HAS Malaysian politics descended into a ‘striptease’ act where the performers keep the audience hooked with suspense about what to expect next?

It seems that some politicians and policy-makers now have a penchant for revealing just enough to make the audience wanting more by hiding the critical parts - just so the show can go on. 

Take the news reports about former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s claims that there was an addendum to a decision by the Pardons Board that he serves the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest.

Supposedly dated Jan 29 and issued by the previous Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA), the addendum was supposedly part of the Board’s decision to halve Najib’s 12-year jail sentence and to slash his fine from RM210 mil to RM50 mil.

Did such an addendum exist? The country’s second most powerful man, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi thinks so.

In an affidavit, the UMNO president said he was shown a copy of the addendum by Investment Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz recently.

Zafrul, the ex-Selangor UMNO treasurer, allegedly showed his party boss the document on his phone. If Zahid’s claims are true, why did the government resort to a “striptease” by “covering up” a royal decision that has far-reaching implications on the country?

If not true, why didn’t anyone from the unity government refute that and allow the issue to linger? If the government has no hesitation in “hiding” an issue of such great importance - and involving the royalty at that - to what extent will it do the same in other aspects of governance?

Very tantalising indeed

The propensity to “show yet don’t show” is not the absolute domain of the unity government as a whole. Upon being named in Zahid’s affidavit, Zafrul immediately issued a media release saying that the legal document contained “certain factual errors”.

Very much like a ‘novice striptease performer’, Zafrul did not disclose what those “errors” were, hence leaving his audience titillated but deeply unsatisfied. One would have thought that in the interest of transparency, he would have the courage to point out where Zahid had erred or misled the public.

And for those who think that that striptease showmanship is confined to the sleazy world of politics, one needs only to refer to the recent media “leak” about the Employees Provident Fund’s (EPF) plans to introduce a third account to contributors.

With information coming out in dribs and drabs, the deemed one of the world’s largest pension funds managers has yet to come out to allay public anxiety over the plan, including whether or not members have enough to retire. Another “show yet don’t show” act?

For most Malaysians, the political-economic “striptease” playing before their very eyes is nothing but a turn-off. The citizens already had enough of theatrics that serve no end except - like striptease shows - excite the senses but eventually make a fool of the audience. - April 18, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/titillating-keeping-malaysians-on-the-edge-striptease-act-unfolding-in-putrajaya/