Demonstrasi Demokrasi

I find myself, again after four years, observing what Malaysians do best prior to the elections -- a feast of flags and banners display. Everywhere, from the rural Parit to the urban Shah Alam, from the serenity of Cameron Highlands to the congested Ipoh, even the most secluded settlements are not to be spared. Distinctive to the Malaysian phenomenon of campaigning, putting up flags and other party symbols is a must, though for my very personal opinion, it really is not necessary. However the chaos gives us a clear sign -- the election is near, and there are a lot of things to fear.

It's a thing for me nowadays to feel skeptical to whoever that falls into the mediocrity of the Malaysian so-called political scenario. A scenario which is, basically, a 'battle' of a defined sides of 'right' or 'wrong', to condemn or to be condemned, and having 'options' to 'choose this, or else, suffer'. In a way, it's not a clean fight for democracy. Instead, sometimes it has critically fallen into the potholes of solely to gain power.

I feel apathetic over those who really eat up whatever is served in the mainstream media, without posing any further questions or at least having a curiosity of what really is going on. I guess it is such an ignorant and biased way of spreading information which lacks integrity and professionalism in a very imprudent way.

Any intelligent Malaysian would choose a government that would practice democracy over everything else. And by intelligent here, that doesn't mean that you've scored straight A's and gained scholarship to study overseas. Though the definition of who's clever and who's not has getting lamer and narrower nowadays, that doesn't halt anybody who really sees things outside of the box to judge the real situation and make a right decision.

Any intelligent Malaysian should know that loyalty should be paid to the country, and not to any political party that forms the government. This is a crucial thing that every Malaysian should know and take note of. But unfortunately, many of us don't.

Students are made to shy away from politics, thus making the majority of them very apolitical. Prone to one sided propaganda, we are all basically forced to believe what are manufactured to be made believe -- manipulated history, a corrupted version of freedom of speech, benefits of racialist politics, etc. etc. Our rights to speak have been denied, and since the 1970s politics have been off-limits for students.

Ironically in a very globalised world, these acts have critically made our ways of thinking underdeveloped and are subject to anybody else's definition of how should we live our country or what we want our country to be.

Sadly, we're way behind the real progress. The liberation of the minds of the people are still far away. We think in the midst of insecurities and indecisiveness. We're not sure of our future even though the future can be determined by the votes casted by our own hands. We're still divided albeit ignorant declarations of a fabricated unity. We're still challenged by our own version of religious freedom and freedom of speech. The question is, are we living a livable Malaysia?

Intelligent and contemporary voters should not just jump into the bandwagon and caught up by the bias agendas powered by the mainstream media. Intelligent voters cast their votes after making full analysis and coherent judgments and not just because 'they have to', or worse, after watching RTM every single day since the starting of the campaigning period.

Apparently we're still way behind in many ways of achieving true democracy consisting of first world election with first world parliamentary system, yet we still don't want to take a lesson from the swift and liberal democracy practiced in the US and the UK. Oh, maybe they're the West, so Westerners are all evil. But how about India and Japan? Maybe somebody wants to beg to differ.

Intelligent voters should not fall to any remarks made saying that 'we're not ready' in response to the call for a much liberal democracy. If so, when will we achieve a wholly mature, liberal society? If we're forever so ready to send a cosmonaut to space, why are we not ready for such crucial reforms?

We youngsters should not be excluded from contributing to this wave of change. We are, and should be the new generation of the nation's expanding young minds, a generation exposed to fraudulent changes of the global world, a generation which the word 'media' isn't limited to TV and the press only.

We should mature, and be sure of our options. The word 'future' is not just about bigger mosques, longer bridges, wider highways or taller buildings. Its about the liberalisation of our suppressed freedom and blocked minds, a progression of soul and a comprehended definition of unity.

As we're flipping through the election results tomorrow, be sure of the ever growing distant voice of the silent majority. The expected familiar victory of the ruling party -- which however will not be big this time -- will continue resonant and will be fabled repeatedly, but the restraining echo will be interrupted with loud sounds of changes made by the rakyat who have voted against them.

Whatever choices that have been made, we've made a choice for a better Malaysia. A better Malaysia where our land can be roamed safely. A better Malaysia with efficient and better public transportation, better mobility, and better public services. A better Malaysia with freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of practicing religious rights. A better Malaysia with real unity, and real courteous people. A better Malaysia with fair elections and clean democracy in the future. A better Malaysia for us to live in.

Last but not least, be an intelligent citizen. Don't just jump into the bandwagon. The mainstream is not all that good. And if you're intelligent enough, you know for now which side am I in.

God bless Malaysia.

Listening to: One Buck Short - Kelibat Korupsi
PHOTO by chedi73 SEE ALSO: Off The Edge, Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today, Malaysia Votes, Rocky'sBRU, Marina Mahathir, Farish A. Noor, Anwar Ibrahim, among others. For the results, go here.