditional Pakatan voters but they remain unmoved and ensconced in melancholy.

They, the pretend reformists, underperform, like Portugal at the World Cup.

The reform they expected never materialised and on days they cannot tell the sides apart.

Enuff said.


The constancy of power

The unfortunate part about being in a state is that there are no gap years. Unlike taking a year off from work to raise a kid or get a degree, governments are permanent concerns. It is not like since the options are unpalatable we skip a few years of having a government in charge.

PN and BN stoke up their bases. Many on the fence slide to them since they feel not tugged in any other direction.

Pakatan doubles down, saying nothing is quite that bad under them. They need time to get this to the finishing line they insist.

It’s fluff in campaign language.

Whether N9 has come too soon after Johor, the results on August 1 will be a major marker for when the general elections are to be held.

Whether or not the running down of multiculturalism persists after the elections, that is really in the hands of voters, both those who stomach haters and those who’ve lost the love.

From the standpoint of democracy, it is absolute shambles. Almost 70, Malaysia can do better than divide and rule.