As the old Americans say, "if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, don't call it a cat." In Malaysia, however, we prefer to call it "strategic misunderstanding."
For years, defamation lawsuits have been part of the political ecosystem here. It became almost like nasi lemak and teh tarik — always on the menu.
26 PAS leaders especially became familiar faces inside courtrooms, with many cases eventually ending badly for them.
But now the pattern looks different.
This time the spotlight moved towards NGOs, "Geng Anai-Anai Mandiri". Suddenly, the political theater no longer looks like politicians versus politicians. Now it feels like everyone is wearing masks while pretending the stage doesn't exist.
Amir Hariri Abd Hadi, acting as Executive Director, came out strongly denying any involvement with the larger political movement connected to Rafizi Ramli. Not only denying — he went full TikTok mode, producing videos with enough emotion to qualify for prime-time drama television.
And honestly, Malaysians have to admire the commitment. These talented actors are really something else. Especially the brother standing at the back with that innocent "budak sekolah kena tangkap ponteng" face. Quiet. Calm down. Looking like he accidentally entered the wrong classroom.
Because not long ago, they were also denying any collaboration between the NGO and Rafizi's wider movement.
Yet politics has one dangerous enemy: photographs.
Pictures don't argue. Pictures don't hold press conferences. Pictures don't upload emotional TikTok monologues with sad background music. They simply exist. Silent... but loud enough to destroy a thousand carefully written statements.
And that is the problem with modern Malaysian politics. Everybody wants plausible deniability, but nobody realizes the internet never sleeps. One photo here, one event there, one familiar face appearing too many times beside the same circle of people — suddenly the puzzle starts assembling itself.
As Tupac once carried that rebellious spirit against systems built on illusion, Malaysia today feels trapped in its own version of political smoke and mirrors. Too much wayang, not enough honesty. Too many "we are not connected" statements while standing shoulder-to-shoulder at the same programs.
The rakyat are not stupid. They may be tired, overworked, underpaid, and distracted by rising costs, but they can still connect dots better than some political strategists think.
Because at the end of the day, "truth is like minyak atas air." You can try to sink it for a while, but eventually it rises to the surface for everyone to see.
To ordinary marhen rakyat like me, this no longer looks like pure activism. It looks like a group fighting for influence, projects, and political survival while pretending to stand above politics.
Amir Hariri Abd Hadi said Mandiri is just an NGO applying for grants to cover operating costs.
Fine... Many NGOs do that.
But people are not only questioning the grants. People are questioning who is really behind the movement.
As the Americans say, "if you dance with the devil, don't act surprised when people smell smoke."
Why not just be honest from the beginning? Why not openly explain the links people keep talking about with Tun Daim Zainuddin or even Mahathir Mohamad?
Malaysians are tired of political puppets. Every few years, old players return with new branding, new slogans, and new "independent" movements.
But rakyat can still recognize the same old faces behind the curtain.
It's clear and obvious, these are real puppets to bring down the government. Am I right? Why?
Because their leaders are now being investigated...
It could be that their efforts to form the party to become the government are actually to free them from being investigated... while the investigation process is still ongoing which I believe will take a long time.
You all know who they are... Trend in Malaysia now: People want to fight for power to be free to do whatever.
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