BOYCOTT has become such a popular game that everyone wants to play it to express displeasure and anger. In a way, it is a useful tool to make a point or bring the intended targets to their senses.

Countries, businesses and individuals can all be singled out for this cold-shouldered treatment usually applied in response to conduct or action deemed improper, outrageous or insulting.

But in the hands of politicians, boycott can be turned into a weapon that can do more harm than good. And when race and religion are thrown in, the resulting cocktail can cause incalculable harm to a multi-racial society.

Politicians these days are ever ready to play up sensitive issues and despite knowing the dangers seething beneath the surface, they continue to rush headlong to exacerbate the situation.

From the way things are shaping up, it looks like nobody can stop them from creating troubles galore.

Practically every issue is seen through the lens of religion and politics, hence the seriousness is magnified manifold to create the largest possible impact on the national stage.

Political firebrands will not miss the opportunity to fan a small fire into a conflagration just to score brownie points or boost their political credentials.

When the feelings of ordinary people are inflamed by reckless words, thoughts and deeds of the political masters, they tend to react frenziedly with scant regard for public order.

But Malaysia cannot afford to descend to the level where frenzied protests can rapidly turn violent because violence can begat more violence.

Boycott politicians who sow discord

When violence is done to life, person and property in the heat of senseless strife, Malaysia will join the ranks of many countries where severe civil disturbance had caused so much suffering and misery.

When law and order break down, capital will take flight, businesses will be paralysed, thousands will be out of jobs, starvation will stalk the land, long lines of refugees will form with nowhere to go - all because of the incitement of one politician.

It is patently ridiculous that the act of one politician can bring the whole country to the brink. It is absolutely unacceptable that the fate of millions of people lies in the hands of a single politician. It is totally illogical to advance the argument that only politicians are the spiritual guardians of the nation.

It is time the people reined in politicians who think they can run riot with their rash behaviour. Although it is impossible to ignore politics because “politics encircle us today like the coil of a snake from which one cannot get out”, the power of the people can put politicians in their places.

With boycott now becoming fashionable, another category of people can be listed under this label - politicians. Boycott politicians who:

More often than not, it is the politicians who have been messing up people’s life with their communal stand, bigoted views, ethnocentric posturing. But why should the people listen to them or allow them to govern with impunity?

Power ultimately resides with the people and they can - through the ballot box - reject and cross out all those politicians who sow the seeds of national discord. - April 9, 2024

Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist. 

https://focusmalaysia.my/malaysians-have-no-choice-but-to-boycott-politicians-who-sow-seeds-of-discord/