Hyper-partisanship & Friendship

Back in 1999 when I was attending college I had a friend named Bob*. We used to hang out with mutual friends; watch movies at the cinema; play pool etc. 

Then the Reformasi period happened - Anwar’s trial; PKR’s formation; preparation for election etc. I became an Opposition (PAS) supporter - then after its formation, a PKR member.

When Bob found out I supported Anwar, he immediately ended our friendship. Apparently he and his family hated Anwar with a passion. His brother even mimed sodomy with another guy in the college compound, saying ‘Look at me! I’m Anwar!’. 

Bob refused to speak to me. Whenever I said hello, even when bumping into him years later, I would just get a cold hard stare. 

Bob’s response is an example of hyper-partisanship.

In American politics its a phrase commonly used to describe partisan politics that focus on helping fellows and destroying the enemy, where the enemy is anyone who disagrees with your position.

In Malaysia I feel that its a form of extreme partisan thinking where not only are opinions, policies and events somehow linked to a political side, but anyone who disagrees is ‘placed’ into the opposing side. There’s less focus on helping fellows, and more focus on attacking the enemy.

When dealing with hyper-partisan people, there is no option to remain neutral, support an alternative view or support a balanced view. You either strongly support their view or you are their enemy. And sad to say, like Bob, they only socialise with people who agree with their political views. 

Why should friendship depend on, or be affected by, political affiliation? Its not like I personally wronged him. I wasn’t bothered by Bob supporting BN or hating Anwar, because until today I don’t see why it should affect me. But for some reason he saw it fit to cut ties with me.

I think deciding who to be friends with based solely on political views is just plain silly. A difference of opinion should not lead to such action.

I wonder if any of my friends today have this mentality.

*not his real name

Malaysian Politics Will Undergo Radical Change

Back in 2003 I met with many real estate agencies regarding an idea I had to develop a centralised property listing website. They turned it down, preferring to stick with newspapers. They also strongly opposed the idea of sharing listings, because even the location was considered a trade secret.

Today we have iProperty.com.my, which is exactly what I was talking about. I don’t regret not self-funding my own site because 2003 wasn’t the right time. Mobile web access was barely WAP, let alone HTML. We didn’t have Google Maps either.

Since March `08, there are times I have felt like starting a fact-checking website like Politifact.Com or FactCheck.Org for the Malaysian market. But once again, I’m being ahead of my time. Most Malaysians don’t care about fact-checking right now. I need to wait for the government to change over to Pakatan Rakyat (PR), and let PR screw the people. Then the voters will demand for such a site, so they can play the role of check and balance for our government. That will be the right time for me.

There’s another thing I realised: as technology usage by the the common man becomes widespread, politicians will be forced to change or drop out.

We’ll have less hypocrisy because a voter will only need a few keystrokes to expose it. Good or bad, politicians will have to be consistent in what they say and do. No more flip flops.

They will have to choose racial rhetoric and stick with it. Its going to be a big disadvantage for the supposedly non-racial PR. At least Barisan Nasional is racially divided. PR’s leadership will change to one comprised of Malaysians fighting for Malaysians, instead of Malaysians fighting for Malaysians, but don’t worry, I’ll make sure my own race is taken care of too.

I’m looking forward to that day. I know there are many factors working against this idea, but I remain optimistic.

I’m getting a sneak preview of that already by watching the American political scene. Within hours video footage contradicting a just-given speech by a politician hits the airwaves. Amazing. Imagine that power in Malaysia.