Disclaimer: This is a sensitive/emotional post. Read at own discretion.
Today, 5th of May, is a very important day. It's Malaysian's elections day.
There is no need for me to share Facebook statuses/write posts to tell people about what BN (Barisan Nasional, Malaysia's current ruling party under Najib) is doing as everyone that I know is an opposition supporter. Even my Malay friends.
Whenever I talk about Malaysia's politics, my natural reaction is only angst. My GP tutor, Mr Kenny Tan, has always think that I am exaggerating and my opinions skewed my way of thinking. I honestly don't even know what to think now that today now that BN has just topped themselves once again in playing dirty. My friend told me, Malaysia's politics is actually very interesting to watch - tons of interesting things going on, and I don't think it's something really worth being proud of - the whole world knows how corrupt the government is, and we can't do shit about it.
I first came into contact with a note written by a senior and his friends on Facebook:
Enough is enough. I have had it with the ceaseless corruption, the endless bigotry, the continuous demolishment of our democracy and the persistent prostitution of our great nation by the very people who took oaths to protect it. I want freedom, I want peace, I want progress, but most of all, I want a Malaysia that all Malaysians can be proud of. But I can’t yet vote. So this is a heartfelt plea to everyone who can vote in the coming general election: save our nation.
For too long have we watched helplessly as despots pillaged and plundered Malaysia. For too long have we borne the brunt of their mindless mismanagement. For too long have we cried out in vain against the grave injustices they have done to our country. And for too long have we witnessed the destruction of the most beautiful thing Malaysia has to offer – our people. No more.
A nation is not defined by its economic excess, or its military might, or its global prestige, but by the will, the unity and the spirit of its citizens. Our will has been eroded by decades of brainwashing from the primary school syllabus to the perfidious, poisonous propaganda being propagated by the mainstream media. Our unity has been compromised by the constant fabrication of racial and religious tensions. But our spirit can never be broken. The Malaysia I know is resilient and brave, even if it has lost its way. With the winds of change blowing in our favour, now is the time to stand up and be counted, to seize the opportunity, ride the wave of change to greater heights and precipitate the change we must, for we are, at this very moment on the very precipice of change. There is no better time. This is it.
Elections are about looking forward and not dwelling on past failures. And yet, past performance serves as an indicator for the future outlook. I am grateful for the good things Barisan Nasional has done for this country, few as they are. But gratitude is no reason to vote for them. We are not beholden to them for several decent results. Rather, it is our sacrosanct duty to vote responsibly after considerable deliberation. We don’t owe public officials anything; public officials owe us competence and integrity, nothing less. On this count, BN has failed miserably, while Pakatan has provided cause for optimism. The multitude of crimes against the Malaysian people is what BN has become known for, whereas Pakatan has demonstrated ample state-management capabilities, ushering in an unprecedented period of prosperity and transparency in Penang and Selangor particularly. We have been falling behind as the world has been moving forward for far too long. It’s time to stop the rot, lest we fall any further behind. As Einstein put it, “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s a change of times and it’s time for change.
BN has been in power for nearly fifty-six consecutive years – it is the longest ruling "democratically" elected coalition in the world. This should not be taken as evidence that BN is that good, but instead the reverse: BN is that bad. How does a corrupt, racist party stay in power that long? It cheats. A lot. Social contract theorist John Locke purported in his Second Treatise of Government that "the government is not legitimate unless it is carried on with the consent of the governed". As such, the lack of means to verify that previous elections - which are meant to establish the consent of the governed - have been free and fair casts doubt on the legitimacy of the previous administrations. Furthermore, by engendering systemic corruption and being criminally negligent with our education, BN has set us back by at least two generations in terms of economic competitiveness. By propagating electoral fraud, dubiously detaining dissenters and brutalising peaceful rallies, BN has devastated the democratic ideals that this country was founded upon. By controlling the judiciary and the police, BN has infringed upon a right of the citizenry as fundamental as having impartial justice backed by overwhelming force. All for the self-serving purpose of creating a subservient and powerless population so as to perpetuate its plundering ways. A democracy is supposed to empower its citizenry. I really don't care much for the petty backbiting and the political backstabbing, but when we - the average citizens - are being systematically stripped of our prerogatives and our country is going down the drain, it is evident that something is very wrong and that something must be changed.
Never in the history of our country has there been as great a challenger to the tyranny and oppression of Barisan Nasional, than the Pakatan Rakyat coalition of today. Yes, it is not perfect – but who is? Yes, it makes promises it can’t keep – but which political party doesn’t? Chances are, every accusation you can level at five years of Pakatan governance can be directed towards fifty-five years of BN mismanagement, and then some. Yet, Pakatan has demonstrated a greater willingness to listen to the people, a greater dedication to the democratic principles, smaller penchants for bullshit and corruption and a greater inclination towards progressive ideals like equality and meritocracy. At the very least, Pakatan is the lesser of the two evils. At best, it represents a major step towards a more progressive society and a Malaysia of Malaysians, for Malaysians.
Five years ago, we showed BN that it is not invincible, that it had to change. BN replied with five years of not-so-subtle subterfuge, attempting to trick us into thinking that it can change, what with the tit-for-tat replacement of the draconian Internal Security Act with the even more oppressive Security Offences Act and the countless bogus transformation initiatives. How much longer are we going to suffer them? If we allow them to continue dismantling our democracy, diluting the weight of our votes and confiscating our citizen rights for another term, I fear we may never, ever have another good opportunity to depose them. With the Pakatan movement currently gaining traction, this is our best chance yet for a better future. A future where there are no Malays, no Chinese, no Indians, but a brotherhood of Malaysians. A future where the voice of every single Malaysian is heard, be they young or old, able or disabled, rich or poor. A future in which every one of us works for the betterment of our home and of ourselves. A future of peace, of love, of hope. A future that cannot exist with BN in power.
It has been said that “the government you deserve is the government you elect”. But I believe Malaysia deserves so much more. We are a people capable of great compassion and great unity. That’s why I believe Malaysians deserve so much more than tyranny, than corruption, than bigotry, than poverty. That’s why I want change. But I need more than myself this time. So get out and vote because every vote counts. It’s time for change. Yes, we can. Let’s do this. Let’s fucking do this.
Thanks to Jun Lem, Nicholas, Nicole & Ryan
I agreed wholeheartedly, but I couldn't do a thing. I was below 21, and I couldn't vote.
Then after watching "Inside Malaysia's Shadow State" , a video by Global Witness which went viral on the Internet, I wrote this post on 20th March on my Facebook timeline:
Sometimes it's really disappointing that the Malaysian society is suffering due to corruption/incompetence of the government. There's so much more that could have been done if they were really "Of The People, By The People, For The People".Cover ups don't really work right now, "And he(Najib) has indicated there is more (freebies) to come if BN retains power" isn't really going to win you support for the GE when you didn't even carry out whatever you have promised. Gerrymandering to your own advantage is really just unfair play. Transparency International said Malaysia scored worst in the 2012 Bribe Payers Survey - showing that our government is world champion in corruption. Something that is really hard to achieve, in my humble opinion.
I read this on http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/09/06/corruption-in-malaysia-and-singapore/ (Yes, .au actually means it's a website based in Australia, also meaning that our local issues are so severe that it's bringing attention from different parts of the world.):
"He has ambitiously stated in his New Economic Model and his Government Transformation Plan that there will be zero tolerance for corruption, in his administration.
The results to date however does not augur well for Mr. Najib. The perception created thus far is that corruption under the Najib administration is at its peak in Malaysia. The continued abuse of government procurement (http://tonypua.blogspot.sg/2010/05/myprocurement-rent-seeking-patronage.html), the scandal plagued Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Project (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dubious-mrt-awards-will-bloat-project-cost-says-pua), the 1Malaysia e-mail (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/1-malaysia-email-users-must-sign-up-with-usb-device-nrd-offices/) and Mr. Najib’s use of tax payer’s money for his personal agenda (http://malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=65052%3Acome-clean-on-how-many-millions-of-taxpayers-money-was-spent-to-promote-your-image-nik-nazmi-tells-najib&Itemid=2) are just some of the more high profile examples. And we have yet to even discuss Malaysia’s First Lady’s (no, not the Queen) penchant for fame and all things expensive." (I won't even bother needing proof for the last because you should know she bought a RM 24 mil diamond ring)
You see, the government is really desperate to win this. The whole fiesta behind the Sulu incident in Sabah (http://borneoherald.blogspot.sg/2013/03/sultan-of-sulu-shocking-revelation.html) which only led to their destroying of evidence (http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=70660). Why did they even offer ICs in the first place? To get more votes of course. Think about all the freebies they're giving out, it probably is worth it considering they can siphon out the rest of the country's revenue for the next 4 years.
My GP tutor has been persistent in asking me to use Malaysia examples in my essay and I've always been reluctant to do so. Why? Because there's nothing more than corrupt, political scandals and the ugly human nature that is highlighted by the government. Geography essays I am already writing about the corrupt government has led to the landslides in Bangsar in 2007 (and apparently it's still a crux issue now as the government wants to build another high-rise building there) and I think I could really save myself from all the fury, anguish and desperation from writing essays about how great our government truly is.
(PS Above is merely my humble opinion regarding Malaysian politics at home, if I happen to offend anyone with the content above, here's my humble apology)
That moment, I was feeling a sense of fury, a sense of desperation.
What about now? I'm feeling the same way, just more desperate.
Since then, the government just decided that they would try to bribe everyone - especially targeting those who live in rural areas who have simply no access to the Internet. They blindly follow all the pro BN propaganda and of course, happily accept the bribery money. PKR did bribe, we bribe with MINERAL WATER. BN? Currently they are willing to pay 3k for one ballot in Penang - just to win over the state that is predominantly Chinese.
Things they have been doing within a mere 5 years of governance - the infamous murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu (she was BOMBED to pieces for goodness sake, how many normal civilians have access to weaponry?! http://www.smh.com.au/world/dead-detective-had-vowed-to-reveal-truth-on-model-murder-20130317-2g8v8.html), to the deaeth of Teoh Ming Hock, a youth opposition party leader (He was killed, and then thrown down the building, declared that he committed suicide. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-05/malaysian-coroner-rules-open-verdict-in-death-of-opposition-political-aide.html) There were ridiculous jokes that led everyone rolling on the floor laughing, just like Malaysia's very own Obedient Wives' Club.
Then there was setting up LYNAS waste plant in Malaysia, to store waste beneath the soil they said. They probably never thought of WHY do they even have to transport all those waste here? Why can't they just bury it in Australia? This wasn't even about political divergence, it was about the health of Malaysians. The harmful side effects it would bring to the country. All races came together to oppose it, but did the government care? No. Not even to the cries of their faithful Malay supporters.(http://savemalaysia-stoplynas.blogspot.sg/)
Then came elections publicity. Taking down opposition flags and replacing it with a sea of blue. And what, using our money to pay to appear on websites? (Trust me, do you think he will fork out his own money? Does he look like that type of person?) They went as far as to invite singers, such as PSY to Penang. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-05/an-malaysia27s-bn-invites-psy-to-nye-party/4500684) Don't bother, that's still not their money. Even if it's THE PARTY'S MONEY I can't help but to ask, are you guys gold diggers?
And guess what is the most expected thing? Anwar (leader of opposition party) got framed again!! I mean, his sodomy trial lasts like forever, since 5 years ago till now the guy just keeps going in between did he get raped or not. But seriously, I find nothing that attractive of him to get raped so I suggest he should just get on with his life. (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/5/3/nation/13058786&sec=nation & http://my.news.yahoo.com/saiful-s-father-says-sodomy-ii-an-evil-051143401.html)
I think this was one of the worst things that happened. Out of the blue, police started beating civilians up. Their jobs was to help maintain the harmony in the society, and now they are creating havoc. I understand they might be underpaid, or they had a bad day, but I'm just saying, where is the morals of a human being here? I don't understand why this happened in the first place. People might have different political beliefs, but it really gives you NO RIGHTS to treat someone else with no respect, nor the power to lynch someone. It's barbaric.
Now that we are one day from the elections, the government even flew in Bangladeshi workers, with temporary permits to vote in favour of them. Seriously, but like what. the. fuck. It's just sad seeing my Facebook timeline being piled by how the party tries to manipulate the system - introducing a freaking ridiculous system and just depriving them a chance to vote?
I really didn't believe it at first. I thought "Hey, maybe it's photoshopped?"
I was so wrong, here's a video clip.
From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights :
"Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures."
I've come to the point whereby I question, is it too much to ask for a fair elections? Fair and square, lose then suck thumb and go home - weren't we taught that since young? Why are our leaders, who are supposed to build us a promising future, corrupting our economy and ruining our country all together. Was there a need to fly in Bangladesh workers? Is this going to be a repetition of what happened to the Sulu people and Sarawak?
It's disheartening that Malaysia is seen like THE biggest joke in the world. Everyone is looking at us, yet they can't do anything to help us out of it. Almost all newspapers feature our election process, Singapore's been having "Malaysia Decides" for a whole week already.
Don't get me wrong - I love my country, where I was born and raised. I grew up with an amazing childhood and I sing Negaraku with pride (even though I can't hit the high notes). It's just that, the country is getting screwed up being in the wrong hands. There needs to be an urgent change! But the issue at hand is, can we? Are we able to create this revolution, no bloodshed, no violence, just a combined effort of the nation. It will just be another http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=46925:malaysia-cheats-at-elections-former-pm-mahathir-caught-red-handed&Itemid=2
All I can do is just sit here and type this (somewhat emotional) blogpost at 3.34am in the morning (my insomnia is acting up), feeling helpless that I can't vote, and thinking that this is the only possible chance to make a change as BN will never allow opposition to go neck-to-neck with them in the future.
What can I do?
I'm only left with the choice to pray, to pray for a miracle to happen, to pray for a better future for my homeland - Malaysia.
God Bless Malaysia.
I don't know if this will work, but if you never try, you'll never know.
Please help sign this petition to the White House, we're only hoping for the best.
