There has been intense focus on the coming 13th General Elections. Never before has this nation seen such raised awareness on the importance of voting as well as the coverage of the elections. From educational web videos designed to raise the public awareness (Michelle Hoo has done a superb job with mydurian tv on Youtube!) on their voting rights to talks being held across the country to raise and build a strong petition for free and fair elections (not to mention the major rallies that have taken place these past few years), we have entered into a time where enough is enough. We have entered an age and time where people are no longer keeping quiet; where people are becoming more and more informed of the things that are shaping around them; and where people are finally taking action.
It’s ironic though because I never did expect that I would ever be interested in malaysian politics to begin with. I grew up being oblivious to the situations that were damaging this country. But like the typical oblivious teenager, I didn’t care so much about this country. Having studied abroad, I used to read and follow the local news, but it was more out of curiosity than patriotism (if there was any of THAT in the first place). I didn’t really care about my country in all honesty. Why bother to change the system when it’s already corrupted, bent and flawed? Instead, like most young adults, I aspired to migrate off. Given my background education and my language proficiency, it was the most logical thing to do.
But one thing led to another, and as I started progressing in my career (in malaysia), I started to see things differently – something was definitely amiss in Malaysia. Due to the nature of my job as a management consultant which demanded that one was well informed of the industry and the practice that one was in, I started to see things differently.
As I traveled across different countries for my work, I began to see Malaysia very differently. I observed and marveled at how the Koreans had built a thriving city in Seoul in such impossible terrain conditions; I marveled at their engineering feat in constructing and building tunnels to connect the districts and cities. I was amazed at the progress that Shanghai made when just 25 years ago, it’s Pudong district was just an agricultural farmland, and how through hardwork, discipline and dedication they were able to build an entirely modern and economically thriving commercial area…in just 20 years! As I wrapped up my visit of all these places and make the journey back home to Kuala Lumpur, I would often ponder alone and start questioning – why can’t we be like those nations?
Think about it –
- We have ample land for urban development
- We have plenty of natural resources in terms of oil and gas, palm oil and timber to mention a few
- Our country is geographically spared from any kind of earthquakes or volcanic disasters (we don’t sit in the pacific ring of fire)
- We have the talent (Just look at the number of Malaysians holding high qualification positions in Singapore and other countries – the fact we have a government organization called Talent Corp which has the Returning Expert Programme (REP) says enough)
- We have access to communications and information technology
- Our country is composed of ethnically diverse demographics which can serve to create new ideas and spark creativity (through heterogeneity)
The list above is non-exhaustive and I am sure you can think of more reasons. But it serves to prove a point – why can’t we be better? Why can’t we do better? We have resources which other nations don’t (capacity), we have the talent don’t we (capability)? if we then have the capacity and capability, then what on earth is stopping us from achieving progress?
Every time whenever I return back home from any country visit, I would ask myself that question above.
And so I look to our government for answers and the government is linked to politics. Sadly I don’t think changing governments is going to solve much issues as what the opposition is claiming it would. I don’t think comparing party manifestos and scrutinizing details and mud-slinging (calling one another copycats) would solve much. But I still believe in the idea of good governance. And the seed for planting good governance begins with the establishment of a 2-party system. A 2 party system would ensure adequate check-and-balance. A 2 party system would begin to advocate (finally) the development of the people rather than for the rulers’ coffers. I believe a 2 party system would eliminate excess (not entirely but a significant amount) from the system and process and use that excess gains (net efficiency gains) to invest in the rakyat.
The success of a government is not so much the number of seats it garners, or the grandeur and ambitious (and sometimes lofty and too idealistic) goals that it pompously depicts in it’s manifestos, but rather the development and the well-being of it’s people. And this development should not and MUST not come in the form of provision lump sum and periodical handouts – which is a form of palliative economics – For example, rather than giving students book vouchers, it should focus on building more and better libraries in communities and funding school and university libraries adequately. Rather than providing a lump-sum cash handout for family aid, it should focus on building day more quality daycares and equipping mothers of lower income with trade skills so that they can “learn to fish”. Palliative economics does not build a nation – it only erodes it further.
Hence that’s why a 2-party system would be extremely beneficial for Malaysia. Just as how competition allows consumers to get the best deal and value in town, a 2-party system would be able to ensure that its customers (the rakyat) will be able to get the best deal in town. And just like any other business model in which when you begin by focusing on your customers’ needs, the same logic and principle applies to government. Governments who begin to earnestly work hard for the people will eventually reap the fruits of progress and development.
So for me, I am not voting for a party, rather I am voting for the establishment of a 2-party system which I believe would will be our ticket to progress and success.
Malaysia boleh? Malaysia memang boleh! We just need to play our part and vote for a 2-party system in this coming election.
