In the first place, what is it that we want? Do we want to see a change of governance or do we want to see a change of government? We have to be very clear with what we want. One does not automatically translate to the other. We can change the government without seeing a change of governance. Basically, we will see a new government but still have the same type of government.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I have noticed many readers making very intelligent comments in Malaysia Today. These are comments like we need to change the government if we want to see change.

I suppose that is fundamental. If we want to see a change of governance then we must change the government. If we want to get rich then we must have a lot of money. If we want to stay healthy then we must not get sick. If we want to have a long life then we must not die young. And so on.

Okay, I have no arguments with those words of wisdom. Getting rich involves having a lot of money. Staying healthy involves not getting sick. Having a long life involves staying alive and not dying. And to see a change of governance we need to change the government, which will involve kicking the present government out and replacing it with a new government.

Now do you know why some of you have not seen your comments published? You are just repeating what others before you have already said so we do not need to again read what others have posted. Furthermore, your comment is too fundamental and adds no value to the discussion. We all know that to see a change of governance we need to change the government. Unless you can tell us how that can be done then we really do not need another comment of that nature.

In the first place, what is it that we want? Do we want to see a change of governance or do we want to see a change of government? We have to be very clear with what we want. One does not automatically translate to the other. We can change the government without seeing a change of governance. Basically, we will see a new government but still have the same type of government.

If you are a party member then that is different. As a party member you would want to see your party in power. Politics, after all, is about attaining power. Hence you will want to kick the ruling party out so that your party can take over. Whether that results in a new type of government or a different form of governance does not matter. What is important is that your party takes power even if it is the same type of government or could actually be a worse form of governance.

But that would be true only if you are a party member, which means your fight is about your party taking power. However, if you are a non-party member, then it should be about seeing a change of governance rather than seeing a certain political party taking power.

And this is where most people do not appear to understand the difference. In the US they change governments but still get the same type of government -- so, too, in the UK and many other countries. They change governments but do not really get a change of governance. Life still remains the same even when the governments change.

Granted, the old saying is you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. If you want to see a different result then you need to change the way you do things. Hence we need to change the government if we want to see a new form of governance, especially in light of the fact that Malaysia has had the same government for the last 55 years since Merdeka and things have not only not changed but have gotten from bad to worse. Logic, therefore, tells us that to see something new we must certainly have a new government.

But how do we achieve this? Okay, let us for argument’s sake agree with the argument that we need to change the government to be able to see a change of governance, which is what we are really seeking. We are not changing the government because we are party members and hence we want to see our party in power even if we do not see a change of governance. We are changing the government to see a change of governance. But how do we achieve this?

You will say it is so simple and logical. All we need to do is to vote this government out and a new one in in the next general election. That would see a change of government, which in turn will see a change of governance. Are you so sure it is as simple and logical as that? Again, I would like to ask, how do you achieve this? That is only what you want to do. My question is: how do you achieve that?

That is all I want to say this Sunday. I am not offering you any solutions or telling you how to do it. I just want you to ponder on the question: are you seeking a change of government or are you seeking a change of governance? And do you understand the difference? And are you changing the government for the sake of power or is it to see a change of governance? And if you are clear on the answers to all those questions: do you know how that can be done?

Your answer will be: it will have to be done by voting out the present government by voting in a new government. My final question would then be: how are you going to do this?

Now go and ponder on all these riddles and let us see what your answers are going to be. Is it really that simple and logical or is it more complex than you had imagined?