THE BOLEHLAND DEMOCRACY

Men are often biased in their judgment on account of their sympathy and their interests.

George William Norris

The independence struggle more than 50 years ago in the Peninsular heavily relied on the 'brains' not only for material but also ideas. Those brains continue to dominate today's political landscape. They are teachers. Today, despite of the presence of professionals, teachers still play an important role in the survival of political parties particularly UMNO like this guy.

He is a senior officer in the Terengganu State Education Department and also holding a senior post in UMNO. Public servants are supposed to be neutral and by neutral it means they cannot hold any posts in any political parties. This is particularly true and carries with it a significant effect if one is a senior official like the one mentioned above. Under the General Orders which bind all government officials, he is liable for disciplinary action but it is very remote and even impossible since he's with a party which controls the government.

He is one of many teachers who are actively involved in politics by holding senior posts. In March, many will have to apply for leave since they will be busy at PWTC for the annual general meeting cum election. Yet, I am sure there will be no action taken against them since they 'represent' the government. However, it is very doubtful if one is affiliated with the opposition which stern action is waiting for them for going against the General Orders.

Public servants are usual coaxed and forced to vote for the ruling party as like the person mentioned above who boastfully claimed that 5000 teachers will support the BN candidate in P36 by election which its former representative coincidentally was a former senior officer with the Education Ministry as the Director of Teachers Training Division before resigning to contest in the election.

This is indeed Malaysian style democracy whereby everyone is forced against his or her better judgement to vote for the ruling party. I remember a few days before the 12th general election in March during a staff meeting, our boss conveyed a 'persuasion' from the higher ups to vote for the ruling party@ coalition.It is democracy for government officials to vote and elect candidates from the ruling coalition but it is never a democratic action if one is to vote for the other party or parties outside the never to err coalition.

Yes, it is true that in the end those government servants are free to vote for any candidates they like but it always come with some sort of threat by their bosses to vote only for the 'Brahman' coalition. It is never without any strings attached to our democratic practice here in Bolehland. Their reasoning is very simple yet very shallow and totally wrong - since you are paid by the government therefore you must vote the party which control the government. Hellooooo....the salaries come from ourselves and others who are paying all sorts of taxes thus it is actually the people who are our employer not the party which I sincerely believed is not paying any taxes at all except for membership or annual fees.

Politicians are like whores yet without the looks professional whores possess