We’re all used to the fact that politics is, indeed, dirty business and most of us already know that the higher ups are up there to fulfil political ambitions and personal agendas. We would be naive to think otherwise. There are several types of politicians, however, but I’d like to talk about two types – those who pocket something but put something on the table, and those who just pocket and complain.
Unfortunately for us Malaysians, a majority of our politicians fall in the second category.
To use some PSY311 Assessment and Profiling terms, one contributing factor to the success of your political career is the politician’s ‘face validity’. Basically, it means “does your politician look like he/she’s doing what he/she’s supposed to be doing?” But our politicians forget the importance of ‘content validity’ – whether they’re doing what they’re supposed to be doing.
It’s sad to see that our politicians are ‘either or’. You’ve got hypocrites who make a fuss over the smallest of things just because they’re the opposition, not realizing that they’re going about obtaining face validity the wrong way.
The greatest example I can give you is the fact that some people in the ruling party seem to be making an unnecessary fuss over the fact that Penang road signs will now be multilingual – adding English, Arabic, Jawi, Tamil and Chinese to the already existing B.M. signs. I will not comment on this due to the sheer hypocrisy of it all, especially since several road signs in the capital of this country are translated to Arabic and Jawi. This is a perfect example of low face validity and even lower content validity.
And then, you have the overwhelming criticism by the Opposition (and I mean the state opposition) over Lim Guan Eng’s latest South Korean trip. Let’s not forget that highly controversial trip to Taiwan our MPs took to elude the Sept. 16 threat. I mean, really. Sheer hypocrisy. So there you have it – high face validity (I mean, as the opposition, they have to protest over everything right? *rolls eyes*), low content validity. Why low? Because next thing you know, Lim Guan Eng signs a MoU with a large SKorean firm for investment in Penang. Yes, so everyone questions if we need a golfcourse in Batu Kawan… but you’re missing the point. We need the investment especially since Penang has fallen out of the ruling party’s radar when it comes to funding. What’s more, there’s actually proof that his trip there has amounted to something. Unlike the ridiculous Taiwanese trip, or the one taken by the ex Selangor MB/Sel. State Development to the UK to look at kindergartens.
And in this case, Lim Guan Eng – high face validity, high content validity.
Then suddenly, you have some parties coming out to say “PENANG IS DIRTY! BAD FOR TOURISM!” Well, well, well, my dear tourism minister. I’ve lived in Penang all my life and it has been steadily getting worse and worse. The state Penang is in right now when it comes to the lack of cleanliness, doesn’t happen overnight and it sure as hell doesn’t happen in 8 months. The accumulation of dirt in Penang started long before DAP took over. So to be passing judgment now and say that “I don’t know if Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is aware of it. He seems busy travelling to and fro Kuala Lumpur and Penang since he has two jobs, as an MP and an assemblyman,”? Not smart. Anyone who lives in Penang or has been to Penang in the past few years can testify to that. Medium face validity, absolutely no content validity.
High face validity and low content validity has also been evident in the MCA. Recently the new Wanita MCA chief made a comment that the Selangor MB should have looked into the appointment of non-Bumis to fill the Selangor State Dev. GM post instead of limiting it to Bumis only. Practice, what you preach. MCA is, at the end of the day, a part of BN. I don’t see you preaching the choir to your BN counterparts and I haven’t heard any preaching or advocating of the rights of non-Bumis while Selangor was under BN for all those years? You’ve never questioned the appointment of Bumiputera GMs, why start now?
However, the last thing I am, is biased towards the Pakatan Rakyat crowd. Their recent stunt staging a walkout in the middle of in Parliament? Low face validity and no content validity. What’s your point? What is the point of us electing you as our representatives when you cannot even be bothered to sit through one sitting? You’re not doing your job. Complain as much as you want about the ruling party, this is outrageous. It’s something teenagers do while mommy/daddy’s nagging. Don’t you know? Tantrums get you nowhere. You want to lead this country? Act like leaders first and not sore losers.
While both parties suck when it comes to content validity, I have to say – it is most unfortunate that the ruling party has not learned much from the recent general elections. Going around criticizing the Opposition’s every move is not going to make us vote for you next time. It’s going to make us realize how sore you guys are. Unfortunately for them, Penang seems to be thriving under DAP and while Selangor’s development has not been immediate, its future seems to be looking pretty bright.
Who cares if Anwar succeeds as the PM. Who cares who leads UMNO youth or Wanita MCA. Who cares what language the roadsigns are in? The world is sliding into an economy crisis and the sooner they focus on what’s important to bolster our economy, the better.
And they wonder why the citizens have suddenly decided to give the Opposition parties a fighting chance.
Hi. I'm Xinch. I'm a proud Penangite. Passionate about many things. I love to talk, ramble, and thus, I blog. 
