Sort of an old story, but then again, if it’s old, people reading it now would probably make it new again. Elections finished nearly 3 weeks ago and you need not a newspaper to tell you that the country’s main party lost its 2/3 majority advantage for the first time ever. Not only that, they suffered heavy loses not likely seen ever.
There were several things that astonished me in the elections nonetheless. We all know the parody of campaigns where BN will go out and campaign about new developments and oppositions will get in their faces. BN talks about improving all the tangible things in which almost all of them, related to money. Is that all they can do? Development development and more development which leads to economic wealth and stability. Yet in all the midst of their promises, they tend to forget the seeds that fuel the country, its people. Yes it’s true we citizens are concern of rising cost of living but surely there’s more to the country’s agenda than just that.
In my opinion, BN fails to recognize Malaysia as a country built on unity and diversity. The most important asset in the country is its people, not gold, rice, oil and electronic products. Malaysia’s society in my view are heading into the same direction as any other growing nation that we left behind and discard old ways far too easily. A villager would tell you that times have change and now no longer would anyone say good morning to me while a city folk would say nothing has change, its how we are.
I guess you can see where I’m going with this. I’m a social person and I would love to see Malaysians be like that as well. Before I left the country, I always thought people everywhere are the same until I was proven wrong in New Zealand. People here put attention to politeness and charisma, choosing to “take part” rather than “ignore”. Simply things like hello and good day are common around here. Try that in the streets of Malaysia, people will be confused and stare at you.
Few years back I remembered a survey carried out by a renowned magazine in a study to see which city is has a higher level of manners and politeness based on several criteria and believe it or not, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s gateway to the world came in 3rd last of the 50 other cities. Badawi and several leaders obviously agreed with the results and lodged a complain to the study group protesting about it. Honestly, when the results were there, I was a little bit annoyed too at the lack of understanding showed by the researchers. They too fail to define the meaning of polite in Asia. In Asia, walking past a stranger without looking at him is considered nothing, while in Western countries, there’s this expectation that we must greet others, otherwise we’re rude.
This is an example of my previous mention of how BN failed to recognize in society today. Our society and community has lost faith and trust among each other these days because of the high crime rates. We live in a community where we need to always think about safety and ourselves, opting to ignore other’s plight if we can avoid. It’s survival of the fittest, and fetus as well (abortion rate increasing). Society is corrupting itself in a way and the rich get richer while the poor poorer. Yet, leaders do nothing to change the mindset of the country. Malaysia was glorious in the 70’s running up until the 90’s but that has all lost when politicians decide to use power for personal gain.
Truthfully, when it comes to voting, I do not take into consideration of which team and flags that rule the country because it is not the colors of the team that shapes the country but the players and the manager that inserts quality and performance to put balls into back of nets, not upgrading stadiums and pitches.
