I have a confession to make.
I have never been a strong supporter of any party, which includes PR. I would like to be honest. I am no RPK. I am shy to admit that I can't carry a pen like a sword and slash into BN like RPK.
I am no Shakespeare. I can't write things that let people understand how things are so wrong in Malaysia today. I can’t even convince my wife to understand why I am so pissed with our present government, let alone convince the general public of how wrong the BN Government has been.
I am like the rest of you out there, writing comments from the comfort of our homes and not able to stand up to be counted. I have been to vigils but that is about all that I can do.
I am not articulate and least of all, a popular person. I guess what I am good at is to piss people off.
How? I just tell the truth. What is the truth?
The truth is, like most of you out there, I have a family to protect. I have a career to protect. I have a life that I want to live. I do not want to jeopardise my life for a cause where I know the chances of winning is slim.
Apart from a handful of opposition leaders and of course, DSAI, I cannot see how anyone can make a difference in Malaysia. Most of us are all talk but no action (NATO). Comments here are plenty but to sign a petition with NRIC number and all, the number seems to be dwindle to a mere small percentage.
In short, like most of you out there, I am a coward.
What I mean to say is that “I” is also "you".
You and I are all cowards.
I am truly sorry if the comment above offends you.
Let us face it. My sentiments are exactly like most of you, readers of MT. Active commenters aside, I am sure there are plenty of you guys reading in silence, hoping for something to happen.
To Run or to Stay?
As of today, things do not look good at all. I contemplated migrating. Even Kiasu-land seems a good choice nowadays. Hell, even Parkson’s boss Michael Cheng ran to China. Most successful non-umnoputra seemed to have a back-up plan, another country they can escape to, should anything like May 13 ever happen again.
OK lar .... Rich people like them can opt for migration. What about me? I am not rich. I only have a degree from UHK, University of Hard Knocks.
There is one sane thing to do.
Vote them out in the NEXT PRU. We have done that to 5 states in March. I am sure that there is some goodness left in the EC otherwise we would not live to see today.
How can we do that? In a small little way. I am assuming that there are at least 10,000 silent readers of MT. Let us take one day of our week to talk to only 1 person about the things we read in here. That makes it a lousy 52 people a year. Times that by 10,000 readers = 520,000. And it will take another 4 years before the next PRU. That will be an estimated 2 million voters against the Umnoputra.
Sounds silly? Yeah, I admit it does. But as the Malaysians of 5 states have shown us, it is not entirely impossible.
I have a list of some questions you may encounter when talking to people:
1. If we have a change of government, the economy will be worse than what it is.
2. How sure are you that the opposition can do a better job?
3. Better the thieves we know than the one we do not.
4. The sleeper, the murderer and the gay. Better the sleeper.
I am sure you guys can come up with ways to let the silent readers know why it is pertinent to vote the Umnoputras out.
To sum it off, I bring you an excerpt from the movie Freedom Writers:
Miep Gies: You are the heroes. You are heroes every day. But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a dark room.
Marcus: I've never had a hero before. But you are my hero.
Miep Gies: Oh, no. No, no, no, young man, no. I am not a hero. No. I did what I had to do, because it was the right thing to do. That is all.
I am hoping, like what Miep Gies said, to “Turn on a small light in a dark room”. If I can get 52 other people to join me, the light will be a little brighter. It would be a dream come true if at the next PRU, there will be 2 million or more small lights in a Mighty Bright room.
Desolated Malaysian – (Hopefully not for long)
written by lynn, November 16, 2008 01:17:17
"things do not look good at all" - i think the future is very bleak for Malaysia if it continues being governed the way it has been for the last 3 decades. Corruption in this country is so endemic esp. in govt, so widespread, and what we call "big fry eat big, small fry eat smaller amounts.." we are in a hopeless situation.
i don't see how anwar can clean up this mess even if he takes over. if any of you readers have cleaned-up companies whereby fraud, cheating, corruption had taken place, you would find the same modus operandi; the culprits would wreak havoc in the books to prevent the truth from surfacing. one way the criminals resort to, is to destroy evidence, that is, to physically remove the records in the accounts dept.
in the case of selangor state, immediately after bn lost, men moved into the state govt building & destroyed documents, move equipment away & messed up the place. they were destroying incriminating evidence.. to this day, March 8th seems a long time ago, not a single man or woman had been charged in court for that. why? this country has lost its integrity & credibility.. if citizens don't speak out against all the wrongdoings by the govt people, then citizens are considered as good as if they are in collusion.
i wouldn't say we are cowards; i would say we have no options or very limited options. most of us live from hand to mouth.... each month. we don't want our family members to suffer while we step out in public to fight this corrupt govt... especially when we believe this country is a lost cause, a foregone conclusion.
i would protest on the streets if i am given the iron-clad assurance that those FRU animals won't whack my bones with their batons... for speaking out that we have a better Malaysia, a bright future, a new govt that would force reforms, which ultimately also benefit those FRU animals and their families.
written by onnetline, November 16, 2008 02:15:21
I actually meant the cowards.
written by goman2k3, November 16, 2008 03:50:29
written by Zorro, November 16, 2008 04:27:44
I admit i'm a coward, bcos i can't openly engaged to opposing UMNO in Sabah for the fear that it will be known and it will affect my livelihood since i depend on the present government for my present economic well being since i'm only a nobody with no political connection(that's how sorry the state of the KDM people in sabah)...again stupid KDM politicians.
But i have been debating with friends, family and relatives that this BN(and that includes u UPKO, PBS and PBRS since you're in it) ways of oppressing, violating the rights of true pribumi of sabah in subtle but permanent ways will result in our future generation being slowly degenerated bcos their ideal is to transform this state into a MALAY populace state..meaning if we embrace Islam we become malay but the majority KDM does not want that.
We choose what we want to believe we want, be it Islam, Christianity or whatever religion we want to profess..we still want to preserve our identity as the pribumi of sabah...what's wrong with kadazan muslim or kadazan christian or kadazan buddhist for that matter? you UMNO bastards brought this partisan culture to our state..and you stupid KDM politicians can't find and understanding among yourself to counter this!?? i say F with a capital F to u guys next election..my vote and whoever i influence will go to PKR.
written by panca, November 16, 2008 06:48:58
UMNO and BN will be history.
written by panca, November 16, 2008 06:59:08
Let this also be in our prayers too that good things needs rightful action.
It is clearly the government do not care nor border any concern on the PEOPLE. The PEOPLE must work the government.
As we pray we know...and peacefully, "The Future is out there, go and get it, rightfully"
written by biggun129, November 16, 2008 08:16:53
written by huanchoomooi, November 16, 2008 08:30:26
"When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of truth n love have always won.
There have been tyrants n murderers, n for a time, they seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it. Always."
Do not despair Desolated Malaysian, surely the sun will shine on our good country soon.
written by densemy, November 16, 2008 08:42:13
But you can partly be excused because of the repressive way you were raised you have never been allowed to develop courage nor self worth.. And where did your parents learn such attitudes... from religion of course.
On the other hand you are living under a regime which forces cowardice on you... the use of teargas, threats, water cannon are the tools of a cowardly government who cannot face reality. Where did they learn such attitudes... from religion of course
Here's some answers for you:
1. If we have a change of government, the economy will be worse than what it is.
All that goes to show that whatever the Malaysian Government does it has VERY LITTLE impact on world or even local economics. BTW, it also shows that the 'gains' which Mahathir 'gave' you had very little to do with Mahathirist theories as he so often claims
2. How sure are you that the opposition can do a better job?
They couldnt possibly do any worse. So what's the gamble
3. Better the thieves we know than the one we do not.
Good point... the problem is not so much a problem of UMNO/BN but the problem lies with Malaysians. Still at least the "new brooms" is talking in terms of high principles cf no principles
4. The sleeper, the murderer and the gay. Better the sleeper.
No way, give me the gay any day. At least he is gay through no choice of his own. The only reason he is despised is because Mohammad et al ( those great haters) were totally ignorant of homosexuality.... Like so many other things
written by malgal, November 16, 2008 09:28:45
written by adan, November 16, 2008 09:33:10
written by InEffective, November 16, 2008 11:47:49
Heartfelt appeal - we all share the pain and frustrations.
However we have no choice but to help ourselves - all apparatus of state are now effectively working in concert to suppressing and oppressing your rights and interests.
The only ones who still think we have a democracy is the mindless rakyat (victims) who perceive they live in a democracy because the politicians conveniently label it a democracy to manage your understands.
(the constitution can label our system of governance anything it wants - but its is now dysfunctional and illegitimate, because your your reality is what counts, and it sure does not smell, taste, and feel like democracy)
Effective we are in an autocracy or dictatorship with a tiered-rights society. The politicians have supreme (ketuanan) rights, and we the rakyat have subordinated rights. (note: don't simply assume that upstanding malays feel supreme just because the politicians have mind-washed them with such messaging)
So if you truly want to help Malaysia (and help the development of all peoples), the first step is to rid you mind of this belief that you are in a democracy - start labeling us an autocracy or dictatorship.
That is, define your condition correctly - accept it, enable others to see their situations and lives via clear lenses.
Only then, can we the people (the rakyat)
- understand our reality clearly,
- standards that we will call to mind,
- the evidences that we will consider relevant,
- the emotions they we will feel, and
- judgments and decisions we will ultimately make.
- directions and governance, and the futures we would like for our wives, and children.
Don't lose to our 3rd class politicians - racial nationalism have never ever succeeded anywhere else in the world
Our malaysian brothers and sisters who are struggling to make ends meet, feed their families decent food everyday, on-their knees to secure quality-education for their kids, do not consider majestic twin-towers success or accomplishments that are relevant to their children. (that definition of success of for politicians who suffer the disease of intellectual vanity and self-esteem deficits)
written by Liberace, November 16, 2008 11:51:50
This is not an excuse for our cowardice, but take heart that you are one of those who are already riding on the wave of this tsunami, come what may. I have been out there talking to people and they're mostly educated, net savvy, and upwardly mobile, but hey don't want to know about our problems. They just want to get on with life and if UMNO is the only way to prevent a disruption to the "peace and prosperity" we've been enjoying, then so be it. These are the real cowards. They are not prepared to risk one day of business as usual to right a wrong. They're not prepared to risk their "rice bowls" but they think nothing of deferring the inevitable collapse of this house of cards to their children's generation. They'll always ask questions like "how do you know that Anwar and his team will not do worse?". We don't and we give no guarantees but if we don't take this risk and put power into the hands of those who promise to uproot the evil that has besieged this land for so long and threatens to run us to the ground once and for all, then we have failed those who came before us and those who will inherit this country. If we are afraid to take this risk, then we are saying that this country is not worth saving. We'll ride it for as long as we can and jump off just before the fall into the great abyss. It's time to come out of the wood work. The wood is rotting and it will soon be no more.
written by lynn, November 16, 2008 15:25:12
I have a list of some questions you may encounter when talking to people:
1. If we have a change of government, the economy will be worse than what it is.
2. How sure are you that the opposition can do a better job?
3. Better the thieves we know than the one we do not.
4. The sleeper, the murderer and the gay. Better the sleeper.
To sum up, all four concluded the same way: change of government for what?
BN voters (exclude cronies/family members/those who benefited handsomely) are like this: this bn voter goes regularly to his prostitute even though he knows for a fact she is confirmed HIV-positive. When asked to change to a prostitute who is clean and disease-free, he said, no..... I prefer my regular prostitute because I know her performance & that suits me fine.. this is the mentality of bn supporters/voters... that incurable terminal illness like last stage cancer is OKAY for Malaysia...
Months ago, i asked this chinese female xtian bn supporter in my office; why? why still vote for MCA (you don't need a high IQ to realise, by supporting MCA, you are a traitor to the chinese community, you are fcuking idiot because your vote gives power to umno to treat us non-malays badly) and her answer was: better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
You can't argue or reason with this type of fcuking idiot. As for the sleeper, murderer or gay, it's a no-brain choice; the choice is obvious. The sleeper is very corrupt, so is the murderer, so obviously you pick the so-called gay... this is slander, calling him a gay. Prove it or shut the hell up. His sex life is non of your fcuking business.
written by bakas, November 16, 2008 20:33:13
Those 'frogs' will be etched into the memories of this generation for a long, long time...indeed, what you reaped is what you sowed. And boy, those KDM politicians really squeeze the Sabahans and left them out in the dry.
Mind you, the issue at hand here is, Sabahan are still mentally 'behind' in terms of political maturity. Let's hope they will awake soon before it's too late.
Peace to all
written by arnab76, November 16, 2008 21:24:08
written by Jit Dharma, November 16, 2008 21:38:52
was a criminal, commiting a terrible crime. These tactics are the signs of an
inhuman and cruel government.We must take heart and subvert their cruelty. Your suggestion that we, in effect go out and preach our cause, try to influence with our own words is a good idea. This is what I will do. I do not care what
my friends might think, let them say that I am 'gila politik'. I will say thank you, and tell them to look at the situation and stop being a slave. Don't be
afraid, fight back. Fight back at the place where we have the power.Vote them out.I will remind them every chance I get. Next time, we will send them packing.
May you severely punish those corrupt Idiots.
And May you send the murders of Altantuya to Hell