COMMENT The draconian laws voted on by 108 parliamentarians recently can turn out to be a double-edged sword.

In a handful of powerful elites, it may for now serve the purpose of silencing the voices of dissent, but the same law can also be used against the very people who voted for it.

With the dicey situation that the ruling party Barisan Nasional (BN) is in now, there are good chances that Pakatan Rakyat may win in the next general election.

Malaysians have arrived at one simple conclusion that 58 years under BN rule is a long time, and most of us would not like to see the country being ruined further in the next 50 years. Therefore, as one Pakatan supporter pointed out, no matter how wretched the alternative coalition is, people will still vote for it.

In just two years, the BN coalition would have ruled Malaysia a good six decades under six prime ministers - and possibly a seventh BN leader once again handpicked by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

When Pakatan Rakyat takes over, there is no guarantee that the coalition would do away with the draconian laws immediately. It may be a couple of years before the laws are repealed by Parliament.

After all, those who come into power by then would perhaps have experienced the bitterness of being incarcerated or prosecuted.

The argument may not be so much for retaining the Sedition Act or other draconian laws, but in order for the BN politicians themselves to experience their own medicine.

Whatever that is said or done now, they may escape the ambit of the law, but when a new government takes over, these cases may be taken to court again in order to see justice done.

There is an old adage, “You reap what you sow.” The sowing may have been done 20 years ago, but ultimately, justice will take its course. For this reason, politicians from both sides should not live as though the tides will not change.

‘Change is the only constant’

The truth is: “Only one thing is constant - change.” If tomorrow change comes, the same fate that you inflict on your political foes today may turn around against you.

Today, you may be flying in the executive jet; tomorrow, you may end up in prisoner’s clothes.

Today, you laugh at former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim; tomorrow, it could be you.

Today, you may be adorned with medals; tomorrow, all these medals may be stripped away, and you may end up in the worst dungeons prepared for you.

Just as your most ardent supporter can turn around and become your worst enemy, there is no guarantee in life that you are born an elite and will remain one forever. It is not how well you start the game, but how well you end it.

In life, we have to practice moderation. In the same manner that we treat others, they will treat us the same in return as the proverbial saying goes, “Respect begets respect.”

History has left us with many lessons to be learnt. Dictators who were mighty and cruel ended up being holed up in hideaways and eventually killed by their own supporters.

This is why it is an important lesson for every Malaysian politician, whether from the ruling party or the opposition, is to realise that your actions today may be used against you tomorrow. Never live as though tomorrow will forever be on your side.

God watches the actions of mankind from afar and there is nothing that can be hidden from Him. Period.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.