Malaysiakini : Don’t get me wrong. Najib is not the worst of the kleptocrats that Harapan has demonised. Indeed, for someone like me, who views religious extremism as an existential threat to this country, this reduction of sentence/fine is merely big politics in a small pond.

The problem with Harapan political operatives and “some Harapan supporters”, is that they want to have it both ways. They want to claim they have zero tolerance for corruption but at the same time, they want to make deals that secure them power.

To be honest, with Zahid in the cabinet, was there any doubt that Najib was not going to get some kind of deal?

‘The greater good’   

Andrew Sia wrote a piece which I suppose accurately reflected the feelings of the base when Zahid was embraced by Harapan: “Sadly, in the real world, sometimes deals with the darker side may be needed, however unpleasant they are.”

For the “greater good”, which in Churchill’s case was the defeat of Nazi Germany. Zahid and Umno may be a lightning rod for Harapan supporters’ anger.

But why do they accept Sarawak’s GPS and Sabah’s GRS support of the federal coalition government? Are those traditional politicians of East Malaysia squeaky clean? Just read Sarawak Report for the answer.

But if corruption cases are launched against Sabah and Sarawak MPs, the coalition government will probably quickly collapse. And incompetent leaders like former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS extremists will take over.”

And when it comes to Zahid for instance Bridget Welsh, one of the best hands when it comes to Malaysian politics reminds us: “With no Najib release, Zahid’s position as Umno president remains secure.

“He is the only clear winner of the partial pardon decision. He can claim some leniency was gained through pressure, but does not have to fear displacement - at least for now.”

Mind you, the reduced sentence is merely the tenderising process and I am sure Najib will get his get-out-of-jail card sometime soon.

His acolytes in Umno are already plotting their next move and no doubt the rakyat would be subjected to another “sandiwara” in the very near future.  

I doubt that Najib's popularity is based on the technical definition of whether he is guilty or that this pardon proves it. All this merely proves is that the former prime minister turned convict and his allies still game the system.

Actual reforms

Now, Anthony Loke could make the argument that this is the cost of doing business.

If he could point to reforms the government is doing, big ambitious reforms like local council elections, an independent police commission, reforming immigration and housing, reforming the AG’s role, reforming the MACC, outlawing unilateral conversion and a myriad of other reforms, then I could accept the backroom deal that had to be done to achieve this.

However, this is only if it will actually impact people's lives for the better and improve democracy.

Of course, any backroom deals would have to include the caveat that all these kleptocrats pay back a good chunk of their loot and fade into oblivion by leaving politics for good.

These reforms prevent and discourage a new generation of kleptocrats and maintain the integrity of our public institutions with checks and balances being the rakyat themselves - not personality cults created in the belief that these people could replace the oftentimes tedious participation in the democratic process.

While these types of deals may be distasteful, what it does is phase out the deleterious aspects of the system, including political personalities giving democracy a chance to work. Progress, not perfection.

But this is pie-in-the-sky thinking on my part because nobody is interested in reform, hence nobody is willing to take such a risk.

The DAP has got nothing to show for their presence which they claim is needed to counteract the toxicity of PN.

Or maybe Loke and the DAP think that Harapan supporters - especially the non-Malays have no choice - but to grit their teeth and keep a cool head? The Green Wave, remember.

Ending a corrupted system

I keep reminding people that the Green Wave rationale only works if the party you are voting for actually keeps religious extremism at bay.

The reality is that when it comes to religious issues and policies that affect non-Malays, the DAP has been quiet as church mice when before, they were lions ginning up the base.

Some folks ask what can the DAP do when it comes to this sentence reduction. This was all allegedly PKR and Umno.

This is exactly the point. What influence does the DAP wield in this coalition government?

Every time something dodgy happens, you will find some folks claiming that the DAP can do nothing but yet we are told to accept that they are better than the MCA or any other independent voice out there.

All these rationales, excuses, and justifications made by various factotums of the system and assuring critics that due process was followed and that there was no political interference is exactly the kind of horse manure that went on for decades when Umno-BN ruled the country.

The problem here is that these kinds of deals - whether you believe that Najib’s reduced sentence was fixed or whatever deals made between Zahid and Anwar - are not deals to end the corrupt system but rather deals made in furtherance of the system.

But what the heck, these political operatives got their fat pensions, so even if they do get kicked out, the rakyat would be still paying for the sins they did while in office.