When everyone is talking about benevolence, righteousness and morality, it is always the time when the values are most hardly be found in the society.

When everyone is claiming that they are telling the truth, it is always the time when the society is filled with lies.

At this very moment, who still dares to talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality in Malaysia's political arena? He or she will be sneered indeed.

It is true that our politicians are really hard to understand as they can instantly change their faces, selectively forget something and easily change their stands.

Therefore, MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat sighed that “the most lethal enemy is always a friend around you” while MCA Wanita Chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun also expressed that “everyone is different from others”.

There are only two things left, a show and insincere words.

Speaking of “performing a show” and “speaking insincerely”, I have to mention a great man, former President of the United States Ronald Wilson Reagan who starred in Western film Cowboy from Brooklyn in 1938.

In American history, Reagan was a legendary, but not a great, president. However, Reagan, who seemed just as ordinary as others, had great influence to the politics of the United States, as well as the world. Well-known Taiwanese critic Yang Zhao commented:

“Reagan has proven one thing that many people are still reluctant to accept – politics becomes more and more dependent on show performances. At the same time, it has become more and more departed from Plato or Niccolò Machiavelli. Even a powerful position like the President of the United States requires not a wise, intelligent and courageous leader but someone who looks and sounds like a president. That is it.”

Back to the reality and let's put the focus back on Malaysia. Do you think the comment sounds familiar?

In our case, politics has indeed become more and more like a show. As long as they follow the prepared scripts and based on the audience's needs, talk “like” a rightful man and sound “like” they are telling the truth, then it would be enough.

Reagan suffered from Alzheimer after his retirement and thus, he had a severe amnesia. It was said that in his last days, he could not even remember his own name, not to mention the powerful position he used to hold.

It is “admirable” that our politicians, who are still in their positions, have performed well in the show like Reagan. Moreover, they even imitate how Reagan suffered from the amnesia in his later years. They have forgotten about sunrise, sunset and even the commitments they made... (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)