Wishes that bring nightmares

Be careful what you wish for, says Zaid Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians should be careful when they wish for something because getting our heart’s desire could cost us our peace, security and even our lives, says former law minister Zaid Ibrahim in his latest blog posting.

Referring to BR1M as the realisation of a Malaysian dream for “an advanced economy and cash handouts”, he says this comes at the cost of having to pay more for goods and services.

“As we draw closer to the year 2020, when we target to finally wearing our ‘developed nation’ crown, we will continue to have to endure a high cost of living with desperately low wages,” he says. “The people will have to pay more for tolls, for insurance and transport, for medical fees as well as for housing.

“Theoretically, wages should rise in developed economies, but for some reason ours do not.”

Referring to the formation of Malaysia, he says, “Fifty years ago, we had our wish for Sabah and Sarawak to become part of the Malay Empire.

“Now that Sabah is under Umno and has more Muslims than Christians, we have got our wish. But for this, too, we have to pay the price.

“Project IC has seen Filipinos make up 800,000 or 25 per cent of Sabah’s population. Many more millions of Filipinos living in Mindanao harbour hopes of joining them. Their kin and friends are already in Sabah, both legally and illegally.

“Our security is now breached regularly, and the last incident in Kudat and Sampoerna cost us more than RM200 million and many lives. We should be careful what we wish for.’’

He says, “Umno Malays had this wish that they wanted to rule the country without much fuss from the Chinese and Indian parties. Umno became the only party that counted in the Barisan Nasional (BN) structure, and this gave rise to Ketuanan Melayu and Ketuanan Islam.”

He attributes the raft of sedition charges to the consequences of this wish – non-Malays withdrawing their support for BN and having their loyalty questioned.

He says a more recent wish for a “transformational cabinet” has also turned up something undesirable. “None among [the men of integrity and advocates of transparency in the cabinet] dared ask the Prime Minister about the mysterious goings-on at 1Malaysia Development Berhad and the billions of ringgit at stake.”

So Malaysians, says Zaid, be careful what you wish for because “nothing comes free, except wishful thinking.”