What it takes to be the “Third Force”
November 12, 2010
What it takes to be the “THIRD” Force
by Kua Kia Soong@www.malaysiakini.com
The menagerie of Malaysian politics keeps getting bigger. We had toads, donkeys and moronic oxen. Now they have been joined by chameleons.
Zaid Ibrahim’s recent tantrum against the PKR leadership has started the speculations about a Third Force again. Some bloggers are also sounding out the formation of a Third Force. But what exactly are they offering that’s different from Pakatan Rakyat? That they are more ‘principled’ and more capable than Pakatan representatives? Is that enough?
If there is one thing all Malaysian democrats have in common, it is that we have a common aim of ridding the country of 53 years of Barisan Nasional’s misrule and oppression. But let us first examine the so-called ‘politicians of integrity’.
‘Born again’ Democrats
Since the political tsunami of 2008, we have witnessed the sudden ‘change of heart’ of former BN 
politicians – Zaid Ibrahim, Chua Jui Meng, even my old opponent in Petaling Jaya, Soh Chee Wen, to name but a few.
How do we know these are truly ‘born again’ democrats? I propose they should first demonstrate their sincerity to the rakyat by publicly giving their testimonies about that ‘Aha!’ moment when it finally dawned on them that their former association with the BN was ‘oh! such foolish immaturity and misguided thinking’.
They should then give us their class analysis of the Barisan Nasional and what their vision and ideals are for the rakyat. Yes, I suggest they go around the country to try to convince the people that they have truly seen the light and now want to serve the people, not to further their careers.
Up to now, I still haven’t heard what ‘vision’ these former BN politicians have in store for the people except that they had ‘joined Pakatan’. After the Zaid episode, I wonder what transpires during the walk-in interview with the Pakatan leadership when these former BN leaders join the opposition pact.
I have tried to search for the substance of the ‘visionary’ Zaid Ibrahim, but I can’t find it! I have only heard his hazy support of liberalism and democracy.
So how is this Third Force going to ensure that their leaders are not going to jump ship? If the answer is that the Third Force politicians have ‘higher’ political principles than those of Pakatan, how do you measure the level of ‘principled-ness’? What guarantees can they give the rakyat?
Policies not Personalities
Let’s face it, if the Third Force is the same as, or on the political right of Pakatan, then forget it – we’re doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Spare us.
The Third Force has to go beyond the populism and neo-liberalism of Pakatan and provide the substance of reform. At the last panel discussion on ‘neo-liberalism’ that I shared with Zaid, he said that he was not clear about what exactly ‘neo-liberalism’ is but that he was a liberal and a democrat!
The most fundamental reform has to go beyond Pakatan’s ‘The Peoples’ Declaration’:
- to protect our public services from privatisation and to nationalise the already privatised essential services;
- to defend the social right to employment, welfare provision, education;
- to initiate popular participation and control, especially unionisation;
- to initiate forms of democratic self-management in the nationalised industries to be run for the common good;
- to implement a progressive tax system.
Concrete reforms, not rhetoric
Apart from the concrete socio-economic reforms above, the Third Force must provide other specific tangible proposals for reform, for example:
- How many Chinese and Tamil schools do they plan to build?
- How much of the defence budget do they plan to cut?
- What is their alternative defence policy?
- How will they implement the demand management of water and energy?
- What is their concrete plan to bring the poor out of poverty and raise the living standards of the East Malaysian masses?
- What is their ‘New Deal’ for the indigenous peoples of Malaysia?
- What is their ‘transformation plan’ for the 500 over New Villages in the country in which our small and medium enterprises are located?
- When will they give land titles to all who have lived in/used their homes for a ‘settled’ length of time, such as those inhabiting New Villages for more than 50 years?
- An affordable and efficient public transport system to serve the majority of the people as a priority;
- An affordable sustainable peoples’ public housing programme for the majority.
This list is certainly not exhaustive but from the foregoing, it is clear that there is no place in the Third Force for careerists no matter how ‘principled’ they claim they are.
A Third Force of substance has to be the political left of Pakatan, and it is meant to take our country beyond the neo-liberalism of BN and Pakatan toward a ‘Peoples’ Federation of Malaysia’.
Featuring RPK on Zaid and PKR
It is nice to talk about the Third Force, but what does it mean in real political terms.Kua attempts to define it. He says it must go beyond the neo-liberalism of both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat.
No body knows the significance of this new political movement (if it can be called one), but it sounds catchy. It must surely be about policies, not charisma and personality cults. A “Peoples’ Federation of Malaysia”? Any views, Frank and Menyalak-er? I am increasingly skeptical about the “in thing”.–Din Merican
dinobeano - November 12, 2010 at 8:03 pm
The 3rd Force? Why off course its none other than RPK and his merry men. Its surprises me that Bro Din, you say “No body knows the significance of this new political movement (if it can be called one) RPK has always said that he and his men (basically the bloggers) represent the 3rd force, with no affiliations to any political party. The last 2 by elections were lost because the 3rd Force was absent. If PKR were to be in Putra Jaya then the “Merry Men” will be the 3rd force to ensure that the party in power would do what is right. This is so basic why it is an an “in thing”.
Brian - November 12, 2010 at 8:25 pm
dr m the third force.
matthew francis - November 12, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Neoliberalism? Apa tu Din?
Are we talking about a ‘market’ approach to economic redistribution and social policy; or are we talking about social, cultural and political ‘paradigm’ (again that darn word) changes. Perhaps the talking heads of the “Third Force” (to me, that’s electromagnetism – both wave and quantum) can give us an insight, into something they don’t understand themselves.
Dr. Kua is right in one aspect. No specifics or tangible proposals so far.
I can see a lot of wooly headed, self synthesized, ad hoc ideation creeping in when these flurs aren’t even able to articulate what ‘simple’ liberalism is! Half the population is not even ‘emacipated’, much less ‘enlightened’.
Has anybody bothered to ask Pas their opinion?
When we have not even achieved ‘classical’ level of democracy, are we going to leap over the boundary, to ‘neo-classicalism’ – from which the term neo-liberalism is derived?
Enough of semantics la..
Malaysians need proper political education to be able think independently first, before any change is possible.
As bro. tean would say: “Take care of the perut first..!”
Let’s stick with whatever is achievable in the People’s Declaration first. Belum tahu berdiri, dah nak berlompat.. Sheesh.
Menyalak-er - November 12, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Yup, Brian. You are starting to see the light of radiation.
Civil action can mean many things – even by remote control.
But there’s lots of hubris here. Blogs like this, don’t exist in the psyche of Felda, Porim, Felcra and other rural areas nor amongst the semi or urban illiterate.
The Third force is like the “Illumati”. They pride themselves over nothing.
Menyalak-er - November 12, 2010 at 9:20 pm
Raja Petra has morphed into a pipe smoking member of the gentry, comfortable with himself (some may say, in love with himself) looking hard not to look like one from the East End. Here he is seen as Pete enjoying the hospitality of Her Majesty’s Government in the U.K. Exactly what is his immigration status there that allows him to live like any Brit? Nobody seems to know. Nor is he willing to say.
His comments on his status as a fugitive from the law is understandable as he is not trained in the law. A man facing prosecution flees, for whatever reason, to escape prosecution is a fugitive by definition. Period. RPK is a fugitive from the law. He is, however, still presumed innocent under the law. He is charged under Malaysia’s security law which makes a mockery of our constitutional right to due process. He says he has never pleaded “Not guilty” when charged but does not understand that by his refusal to plead one way or the other, allows the judge to take that as a plea of “Not guilty”. As a lay person he is not expected to understand the working of the doctrine of presumption of innocence. He flees because he has no faith in the fairness of his country’s justice system. But more important he is fleeing persecution which makes him eligible for protection by the U.K. Government under the United Nations asylum laws.
His opinion on Zaid Ibrahim serves to confirm that Zaid does not have what it takes to be a politician. Zaid is like a good actor who has the wrong script.
Mr Bean - November 12, 2010 at 9:39 pm
We assume the 2nd Force is the PKR lead Pakatan Rakyat.
The 2nd Force is like a farce with PR still registered, PKR lead by hipocrite, corrupt, back-stabbing, power grabbing, disillusioned and fraud leaders, DAP and PAS on course for head-on collision. This Force is in turmoil and would sink further should Anwar Ibrahim continues his wierd three-tongue leadership.
3rd Force would seem ideal to balance and check 1st and 2nd Forces. But when 2nd Force is in shambles, 3rd Force will further elevate Pakatan down the drain.
Talk about rectify the 2nd Force first maa. 3rd Force will be yet another farce.
Williams - November 12, 2010 at 9:49 pm
thanks for the article and the comments which are really enlightening in trying to define the Third Force.
the Third Force can be anything. I presume they are working on the definition now.
my simple and layman like opinion would be, we have to finish what we have started (PR – based movement) and then talk about establishing a third force to control the politicians.
yes, Political awareness in malaysia is non existant. politics is understood as ways of earning money easily.
and many THANKS for the weekend entertainment!
dian - November 12, 2010 at 10:22 pm
Forget about the third force. They can’t even managed the 2nd force. As for Zaid being visionary, it’s all poppycock. The guy can’t even see his own nose. He’s just a loose cannon let lose by Umno to cause havoc in PKR. The only thing big about him is his inflated ego. And you know about inflated egos; all it takes is a small pin to puncture it.
fcuk'd'bn - November 12, 2010 at 11:08 pm
Bro Din, what we have is a very serious Leadership crisis causing the breakdown in the system. It started with the Executive (PM and the clowns) , then Legislative (the MPs including oppositions bigots like the DAP ) , then Judiciary playboys and finally the Civil Service Chickens i.e KSN, IGP, AG, MACC. The 3rd Force is just a precursor of People’s Power and a prerequisite for developed mind and status. Cant you smell what the BLOG is cooking.
The Ombudsman.
panjihitam61 - November 12, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Liberalism has its roots in the western philosophical tradition of the 18th century when age old traditional concepts like absolute monarchy was being questioned along with other theories of government. It is easier to identify issues which liberals fight for than to define what liberalism is – or ‘neo-liberalism’. After all that is what labels do. They identify.
The issues which define liberalism are: natural rights, social contract, rule of law, right to vote, right to a free and fair elections, right to property and the right of the individual to liberty, equality and justice and the pursuit of happiness.
Dr Kua talks about right and left of PKR and if PKR centrists move more to the right of center, he says, it will be more of the same. More of the same indeed. Because PKR is under the control of a ragtag band of UMNO dissidents who view the power structure in much the same light as their counterparts in UMNO do.
“Third Force” ? More like a farce.
Mr Bean - November 12, 2010 at 11:52 pm
Nobody is paying attention to what RPK is saying here.
Are we to think that he has less than a rudimentary knowledge of the legal process – or is he just taking a jibe at the law? The constitutional right to due process is given to him by our constitution under Article 5: Liberty of the person. “No person shall be deprived of his life or liberty save in accordance with law.”
The entire exercise – almost a ritual – of bringing you to court to face the magistrate, so you could plead “Guilty” or “Not Guilty” is first to determine the issue of fitness to plead. The charges are read to you and you are asked by the magistrate “How do you plead” If you are insane then the law deems you unfit to plead and hence unfit to stand trial. You are then housed in a mental hospital or a mental asylum “at his Majesty pleasure” – meaning you may never come out. It is better for you to plead guilty and go to jail. Then in jurisdictions where they practice plea bargaining you may want to plead “Guilty” to get a reduced sentence. There will then be no trial and it goes straight into the sentencing stage.
RPK seems to think that if he refuses to plead they cannot try him. Clearly to the judge he understands what he is being asked to do but is refusing to plead. A judge under those circumstances would have to take that as a “Not Guilty” plea because of the presumption of innocence, a right available to him at common law; and because of Article 5 of our constitution.
Mr Bean - November 13, 2010 at 12:44 am
ooops … at his majesty’s pleasure
Mr Bean - November 13, 2010 at 12:46 am
OK. I’ll ‘tembak’ straight this time, since nobody caught on (sigh..)
That concept of “neo-liberalism” (labels, izzn’t it) is:
1. ‘Market’ approach to economic redistribution and social policy =
Jibbo’s One Whatever. Be End.
2. Social, cultural and political paragidm shift/changes = Pakatan’s dream world.
Obviously, no. 1 cannot happen without first contemplating no. 2. This is the order of precedence. No intermediates possible. Cannot have the reverse, otherwise distortion lagi teruk.
Third Force trying to interject in between, not knowing their own agenda, except by menyalak-ing nebulous “people power”, mana boleh..?
Mr. Ombudman, we are not the third farce. People power is in the vote. Nothing more or less. We are clarifying what we don’t need and defining the two Political Systems for our own edification.
We will stick to No. 2 until the cows come home. If it implodes, explodes or ruptures, then we can forget about marketing anything. Gua migrate and shack in with Bean…
Menyalak-er - November 13, 2010 at 1:14 am
Third Force???
Bloody waste of time!!!
We can’t even get three parties to come together to form a consolidated Second Force to take on the UMNO-BN monolith.
Just because PKR is imploding and consequently PR is seen as collapsing, some smart-ass pundits want to item out a list of factors to form a Third Force.
What we should do is to strengthen the Pakatan Rakyat as a viable alternative to the incumbent govt.
PR coalition has not collapse. It will be suicidal for the three parties to walk out of the coalition. As individual parties, they stay on the edges of our national politics.
Kua Kia Soong should be the first to know that PKR is NOT the same as Pakatan Rakyat. The internal problems of PKR are solvable.
Kua Kia Soong has nothing better to write. Is he trying to have a seminar discussion in some ivory tower to stimulate his worn-out neurons or what? Or he wants to make himself relevant in the public domain by popping silly articles such as this.
Frank - November 13, 2010 at 2:20 am
Kua Kia Soong is a good example of a typical Malaysian who will walk away from a difficult situation instead of standing steadfast to fix the obstacles in the situation.
He mentally runs away from a situation with some pseudo-intellectual excuses and then proposes hypothetical scenarios.
It is dumb silly of Kua Kia Soong to take a jump to start talking about Third Force just because Zaid made plenty of noise about his unhappiness with Anwar and Azmin and the election process in PKR
The first question is whether the present Opposition is still a credible force to take on the UMNO-BN. If not, why not and how his idea of a Third Force will be any better than what we have now.
The inter relationships of the three parties (PAS/DAP/PKR) are still work in progress, although there will be rough spots they have to overcome together.
Until such time Pakatan Rakyat is considered terminally ill, I still have my faith in the three parties, particularly DAP and PAS and hopefully a rejuvenated PKR , as the only credible force to take on UMNO-BN.
Kua Kia Soong should take his head out of the sand or out of the spaces of his keyboard. Go and write something more useful for us to chew than this Third Force nonsense.
Malaysians cannot handle a Third Force, only expatriate Malaysians overseas who don’t vote but make a lot of noise would want a Third Force.
The pakcik and makcik, who are the real king makers, don’t care about the Third Force. To them it is whether Pakatan Rakyat or UMNO-BN. They don’t give a shit to some silly Third or Fourth Force in our national politics. Not yet and not yet in our life time.
Frank - November 13, 2010 at 2:37 am
“The inter relationships of the three parties (PAS/DAP/PKR) are still work in progress, although there will be rough spots they have to overcome together.” Frank
It is one WIP or work-in-progress that is destined never to progress. It is time to go back to the drawing board, to try and package a new product that meets the changing taste of the consumer. It is a challenging job for the COO and the CEO who are answerable to the Board of Directors and the Board to the shareholders.
That or face a hostile take-over.
Mr Bean - November 13, 2010 at 3:48 am
We are talking about what is the alternative to UMNO-BN and Pakatan Rakyat, if we are disillusioned with both. Civil society organisations and the blogger community can create social awareness and mobilise public opinion but governing is something else.
I am personally of the view that the Third Force is not at this stage of our political development a viable option. It could be a flash in the pan thing, or even a diversion. Our best bet remains an effective two party system. That is still a work-in-progress (to quote Frank) since Pakatan Rakyat is still an “experiment” (2 years old). Let us not jump the gun and divert our attention away from our effort to infuse democratic values in Malaysian polity, and reforming the present system of governance. –Din Merican
dinobeano - November 13, 2010 at 8:02 am
Well said again, Bro Din. A lot of commentators still do not understand the role of third force. I am not surprised at all since they have never really been on the ground like RPK , you and other well known bloggers. Being a former “original” Bersih steering committee, Panjihitam is not anti Governement but anti incompetent Govt (could be Selangor, Pahang etc). Some recogniton on Bersih 1- “Civil societies, that is us, now take over as Bersih 2.0 knowing that Bersih 1 was a tough act to follow,” said Ambiga.
Bersih 2.0, led by human rights group National Human Rights Society (Hakam) and women’s group Empower, is a coalition of 62 NGOs, she said.
panjihitam61 - November 13, 2010 at 9:07 am
Here ‘s where a so-called ‘third force’ is structurally relevant. For democracy to work there are prerequisites or preconditions like a free press, trade unions, pressure groups like civil society groups etc This is the ‘force’ needed to ensure a steady process of democratization of our institutions. Together they form the basic infrastructure needed. Build on those and we have what it takes for democracy to take roots. But that is not all.
We lack the western philosophical tradition that gives rise to democracy as understood in the west. Confucian values like filial piety and the Islamic tradition of strict obedience to authority are more suited to authoritarian forms of government. We experimented under Mahathir with a benevolent form of authoritarian government which gave us a period of relative prosperity and stability.
Mr Bean - November 13, 2010 at 9:16 am
Islam is incompatible with democracy — certainly the western liberal democracy like we have here in the United States.
Mr Bean - November 13, 2010 at 9:19 am
Awesome Mr. Bean. Great person thinks alike. “For democracy to work there are pre requisites or preconditions like a free press, trade unions, pressure groups like civil society groups etc”
panjihitam61 - November 13, 2010 at 9:23 am
Yes Mr. Bean, I agree with you again on “Islam is incompatible with democracy” Islam has a better system than democracy. History has proven it, Google ombudsman in wikipedia, you shall find the answer.
panjihitam61 - November 13, 2010 at 9:26 am
Din,
Just like I have reserved my admiration for Zaid Ibrahim, same admiration to RPK. However, just as we are reminded not to be wholesale supportive of our leaders…..Likewise to the so called allegiance with RPK & Zaid Ibrahim…..
RPK spoke of the emergence of third force. He used LDP as an example. You guys know that LDP is part of Lib-Con government in UK. As far as I can remember, the free tuition campaign for university students is not only meant for UK & EU students but for all international students.
Din,
In 1997, while I was studying in UK, I was approached by the ladies from LDP canvassing our supports for LDP in exchange for free tuition for all students. Now, look at what happen….Not only LDP has not kept its promise of free education……Tuition fee is set to rise to 9K for british students…….HAHAHA…..SO MUCH FOR THE THIRD FORCE OR KEPPING THE BASTARDS HONEST…..
Perhaps, RPK can answer to my question on LDP…..Since he’s the member of LDP, he should ask Nick Clegg the same question that he asked Anwar Ibrahim……Where are your promises?????
There you go on the effectiveness of third force…..Aiyaaa
P.S : RPK was born in Surrey county. I studied in University of Surrey, Guildford. My constituency is in Guildford. I remember walk into the university hall. Hahaha, guess what…..That was when I casted my first vote…..Not in Malaysia but United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. I remembered I was told by the officer….Here is the vote for Parliament & another one for Town Council….Yeah, what an experience……By the way, I didn’t vote for LDP…….Tony Blair’s New Labour riding high on the waves……My dad joked……You vote for Tony Blair or not…..Hahaha……It was a landslide victory……That was when the british students got his grant from town council cut & need to pay 3000 pounds a year. International students paid 8000 pounds
looes74 - November 13, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Guys,
While the third force wannabe clamouring for recognition, read this link
http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/2010/11/video-malaysian-police-assault-civilian.html
When I voted in 1997, there are 3 parties contesting. Tories (The Torch/ not the Green Tree now), Labour (The Flower) & Lib Dem (The Dove). Now, we have all kinda forces on the ballot papers…….UK is getting any paper
Sorry Din,
I know you are from the civil service. My parents were civil servants too. Sometimes, come to think of it…..Aren’t the civil servants running the government?
You have one in government. One in the opposition. One as third force or whatever force. Who is controlling the civil servants? Especially the Chief Secretary & top echolen of civil servants……
looes74 - November 13, 2010 at 2:14 pm
“Islam has a better system than democracy. History has proven it..”- panjihitam61
So is Buddhism. And Buddhists don’t believe in God. So you don’t need God in human affairs to be better than democracy.
Frankly, this is garbage analogy.
Frank - November 13, 2010 at 8:59 pm