A doctor’s note for politicians
As the 100tth day of the New Malaysia rolls in, it is time for our elected representatives to swallow the ‘red pill’, put on theirt black suits and get down to work.
WATCHING the 14th General Election results unfold was more of an emotional roller coaster than many would have ever anticipated. The minutes went by until the heart-stopping moment when they realised that theyy could no longer form the government .
Their friends had been wrong. Their trusted information sources had been wrong. How could this happen? They felt blindsided, misled, and unappreciated. Tears fell. Maybe it was all a bad dream.
When the Parliament convened for its first sitting after the election, they woke up to thee realisation that it wasn’t a bad dream. Deep sadness and anxiety set in. Clearly they were grieving .
You could see it in their faces as they took their seats on the opposite side of the house, seemingly searching for ways to understand this profound election heartbreak .
But why this despondency now, more than two months after the elections?
Those in denial finally felt it when they were sitting on the “wrong side” of the Dewan, facing the very seats that they once occupied in the august house. The pain set in and cut deeply.
We have all heard Elisabeth Kubler Ross’s description of the various stages of grief and coping with a loss. First, there is denial and isolation, then depression and finally, acceptance. Many of the Opposition members of Parliament may still be in the stage of depression and it will take some time before reality and acceptance sink in .
Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, the eloquent lone member of MCA in the lower house, in a radio station broadcast admitted that he has to overcome loneliness every time he enters the Dewan. He said he is now
surrounded by fewer people and many have stopped answering his phone calls. Facing the battle alone, he admitted needing to organise his feelings and be a constructive Opposition member.
Why are politicians hit so hard by an election outcome? Perhaps this is because of what is known as the “false consensus effect”.
Politicians tend to overestimate the extent to which others share their views and when they learn that the electorate does not quite think the way they do, they are caught off guard. Then slowly reality sinks in, cutting its way through painfully – “Ah , people only respect the seat that you sit on”.
As soon as you lose your position, you realise how lonely you are in this world .
It is important to accept that the psychological effects that people feel after losing political power is certainly real.
Coping with a loss like this, especially after such an unexpected downfall, will not be easy for many, although some definitely cope better that others . Recovering from any loss is not necessarily easy and straightforward, and while some may feel ready to get back to serving their constituents the next day, others may need more time especially those who have been in the executive. However, for many, the disappointment can motivate them to action.
People like Datuk Seri Wee Kia Siong, who has built up resilience given his past political and personal challenges, are quicker to bounce back from the loss. They are able to cope with stress or tough situations that others succumb to, as Dr Wee, who clearly understands the process of accepting grief and then moving on to building resilience by being a constructiive oppostion member.
Others too have clearly displayed a survival instinct by assuming a robust role as fearless members of the Opposition, putting a significant number of members of the ruling party in a position of unease. Ironically, the new parliament has placed some Oppostition members in more limelight now, compared to the time when they were part of the executive in the previous government.
The unxpected scenario in Parliament has also put the members from the ruling party, literally, in a spot. After the initial euphoria of winning, and some making it to the executive, many seem to be developing anxiety as they appear to struggle with the pressure to perform .
With excitement written all over their faces, particularly among the novices seeing the insides of the Dewan for the first time, they behaved like excited students on the first day of school. Some were busy taking pictures even when the swearing-in was going on. One backbencher who could not stay away from his mobile phone was caught on camera texting as the King was addressing Parliament.
The first-timers obviously do not realise that even if one does not sit in the visitors’ gallery, social media ensures that the public can now pry on you in Parliament. Even if we cannot hear your snore, we can see you nodding off. The public may struggle to understand that parliamentarians are also human beings after all and they can’t help nodding off or being overly excited at times. The pressure on the members from the ruling party is not only to perform but to be erudite in their questions and particularly their replies. For now, the Opposition seems more eloquent in their performance while some in the executive need to polish up their language skills.
There seems to be some sartorial leverage with a shift from the well-tailored dark suits, which marked the previous executive. Some have not realised that mismatched sports jackets are not encouraged in Parliament, where until now tradition and dress code, presumably, only allowed a dark suit or the national costume. The member from Langkawi is an exception of course. He looks dapper in his new well-tailored suits .
Parliamentarians who are members of the executive need to be extra cautious in exercising decorum. Some may take some time of getting used to the fact that they are no longer the Opposition. By convention, the members of the executive would be more restrained, leaving the more adventurous backbenchers to do the needful.
Malaysia can be justifiably proud of our parliamentary practices steeped in tradition and glittering glamour. Our proceedings are generally characterised by respectful conduct, allowing for every voice to be heard. We have won praises from some of our neighbouring countries, whose similar august bodies are characterised by ruckus and unparliamentary behaviour. Let us continue to be a beacon of light for other countries to emulate.
A polite reminder to members on both sides of the divide, the public is watching, nay, prying on you. The next election is only five short years away!