Sic Semper Reformis – Why OTK lost (PKFZ?), and questions of consistency for our porn star president

By Nathaniel Tan,

Sinking ships are barely worth discussing, but let’s indulge for today.

So – do we make fun of Dr. Chua, porn star, or not?

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, they say – so I will respectfully abstain from his personal decisions.

However, we cannot avoid questions of consistency – the only ones I will raise re: the sex scandal for now.

We must note that unless I am mistaken, oral sex is a crime under Malaysian law – coincidentally, under the very same provision that criminalises sodomy, both as “unnatural sex”.

My position is clear, that both these provisions/laws should be repealed.

That said, while they are in effect, how fair is it to prosecute one individual for alleged sodomy (only the 2nd such prosecution ever. Guess who got the 1st?), while not initiating proceedings against another individual who has been caught on tape and openly confessed to “unnatural sex”.

I should hope no one will be stupid enough to debate the merits of blowjobs versus anal :P

And now this individual is in line to be a minister again? The outwardly conservative Umno flers will have a field day.

But perhaps Najib is more comfortable now – instead of people asking tough questions in cabinet, he now has people he can “relate” to? :P :)

That brings me to a more relevant point – why did Ong Tee Keat lose so badly?

If truly his was a sincere reformist voice – one that took on the massive, multi-billion, multi-party PKFZ scandal without fear – what does his fate say about MCA?

I hate MCA, as I hate all race-based parties. An open mind however, must question whether they still have any meaningful role to play within Malaysian politics.

If the question is: should we look to them to speak up for the Chinese? The answer is a resounding no – that is not the way forward for Malaysia.

But all political parties have a role to play – should they choose to accept it (appropriate, given how impossible a mission it sometimes seems for them) – to speak up against injustice, to defend integrity and to work towards a united Malaysia.

I am no analyst as far as Tee Keat is concerned, but he does have a bit of an air of someone willing to speak up, and answer to the people – instead of answering to political interests. Perhaps that is how he managed to retain the only BN seat within the Klang Valley (postal Setiawangsa doesn’t count).

I suspect this is why Najib has – if memory serves – always been a bit cold towards Tee Keat; and I can imagine how MCA delegates – made of generations of old schoolers used to the politics of patronage and BN breadcrumbs from the table – would prefer someone else.

Perhaps Tee Keat figured it was more important to try and regain some of that elusive integrity than it was to play ball and not rock the BN boat.

Perhaps in a bizarre twist to the saying Sic Semper Tyrannis, we have Sic Semper Reformis :P :) Thus always to reformists within BN – forever sidelined, forever crushed.

Today Tee Keat, tomorrow Ku Li? :P :) Their support in Hulu Selangor could tip the scales – with repercussions that spread far and wide.