The next wave is ours to choose

THE Johor state election has just concluded. As expected, Barisan Nasional (BN) secured a major victory. This time, everyone is talking about the "blue wave".

Pakatan Harapan (PH), which became a political phenomenon several years ago, particularly following the 1MDB crisis, appears to have lost some of its appeal. However, despite its defeat, it still managed to retain support in several areas.

Other parties, especially Perikatan Nasional (PN), failed to secure any victory. The newly formed Parti Bersama, led by Rafizi Ramli, was also unable to make a significant impact in its first electoral outing.

As a result, what remains are essentially PH and BN. To many, it appears as though two bitter rivals, sworn enemies locked in a fierce battle, are going head-to-head.

The reality that many fail to realise is that both parties are major political blocs sharing power in the Federal Government.

It is like two siblings competing against each other while wearing different jerseys. The only difference is that they are playing on different fields.

Therefore, the real losers are the parties outside the government. They had already lost long before the contest even began.

The internal crisis within Bersatu, which later affected the relationship between Pas and Bersatu, did little to help PN's chances of winning.

Not only in Johor, which is the birthplace of Umno, but possibly also in the upcoming Negeri Sembilan state election.

But that is the reality of politics. There are no permanent enemies or friends.

What remains constant is the desire for power. Political parties can unite and separate depending on their political interests and needs.

That is why ordinary people should not be deceived or become overly attached to politics. In the 1980s, we often heard stories of people performing prayers behind different imams due to political differences.

There were also stories of husbands and wives arguing because they supported different political parties.

Even government assistance at the time was allegedly influenced by political affiliations.

Today, things may have changed significantly after experiencing multiple changes of government.

Political parties can no longer constantly claim that they are the government. The label that someone is "the opposition" may no longer carry the same weight among the public.

I still remember during the heated 2018 General Election campaign when an elderly man asked me why young people did not want to support the government.

At the time, BN was still in power. He argued that the government had provided various benefits, while the opposition had never given anything.

I tried repeatedly to explain that political parties and the government are two different things.

A political party that wins an election is merely entrusted by the people to administer the country. It can be elevated or removed.

I believe he still did not fully understand in the end. Fortunately, the 2018 election brought about a major wave that changed our political landscape.

After that, I believe Malaysians began to understand that political parties are not very different from sellers offering products.

If the product is not of good quality, we do not have to buy it. Even if it is good, we still have the choice not to purchase it.

It ultimately depends on our preference.

The difference is that when it comes to politicians, choosing wrongly carries greater risks. Some are obsessed with building family wealth, while others are overly righteous, acting as though they have the authority to decide people's sins and virtues.

Some are too rigid in their approach, while others seek to remain permanently attached to their positions.

Because no matter how impressive politicians appear during campaigns, we do not know what truly goes on in their minds.

They are not close friends whose intentions and thoughts we fully understand. What they show in public may differ from what happens behind the scenes.

After this, attention will turn to the Negeri Sembilan state election. With many issues affecting our daily lives, what colour will the next wave take?

The answer lies in the hands of the voters. We are the ones who determine the wave. May we choose wisely and not be swept away by the storm.

Mohd Awang Idris is a Professor of Psychology at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya (UM). The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.