PKR-DAP-PAS must prioritise their fight

PKR-DAP-PAS must prioritise their fight

Jules Ong | Mar 10, 08 5:37pm

I am a happy and a proud Malaysian. In fact, I am deliriously gleeful! Why? One: BN is eating humble pie. Now what happened to its keris-waving arrogance? And what a waste of front pages speculating on the next Gerakan chief minister of Penang. Two: The electoral process is actually working. I was one of the many, many whose name has been moved to another constituency without my knowledge and couldn’t move it back. Three (and this is the most important): The people have finally found their voice and their power! The victory goes to my Indian brothers and sisters who are sick of being talked down to and treated like third-class citizens. Perhaps they didn’t know the power they had it in their hands - literally. And with every pangkah against the BN, they spoke their minds clearly and decisively. Hasta la vista Samy! Also, credit to the young and first-time voters who made up the biggest bulk of opposition votes. We cannot discount their idealism because the country belongs to them now. It is their time and they will decide on what kind of government they want and who to entrusted it to. There must be so many things to do, so many policies to reform and so many drains to unclog, while having to deal with the still majority BN (I'm talking about the opposition because I have no faith in any of the BN representatives. They are so used to preaching without listening, with a cowed media that mouths their every word.) The opposition must prioritise their fight so that at the end of their five years, they have something strong and concrete to show - something that will last and ensure that the pillars of democracy - a free and vibrant media, a clean judiciary, and the rule of law - will be nurtured, developed and strengthened. Even when they have long been voted out, they will be remembered for the brief time they served as our wakil rakyat - servants of the people. Forget about all the nitty-gritty and focus on the meat. First, push for a right to information bill. This is the only way to weed out corruption. When the rakyat and journalists have the right to ask for information - to see the account books, to ask why it's not an open tender and to demand for it, why a certain project is being done and how it will impact them - only then can we ever hope to weed out corrupt practices. Second, throw out the Printing Presses and Publications Act. Let the press do what they are supposed to do. Only a vibrant media can ensure that the people whom we elect to serve us actually serve us instead of enriching themselves or subverting the judiciary for their own ends. Third, reform the NEP so that the poor of every ethnicity benefit and that the policy is not just race-based. This will spell the end of race-based politics and bring in a new era for Malaysia belonging to all Malaysians. And please, I want a government that has ethics - put out a stronger voice for Burma's plight and the thousands of their refugees stuck on our soil without papers, without any right to work and without any form of protection. Protect foreign workers and disband the Rela thugs!