The present political scene in the country is disheartening - disheartening because it is politics without direction. This applies to both the government and the opposition.

Political direction is important. It gives people hope and a sense of stability. Without a vision of the future, people begin to speculate and take decisions that are likely to be detrimental to themselves and the country.

It is the role of responsible politicians to define the desirable future for the nation and then work on how to achieve the goal. This provides confidence and removes uncertainty as to what the future holds.

This is particularly important for a plural society like Malaysia where it is critically important for all to feel there is a future in which they, their children and grandchildren have a place. Hopelessness and uncertainty about the future is damaging to the country.

Despite the assurances given by the government and politicians, many ordinary people feel lost. They lack confidence in the future of the country. Politicians are so busy with politicking and trying to remain in power or get into power that they have no viable strategy for the country. It is politics without direction, with no long-term strategy or vision for the country.

Any aspirational political strategy must begin with the question: What should be the long-term direction of the country? The direction must be one that will (1) unite the people and reduce racial, religious, and cultural differences, (2) democratise society, (3) bring greater economic and social development, and (4) modernise society. Political activities of the government and the opposition should be directed toward these objectives.

If we use the above criteria to assess the performance of the political parties in the country, where do they stand?

I would venture to say neither the BN nor the opposition coalition score high on the above metrics.

Umno is presently concerned with political survival. This is a legitimate concern. Afterall, politics is about power and all political parties want to come into power or remain in power. This is why Umno is prepared to talk to PAS to build its franchise, given the weakness of its partners in BN and the changing political landscape in the country.

PKR feels it needs PAS to woo the rural Malay votes and keep Selangor. Parti Amanah Negara is not ready yet to deliver the rural Malay vote to the opposition coalition.

DAP feels it no longer can trust PAS as a reliable partner. The ideological gap is too wide. The parties in Sabah and Sarawak have their own unique problems and aspirations. Their long-term direction is murky. They feel it is too risky to take any decisions now with long-term political consequences. They rather remain with the politics they are familiar with.

PAS has one advantage - it has a clear ideology. Its focus and aspiration is clear - it wants an Islamic state. The problem with this direction is that its ideological objective has only a limited appeal, even among Malays. Without a broad- based appeal, PAS has an uphill struggle to gain political power. It needs partners who truly share its political ideals. Such partners are hard to find.

Umno cannot be a reliable partner because it does not subscribe to the same ideological goal. Any marriage between the two will be short-lived and for limited objectives only. Umno knows that it needs a broader base to govern.

Survival strategy

Given this political scenario, is there room at all for development of any long-term political direction and strategy? Or will politics continue to remain at the level of politicking?

Umno is likely to continue with its short-term wheeling and dealing to remain in power. In this context, its overtures to PAS makes perfect sense. Its commitment to reforms - whether economic, social, political or institutional - will be circumscribed and predicated on its primary objective of remaining in power.

This is a survival strategy. It will work, but only in the short run. It is not a viable strategy for the long run because of the socio-economic changes taking place in the country. Education, urbanisation, globalisation, and changing values will generate new political forces and aspirations that will make it difficult for a political survival strategy to work for long. In this sense, the Umno way is only a short way, and not sustainable for the long haul.

The DAP-PKR-Amanah coalition, as an alternative to BN, has potential, provided the partners are prepared to move in a new direction, away from the old politics of BN. They need to agree on new foundations for the future development of the country - foundations built around new concepts of national development that embrace politics, economics, religion, culture and language. It should aspire to move the country in a totally new direction.

This strategy will involve making important trade-offs for a more equitable, democratic and just society. The strategy needs to take a holistic and inclusive view of the country, including the legitimate interests and rights of Sabah and Sarawak.

Will DAP, PKR and Amanah be able to meet this challenge? It is possible, provided the coalition does not adopt the BN way. If the partners should opt for short-term political dealing and wheeling to replace Umno and BN, the outcome will be the same- the old politics that we are so familiar with.

To provide a real alternative to Umno and BN, the opposition needs to think and act differently. This may mean not coming to power in 2018. The opposition needs to be patient, build the foundations for political change, and demonstrate moral leadership in policies, actions and deeds. This will take time.

The alternative is BN politics which the opposition is unlikely to win, given the entrenched position of the government. To win, the opposition needs clear direction and strategy. It cannot win by being another BN. It has to be not only better than BN but different from BN.