Day 12

Day 12
I attended a ceramah (public talk) organised by the mainstream party. it was stark contrast to the previous talks i went to in terms of logistics. while it was held at the same area, this talk had tables and chairs, with snacks and drinks (food was served later!). in addition, i was greeted by several lion troupes that were performing for close to an hour. there was also a stage and a proper volstrum for the speaker. compared to the roadside, poor sound system and no provision of chairs or tables at the previous talk, this one seemed luxurious.

Regardless of the outfront, what's more important is the talk itself. the guest speaker gave a speech for about 45 mins. he spoke well and outlined the various achievements of the party over the past eight years in the areas of education, commerce and so forth. he also compared the times when it didn't have many represented MPs resulting in weakness within the coalition and the lack of voice to defend and protest the interest of the race represented.

After the speech, there was a resounding applause from the floor. i went away and thought about what he said and what it meant. up to a certain level, i understood that his concerns were valid and important because losing support would mean losing the role to speak.

However, i wondered if he, or the rest, comprehended the reasons why people are unhappy with the way things are? instead of addressing the issues, the speaker, and i believe many like him, assumed that some of the general public are unhappy because there were not enough Chinese schools around, rising cost like petrol and toll, and roads not properly maintained. while these might be pertinent issues in daily lives, they are not the roots.

People are afraid of their future because it looked uncertain. they are worried that their children and generations to come would not have a place anymore in this country. they do not want to wake up one day to find that their basic rights as citizen have been taken away, and more importantly that they've lost the sense of belonging. they do not want to see the God-blessed resources available to be wasted away for the benefit of certain individuals. in their daily lives, they encountered so much inefficiency and lack of productivity, and watched resources were thrown out the window to salvage companies that did not do well.

One day, the resources will eventually deplete. those who have gained could easily leave for somewhere else because they could do so and those who are left are the weak and helpless. after 50 years of independence, perhaps it is really time to look beyond the racial lines and to call a spade a spade. the phrase Bangsa Malaysia (Malaysian race) is part of the Vision 2020 and we're less than 12 years to achieve it. are we anywhere near that? or have we taken two steps backward every year?

The ruling party has indeed done a lot for the country since independence until now. the coalition is a splendid arrangement because it provided the internal check and balance. however, it also has its flaws because the system has been misused for certain interests. but this doesn't mean the partnership can't be salvaged. it can improved if the people are willing to look into their own speck and ask the important questions. and this is perhaps, what the general public have been waiting for. a turnaround. a redemption. but we haven't seen any signs of that yet.

This March 8, perhaps we will hear what really is Malaysians saying? hopefully, the voice this time will give a resounding ring into those ears that needed to listen ...