Looks like these days, more and more ‘dirty’ stories have been cropping up in either mainstream media or the blogsphere. Since the “nude squat” business, the police have had their hands full with trying to restore some form of positive PR for the force but it looks like it isn’t going to work (whatever they have been doing) with this report. The full police report in Malay is available here. [This comes after my reading of the issue of apostasy here in this country. Before that, while I was away in France, we had a squabble that made the papers - between one wife and the law (or rather the Syariah Court).]
And I start wondering to myself.
What is happening to my country?
I don’t really talk much about politics on my blog simply because of the varied differences in opinion and the sensitivity of some topics, ie things like racial politics, and religious tolerance (or intolerance). This is an exception simply because I can’t stand it anymore.
Black Metal concert raids when half of the people participating in the raid don’t even know what Black Metal is all about (or listen to it). People making reports about police ‘brutality’ and abuse of power. Councils talking about getting dog owners to obtain permission from their neighbours before obtaining a pet. People being chastisized in public with derogatory labels for dressing skimpily. Young men and women dying for the mistakes of people; mistakes that could have been corrected many eons ago. Companies churning out losses and using the lousiest of ways to make a quick buck out of people. Individuals being told what to believe in and shunned when they refuse to follow those “suggestions”.
I believe that any person, man or woman, has the right to believe in whatever they want to believe in. They also have the right to change their mind. If a certain religion was any good, why do we need to force people to continue having blind/false faith in it? Can we at least concentrate on enriching the life of real believers and leading a godly life by example?
I believe that in order to ban something, one must know the ins and outs of the item/person/institution being banned – that means reading the book, listening to the music or watching the movie. It also means including the opinions of members of the public selected at random.
I believe that transparency needs to exist in any institution – government or otherwise. People should be invited to vote and give out opinions on issues that they play a part in. People should ask this: “Why are my taxes going to?” I, for one, would like a full report whenever some council decides to go on a study tour. I want to know where the money goes to and what they do. Our opinions should count. If asked, I wonder how many employees of this distinguished company would have agreed to a RM1.5 million dollar investment of paintings which weren’t even ‘created’ by local artists.
I believe that each and every person is accountable for their wrong-doings and that includes royalty or otherwise. No one should escape punishment just because they have more money and/or know someone “up there”. I think the poor have been accountable for their wrong-doings AND everyone else’s long enough. Lets give them a break.
I believe that people are equals despite their differences in religion, skin colour and heritage, and thus have equal access to everything that is offered by a country. No man should be “more equal” than others. Let them perserve and rise above their wealth/poverty, gender, religion, education and environment. There is such a thing as meritocracy. Fear of it will not make one more successful than another.
Call me ignorant, naive and insensitive for believing in these things. But this is who I am.
Now, I believe in a lot more but one belief that is slowly dying is the belief that this country will rise up to what it really was meant to be in the sight of our forefathers. You see, I used to tell myself that staying on and contributing would change a few things. That with every change of government, the old things that hold us from back from really becoming a first-class nation would be wiped out. Instead it is the same old story over and over again.
Sometimes I just want to cry. Other times I just want to leave. What else can you do when the things you believe in are slowly dying because you are starting to grow bitter and cynical about it?
…… Perhaps I need a new perspective. Or maybe I don’t.
Heh.
W…..oow /:) I read the link to the”squabble”..frankly it scares me and that single reply also shock me that such narrow minded people exist. many scary scenarios come to mind: So if a girl marries and converts to Islam then when she dies none of her non-muslim relatives can inherit anything. Kids of converts have no say???
I remember a Malaysian friend telling me that all his family were Christians except his own because the lady neighbour stole his father’s sarong and went to the Shariah courts to say he “did something” (I’m just quoting him) and before you knew it.. all the family is Muslim and neighbour is a ‘wife’
The trouble is that often people who want to change things give up too quickly. Things are changing – albeit slowly. (i) Newspapers are testing their boundaries, (ii) I think the government is realising or soon going to realise that being a bit more socially liberally is necessary if it wants to retain economic and social leadership in ASEAN, and, perhaps the most important catalyst for change, (iii) women in politics are challenging how things work and the level of transparency from the inside.
Predream: The thing is this: how long can you wait? Chinese people are worried because they have been waiting for that change to happen and while they have, the population is dwindling and well, when you see how others are having a ‘better’ life abroad, it begins to get disheartening. People cannot wait forever.
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