The Cult

The Cult of Personality

John Lee has written a thorough piece about the politican’s cult of personality on The Malaysian Insider. My favourite quote from the piece:

Today, there are many people sceptical of Anwar’s prospects for change; he is, after all, a classic demagogue, long on rhetoric but short on demonstrable ability to solve the problems we face. But to these people I say: the choice is not between an irrational demagogue and a rational policymaker. The choice is between a demagogue who promises the change we need — even if he lacks concrete details on how he will achieve this change — and a party led by men and women who deny we are in a crisis of policy and governance, led by leaders who insist that if we just put a stop to Anwar’s politicking, all will be well and hunky dory.

I’ve personally not been completely convinced by the need for the politician’s ‘aura’ or charisma. Maybe it’s because that ‘larger than life’ presence is just too much for me. I have to say, though, having been in the same vicinity as Anwar (during Nurul Izzah’s nomination in the 12th Malaysian General Elections), that it’s as much about him as it is about people who build that perception of him being a livewire.

And isn’t that it, as well: something can only be as big as the attention people people give it (or virulently tell others to shush about).