Five truths about Malaysia and Malaysians from GE14

by Dr Ong Hean Teik

Malaysia is harmonious and non-violent

9 May 2018 is finally the date when the memories and nightmare of 1969 are finally laid to rest.

Malaysians showed that despite party deregistration and court cases leading to the election, despite arguments about religious law and conversion accusations. Despite heated campaigning, Malaysians voted, counted and subsequently celebrated peacefully. A dark stain on Malaysian history from 47 years ago has been erased. Agitators appealing to race and religion did not succeed.

Instead, political arguments were thoughtfully assessed and electorate opinion expressed in a matured manner through the ballot box. Since the time when our forefathers settled on this land, the people of Malaysia of all races, culture, and religion have wanted the same things, namely the ability to provide for our family and to educate the young. May harmony and peace be forever the hallmark of our country, and our similarities and common agenda unite us against those promoting division.

Malaysia has a functional democracy

Changing a government through elections is the hallmark of a functioning democratic system. Six decades after independence, Malaysia has truly shown itself to be a democracy. The message to Malaysian political leaders must be also noted, and it is that they are replaceable. When the same party and same people hold power for too long, they feel that theirs is an intrinsic right to lord over the population, that they are infallible, gifted and superior. This leads to abuse of power and corruption.

Meanwhile, the population starts doing what these political leaders expect and desire, regardless of legality and morality. Society rewards the subservient, not the righteous. Soon the incompetent obedient officer wins promotion over the industrious law-abiding one. Performance and service throughout the community then drop, together with the economy and living standards.

In changing the political leadership, Malaysians conveyed the important message that it is the voting public who are the paying employers and politicians who do not work for the betterment of the people can be dismissed. Hopefully, the culture of honest leaders serving society will replace the condescending corrupt behavior of those who think they cannot lose elected office.

Malaysians uphold their laws

Laws are made to ensure that justice is done, and no one should be above the law and interpret it for self-serving motives. The delay in officially signing the election tally and in formally appointing the winner suggests that there are those wishing to subvert the laws of the land. The fact that rules were finally followed must mean that the majority of Malaysians are fair minded law abiding and justice upholding.

Too often in the last few years those seeking to uphold the law were dismissed and those promoted blatantly perpetrate injustice. With this election results, Malaysians overwhelmingly reject such behavior and hopefully, the elected leaders will be more respectful, and keep within the bounds, of rules and regulations.

By changing the elected leadership, those in government should come to realise that if they abuse their power and formulate bad laws, they too can one day suffer abuse under these same unfairly crafted regulations.  When elected legislators know they can lose office and one day be prosecuted under the same laws they use to persecute others, they will be more thoughtful and careful in their parliamentary work.

Malaysians are new media savvy

Despite the print media and free to air television networks being fully behind the ruling party, their ultimate share of popular votes came in at 37%. Watsapp sites and Facebook postings are forwarded countless times. Speeches by opposition leaders are broadcast online attracting millions, and obviously reached even the most remote of kampong dwellers.

This suggests that the education and training of the young in Malaysia may be less difficult than many naysayers feel. After all, the internet is a giant library and educational tool. The challenge is to distinguish real from fake news, and to divert users from entertainment sites to educational ones. A tech-savvy population will be one that is able to adapt and grow in the new economy, and the success of online campaigning points to a bright future for Malaysia in the new online and AI era.

Malaysians recognise sincerity and repentance

Halfway through the campaign period, the opposition leader, and present Prime Minister, released a video titled “Atok dah tua”, in which he explained to two young children that despite his advanced years, he had to try to right the wrongs in the country, wrongs that he himself helped perpetrate. The video moved him, and many viewers, to tears. Watching the video, few could doubt his sincerity, and many would have been equally touched by his honest repentance.

Subsequently on the campaign trail, he climbed onto makeshift stands, endured long hours and travelled great distances to get his message to the voters. The electorate recognised that he cannot be seeking personal fame and fortune, and responded on 9^th May by giving him and his new vision a roaring approval. Hopefully, those seeking elected office in future may be similarly motivated by altruistic nation building motives. Honest, morally upright political leaders promoting similarly conscientious officers point to a bright future for Malaysia.

Dr Ong is a Consultant Cardiologist based in Penang, Malaysia

This entry was posted in Opinion.

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