Instead of focusing on fixing the problems, which caused BN to “lose” so much ground in the elections, it is business as usual. BN prefers instead to pursue or cover up sex and other scandals in the government, and concentrate on internal party politics.
By Jeffrey Chang, The Malaysian Insider
Having lived and worked abroad – mainly in Vietnam and Thailand – for the past 10 years, it has given me a broader perspective of things and also a better insight into my own society.
After more than half a century of independence and nation building under the Barisan Nasional (BN) government headed by Umno, there were very disturbing issues during the March 2008 elections which have been left unaddressed.
Among them are inflation, fuel subsidies, rising crime (and public security), government (mismanagement and corruption), the demand for free and fair elections by a group of NGOs and political parties, racial equality especially as highlighted by HINDRAF (review of the affirmative action policies), and Internal Security Act detainees.
Anger among ethnic Indians regarding issues such as restrictions on jobs, education, freedom of religion, and a widespread feeling of loss of dignity have all played a part during the 2008 parliamentary elections in Malaysia.
The message from Malaysians is loud and clear: 49.4% of voters voted for the opposition, which is a vote for change in the behaviour of the government.
Instead of focusing on fixing the problems, which caused BN to “lose” so much ground in the elections, it is business as usual. BN prefers instead to pursue or cover up sex and other scandals in the government, and concentrate on internal party politics.
Society can only start to progress when inequality and inequity has been taken out. In this case, the affirmative action policies (AAP) must receive an urgent review to reflect the needs of the present times. It (AAP) has served its purpose and is actually more than 20 years overdue.
It has also been the source of much racial tension and antagonism. The quota and, preferential pricing and treatment system does not contribute to the competitiveness of the nation as a whole. It will lead the majority to become complacent because of the lack of a need to compete as hard.
The US, which is a melting pot of people from all over the world who are now all equal as Americans (President Obama is the new symbol of that), and when faced with a threat they will unite to fight the common enemy (as we have seen many times in history, e,g 9/11 etc).
Thailand and Vietnam are also assimilated societies, and this is the first step to build resilience in the nation.
The AAP effectively divides the nation into two. This is a big stumbling block which must be removed first to continue our nation building and progress.
Another is the Internal Security Act. When the inequality, discrimination and intimidation tools are removed, then only you can have people coming together to work for a common cause. Unity is a key ingredient to achieving excellence!
Where is the motivation if you are discriminated against and intimidated?
I am going to try to voice out my feelings more now, to compensate for the last 10 years of quiet observation while living abroad.
* Jeffrey Chang is a top three winner of The Malaysian Insider’s Publish and Be Damned contest in conjunction with the first anniversary of the March 8 elections.
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