Moderation - Malaysia’s failed strategy

"Moderation is like diet coke, decaffeinated coffee or non-alcoholic beer. Healthier but it's so unauthentic. Who would want this?"

- Wong Chin Huat

COMMENT | I am glad political analyst Wong Chin Huat finally belled the cat. He makes three important points. The first is that the Umno/PAS union should not be underestimated. The second that new voters – especially young voters – are the wild cards, and the most important third point, “moderation” is an ultimately self-defeating strategy.

What exactly does “moderation” mean? Most Malaysians, especially non-Malay/Muslims, define it as the middle ground between the religious and racial politics of the majority and the “rights” of minority communities. Moderation has nothing to do with secular governance, nor does it have anything to do with egalitarian policy. Most of the time, it is political rhetoric...