So This Is Malaysia

Recently, I've been trying to keep up with the local news in Malaysia through The Star Online and honestly...what I've read so far has been rather depressing. I wonder what fascinates people about politics? The dirt that politicians attempt to throw at each other? The backstabbing? Their war-of-words? Our country already lacks so much transparency and to see the people in charge hurl insults at each other and come up with ridiculous proposals like the ban on lipstick and high heels seems to me that they don't really care about the welfare of the people. Why bother arguing with each other about stupid and I mean...really effing stupid trivial matters when there are families in Malaysia who are unable to make ends meet because of the recent increase in fuel prices.

I read an article about the MB of Kedah approving a logging plan for the state. One question. Are you insane? The problem with our country is that we focus too much on reaping instantaneous rewards from our work. We have to realize that planning has to be done in the long run. Isn't there enough development in the West coast where large areas of rainforests have already been logged? We do not need to lose any more green areas to greedy politicans who get their palms greased under the table by developers. You'd be stupid to think that the habitat that you allowed to be destroyed would grow back in even 20 years. Try 100 years.

Things like these make me so mad about the state of things back home even while I'm studying overseas. A part of me wants to say F*** this and I'll just permanently plant my butt here and deny that I'm even Malaysian when I'm asked because I am so ashamed of the way things are going on back home. But then again, if I...if we; those who were given the chance to widen our worldviews and to express our opinion without falling under censorship don't do anything, who will? Who will go back home and root themselves in the marketplace and eventually be influential enough so that by collectively collaborating, produce change that is powerful enough to sweep through the nation.

I hate the attitudes of Malaysians back home. I really do. But I'm not saying that all Malaysians are like that because change is happening; slowly but surely seen at the last elections. People are sick of the way corrupt and greedy politicians run the country and how they use race as a tool to divide the people. Over here, when people ask me what I am...I don't say I'm Chinese...I say I'm Malaysian.

You heard me.

Malaysian.

So instead of sitting your butt down in the comfortable chairs at parliament, try getting out of your comfort zone and walk through the streets of Malaysia without bringing your stupid entourage of photographers and bodyguards. Talk to the random Ah Pek or Makcik and ask them how are things going. Ask them if they have enough to eat or a place to stay. Being a politician means you were elected by the people, for the people. You were chosen to represent them....to voice out their concerns and needs so that they will be met. You were not chosen to line your pockets with bribes or APs but to serve the people.

I read an article about how people were so desperate such that they would resort to stealing fuel from parked cars in the middle of the night. Is this what our nation has come to? Petty thievery? And we call ourselves a developed nation? We are far from achieving that goal and all that rubbish talk about Wawasan 2020. We seem not to care about resorting to anything to project the image of apparent success. Any honest Malaysian would tell you well enough that it is all a farce.

I am angry and I have rights to be. I can not stand to see my homeland go to the dogs. If you're Malaysian and feel dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country, I urge you to do something. Make a change. Work hard. Innovate and invent. Recycle and think twice about throwing that cigarette butt out of your car window. Don't do what we've been criticizing our politicans about...don't have a "tidak apa" attitude.