Justice of Peace, Tokoh Wartawan Sabah dan Labuan, CC Pung’s strong dose of philosophical musings.
Sabah is talking about possible snap state elections this year.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state govt whose term doesn’t run out until 2025, is anything but sure of re election.
Come to think of it, I can’t even remember the strange bedfellows who make up this coalition govt led by Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
Gauging from the incessant streams of complaints about the ineptness of GRS, I get a sense that discontent is widespread.
The Sabah government has never (since our 1963 independence) been able to govern decently. I have often asked myself if I was wrong about registering as a voter well into my 40s.
You see, I used to be very cynical about the nobleness of one’s vote in a democratic process, and had ignored calls to exercise my right to choose.
I was finally persuaded that if I didn’t vote, I shouldn’t complain about the government
But now I look to George Carlin.
The late American comedian flipped that moral argument on its head.
He said stupid governments are voted in by equally stupid gullible voters.
Therefore, these voters have no right to complain about noincompetent politicians whilst those like him who shunned voting reserved the right to criticise.
I think he makes sense.
In the last 60 years, no Sabah government lasted over 10 years. Sabah voters, me included, religiously voted out governments they thought fall out and brought into office a bunch of nincompoops who eventually turned out as bad.
Like Carlin, I am asking whose at fault if not us voters that voted in successive groups of idiots. We voters are obviously as impotent as the political clowns.
They say the cream always rises to the top. If that’s true, don’t you think some worthy ones among the big bunch of holier-than-thou critics, commentators and analysts out there would have come forth in the last 60 years?
Carlin has no faith in American politics. I have none in Sabah’s.
Editor – The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Talantang.
