Kash’s World

This is turning out to be a big year for democracy. Political tsunami is the perfect description of this phenomenon.

First it was Kenya but things got very messy there when the will of the prople was thwarted. Still, that did not stop Pakistanis from voting against an authoritarian government. The wave got even stronger by the time it reached our shores.

It now appears as if our ‘good friends’ the Zimbabweans (see some nice pics here) have found the moral courage to vote against one of the most despicable leader in the world: Robert Mugabe.

The opposition there had even more obstacles stacked against them. But I guess when things get bad enough, people will rise above their fears and say, “enough is enough.”

The final outcome is still not clear because victory is one thing. Getting a dictator to give up power requires a bit more than that as the Burmese learnt some years ago.

Let’s hope that things work out well there.

Robert Mugabe is runoured to have properties and business interests here. I hope he doesn’t come seeking refuge here if leaves Zimbabwe. Not unless he brings that timber back.

I’m sure you’ve noticed that people seem to smile more easily since last week. A friend swore the other day that everyone is behaving nicer. Drivers give way; they have happy faces and are more polite. It’s like a new country, he said.

My nephew turned up in my house for dinner a few nights ago and I was surprised to see him arrive with a cake box. For one moment I thought he had decided to get married or something.

Turned out he had come to celebrate the election results.

Suddenly Malaysia has become a wonderful place to live in. My friend thinks it’s a new country. Actually, it’s not. This is the Malaysia we once had many years ago. It’s finally back.

And I don’t want it to go away ever again. So please, can the new people we put in power please set aside petty issues and get down to work quickly?

Haris Ibrahim believes that the election results are a victory for the Bangsa Malaysia concept. I agree.

But there are some who don’t quite understand the concept. Like the person who sent me a message on Facebook.

Some months ago I created a ‘Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia!’ group on Facebook and I guess the person joined the group without quite realising what it was. Anyway the person wised up around election time and sent me the message below. My reply is lower down.  

MESSAGE FROM A MALAYSIAN

Hi,

Therefore, please stop creating racial tension, and please let us live in peaceful harmony. We have come this far and don’t destroy Malaysia just to prove a point.

MY REPLY

Thank you for your comments and views. I have always believed that consultation and open discussion will lead to better understanding.

While I respect your views and understand where they are coming from, I must say that I have a different understanding.

We may have been an example of racial tolerance a long time ago when the world was very different. Back then, most nations had people from one ethnic background or religion. If you were to look around today, you will see that the world has changed a lot since then. Many countries offer far better examples of harmony and peace among people of differing backgrounds.

Countries like UK and US and many other countries have welcomed peoples of different backgrounds into their lands. Today, Obama is running for president and even Malaysians who have migrated elsewhere have reached the top of government posts in their adopted lands. An Indian who migrated from India is today the governor of Louisiana.

With warmest regards and respect for your views

Raja Petra Kamarudin, the champion of justice in this country and the man most responsible, after Anwar Ibrahim, for creating the tempest that shook Malaysia on March 8, 2008 has issued a caution to the wining parties.

“So remember who put you where you are today. Remember who gave you your job. The rakyat can hire and the rakyat can fire. We, the rakyat, made you and we, the rakyat, can break you. Just remember that and with God as our witness we shall not fail to do that if you fail to do what you promised to do.“

His call will resonate with a lot of people. I’m pretty sure that many people were stunned by what they pulled off on Saturday and may understandably worry whether they had pushed too far into the unknown by handing four state governments to a new coalition. There’s also no denying that even the victors were not prepared for the scale of victory

In that respect, his advice is well meant and timely.

Even more so is his call for an Ombudsmen committee to oversee the governance in Barisan Rakyat territories. I fully support his call. Personally, I also feel that RPK should be on that committee.

But even if he is not, I have no doubt that he will be keeping a very close eye on those in power there. That should keep them on their toes. By now they would have seen ample proof that RPK will not close one eye or look the other way, no matter who is involved.

Today has been a surreal day for many Malaysians. I received calls, emails and SMSes all saying the same things – that they never expected to see this day come, that they now see hope and direction in this country. People have been expressing their feelings on Malaysiakini too.

In short, it’s been one amazing feel good day. Last night, my team, Man Utd., lost in the FA Cup and I hardly felt any pain. I didn’t even bother to see the game. Something immensely more important was taking place. Oon Yeoh was in Penang and his constant text messages kept up excitement. Malaysiakini did a great job in getting the news out fast.

The changes were of such magnitude that it has taken me 24 hours to absorb the implications.

I’m sure analysts immensely more qualified than me will be analysing the results. They won’t be alone. Every Malaysian would have expressed some opinion today. Here’s my two cent’s worth.

First all the analysts got it wrong. Sorry brothers, each and every one of you called it wrong. Some guessed 40 seats at best for the opposition. The Malaysian Insider website that appeared for the first time around nomination day claimed to receive their info directly from BN intelligence sources and they were steadfastly sure that BN would win big. Their last call was that BN would win 81% of seats and take all states back. Journalists, academics, pollsters and researchers, one and all, they got it all wrong. Some were obvious propaganda – especially the so called polls in the mainstream media carried. Finally I can’t resist saying that I got it right. Two months ago I wrote in Surf! Magazine that we might have reached a tipping point. I was spot on in my prediction.

This brings me to my second point. The Internet played a major role in the elections, nuff said.

The biggest trend was that, for the first time in the history of our nation, all the races swung in the same direction. Many said that this was impossibility in Malaysia, but it happened. This caused the political tsunami and it speaks volume of how much is possible when all the races come together in unity.

This did not happen in East Malaysia. Despite the positive signals that were given during the Sarawak state elections, somehow, the East Malaysians did not feel the wind of change. Was this because there were no straight fights in some areas or was this because voters over there saw things differently? It could have also been caused by the cultural differences over there where entire villages will vote the way their headman says. I’m not sure why but East Malaysians did not swing.

Not surprisingly either, Johor, Pahang and Melaka did not swing too. Or rather I think the Malays there as well as the rural Chinese there did not swing there.

The people generally voted for change. It didn’t mater who stood. They just went out and voted for change. Parents of my son’s friend who came across as conservative to me went out and voted for PAS in Titiwangsa. In fact, the first sign I got that something big was happening was in the morning when I saw crowds of Chinese voters swarming the PAS ‘pondok panas’ at the Chinese school in Setapak. In this respect they generally voted for the party, not the candidate.

However, credible candidates did exceptionally well. People like Elizabeth Wong, Gobind Singh, Teo Nie Ching, Sivarasa and Tony Pua just to name a few scored resounding victories. In fact this is one of the most significant revelations of this election. It’s going to get harder for an ordinary person to just saunter in and become a candidate. People were keen to know the person in detail and his or her track record as well as achievements.

Race was not a factor in all the swing states. What mattered most was which side of the political divide they were on.

Candidates with activists/NGO credientials were very well received by voters. Charles Santiago, Elizabeth Wong, Jeff Ooi and others rode on their records of service and standing up for the ordinary folks to score big. There were some unfortunate exceptions; Arutchelvan and Syed Shahrir came up just a little short in their quests.

The involvement of civil society was very significant. Bersih, Hindraf, Mafrel, numerous smaller NGOs, churches, individuals like RPK and Haris Ibrahim like contributed in no small measures to the sea-change.

What’s next?

I think we are seeing the beginning of the end of race based politics. UMNO, MCA and MIC can no longer claim to represent their respective races. These parties are going to try and reinvent themselves but they will be fighting a losing cause.

The victors are going to work very hard to prove themselves so expect lots of god things to happen in Selangor and Penang especially. These guys have a few years to prove themselves and they are not going to let this chance go.

In the mid term to long term, the results of this election are going to be very good for business and economy. I believe we have just witnessed a judgement on the NEP. It’s going to make so much more sense now to implement polices for all Malaysians instead of continuing those that have been emphatically rejected by the voters.

We are also going to see a freer press. With Internet having proved its credentials, expect see newspapers and TV become more open. They have to or they are going to become irrelevant. It might even go all the way to the repeal of restrictive publication laws but I’m not exactly holding my breath here.

Fortunately (or unfortunately entertainment-wise) we should see less keris waving and animal-like rantings in Parliament. Most of the controversial parliamentarians have been thrown out by their electorates and those that remain will now have to deal with 80 over opposition members including many ‘cili padis’.

Fingers crossed, we just might see a more democratic and open society.

Many people who have been thinking of migrating will now see hope and stay back.

East Malaysian political parties have become national king-makers. Imagine some East Malaysian parties switching their allegiances to the opposition and you’ll know what I mean. They hold the power now and I won’t be surprised if they demand more positions in the cabinet and elsewhere. This is also the reason why I think we might see a general election much earlier than five years. Let’s just say that it is going to be very interesting times.

Finally and most happily, we just might have seen the end of the May 13 bogeyman. Five states went to the opposition, the ruling party only won a simple majority nationally and their popular vote may have even fallen below 50% but what do you know; life went on as normal. Despite all the fears, it was a peaceful revolution.

I’m looking at at the results streaming in at Malaysiakini.

Malaysia has decided! It’s a big no to corruption, inequality and disrespect for rule of law.

Who said the Internet has no power to influence?

It wasn’t just the Internet. Two men can rightly claim credit for this stunning victory.

Anwar Ibrahim for tirelessly criss crossing the country, for bringing the opposition together and for making clear coherent arguments and the fearless Raja Petra Kamaruddin who showed the true meaning of courage.

And of course the brave people of Malaysia who finally found the courage to do what’s right.

UPDATE : 10 March

How could I have forgotten Bersih and Hindraf? It must have been the sleep deprivation.

I haven’t been blogging lately because of a few reasons. Work-wise some urgent projects came along and there went my working hours. And at night, I have been doing the same thing a lot of Malaysians have been doing these past two weeks.

I have been attending ceramahs.

These last 10 days, I have heard many speakers make their case as to why they should be elected into Parliament or State Assemblies. Most are well known. Let me see, Anwar Ibrahim, Nurul Izzah, Tony Pua, Nik Nadzmi, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Wee Choo Keong and Fong Po Kuan.

I did not attend any ceramahs organised by BN. Not because I did not want to. I just did not know where they were holding their talks. In fact I don’t even know if they organised any ceramahs in the Klang Valley other than the visists of the PM and Deputy PM.

On the other hand, the campaign put on by the Opposition this time round was commendable.

That was the another reason why I did not blog so much. Their campaign was so effective there was no need really to add my small voice to the voices calling for justice, freedom and equality in Malaysia.

The first two days, I was worried because they had not organised themselves properly on the Internet. But once they got their act together, they were formidable.

People were able to find where ceramahs were being held and who were speaking.

That is why candidates like Hannah Yeoh thought only a few hundred people would come but thousands turned up.

I missed the opportunity to hear luminaries like Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and Haris Ibrahim in person but that was a minor problem only. Whateever I missed in person was always available on the Internet.

The climax was last night in Kg Limau, Lembah Pantai. I estimate that at least 10,000 people stood in pouring rain to hear Anwar Ibrahim speak. It was a sea of umbrellas, cars and motorbikes.

I had one hell of a time. If you stayed at home, I think you missed a lot. Now, you’ll have to wait five years for your next opportunity. Unless of course, you didn;t like the rain and followed the election happenings on the Internet.

Today, the ruling coalition launched its manifesto. It promises security, peace and prosperity to citizens.

On the other side, most of the opposition parties have endorsed the People’s Declaration.

Your task, as a voter, is to decide which pledge you are going to accept. Even if you are voting for the person, not the party, it’s a fact that candidates will toe the party line in this country.

On paper, both documents make very pretty claims. The only way to decide then is to see their track records.

It’s easy to judge the ruling coalition’s track record. They’ve been in power for a long time. It’s easy to ask ourselves if they’ve kept their word of ensuring peace, security and prosperity to ALL Malaysians. I’ll leave you to decide on that.

As for the other side, while we cannot judge their track record as planners and implementers of policies, we can see what they’ve stood for over the years. It’s easy to see which policies they have stood firm against.

In my view, we must not just accept the words; it’s the actions that are more important.

I want the incoming government to be a government to tackle the big issues that are plaguing Malaysia. Issues like race polarity, religious extremism and what not.

But I have also learnt over the years is that if a government cannot handle small issues, there’s no way they are gong to be able to handle the big ones.

This is why I get very frustrated when I see the following problems continue to haunt Malaysians year after year.

1. Motorcyclists beating red lights
2. Permanently clogged drains
3. Mat Rempit rampages
4. Horrific express bus crashes
5. Regular ferry sinkings
6. [insert other commonly solved problems here]

If you, like me, is not happy with the direction Malaysia is headed towards, you know have a chance to decide if that direction should be maintained or a new course be set instead. This general election has become very important in that respect.

I suggest that you take a look at the People’s Declaration which was launched on Saturday. Here is Malaysiakini’s report. This document was put together by people who care about this country and I found that it encompasses my hope and wishes for this country.

The last I saw something like this was way back in 1999 when the Permatang Pauh Declaration was released. That document raised my hopes back then that a new era would begin in Malaysia. Unfotunately, it didn’t happen then.

Now, almost a decade later, another opportunity is upon us.