KUCHING, Sept 3: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) political scientist Professor Dr Jayum Jawan opines there is no point to continue highlighting Pasir Puteh MP Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh as it will only make him out to be a ‘big fish’ when he is not.
“Pas’ (Parti Islam Se-Malaysia’s) Pasir Puteh MP is a very small fish in the ocean. Why turn him into a whale and let his false shadow dominates the ocean?” Jayum stated today.
He was commenting on Nik Muhammad Zawawi’s recent statement in Parliament that the Bible was distorted and manipulated which has caused anger among Christians throughout the country.
On the perception that voting for Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in the upcoming state election is akin to voting for Pas, Jayum asserted there were now too many politicians who have promoted their ideas to gain political mileage.
“There are too many not well-informed opinions on politics nowadays. As papers (and media organisations) vie for readership, they pose questions to everybody and parade them as authority to back their stories,” he opined.
Jayum reiterated that the political reality in Sarawak is that no single political party has ever monopolised the political landscape in the state ever since the early days.
“(And) since 1963, no single party has won with a clear majority of seats either in state assemblies (DUN) or at the national assembly (Parliament),” he added.
Jayum also asserted that the political interplay in Malaysia has been and continues to be dynamic.
“So, the people will see more intense political bargaining and switching of alliance before and after the general elections as each political party seeks to leverage or gain an upper hand to let in the formation of government,” he added.
On the current political peculiarity whereby GPS is a supporter of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration but not a component party of Perikatan Nasional (PN), he opined such an arrangement is no exception.
“Political bargaining is not necessarily a bad thing. For one, it give parties opportunities to help form the ruling coalition and in the process reduce authoritarianism that the people have to deal with during past eras under Alliance, BN (Barisan Nasional), PH (Pakatan Harapan) and now under PN,” Jayum added. — DayakDaily
