By Natalie Shobana Ambrose
theSun, Malaysia (page 13)
December 1st, 2011
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/225812
A change in the political system, the release of 230 political prisoners, the halting of a US$3.6 billion (RM11.6 billion) Chinese-funded dam project, silence in the face of criticism, and extending an olive branch to Aung Suu Kyi all add up to an equation of reform and change for Myanmar. These “flickers of progress” for some come across as a laundry list of things to do for a desired outcome and it is not just the short-term 2014 Asean chairmanship seal of approval that is the prize – more is at stake and more will be done, but based on the tea leaves of the past, one wonders if this is real reform.
Every country has a laundry list of righting past wrongs to make amends for a desired outcome and we too have been ticking off a transformation to-do list.
If we read the tea leaves in advance of things to come in Malaysia, the outcome is clear – an election is looming and politicians are upping their game. So if you want anything done – expedite your requests before the general election as politicians do their utmost to grant wishes oh, so quickly.
Political analysts are speculating on election dates – it was thought at the end of this year, but after the 11 reasons news piece published on 11-11-11, some say March next year even though technically, a general election in Malaysia is held every five years, and can be held as late as even May 2013.
The real test, however, is not who wins but what happens afterwards. Are we able to progress beyond the 13th general election and even beyond 2020? It seems for now our vision is short, blurred and inward looking.
At the core of it, the people are not concerned with how well our economy is doing, if growth rate targets are being met and how we fare in world rankings – that is what the suits and those in the corridors of power are concerned with and not what the majority deems critical. Their two main concerns are whether there is enough to eat and how free we are to carry on with our beliefs and “business”. Who wins the election is secondary – how our daily lives are affected is at the core.
So when floods in Thailand drastically spiked food prices on our shores, questions arose concerning the RM5.6 billion allocated to agricultural development between 2008 and last year under the National Food Security Policy. These questions are set against the backdrop of a national beef production project awarded to a politician’s family who used some of the RM250 million loan for other purposes. This has left the lingering bitter taste of a recurring theme in the country’s record books – abuse of public funds with little consequence for those involved.
In the past year alone, we have witnessed wastage and mismanagement of public funds and the creation of new enemies playing on our sensitivities and leveraging on our short attention spans. From issues of sexuality to harmful statements demonising the universality of human rights; subsidies to hudud laws; Christianity and the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in English to the highly sensitive issue of racial and customary rights and clean and free elections. This week’s enemy limits our freedom further – the 2011 Peaceful Assembly Bill that was passed in three hours.
We need to elect politicians with foresight who can see past the next election and who have in mind the best interest of the people who gave them the mandate.
Instead, what we have now are either those who vote based on party interest or politicians who think that walking out solves issues. The very reason bills are to be debated extensively before they become acts is that one day the very people who voted-in the bill will be at the mercy of it.
Governments around the world are implementing reforms and transforming policies; however, questions remain with regard to how these paper reforms reflect what is actually happening on the ground.
In the case of Malaysia, two important issues – the increased cost of living and the right to freedom in all spheres – have been carelessly toyed with too often to garner political support, not realising the extensive damage done. The divide and rule agenda is a selfish one and sadly it seems to be at the thrust of Malaysian politics. Clearly the people have made a mistake by blindly giving up our power. Only time will tell once the tea leaves have settled, but hopefully our politicians realise their folly before it’s too late.
Natalie wonders if our politicians voted with the wisdom of knowing that the laws created to protect them today can turn against them so quickly and easily.
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