Avoiding political fatigue in troubled times

Within these past six months, the average urban and connected Malaysian has spent thousands of hours poring over online and print news articles surrounding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

In this same timeframe, we have also been shocked by an Australian property scandal involving state-run Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), scandalised over the travel ban on key public figures, and we’ve been appalled by the suspension of two newspapers over their coverage of the 1MDB controversy.

Adding to the overload of scandalous exposes and politicking was last week’s removal of former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin,signalling a much-anticipated battle within the government’s ruling Umno party.

The seemingly continuous slew of controversies amid the backdrop of a plunging currency haverelegated most Malaysians to be mere bystanders – albeit with ringside seats – to the greatest political saga this country has seen in decades.

Every comment, inflammatory statement, political response and gaffe has been analysed, regurgitated and circulated across hundreds of different platforms by just as many analysts.

The result of all these months of politicking is not a more informed Malaysian public, but an increasingly fatigued nation that is growing more confused, desperate and weary with each new political manoeuvre.

Political fatigue is a condition describing the apathy that voters can experience, which leads to a disengagement from the confusing, chaotic and politically-strained atmosphere.

Political fatigue is dangerous because genuine issues get buried under the cacophony of politicking, and voices of reason get drowned out by all the endless brickbats from all sides of the political divide.

In Malaysia’s case, keeping focused on the main issue of the 1MDB saga is increasingly challenging, as the plot surrounding 1MDB continues to thicken and lines blur between reality and rumour.

Adding to the confusion are conspiracy theorists who have gone wild with excitement, painting an even more convoluted scenario than the one we are already in.

But if we are to avoid getting “burnt-out” and disengaged, Malaysians must separate fact from fantasy, and approach news circulating on social media with caution.

Malaysians also need to demand the same level of transparency and integrity from the sources that have positioned themselves as the purveyors of truth, be it The Edge, Sarawak Report, opposition politicians or non-governmental organisations.

This means questioning statements and reports from the government as well as critics, and demandingsolid facts to back up any claim.

For those of us who choose to stay to fight for a government that will do this country justice, we cannotafford to be fatigued, to give up and to be cynical.

The fact remains that 1MDB has not accounted for how it has lost RM42 billion over a period of aboutfive years and certain individuals linked to the controversy have yet to be made to explain the roles they played in this scandal.

Malaysians are still in the dark and are not much closer to finding answers.

So in the chaos and confusion which is surely going to intensify in the weeks to come, let’s not forget themain thing – those accused of orchestrating a multi-billion dollar heist of our money must be brought to book.

And it is the responsibility of us Malaysians to ensure we don’t get sidetracked, and do whatever is needed to get the truth out. – August 2, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.