Left Unsaid

Two things relating to our trip to Malaysia, both of which I've noticed on earlier occasions following elections. The first is the mess created by the election posters being left behind. The second is the lack of context for any sense of what is actually happening in political terms given (or rather not given, if you see what I mean) by the press and tv.

It seems so easy to deal with the first problem, assuming that people there do regard the mess as problematic. A few stiff fines for the offending political parties who have failed to clear what they put up would surely work wonders. I suppose it's the fact that most of the mess comes from the main parties of government that makes this obvious solution unworkable. And that ties in with the second thing - there's nothing in the media, even when they call attention to the problem, that gives a clue as to why lip service only is provided towards any actual solution.

In general there's a lot of coverage of matters relating to the elections but it manages to tell you very little. For example, there's been some kerfuffle within the ruling party as to whom will get the job of chief minister (menteri besar) in Perlis. Two chaps, technically on the same side, seem to be vying for the position and there's been quite a mess over which of the two the federal government wants and which the sultan wishes to appoint. The press and tv, despite spending time and column inches on the matter, resolutely refuse to make clear why both guys are so keen on the job, what has led to them falling out (one was talking about the hypocrites opposing him going to hell) and how such a farcical situation has come to play itself out in the ruling party at a time when they would want to be pointing out how the opposition will find it difficult to get along with each other. One article on the matter in a major newspaper finished by detailing the educational qualifications of both of the politicos involved, giving no clue as to why the reporter thought this was necessary or even useful.

If I were a teenager in Malaysia, keen to get a sense of what it is makes my country tick, and how I might one day contribute to the ticking, I don't think even the most dedicated reading of the press would make me any wiser. I'd be likely to be listening as closely as possible to what people are saying in the coffee shops, where the real analysis takes place. Somehow this seems to me not particularly healthy.