As we wake up to a new and refreshing political climate in
Malaysia it is bemusing to note that the component parties of the Barisan
Nasional that performed dismally in the elections are now considering doing some
soul searching and post mortems to ascertain the reasons for their losses. It is
difficult to decide whether one should feel a tinge of sympathy for them or be
totally outraged by the fact that the ruling elite were so entrenched in their
respective ivory towers that they were unable to ascertain the mood of the
electorate. The arrogance of power that brought the downfall of the Barisan
Nasional is perhaps best epitomised by Annuar Musa who was reported to have
described the voters who came to Kelantan from outstation to vote as a virus.
At least Annuar Musa’s comments may be attributed to mere sour grapes. How could
one not be revolted by the Prime Minister’s threat that Indians and Chinese may
not be represented in cabinet if the component parties’ candidates were not
voted in, the distasteful propaganda against Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, and the
constant reminder of May 13th. How could one feel anything but nauseous when a
15 year old heart transplant patient is used to garner support for the ruling
elite or when those who have lost their loved ones to, or themselves been
victims of crime, are assured that Malaysia is an incredibly safe place. The
ruling party, rather than addressing the concerns of the ordinary person, such
as rising prices, rising unemployment, rising crime, racial and religious strife
and corruption at every level of society focused entirely on playing the racial
game and stirring up fear in the hope that Malaysians could once again be
intimidated into voting for the classroom bully.
There would have been no need to have conducted any soul searching had the
government listened to the people during the lawyers’ march for justice, the
BERSIH rally and the HINDRAF demonstration instead of either ignoring the voices
of reason or suppressing them, sometimes with brute force. It was truly
incredulous that the government was unable or refused, to comprehend the
people’s need for safer streets, an incorruptible judiciary and greater personal
freedoms.
Malaysians may not have intended to embrace the opposition so overwhelmingly.
The goal may have been to rebuke the Barisan Nasional by flirting with the
opposition. This flirtation has now turned into a full fledged affair and it is
incumbent on the new state governments to deliver and rise to the challenges, of
which there are many. Primarily, all state administrations must reflect the true
composition of Malaysian society. The rot and corruption of previous regimes
must be exposed without fear or favour whilst those who have swindled the
country of its wealth, be pursued vigorously. Only then will the voters feel
assured that they made the correct choice in opting for change.
The election results show that Malaysians are no longer prepared to be taken for
granted We want our streets back, we want our personal freedoms back and we want
accountability by those we have placed our trust in. We can no longer be bought
with scraps, thrown at us by the ruling elite whilst they keep the nation’s loot
for themselves. Malaysians have spoken with one voice in their desire for change
and have shunned the racial politics so loved by those whose political survival
depend on a divide and rule policy. We have sent a clear message that we will
not allow either ourselves or our fellow Malaysians to be intimidated with
threats such as those made by the Prime Minister on the eve of the election.
Race and religion may always be a factor in the voting pattern of Malaysians but
at least we can be proud to have finally buried the ghost of 69.