A position between two opposing extremes; usually representing a moderate position occupied by the 'Silent Majority' in the Malaysian political context.
We can't change the past but we can learn from it and create the future for a better Malaysia.
But first we need ordinary Malaysians from the 'silent majority' to speak out on what they would like a better Malaysia to be. But first they must speak!
Met with Haris Ibrahim and gang tonight and they are all ready for tomorrow's SABM function at Hu Yew Seah. If you have not yet registered for the event, don't worry. Anyone who shows up tomorrow will not be turned away even though you are not registered. So do come and find out what "Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia" is all about and how you can contribute to a better Malaysia where we are all simply Malaysians!
For more information on how to get to Hu Yew Seah at Lorong Madras, click on this LINK.
For those who have not yet registered as a voter, there will be a voter registration exercise at this event from 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm. So do come and bring along your NRIC.
Come on Penangites, let us show our KL brothers and sisters that we are as committed to a better Malaysia as they are. They gave us the honor of being the second destination after their launch in KL so let us reciprocate their faith in us by turning up in large numbers.
No I'm not quite fully back yet from my short break away from blogging but since my wife took the TV and I'm left twiddling my thumbs (I've run out of PC games to play and too hyped to read), I thought I would like to share with my readers a thought that came to mind after watching a lot of CNN coverage on the tearing down of the Berlin wall some twenty years ago.
(Berlin wall image from www.sheppardsofware.com)
Twenty years ago on 9 November 1989, the Berlin wall came down signaling the beginning of the end of the iron curtain and the cold war. In itself the event was a significant milestone but what made it spectacular was NOBODY at that time thought they would see this historic event in their lifetime!
On the 20th anniversary of the wall coming down, those who had lived through that era and were affected by the east/west divide then are now celebrating that historic moment but NOT those born after 1989.
To these young Europeans, they do not know the oppression and fear the wall had created then for their parents and grandparents. They cannot understand the hardships their forebears went through in search of freedom to choose a better life for themselves and their descendants. They cannot understand the "hoo ha" about the current commemorations in celebrating the wall's demise.
All they know is that today they are fellow citizens of the same country and continent with a hunger to better their lives and those they call fellow citizens without fear of the politically divisive ideology which turned fellow citizens of a greater country suspicious against each other.
Though not of the same physical scale as the Berlin Wall, I can't help but think the same is still happening in our country today despite the 1ONE rhetoric! The Berlin Wall was erected to prevent East Germany from collapsing economically and with it the loss of power by her ruling elites - same here in Malaysia and more so when we become a net oil importer in two years! (Our economy is so oil driven that it borders on the insane that our ruling elites can't see it for their desire to remain in importance!)
(Image from elizebethwong.wordpress.com)
Malaysia's ruling elites are still trying to play on the fears of ordinary Malaysians with the ghosts of 13 May 1969 which their forefathers engineered themselves. Each time the ruling elites from UMNO are faced with threats to their power grip, they go ultra and invoke the forty year old ghosts!
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not making light of what happened in 1969 and especially for those who lived through it but I remind myself that I'm one year away from the big Five O and I have no recollection of 1969 except that I was scolded by my mum for going near the windows to look at the passing army trucks!
I'm also reminded that the majority of Malaysians are born after 1969 (Malaysia's median age is 24.6 years according to WolframAlpha) who do not see other fellow Malaysians as racist killers but as fellow citizens which needs to come together and leave race/religion behind to chart a better path for the country we ALL live in.
I constantly remind myself that I'm moving into the last third if not the last quarter of my lifespan and hence the need to return to society what I had gained from it. Without being philosophical, I believe nature has a way of finding "balance". If we do not settle our debts before we depart, then we leave behind a "mess" which those who come after us would have to sort-out and clean up.
If we do not settle our debts, then we would have handicapped those who come after us whom we place so much hope to realize our dreams
It is for this reason and this reason alone that I'm prepared to challenge the status quo and risk persecution because of those who are coming after us do not need to be encumbered with our past baggage if they are to do good things for themselves and our beloved country.
Malaysia will change for the better and on that I have no doubt! But we must do all we can to encourage the young ones (not tainted with fear of 1969) to assume the mantle of activism and leadership.
We have to encourage them that it is not us who will determine the future but THEM. All we can do is break barriers and pave the way for them to achieve what we ALL want, past, present and future!
(Image from my.qoop.com)
Make no mistake, UMNO is coming down and with it all those who only see "ghosts". It is a matter of time if the 20th anniversary of the coming down of the Berlin wall is anything to go by!!!
In the Malaysian context, we are coming close to a pivotal moment in our history - the demise of the once mighty UMNO when the oil runs out. This is not an if or maybe but an eventuality.
Time for our race walls to come down! Time for those who put up these artificial walls to depart and retire and leave our country to those born after 1969! Time to make the jump from the Jurassic age and move to 1World 1Peoples age!!!
We have to lift our feet first before we can that make that all important jump!
Heard of the SABM initiative led by lawyer and civil activist Haris Ibrahim? If not then fret no further. It is coming to Penang this Sunday on 15 November 2009.
For more information about this event, please go HERE.
For those interested but do not know where Hu Yew Seah is, please refer to the map provided by this LINK.
A man says goodbye to his wife who drops him off at the airport. He kisses her goodbye and says that he will he will be back in three days as soon as his business overseas is done. He boards an MAS flight for KLIA which connects to another MAS flight for Perth.
Later that day, a taxi pulls up at the same airport and a young lady checks-in for an SQ flight to Singapore Changi Airport with an SQ connecting flight to Perth as well.
At Perth, the young lady heads to the hotel but before entering, checks her mobile phone for a particular SMS. Once the SMS was found, she heads for room 1711 and lo and behold the man is waiting for her.
He flew MAS, booked by his secretary and paid for by an office cheque (amount debited to his personal a/c with HIS company). She flew SQ booked by herself and paid with cash (given to her by him at their previous meeting). Except for the fact that they ended up in room 1711 of the same hotel, in the same city of the same country, there is no connection between the two, right?
Of course the above is fiction but I can imagine the possibility of it happening, unless of course you are Nazri Aziz.
(Image of 'nothing wrong' from anwaribrahimblog.com)
According to Nazri, despite using the same travel agency and flying on the same flight and staying at the same accommodations for the same duration of time, there is nothing wrong with former Chief Justice Eusoff Chin and senior lawyer V.K. Lingam having a holiday together since both holidays were paid for separately.
This may all be well and fine and might be the case of "coincidence" of timing but in light of the existence of the Lingam video, surely this would be a red flag in front of a bull if Nazri really wanted to get to the bottom of the truth. Instead he is defending the lack of MACC's investigations by ignoring the flag and worse still, telling the bull there is no reason to be angry!
The reality is - the truth about what made our country what it is today will never be known so long as our government and it's ministers are not interested in the truth but rather using federal institutions to cover-up the short comings and incompetence of all those who brought harm or allowed harm to befall our country.
No meaningful change can come to Malaysia until and unless the ruling elites of UMNO/BN are removed from their roosts of self-importance!
PS. After a year plus since starting this blog, I'm getting kind of tired hammering at the racist, corrupt and incompetent buffoons from UMNO/BN. I think by now most Malaysians who have an ability to see right from wrong would be able to see what needs to be done at the next GE. If they still can't, then whatever hammering I may dish out at UMNO/BN in this blog will not make a difference.
(Image from mustafakanuar.wordpress.com)
(It took a talk by YB Nurul Izzah Anwar, YB Liew Chin Tong and YB Sim Tze Tzin this past Sunday before I realized the need to change track with my blog if I really want to bring meaningful change to Malaysia. It may have been good for me ranting and raving to "release frustrations" but I had let my blog slide into oblivion together with many others who complain but without offering solutions.)
Time for a reality check and time to correct that!
Instead this is what I will do. I will take a small break from blogging for a while to get my batteries recharged and then to return to blogging with a different thrust and style.
There are a lot of things which ordinary Malaysians are not aware of especially of the majority PR politicians who do not hog the media limelight. These people are doing fantastic work on the ground, transcending race and religion, working together for a better Malaysia especially those who had been neglected by UMNO/BN all these years!
Since our MSM are not giving these PR politicians due recognition and publicity, I'm going to try to do my part by highlighting what these PR politicians are doing for us in our quest for a better Malaysia. I will also be coming up with a plan how those of us bloggers who do not have a large following can assist in nation building by being the "town halls" for our local constituencies. The idea is for bloggers like me who do not have a large following to use our blogs on a "local" scale where perhaps we can be more effective, to give prominence to issues which affects ourselves and our neighbors most and to direct our representatives to where attention is needed most and at the same time, to give credit where credit is due, which is hidden from ordinary Malaysians by the MSM.
(Image from www.darnmalaysia.com)
Until then, take care and do drop by after a week or two. I should be recharged by then, hfffffff!
I have talked about 2Malaysia before, 1Malaysia for UMNO/BN and another for the rest. We all know that 2Malaysia exist and who caused it to be so. We all know what needs to be done to return 2Malaysia back to being 1Malaysia, but are most of the other Malaysia ready to do so?
I ask this question because I'm disturbed by the level of understanding of issues by some of my fellow Malaysians.
(Image from TheStar Online)
For example, I had dinner with my cousin today and in the course of dinner, Penang's traffic conditions became a topic of conversation. My cousin complained of the increasing congestion caused by inconsiderate drivers parking illegally. She had lamented that on many occasions she saw a police patrol car drive by without so much as stopping to issue summonses to the illegally parked cars or to help move the traffic along by making their presence felt. And she wondered why the state government of Penang doesn't do anything to ease the problem by ordering the police to help out!
I had to explain to her that our PDRM is a federal institution, answerable only to the IGP, appointed by the UMNO/BN federal government and that whatever YAB Lim Guan Eng and his state government may exhort on PDRM will only fall on deaf ears. She finally understood (or should I say she gave me the impression she understood by nodding her head) when I explained to her that most matters affecting Penangites (and all the other states as well) are mostly federally controlled, that power is concentrated in Putrajaya which is why despite having a change of government in Penang, we have yet to see "significant" changes.
Today I also had an exchange of SMS with a young Malaysian (whom I consider friend) who had decided that it is in the country's best interests to side with BN. Unused to the turmoil we are seeing today, he would rather return to the "stability" of the past whilst ignoring the bigger picture of an evolving Malaysia. He had cited LGE's part complicity in the Kampung Buah Pala issue as a reason that the present PR government is no better than that of the previous BN government of Penang but at least we had "stability" then.
There are many more examples I could give but I won't for that would take too long.
All I would say is unless most Malaysians who expected great things from voting PR understand that their hands are tied in most matters, then we deserve the government we get!
Let us be fair at least when comparing PR with BN. Understand that despite Malaysia being a federation of "partially autonomous" states, Malaysia is in reality a centrally controlled country.
If you must compare between PR and BN then compare the way PR approaches governance and how BN did in the past and now still. PR may not be the complete picture right now but at least they are working towards that end and taking into cognizance what most ordinary Malaysians want - fairness and justice for all Malaysians by way of a clean and transparent government!
Tell me who between the two are working towards that direction with the interest of ALL Malaysians at heart?
(Image from www.istockphotos.com) PS. My blogger friend Richard Loh, made a posting in his blog about making it your personal responsibility to "get involved" if you wish to change the country for the better.
On the understanding of issues, I think Raja Petra Kamarudin understands it VERY well as can be seen by his many previous articles and his latest one HERE (on oil royalty). Some of us may not like the way RPK expresses himself but how many of us understand the complex nature of our country like RPK does?
This PS is primarily directed at my friends and relations who moan and gripe about a deteriorating Malaysia by taking the easy way out and hope that others will take risks that they are not prepared to do so. Then blame others when they fail to deliver what they expect of them!
Unless we assume personal responsibility for our woes, we will continue to eat shit dished out by ourselves!!!
A few months back I was warned by a prominent civil activist that sometime beginning in November, some form of action would be brought to bear on bloggers unfriendly to UMNO/BN so as to intimidate them or to silence them. I was told that this was part of a bigger plan by the ruling elites to "shore-up" their battle plans with the intent of facing the rakyat eventually.
(Image from harisibrahim.wordpress.com)
Three days into November and blogger Bernard Khoo who blogs as zorro-unmasked was asked to appear at the Commercial Crimes Department of the PDRM tomorrow. It is still unclear why he has to appear there but is believed to be something related to what he wrote in his blog.
I do not know Bernard Khoo personally but I certainly know his thoughts since I occasionally drop by his blog to read his postings. I do not find his thoughts that much different from mine hence I find his "entanglement" with our boys-in-blue rather chilling!
Nevertheless, the purpose of this post is to show solidarity with him in his hour of need and to affirm that I will continue to speak out for the betterment of Malaysia, threats notwithstanding!
For those who believe in what Bernard Khoo is doing for civil society and especially those who live in KL, please make the time to accompany Bernard Khoo tomorrow as a show to our ruling elites that he is not alone and that he is but one of many!
For more information about tomorrow, please go to Haris Ibrahim's posting HERE on this subject.
Update : According to Haris Ibrahim's latest posting on his blog, Bernard Khoo is OK. You can read what happened HERE.
Last night I attended the talk by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, coordinator for Pakatan Rakyat and was provided the transcript of his speech by the organizers which I reproduce here in full.
(Image from isuhangat.blogspot.com)
Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to speak this evening on a very important subject; that is the prospect of a two-party system for Malaysia.
A two-party system is one where two major parties or two major grouping of political parties dominate the voting in an election, at all levels. The obvious examples are Labour vs. Conservatives in Britain; the Moderate Justice party with Islamic roots vs. the secular westernised grouping in Turkey; and the Republicans vs. the Democrats in America. The two-party system is the outcome of an evolutionary process where the main political players gravitate towards a common political philosophy. Ultimately, we discern in most countries the creation of two separate groups that are philosophically distinguishable. So one can say that Labour is more oriented to the centre left with strong union and workers affiliation whereas the Conservatives are more right wing and more averse to Big Government. Most importantly, both parties represent the interest of all segments of society.
Malaysia has never been short of having an Opposition. But some parties in the Opposition got offers that were too good to refuse and joined the Barisan Nasional and one point or the other in our short history. These are political parties from Sabah and Sarawak. We have also an Islamic Opposition Party in the shape of PAS and a secular Opposition Party in the shape of DAP but only Malays would support PAS, and mainly non-Malays would support DAP. So Opposition parties thus far continue to be segmented, are not broad-based, and have narrow communal appeal. This helps to justify the authoritarianism of UMNO, in the name of ensuring that an acceptable coalition to all communities remains in power. That’s why the BN has ruled for 52 years.
But it is time for a change.
It is time for us to have two-party system/coalition ala Malaysia. In which both sides are equally appealing to all communities in Malaysia. On one side the Barisan Nasional, and on the other side the Pakatan Rakyat. And both have to be as strong and representative as each other. But a Pakatan Coalition is different from the BN and in a most significant way. BN is nothing more than an UMNO hegemony supported by the wealthy Chinese and Indian upper class. Pakatan, on the other hand, is a people’s pact where its component parties - the PKR, PAS and DAP - stand together as equals. UMNO can dictate what peace means in MCA and who becomes its Deputy President but the parties in Pakatan have no direct influence over one another, other than through discourse and discussions. Consensus is the way for Pakatan, directives and orders are the way of the BN.
Of course in our country the process of a two-party grouping is in its infancy. Before the 2008 General Election the presence of Opposition parties was minimal in Parliament. Now the Opposition has 82 seats out of 222; it’s a big step forward but it’s still a long way from reaching the magic figure for them to govern. We all know that the Opposition pact today is fragile and some people have described them as a one-term wonder. This is mainly due to the constant bickering in public between the parties and also internal disagreements over policies and political ideology. Some bloggers have questioned the leadership and quality of leaders in the Opposition. The recent spat between PAS spiritual leader Nik Aziz and its party president is not helpful but having said that some changes need to be made to strengthen the Coalition and if it means having a public spat is the way to do it, then so be it, we will accept that.
Whatever the weakness of the Opposition parties, or our expectations of them, I would like to appeal to the public to continue to support the Opposition. A weakened Opposition will ensure continued authoritarian and corrupt rule, and we must not let that happen. On the other hand the problems facing the Opposition parties are surmountable. “We can work it out!” as the Beatles would say. I am optimistic because I am close enough to them to know that some of the problems simply stem from a lack of engagement with each other. Other reasons being that our political parties do not devote that much time and energy on policy deliberations, whether amongst their members or with their partners. But I’m sure that much of these problems can be solved in due course, if we are able to spend more time talking to each other.
Confusion will reign when previously separate parties come to power as a coalition. Hassan Ali probably thinks not selling beer in some areas in Selangor is actually a good social policy. So he thinks it’s a PAS policy that he seeks to implement and therefore he was prepared to ride roughshod over the Menteri Besar who is not from his party. If PAS has a clear social policy to discourage alcoholism and dependency amongst youth on alcohol and drugs, for example, and such policy is discussed within the framework of a Coalition then a more enlightened and less threatening policy can be implemented. PAS has a commitment to the Federal Constitution; the issue is merely how to tailor its social and moral policy accordingly. Engagement and public discourse is the way politics work in a democratic system and that must be respected. I don’t think we want or need a strong theocratic movement to contend with within the Opposition, always at odds with its partners. For that, my friends, will be the end of the Pakatan Rakyat.
Public discourse and engagement will instead get the people’s support and at the same time showcase to the public that the Pakatan is a group of thinking politicians who can formulate good policies and who care about the community. Not a group of reforming zealots who use religion as an excuse to deny others of their lifestyle and freedom.
The case of Zulkifli Noordin putting forward suggestions to ban condom sales and to include the syariah as part of the Federal Constitution is another example where his party (and mine too!) spends little time making clear their political stance on many so-called sensitive issues. This fuzziness and lack of commitment to a clearly defined policy in PKR allows characters like Zulkifli to champion his cause, whatever that might be. He, like Hassan Ali, knows he is not going to be disciplined because he suspects his own party has not made a categorical stance on the nature of the Federal Constitution. In the absence of such a position, it’s open to Zukifli to want to promote his version of an Islamic State where the syariah rules supreme. He is not alone. Dr Mahathir Mohamad too has declared Malaysia to be an Islamic State, although his own understanding of that concept I suspect is different from Zulkifli Noordin.
So it appears to me that the three parties in the Opposition have to spend time together to deliberate on a Common Policy Framework. They must first agree on these matters with their own party members and then move forward together as a Coalition. They must be clear of the key policy areas they wish to adopt and what they want to do when in power. They must abandon their suspicion of one another and not only be interested in maximising their party’s seat allocation in the next election. They must put their best people forward if they harbour any hope of changing the government.
I am fortunate to have been given the role of facilitating policy discussions amongst the three parties. I will continue to offer suggestions that hopefully they will accept to bring strength and depth to the Opposition. The Opposition has to speak on major issues with one voice, and with promptness and decisiveness. The public will not accept in the future knee-jerk and populist posturing from Pakatan leaders. They want to know where we stand. And they must rein in and discipline without fear or favour those within their parties who choose to disrespect the Pakatan’s Common Policy Framework.(CPF)
The CPF will undoubtedly require sacrifice on all sides. They must be willing to depart from their present position, or the presentation of those positions, to gain support. PAS and PKR must recognise and respect the sanctity of religious freedom. They must recognise in the constitutional sense the limited role of Islam as the country’s official religion. Limited, in the sense that Islam is a matter of state laws and the states can only legislate on matters relating to the precepts of Islam. Limited, in the sense that these laws must not violate the Federal Constitution. What is the limit imposed by the Constitution must be deliberated and discussed and finally accepted. It’s this acceptance that will distinguish those who want to live in a democracy under a written Constitution from those who want a religious theocracy.
PAS should not strive to enforce compliance but instead seek acceptance of its policies by consent and genuine support. Its religious platform should be modelled on social and moral premises that are acceptable to many religious faiths. A dynamic social and moral policy will be more acceptable; in fact it is very much needed in the present times of drugs dependency and a fragile social fabric. PAS’ moral policy must take cognisance of common values amongst people of different faiths, must articulate about family values and about stable social order. That is the only way PAS can further its religious agenda without harming its support amongst all Malaysians. PAS must accept that the laws and policies of the country are all interconnected. Any law even if its applicability is confined to Muslims has grave implications and consequence to non-Muslims. We live in a multi-religious country. We live in an interconnected world. To live in harmony, laws and policies must emanate from the consent of the governed. Laws must be discussed and deliberated before they are enacted. The citizens, who belong to all faiths, will then accept just laws irrespective of their source.
This is the meaning of the expression “to abide by the Federal Constitution.” This is the meaning of accepting the Constitution as the highest law of the land, which PAS has done so in its manifesto.
Penang is a DAP fortress so I have to be careful of what I say about the DAP. DAP too must recognise the importance of affirmative action as a tool to help reduce the economic gaps between communities. DAP too must accept that the economic gaps between the Chinese and other bumiputras and natives are wide. There is therefore a need to provide special assistance to these bumiputras, even to the Indians and the Orang Asli. DAP must work harder to shed its image as a Chinese party in that it must be more visible as a champion of other communities’ interests too. The powerful Chinese business community must reach out to help build the businesses of the other communities as well. There are many programmes that can be undertaken to show solidarity of the Pakatan.
We need to show that Pakatan is about the well being of the people, not about big business, not about promoting conglomerates and monopolies, but about giving the opportunity to all Malaysians to be successful in business and making a head start in life. Business skill and experience can be shared. A richer and more equitable economic system will benefit all communities. There are enough in the country for the people to share if only we can stop the massive corruption and wastage perpetuated by the present government. I am saying all these as a friend and such changes will be better for the DAP in the long run.
If we in the Opposition remain disunited, ideologically at odds with each other, and unable to parade capable and scandal free leaders, to inclusively represent all communities in Malaysia in a complementary way, then the abuse of power, endemic corruption and nationalist extremism we are experiencing today will remain because BN will continue to rule.
As such, we in the Pakatan have initiated a process of change. The registration of Pakatan Rakyat as a single party/coalition has been agreed to in principle. I am now sorting out the details. The Common Policy Framework has also been circulated to the three parties. It’s my hope and that of many that we will overcome all obstacles and have a successful Convention in December.
I have been brutally honest about the Pakatan’s problems. Allow me the indulgence of being just as honest about the BN and why if you keep voting BN as it is today, yesterday and tomorrow, Malaysians will lose out.
Many people still believe that only, UMNO by way of the Barisan Nasional, can offer a workable power-sharing leadership to run this nation and to prevent infighting from factionalism and racial polarisation. But this is a dangerous delusion. In fact, it is these beliefs that are at the centre of UMNO’s political hegemony. This self-indulgent sense of indispensability and self-importance is causing them to steer the nation to an authoritarian rule. . It is this that has helped justify in their minds their right to quell any one who threatens the status quo, whether it is a group of politicians or activists protesting against abuses in government, or a group of Indians protesting against their treatment and lack of opportunities.
The PM, or as some of his admirers would say the Thinking PM, says his government is not a racist government. He might just as well add that his government is also not a fascist one. After all BN and UMNO have a different understanding from the rakyat on the more important terms and precepts. Like corruption in UMNO is not corruption but money politics, like gratification and bribery under the Election Offences are not applicable to UMNO Ministers. And if bribery to the voters does not produce the desired result, then just bribe the people’s elected representatives. Also in Malaysia separation of powers means state legislatures can take over by force, as was the case in Perak. In most democracies an independent Election Commission is the final determinant of whether there is a vacancy in the State of Federal legislature but not in 1Malaysia. In this wonderland one can give any description or interpretation to fit one’s political agenda. Whatever the description one gives to our country the fact remains that today the rudiments of democracy are dead and gone. We live in a country where the underlying philosophy is the glorification of the PM and the subordination of the individual to the authority of the government, and where the suppression of dissent is harsh. We live in a country where UMNO is the law, or as King Louis IV says, “C’est a la moi..” I am the law.
What is the price that we ultimately pay as a nation, if this disease is not addressed? Clearly to start with, we would continue to be cursed with a non-transparent government without the capability of functioning in a way that respects the rule of law: a government that condones abuse of power; a government ruled by a group of oligarchs whose economic interests will supersede that of the rakyat; and a government whose economic policy favours the monopolists and big businesses.
If the public believes that the government is not beholden to a set of commonly revered values and principles, and its actions are tainted by racial biases, there will continue to be physical and emotional segregation of communities, regardless of what is done to break such divisiveness. Our economy too will suffer.
The ultimate price that the country suffers from the present political culture of the BN is that that Malays and non-Malays will continue to be denied a common sense of ownership of Malaysia’s nation-building journey. The Sabahans and Sarawakians will never feel they belong to Malaysia. And instead of becoming partners in this voyage to mature nationhood they will continue to bicker and remain suspicious and distrustful of one another. And there will continue to be a brain drain of Malaysian talents who would have decided that they would rather make their home elsewhere. And there will be further exodus of capital and brainpower that this government will not be able to stop. This is a high price that the country can ill-afford to pay given the increasingly challenging global outlook.
Authoritarianism, patronage, and nationalist extremism from any quarter destroy the key ingredients necessary for the Malaysian community to really build on and retain that wealth and knowledge. True economic and scholastic success and competitiveness is a function of instilling in the hearts and minds of beneficiaries a set of new behaviours, around the capacity and desire to take personal accountability, to trust one another, to be achievement oriented, to develop a sense of curiosity, a sense a solidarity that goes beyond your own ethnic clans and groups; so that together we are able to build this country together. We must do away with unprincipled politics and with Machiavellian methods, and instead seek to change with reforms that encourage the development of a viable democracy and a prosperous country for all.
So the people of this country must decide what kind of Government they want. And the country that our grandchildren will inherit. I believe the majority want a country and a system that will restore faith and hope for a united country. Not the slogan and hype of 1Malaysia but that of abiding unity based on respect, trust and recognition that all Malaysians are equal irrespective of ethnicity, religion or region. We want a country that will ensure the best possible future for all Malaysians and a government that will practice good economics, uphold democracy and the Rule of Law. We want a government that promotes a Malaysian mindset change, premised on personal accountability, rational and independent thinking, hard work and a sense of fair play.
If we want all of the above then the only option available to the well-meaning people of this country is to work hard towards a stronger, united and more cohesive Opposition parties that can, given the mandate, become an alternative Federal Government. A former PM has said that the Opposition would be the ruin of this country. I beg to differ. Only a united and credible Opposition can save this country. The growth of anything new comes not without pain and uncertainty. So will it be with the Pakatan Rakyat. The road to success is not without its trials and tribulations. And success comes not without hard work, not without courage and not without hope.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The only way to have leaders who are accountable for their actions, to have fair and just system and good governance is to have a strong alternative choice that can compete toe to toe with Barisan Nasional and can act as an effective check and balance. It’s therefore imperative that we move towards a two-party system.
Let us not shy away from the hard work that is to come. Let us not lose hope. Pakatan will succeed.
Birth name Saw Teik Lim, pen-name romerz, a late 40 plus year old ordinary Malaysian from Penang.
A small voice trying to get others to join me to collectively make our small voices into a loud chorus demanding for a better Malaysia.
Not because we are trouble makers but because we love OUR country Malaysia!
Met with Haris Ibrahim and gang tonight and they are all ready for tomorrow's SABM function at Hu Yew Seah. If you have not yet registered for the event, don't worry. Anyone who shows up tomorrow will not be turned away even though you are not registered. So do come and find out what "Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia" is all about and how you can contribute to a better Malaysia where we are all simply Malaysians!
