BERSIH vs. 25JAN

As a student studying in Egypt, I guess I do know the Arab Revolution early this year a bit more compared to those people in Malaysia who were spoonfed by the international media. I have been wanting to draw this comparison between Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH2.0) and the Egyptian Revolution (25JAN) for as long as I can remember. The thing that inhibited my fingers from typing this post out before this was the fact that I doubted BERSIH2.0's intention.

As we all know, BERSIH2.0 is greatly supported by the opposing parties, Pakatan Rakyat (PR). I had this small tiny winy thought that BERSIH2.0 might be one of their methods to gain the public support to overthrow the BN government like the Egyptians throw their own Mubarak government, and the citizens are merely pawns who'd get beaten up by the police, caught by ISA, attacked with tear gas in the open demonstration in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

Like a cloudy day, shadows don't hang around long. My doubts were gone early today when I found out that they are going to divert the rally to Stadium Negara. This is good news. Because the idea of doing the assembly in a stadium came from the government, and BERSIH2.0 took it with an open heart. Democracy prevails. A very good news.

So what is the difference between BERSIH2.0 and 25JAN?

25JAN was held to overthrow the government. Specifically the president, Hosny Mubarak. Mubarak was in power for more than 28 years, corruptions everywhere, failed to improve his people's lives and in fact oppressed them openly. 25JAN's sole demand was for Mubarak to step down.

BERSIH2.0, on the other hand, does not demand anything from the government, we still believe greatly in democracy, and the people's faith in the BN government is not totally lost. At least BERSIH2.0 has the courtesy to not directly defame the government with its demands. The only party that should be greatly feel ashamed by BERSIH2.0 is SPR. Everyone should be aware that SPR is NOT under the government's wing. It is, or in this case, it should be free of any influence. The SPR should be transparent, not only for the current government, but for all the governments that come, as long as democracy is practiced in Malaysia. BN supporters are more than welcome to join BERSIH2.0!

To some who greatly annoy me by saying "we are still students, why bother with politics?" or simply "I malas campur", let me say that you all are being extremely ignorant and selfish. Whatever food that comes to your table depends on politics. Whatever education your children get, depends on politics. If you don't give a damn about politics, it means you are simply enjoying the benefits that others worked hard for.

Sadly, the students in Malaysia aren't allowed to involve in any kinds of politics. This, is bull's arse. Remember the older people used to say that the youngsters are the leaders of the future? Just when is the future exactly? Instead of keep saying it, why not hand it over already? I am doing medicine, will end my life as a student at the age of 25. I shall work as a doctor for 3 years, then later perhaps continue my studies for another 5 years or so, then do my sub-specialist course and finally stop studying by the age of plus minus 35. All these years, since i was aged 7 to 35, I am not legally permitted to be involved in politics, constantly under fear that my scholarship is to be retracted from me, fear of ISA etc2.

Funny enough to know that my scholarship is said to be given by the government, when it is really tax payers' hard-earned money. I hate it when people assume the government is a permanent thing. It is not. That is what democracy is all about.

Tell me, if the youngsters are really the leaders of the future, then why the hell the youngest member of the cabinet today is 45?

check this out.
a message by Ku Li




P/S : BERSIH2.0 is not a political movement. it is merely asking for a fair competition in the elections (don't you think its funny it is actually being asked for when it is really basic human right?). I may not be involved in politics, but I can surely give my opinions on the matter, and since I'm 22, i have the right to vote =)

Are we Malaysians that weak?

I am utterly sad hearing my good friends plan to give up their citizenships because they believe that New Zealand, Australia and the U.S could provide them better living standards. What with the continuous political storm banging the country, the endless debates on racial quotas and meritocracy. They keep on pointing out that people in Singapore have 4 times our GDP per capita, better education and amenities.

Simply put, many plan to leave the shithole for fresher air.

I am not going to judge them for their decisions nor would I condemn any of it. They have the right to do so, especially the ones whom skin are a tad too dark or far too fair. The country's social contract is indeed oppressive and lopsided.

Patience, my friends, is a virtue.

Its true that Malaysia is the humbler, slower runner on the Asian track. When we were still proud of the 488m KLCC, Dubai's Burj Khalifa had already reached 1.2km. When we finished building the largest airport in SEA, Singapore opened its new terminal beating us by a few football fields in size, not long after that Suvarnabhumi pushed us to the 3rd place. Still, we can be proud to be the home of the most prominent low-cost carrier in Asia. Though it is a somehow less glamorous category, we do have something that tops other people. Lets hope it stays that way for a long time.

Remember the Malayan Union? Believe it or not, historians believed that it was perhaps our only chance to be like the current Australia or New Zealand. Our forefathers, however, chose to take a harder path. To be independent completely and be off the Brits' hands peacefully, to rule on our own. It was perhaps one of the boldest, and craziest decisions an Asian country had ever made in the 1950s. Malaya was a vast, damp mining site with little chance to be developed. Perhaps Britain even laughed at the idea of uniting 11 states (10 in peninsular, including then-Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak joined later), most of which had been exploited, left with scarce valuable minerals, and no industrial developments whatsoever, save some small cities here and there.

Despite the raised western eyebrows, despite the lack of technology and poor government funds 54 years ago, we managed to survive. We crawled slowly, and later learned to get up and stand on our own. It wasn't a miracle. It was the strong bond which bound more than three races together under one flag that moved the country's muscles, pulled her tendons and stabilized her walk. There wouldn't be the now-Malaysia without the Malays being expert at agriculture, or the Chinese who strengthened the tradings both locally and internationally, or the Indians who worked hard in the rubber estates, and in the long run produced many prominent doctors and lawyers.

***

Yes, sadly, Malaysia is always the underdog in the extremely competitive world today. We have rich natural resources and plenty of professional labors, yet these are not enough to please everyone. Other countries are developing much faster forward into the future, and our eager citizens refuse to be left behind and prepare to leave their birthplace and playground because they believe they deserve something or someplace better.

Tell me my friends, did our forefathers forsake this land when they had the chance? After May 13th 1969, did the Chinese lose hope on the constitution? A scar it was, but we didn't lose hope. We fell bloody on that day and the stain is still seen today. But just a stain it should be, nothing more.

Yes, the government today is far from being transparent, nor it is efficient and in fact democracy is starting to bleed again. We, the citizens are actually alone in the world. Isolated from true friends. Those who are willing to help us have ulterior intentions. The fate of our nation's future is indeed in our hands. Letting her go when she needs us most is like leaving a couple of biscuits on the table to go mouldy and blame the air, the humidity, the weather, the temperature and a thousand other things, when we could've and should've stored them securely in a jar before it went bad in the first place.

Patience, my friends, is a virtue.

What we lack today could be made up by having some faith that the future could be brighter. Our airport is one of the lousiest today, but do recall that it was once the most glorious in the reigion. KLCC fell a few ranks below but do remember that it used to be the tallest building in the world.

We were once the best at these, but now we aren't. Don't despair! Look at it from another point of view. We did put Singapore beneath us once, mocked Bangkok's airport, complained Dubai was too hot, had nothing but camels and belly dancers to attract tourists. That was then, they fought and beat us in the match.

Are we so easily defeated? Do we just abandon the competition and leave as sour losers who change jerseys at the turn of things? It is ironic when parents nowadays tell their offsprings not to change girlfriends/boyfriends often, don't change jobs easily, don't change cars just because you can, don't change clothes if it is still clean, even. But when it comes to change passports, parents can actually loosen up and support it.

If i ever have a son one day, insyaAllah and his school bores him, I'd tell him to change his attitude, not change schools.