2.09am on March 9, I stared at the computer screen like a grandma who just discovered the fascination of technology.
It was not because I just uncovered the mystery of internet. Rather, it was the bewilderment that I felt on what was appearing on the screen.
“I think the result was not finalized yet. Or maybe I’m too sleepy to see the correct figure”
It cant be…. for some reasons, my eyes were manipulating me; fore the screen wrote : “Information revealed that the opposition had won over Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor”
Not believing what I had seen, I checked the latest online news again at 10am.
“so its true… 4 states…” I told myself…stunned.
My first reaction was to grab the phone and made a long distance call back to Malaysia. No harm double confirming the information with people who were IN the country right?
And there I was. Hit into the unexpected reality.
Before the election, I was amazed at how the oppositions were rising in power through blogs. I saw them as children in the country who are growing into their adolescent stage. During that time, I was happy about how much they have grown but I definitely did not see them as grown adults who were capable of ruling or keeping charge.
Days after they were hit into the ‘adult world’ (of practically ruling the states),the opposition immaturity and messiness of being a novice was revealed. First, in the state of Perak. When three kids (DAP, PKR and PAS) cannot even settle collectively and efficiently (in ways that do not involve mainstream media having the chance to dig trouble stories out from them) on who should be the respected Mentri Besar of the state, how do you expect them to rule the whole perak with no conflict???!! (More information about the issue on Star online)
Because of the circumstances before the election, the oppositions decided to be ‘allies in war time’. They said that they ‘will work together peacefully so that Malaysia can have a brighter tomorrow’.
However, one thing remains clear.
Each of these oppositions have very different ideology.
Similar to the history of chinese revolution where all rebels acted together to bring down the Emperor, the opposition parties in Malaysia worked together on the same basis.
Clearly, they want to strengthen their powers to weaken BN.
But their common visions ended there.
Now that they had won some states, signs of ‘break-ups’ after a war were slowly revealing among the oppositions.
DAP decided that it is time for Penang to abandons the 30 years long pro-Malay policy whereby more jobs, educations and social services opportunities were given to poverty-stricken ethnic Malays.
The basis behind the change in policy is good.
DAP wants to provide a fair and equal society for all races.
However, one has to keep in mind that the pro-malay policy has been around the country for decades. This policy has been embedded into the cultures and behaviours of every Malaysians. Malays are used to being given privileges while other racial groups are used to fighting harder to gain the same opportunity.
These behaviors have become part of Malaysian identities.
To create a fair and ‘colourblind’ society, Pro-Malay policy does come as a problematic policy.
Nevertheless, due to the policy’s deep history in the country, a sudden abolishment of the policy may only be an act of eagerness and not rationality.
If I were a Malay in Penang, I can imagine that this abolishment may come as a betrayal to Malay racial group.
On one hand, DAP leader was promising that he will not marginalise Malay; Then, he turns around and abolish the policy that all Malays treated as a natural privilege.
I am not here to doubt each political parties’ attachment and love towards the country.
With no doubt, each members of the political parties were patriotic citizens of Malaysia. Their ideas and desires to make Malaysia a better nation is good.
But that does not mean that they have the skills and knowledge to rule.
From my heart, I wish that a beam of light can be shined on Malaysia. I pray that every politicians, regardless of their differences, can lead my homeland to the right path. We can’t afford to fall anymore.
I love forward to a greater Malaysia
For babies born in the 80s... 