Knocked For Six

By Natalie Shobana Ambrose
theSun, Malaysia (page 12)
February 24th, 2011

I get knocked for six at the supermarket. If I want to get shocked these days, I just go grocery shopping. A common phenomenon at the cashier is me trying to hide my stunned expression, puzzled how a bag of necessities can cost so much.

Forget about foreign cheese and pasta ingredients, I’m talking about local fruit, local veggies, local meat. How did the humble banana become so expensive? And no, I’m not talking about the plastic looking imported bananas, I’m talking about the spotted pisang mas and rastali grown on Malaysian soil.

Globally, the price of food has increased. According to the World Bank food price index, there has been a 15% increase in the four months from October 2010. That’s a big jump. The demand for food globally has increased especially with the growth of economies such as China and India. It’s not only growing economies but human induced climate change that has led us to be in this situation. Droughts, flooding, heavy snowfall, cyclones have contributed to shortages in grain, maize and other agricultural goods.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick said last week that food prices globally are at dangerous levels. The UN Food and Agricultural Organisation has marked red the global food market as "critical". Even France has placed food security on high priority in the recent G20 meeting. I would think these were calculated warnings and one to heed. Yet, Malaysian economists boldly stated that we don’t have to be concerned because our economy is doing well and the price increase is "not too significant". Not too significant for whom?

The reality is, when food prices go up, it is not the people who earn a comfortable living that feel the pinch. After all if a bunch of bananas increased by one ringgit, what would that mean to the privileged compared to the majority? The ones who suffer are those that have to count their pennies, who don’t feel the trickle down effect of a stronger stock market or economy but who take on the bout of increasing inflation.

We might be told that food is cheap in Malaysia and we have the privilege of eating out often enough. However, in comparison to local salaries, the cost of living is extremely steep. One does not have to be an economist to know that food prices are not coming down anytime soon, and even if they do, it’s hard for suppliers to reduce their prices.

Food subsidies are helpful but in the long run not conducive either. I understand why there are high taxes on imported goods; the government needs the money to fund its projects. However when we see negligence, wastage and corruption eating away what we pay in taxes, it becomes unacceptable that the price of food keeps on spiralling upwards with little address. We can’t keep tightening our belts.

On the street I live on, there used to be a roundabout with beautiful casuarina trees. It then turned into a traffic light junction, causing a bigger jam. The trees were cut. Then big coloured plastic balls were placed on each corner to decorate the empty space. A few months later, they landscaped and removed the balls. They planted palm trees, removed them, planted flowers, removed them, and this has been going on every few months for the past few years. Who is benefiting from all this landscaping? It is no wonder why Malaysia is rated poorly at 4.4 on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index.

Rising food prices have been one of the main triggers why people in the Middle East have taken to the streets. It is a serious problem globally and does warrant concern.

Natalie doesn’t know much about cricket but is flabbergasted at the rising cost of food and the RM500 price tag to watch cricket at home.

Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

Voting Alone Is Not Enough

By Natalie Shobana Ambrose
theSun, Malaysia (page 12)
February  10th, 2011

As the judges verdict was locked in, the audience chanted “Change your mind” “Change your mind” at the two judges that weren’t convinced. The crowd kept chanting louder until one judge caved in. I didn’t think he would, but he did. I was a little surprised even if it was just a television show.

In real life I wonder if there were a crowd repeatedly shouting, “Change your mind!”, how many would stand their ground and why.

Some would argue that, you never negotiate with a mob, even if they make sense. You can’t talk to a mob without the threat of being mobbed, so best not to negotiate, it only sends the message that the next time, you will change your mind in their favour if they have a demonstration. Water cannons and tear gas might send the right message instead. Such is the ideology on which dictatorships are formed on. The truth is once intoxicated with power, who would ever willingly abdicate?

This made me think about the latest people power movements in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and other parts of the world who are wanting a change, wanting a better life for themselves, a better future for their children.

Of course the chants on Tahrir Square aren’t for a change of mind, but a change of leadership. As the rest of the world keeps watch, experts comment, professors expound analysis and the History channel airs a biography of

Hosni Mubarak that perhaps two months ago wouldn’t have even been considered kosher, the automatic response is an instant election remedy.

After all, that’s what we think that part of the world wants and needs. Elections are a start, but is it enough?

Does a one-time democratic vote equal a democratic political system?

It’s easy to believe it does. It sure would be easier if democracy was magically established by the ballot box alone. But the reality is it isn’t.

Look at how the world seems to have accepted Myanmar’s 2010 elections illusion because the Aung San Suu Kyi has been released from house arrest conveniently after the election. Can we claim then that because an election was held in Myanmar, therefore it is democratic? Her release for our silence was the strategy and it seems to have worked. Though it only reiterates that true democratic freedoms require hard work, vigilance and a fighting spirit.

In our euphoria of Suu Kyi’s release, we have forgotten the people of Myanmar who have been begging for change. Somehow we allowed ourselves to be confused and now, another part of the world demands our attention.

Democratic tenets include freedom of speech, free and fair elections, the right to have and discuss opposing views, press freedom and among others the right to vote out political leaders. Yet in many democracies, this is lacking.

Regardless of who wins elections, as a people we cannot be swayed by rhetoric and promises. Instead we should be informed, concerned and be active citizens. We should want to know what pledges have been kept by our representatives, who benefits from the elections and when it floods again and there are no by-elections, will something substantial be done for your wellbeing when there isn’t a TV crew or journalist hovering.

Sometimes though, democracy gets hijacked, when there is a power shift towards the unelected. We need to be careful of those that guise themselves under the cloak of democracy be it ruling or opposing.

The cost of democracy is high. Institutions need to be built, attitudes need to be changed, policies need to be implemented and people need to be vigilant. The reality is, this takes years, demands persistence, costs money and takes a toll of the people. But then who can put a price on freedom?

Voting is a powerful tool but it needs to be coupled with change, it needs to be coupled with action and it needs to be coupled with the tenets of democracy and most of all, the process needs to be respected.

Winning doesn’t equate success, doing the job promised and doing it well equates success.

For these new wave of countries seeking change, there are so many forces that will threaten a country’s transition to democracy. As the people are fatigued chanting for democracy, voting for change doesn’t guarantee change.

Natalie believes in true freedom for everyone and admires the tenacity of the people who fight for democracy and a better tomorrow.

Comments: letters@thesundaily.com