When does silence enable power to remain unchecked in Malaysia?

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Silence Can Enable Unchecked Power in Malaysia When It Becomes a Common "Better Not" Culture

Silence becomes a facilitator for unchecked power in Malaysia when the pervasive sentiment of "better not" discourages open dissent and critical engagement. This cultural habit, ingrained over time, leads individuals to self-censor, concluding that objecting to existing power structures is futile, inconvenient, or potentially dangerous. Consequently, power does not need to exert significant effort to maintain its position, as the inclination to question or challenge diminishes.
The "Better Not" Culture as a Political Tool

The phenomenon of "better not" signifies a deeply ingrained aspect of Malaysian political life where individuals learn to self-regulate their speech and actions. This learned caution, often beginning at a young age, dictates what can be openly discussed and what requires reticence. Subjects that carry significant historical or social weight are approached with apprehension, not always due to a lack of knowledge, but because of the accumulated meaning and potential for negative repercussions associated with them. This environment fosters a situation where power can persist without active validation, relying instead on a widespread perception that opposition is unproductive.
Silence as a Mechanism for Power Maintenance

Unchecked power in Malaysia can thrive when institutions or individuals in authority no longer require universal belief in their decisions. Instead, the critical factor becomes the widespread conclusion that challenging these decisions is either pointless, too troublesome, or carries unacceptable risks. This creates a passive acceptance, where the absence of overt opposition is interpreted as tacit approval or, at the very least, a lack of viable alternatives. The article suggests that this has been a long-standing dynamic, persisting even through significant governmental changes.
Enduring Habits of Political Life Beyond Governmental Shifts

Despite Malaysia experiencing substantial political upheavals and frequent changes in government since 2018, certain ingrained habits of political life prove remarkably resilient. The article posits that while the governing coalitions may shift, the underlying mechanisms of how power operates can remain largely unchanged. Governments, even those with reformist agendas, can adopt the same controlling tools they once criticised, and institutions may alter their discourse without fundamentally changing their behaviour. This continuity of approach, masked by different political leaderships, underscores how ingrained cultural norms around silence can perpetuate the status quo of power.

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When does silence enable power to remain unchecked in Malaysia?

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