What is the real point of the March 8 2008 political tsunami?

The real point is that ruling coalition has always been underpinned by a system of patronage by which national and state resources have been marshaled, appropriated and tapped ostensibly for the benefit of the country and its peoples for development but actually with a significant portion thereof diverted and leaked for private gains (personal or group gain) of those in power and their ancillary business cronies who give to the person(s)/groups wielding political power and making political decisions the plans, concept and implementation regarding how such diversion of resources may be effected within national and corporate framework, without unnecessary public attention or infringement of laws and so on.

Because of this rent seeking, many projects are not viable or feasible but nevertheless launched for the benefit of private stakeholders having interest in these where economic returns to state expenditures are often low, benefits of state’s resources percolating down very little to rakyat at large and income distribution between ordinary and those politically connected continues to widen.

To be sure, a portion of the personal or group gains from diversion of such national’s or state’s resources are however ploughed back to buy political support to maintain the patron’s political power – and the same patronage system that sustains it. Ancillary support also comes from keeping people distracted from the workings – and abuses – of such patronage system by flashing race and religion cards occasionally for example protecting the patronage system under the cover of the NEP (up to a point not precipitating disturbance that would otherwise disrupt the working of the patronage system).

The real point in people message March 8 2008 is that they’re sick of this kind of blatant (not even subtle or camouflaged) political corruption which, if allowed to be continued unabated, will squander and fritter to zero national resources and coffers otherwise available to future generations as part of Malaysian heritage – and any politician, political party or political coalition sustained, thriving perpetuating upon such a system, like a batch of leeches feeding on the host, after falling off with stomach full to be replaced by another batch of leeches that the system produces.

When rakat press for police professionalism, judiciary’s independence, freedom of the press, or open tenders or end of draconian laws like ISA and OSA, it is merely to clean up and remove, step by step, these props supporting the structure and scaffolding of this patronage system. They are props – not the main patronage system (which is mindset), and trying to reform the first mentioned though helpful and may appease some quarters will not address adequately the pivotal grievance, which is the patronage system itself that the people are voting against!

However, unfortunately, it is that patronage system that is raison de etre for entering into politics and continuing with political power in this country – as well as many others. So can that raison de etre (patronage system) be reformed and changed???

By definition of the word ‘ raison de etre ‘ (or the reason for being or existence) it cannot. Maybe at best it can be mitigated by appropriate institutional checks and balance being built into the political and constitutional process (as they do in matured democracies) to guard against this perennial avarice and self aggrandizement of human nature.

To be sure, the members of ruling coalition are not the only ones ensconced in power seeking rent. Many from the Opposition would also strive to defeat them in order to be ensconced in the same privilege position to seek rent.

It remains for rakyat to be educated and vigilant at all times against abuses by political elites of whatever affiliation, complexions or ideology. It is an eternal vigilance whatever changes in political landscape now or in the future.