I feel abused. It seems leadership or even the semblance of leadership has been lost in the country in recent times, due to the fear of losing clout and assumed powers. All we hear on a daily basis since the GE 13 has been about consolidating political power over the voting masses and the shenanigans of those intent on keeping their power base.
I think I am not too far off if I say that politically now more than ever before, this is a country in need of REAL leadership.
(There seems to be no one focal point of eldership material to emulate or icon to focus on, someone who works to empower our aspirations,hopes and dreams as a nation- if you will), at the moment to my non-partisan eyes.
The current slew of opposition and leading political powers all seem to be LOST on how to prosper the country and people irrespective of race and religion. To the man in the street,both sides are obsessed with power. Both use meaningless slogans. Neither can be trusted. They are both the same. But take away race and religion (if that is at all possible), our citizen’s hopes, aspirations,dreams and frustrations are all the same.
Our middle aged but still young nation do not hope for either a western prone Liberal or a hard headed Eastern fatwa spouting type of Leadership because we realize the different and multi-faceted polyglot ensemble of citizenry we have here in this blessed land.
How did we reach this pathetic juncture?
We reached here all by ourselves because we choose to close an eye earlier on to the fact that a lot of people were getting very, very rich by doing next to nothing. Rent seeking became the modus operandi of an entire generation of Malaysians.
And they will not give up easily. They are the real betrayers of the marginalized and urban poor Malaysians.
But, this is still a rich country. So,that is fine. This is a free country. For over 50 years we as a people voted to keep it that way.
I have no beef with that. So please support whoever you think serves your interests best. It is called freedom of choice.
But do understand that no one ever prospered for long on the curses and swear of the poor and maligned citizenry.
But,I am digressing.
To whit, here be patriots should be a new slogan to prove to these political masters that we will not be made fools of. Inside all of us, we the people, irrespective of race and religion lies the proud soul of this nation of blessed soil. In our hopes for a combined better future lies the will and power to change our fate and politically demand the Leadership we deserve.
We have all consumed too much teh tarik at the 24 Jam food courts and mamak joints to not feel an intense sense of belonging to this land.
Our food and the fusion cooking styles we enjoy in the 24 Jam food courts & mamak restaurant is a huge symbol of the multi-culturality that makes up the country. Malaysians from all walks of life frequent the 24 Jam mamak restaurants - usually late into the night.
From the ever present babble of tongues,the mamak eating place is completely polyglot Malaysia.
These days, the food in a mamak joint is a good mix of everything - mamak, Malay, Chinese, western, Thai - semua ada.
The waiters and workers are all foreigners, including illegals and illiterates. Indians, Banglas and Indons take your order (not necessarily in writing) or cook your food. If you do not patronize these food court and mamak joints, oh well, you just aren’t there yet.
Not forgetting the people in our districts, towns and kampung's who literally live and breathe the land. God fearing, hard toiling good people. They are the salt of this earth.
I truly believe there is a convergence developing very rapidly in this country.
Firstly, we all tired of these so-call political masters who seem rudderless.
Increasingly we , as a nation and people all share the same hopes, fears and have the same interests and objectives, irrespective of race, religion or language.
This is largely due to urbanization. This convergence was not there say 30 years ago.
This convergence of interests presents great opportunities to forge a truly united and prosperous nation, and in double quick time. We can become a fantastic country in five years. We can build a great nation in less than twenty years.
All the groundwork is already there.
It takes some creativity, boldness and a genuine desire to do good.
"Me first" has to be replaced with 'What can I do for you?' or 'How may I help you?'
And you must be color blind. Malaysia, is that too tall an order?
Malaysians are beginning to realize, the political platform fails this nation on that count.
The social associations and Non-Governmental Organisations that cater to the peoples needs are slowly but surely filling that void in small pockets of marginalized society.
There be Patriots here.
There are giants among us.
There is one in your mirror.
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