WITH national politics currently in its rather fluid state as contenders for the Prime Minister's job seemingly lust for it for little more than power's own sake, a snap general election may be the only way out, pandemic or no.
And what happens in Sarawak in coming months may provide the roadmap towards this.
Many seem puzzled as to why, amidst the third Covid-19 wave currently sweeping the country, Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg appears adamant about calling for state polls – due sometime in mid-2021 – sooner rather than later.
There is even talk that the State Assembly will be dissolved right after its meeting for the budget session next month.
The state has been in election mode for the past year or so and the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) – more out of an abundance of caution rather than any real threat to its hold on power – seems more ready than ever.
The takeover of the federal government by Perikatan Nasional (PN) of which GPS is a part has been a political boon to the latter, especially as it put the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the state on the backfoot.
The seeming disarray within the state opposition ranks high in the political calculus to have the state polls sooner than later. Since GPS has expressed its desire for simultaneous state and general elections, this may well be what happens.
Sarawak PKR has been seriously weakened, especially after a majority of its elected representatives left following PN's takeover of Putrajaya. Of greater interest may be how the other major PH component, DAP, fare when the state polls are called. Sarawak DAP did not come out of PN's ascendancy unscathed.
Although it did not face a debilitating thinning of its ranks when it went back to being in opposition, there are tell-tale signs of tensions within its ranks. Trouble came to a head at the end of July when two-term Padungan Assemblyman Wong King Wei announced he is quitting DAP and, presumably, politics.
This despite DAP renominating him for another stab in Padungan and, given his creditable performance, almost certain third-term victory.
Pundits have been trying to divine the cause or causes of this out-of-the-blue resignation. The most plausible answer is a growing personal disenchantment with the way politics is conducted and his own party's hand in it.
Tellingly, Wong's resignation statement spoke of his "wrenching pain" over the decision.
He continued: "I am of the view that the party has lost the greatest opportunity when ruling the country at the federal level, to have our ideas and dreams realised into action."
"If we were to bring up our ideas and dreams as well as promises, the credibility of DAP would be in question," Wong now laments. He also betrayed disgust that even while in government, Sarawak DAP persisted in its "attack mode" at the state level.
Most recent political developments in the country have allowed Wong to flesh out his political frustrations and reveal himself to be that rare political conscience the country rather lacks right now.
Writing in Facebook, Wong questioned how DAP could support a national government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim if it depended on political support from Umno.
Similarly, he wondered if it would be what the voters really wanted should Anwar succeed in forming a government as it would mean the watershed general elections of 2018 replaced not one but three governments.
The taste of power, unsurprisingly, is sometimes akin to the mugging politicians and political parties experience between the realities of governing and political ideals. Wong's laments hopefully will not be the last we all hear in a long time.
There are signs that what Wong voiced out has struck a chord with DAP's support base which, let us face it, can be as blindingly reflexive an echo chamber as any other party's.
We must hope that Wong's likely absence from the 12th Sarawak state election (and the 15th general elections), whenever these be called, gives all – politicians and voters alike – food for thought and reflection. We will come out the better for it.
The writer views developments in the nation, region and wider world from his vantage point in Kuching, Sarawak