Time flies, we are now entering into another new year, 2007.
2006 has been a year which is full of ups and downs. And full of interesting, unexpected events, like the open dogfight between Mahathir and Pak Lah, issues related to freedom of religion, the
threat to Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution, the controversy over Bumi equity and New Economic Policy, the arrest of Najib’s aide, Abdul Razak Baginda, over the murder of Mongolian Altantuya, the racist remarks by the UMNO delegates which were broadcast live to our
living rooms, the Zakaria’s palace and his appointment as city councillor in Klang, the blow against the merger of New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia, petrol and toll price hikes, record floods in southern Johor and the absence of crisis management etc.
All these are interesting developments but they are also sad stories because these events reflect corruption, authoritarianism, control of media, racial and religious divide, decline of the economic growth and income distribution.
Despite impressive economic growth rate, most business people on the ground don’t see any downstream benefits as they contunue to face difficult trading conditions. As inflation figures inch up as a result of the increase in petrol and toll rates, we see more businesses go
belly-up and desperate sections of the community become Ah Longs’ financial slaves, leading to countless broken families and tragedies.
There are other ‘ups’ that we’ll rather forget: montagee sales up, crime up, unemployment up, income disparity up
While the government imposed stringent immigration rules and turn down many foreigners’ applications to be Malaysian citizen, we see many talented Malaysians and business people are planning to emigrate. Our students abroad refuse to come back after completion of study and more professionals opt to work abroad.
This alarming trend is happening because many are unsure about the unchartered water our socio-political sampan is heading into. They are fed-up with the racial and religious policies which discriminate against half the country’s population, lack of democratic space,
institutionised corruption and the absense of a level playing field in commerce.
So, what will be the future of year 2007? This is the question that many people are asking. For me, our country will only have a brighter future if the government starts behaving like a government and govern fairly, squarly and ably.
Pak Lah has to re-visit his pre-election promises of fighting corruption. He has to wake up to the fact that his honeymoon period is long over. He must come to grip with the fact that whatever goodwill he won in his early premiership days are gone. Long gone.
It is time Pak Lah, whether using Islam Hadari or commonsense, start curbing religious polarisation.
He can stop racial polarisation by implementing policies which are fair to all.
Pak Lah should not get cold feet when he faces opposition from racial or religious ultras.
He needs to learn that tearing up draconian laws is a pretty good start.
Pak Lah must start acting like the leader for Malaysians and as not act as just another dime-a-dozen UMNO leader.
Malaysia awaits Pak Lah.
Happy New Year
*This is my Editorial in the DAP organ, The Rocket.