I am listening to Sri Mulyani Indrawati (the managing director of the World Bank) on Bloomberg this morning as I write this and her sentence caught my attention. "Corruption is always an enemy to development," she said to Charlie Rose. Appropriate for today. As the Malaysian government states grand plans to move towards being a developed nation, she may have missed a very important point, if she does not stop to listen, today.
Today she demonstrates a fear observed by many as she, despite many a chance to engage with her people, she hardens her heart and comes down heavy handed on her people. As I read reports on my bbm, and instant messengers of tear gas and such I think that she stands attacked, her credibility questionable for she seems to, with her response, support the animal that may trip her up on her journey towards development. The animal? Corruption.
So as supporters of Bersih, and those down at the rally today stands in demand of clean and fair elections for the country, I hope she hears the cry of a nation for a leader that may bring her towards advancement. I hope she hears and she acts. For all those who know me well, they know this, that I am non-committal, apathetic and indifferent. Where rallies are concerned, I hate crowds, where people are concerned I am the most cynical, thinking the worse of them and bearing only the slightest hope in seeing any good in them. But in the wake of today, I feel the need to gear up some hope and push this cause a little further only because I believe it is truly a fight for a good cause - towards cleaner and fairer elections.
This must be important enough, I thought. The reason? The very reaction of the government. Her ungraciousness towards her citizens seems very telling, of her fear, which infers much about her nature. I dare not judge her, but I daresay this, that her action speaks much of her intentions, and inspired much passion to stand up, for transparency.
Her stance may prove all the more damaging. I of course would not have been the first to observe this. Many articles have on Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider and other portals have commented on the reaction of the government and one facebook note I received quoting a Brigadier General (Rtd) Mohd Arshad Raji said this:
"The Bersih movement as I know has since its inception been at the forefront for an electoral reform that they believe is mired in controversies. Bersih 1.0 rally that attracted thousands to the streets for the similar purpose resulted in the fall of five peninsula states to the hands of the opposition during the 2008 general election. Tun Mahathir concede that the matter in which the government handles the Bersih 2.0 affair can be disastrous to the Najib regime during the upcoming ge. His forthright statement cannot be ignored, but I see little hope in Najib making any concession to Bersih for their demands to be heard. Taking this hard line against the people's wishes this time around will lend the final blow to Najib's admnistration and to UMNO/BN's 52 years of continuous rule."
As Thomas Paine, wrote, when a government fails to safeguard its people, their natural rights and their national interests, he opined, popular political revolution is permissible. The government had shown a great resistance towards a fairer system for her people, and for this reason, Bersih's "war" is justified.
Ironically, South Sudan celebrates her new found independence today. While her streets are filled with celebration, ours are sadly filled with evidence of a government that seems to be uncaring towards her society. Should a government such as this stand? As tear gas hopes to cloud the people and confuse them of the true cause they are down in town running amok for, I say they should uncloud. I dare hope that through this rally we are convinced enough to be suspicious of the government's objective in acting for the best interest of her people.
I wrote once, that the country I live in is a beautiful one, I still believe it is. And yet I am not dramatic enough to say I am agonised, not yet, for there are countries in worser state than this. But I believe the leaders of our country have the very power in their hands to raise up a country that can stand journey towards advancement. This rally i believe is not a hiccup, it is a recognition of what may be necessary in the next step towards better.
There is much reason to stand up for transparency, for it affects all, quite profoundly. I would be much saddened to see citizens sobbing at the consequence of a failed political system, because of a government who failed to stand and see its flaws, admit it, and fix it, all for its subjects. Sure that is not our only issue, but I dare hope, set us up towards advancement.
I hope.
