Sex and politics: Political Impotence in Malaysia.

Used in the sexual sense, impotence refers to the man’s consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse or the inability to achieve ejaculation, or both. Impotence can vary. It can involve a total inability to achieve an erection or ejaculation, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only very brief erections.

Compare this with political impotence. Can we say that political impotence refers to “the politicians’ consistent inability to sustain the political will sufficient for holistic reforms or the inability to achieve holistic advancement of the Nation, or both. Impotence can vary. It can involve a total inability to achieve holistic advancement of the Nation or holistic reforms, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only very brief political will.

On the causes of impotence, it says that “The risk of impotence increases with age. Men with less education are also more likely to experience impotence, perhaps because they tend to have less healthy lifestyles, eat a less healthy diet, drink more and exercise less. Physical exercise tends to lessen the risk of impotence”.

Again, the risks of sexual impotence seem to be consistent with the risks of political impotence. The longer a politician is in power, he is at a higher risk of political impotence. Hence the need to shorten him term in power.

Politicians with less education (one should not confuse with the mere possession of a degree or masters and nowadays even with Phd.s with education), tend to suffer greater degree of political impotence. They have no vision, they are unable to recognize the changes in society (dinasourous attitude) and even when they speak, the thinking Rakyat feels offended or embarrassed. This probably explains why many politicians in Malaysia like to employ “school debate style” of making speeches. What is lacking in substance is desperately dressed in the form of theatrics, “jokes”, and often they seem to shout into the microphone. The worse form of offence is their presumption that merely because the audience cannot “switch them off” like a television, they think the audience enjoys the sound of their voice!

Don’t you yearn or fantasise for a speech of substance?

If you had mingled with those in power and politics, you will find that the last serious text book that they read was for their last examination paper in University. Since then, their information comes solely from the mainstream newspaper, their political cronies and flies constantly around them and the occasional photocopied section of a magazine prepared by their political secretaries whose discerning ability is equally in question.

In any event, it does not take a genius to figure out that with the number of publicity events, meeting their supporters, dinning, opening this and that, etc, etc…they have no time to read, reflect and think. Is it any wonder than that they scorn and ridicule the thinking section of the public? Is it also any wonder than that intellectuals and thinking people avoid political parties like a plague and even if they were a member of any party, they will remain in the far corner of party membership till their dying day.

You must and need to know this – the politicians are actually averse to any well-informed, critical and intelligent Rakyat. This is the reason why they, either directly or indirectly, play a critical role in the suppression of thoughts, ideas, books and knowledge in general. What they do not understand, they feel threatened and hence, surgical removal is their quick solution.

Back to sexual impotence which may be due to lack of physical exercise, political impotence occurs when there is a lack of mental exercise. When the mind is not properly utilized and challenged, it becomes dull and uncreative. When it is dull and uncreative, it regurgitates ideas that have outlived their shelf life. Hence, it should not be surprising at all that we find politicians across all divides speaking of the same things for decades and excuse it in the name of continuity!

I think we the Rakyat may be focusing on the wrong things for now in terms of political choice. Of course it will be easy to limit our choices to the existing parties. That seems to be what we are doing with our new clamour for a two party system. That’s fine. But we need to go further, the People have to find a way to increase the quality of politicians in our midst especially those who presumptuously become leaders upon being elected.

We have to somehow send a signal to the existing crop of politicians that if we want good quality drama or comedy we can either select from the cable channels or simply youtube. Maybe we should just get up and leave a speech if it gets rather unintelligent or comical? This may seem rude. Possibly we should hold a demonstration if a mainstream newspaper gives front page coverage to a really dumb statement from a clueless politician? Doesn’t help and I am merely kidding with this one.

I think we may start with this – insist that before any politician speaks, he must share with us in brief a good serious book that he has read that week – and understood. Hmm….


Peace !