Malaysia

A New Reality

Malaysia that emerged after the 12th election is still better than the one that existed before. It’s more open, more diverse and infinitely livelier; in short it’s less “Barisan National” and more Malaysian – the two are not one and the same.

The coalition and its leading party UMNO (united Malay national party) are no longer the dominant voices they once were, instead, their racist and religious extremist rhetoric, regressive, dull, exclusive and divisive voices have been reduced and sidelined by others infinitely more intelligence, moderate, exciting, sensible, progressive and inclusive segment of voices in the country.

However, all these changes are merely the beginnings of a process to really open up the system. Malaysians should not despair too quickly while expecting changes to all the rots from past 51 year to be smooth and seamless, this is not the time to roll back on the openness of the days after the last general election.

The more Malaysians are allowed to discuss openly the route and direction for the nation’s progress, the stronger national consensus will be, going forward. Malaysians need more, not less debate, especially over politician hype up “sensitive” issues. Malaysians are definitely ready for this, it’s just a shame that the politicians and elected leaders are not.

Malaysian that refuses to vote, think and speak out simply because politics is “dirty” or because “no one can really make a difference” is the sort of country that the reactionaries and corrupter want. Apathy will roll back the changes that have been taking place in the country.

Malaysians must be committed, bold and determined. The age of strongman dictatorial party leader has to give way to that of an engaged, righteous and virtuous citizenry holding up the nation has arrived. But this doesn’t mean a rejection of politics.

No doubt UMNO dominated BN will try to curb the reform agenda whilst on the other hand; PAS from the Pakatan Rakyat (People Alliance) will want to impose their harsh and narrow view of their world on the rest of the people. Whilst many PAS leaders are genuinely incorruptible and deserve credit for this, their self-righteous moralizing is unacceptable and Malaysians need to defend own public space from them, so the day that one set of tyranny has been exchanged for another will never come to the land.

BN will certainly resist reform in certain critical areas – most notably the ISA, the judiciary, corrupt free law enforcement forces, press freedoms and other civil liberty rights.

The desire to write and comment on one own country and world is now firmly lodged within the public experience. Freedom of expression and choice are something Malaysians demand. It cannot be extinguished and people no longer fear the long arm of the law as they once did.

Part of the subtext of what’s been happening over the past few months has been the way Malaysians have asserting their individual identities – declaring their independence from the widely disseminated “distorted truths” of nation building.

Independence means that the nation is free from any imposed domination, citizens are masters of their own destiny and sovereign, allow to think freely, express and exchange opinion freely, obtain and disseminate information without fear or favor. Until we can ensure the freedom of citizens and of media, Malaysia only achieved its independence from British colonist but not from domestic authoritarianism.

Gross abuses of justice, leaders who are no better than street thugs, political party openly embraced and defend racist and religious extremist voices in political gathering , men and women who delight in devising ways of ripping off the country’s coffer in return for political patronage, cronyism and nepotism. Malaysians are surrounded by those who feel no shame in abusing the system to their own ends.

Malaysia will not become a “failed state” despite the prophets of doom. But only if Malaysians of different races and religions stand up and say, enough is enough; it is time for “we the people” to move forward and take back the country.

The people of Malaysia will get the country they deserve. Many people groan at this, but thinking of the long way this country have walked on, the opportunities that lie ahead – and think otherwise.