JULY 10 — Over the last couple of weeks, the main topic of conversation has been one thing — Bersih 2.0. Being overseas for the major part of my 20s due to work and studies, I have missed out on several of the main political events in Malaysia and also Bersih 1.0 in 2007.
When I left in 2001, the country was still very affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis (the main reason why I was flying off to study in Australia instead of the UK) and soon after, we also celebrated the 44th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence from the British.
I recall that life was getting harder for quite a number of people around me back then. Suddenly, factories were laying off people, businesses shutting down and the country bailing GLCs out of the financial turmoil.
When I returned in 2008, full of hope to make a difference and serve my beloved country, I honestly felt that the situation was not getting any better.
In fact, now with a renewed objectivity and fresh perspective I saw a country stagnating and not really recovering from the last economic crisis but now being hit with a double whammy in the form of the global sub-prime financial crisis.
I wish that I knew where to even start in contributing towards nation building and bringing this country, of which I am so proud, back to its former moments of glory.
Everywhere you could sense that people were frustrated with a lot of things, such as why salary levels are so low; why the crime rate is so high (acid splashers, rapes, murders, break-ins reported on daily basis); why the standard of English among graduates is so bad; why it is so hard to get a job that matches your skills and talents; why the standard of education pales in comparison to that found globally; and why freedom of speech and basic human rights are not respected. And those are only some of the common frustrations that I’ve heard.
Sadly, although there were so much complaints and frustrations, not many really dared to voice them out and do something about them for fear of losing their source of income, getting in trouble with the authorities, etc.
I would say that Malaysians in general are very ‘gentle’ and ‘civilised’ people who even view the act of voicing out grievances as ‘disrespectful’. Especially when the perpetrators are much older than them or are in a position of power. For this, I feel very frustrated as I feel that we are a dispassionate society that does not really stand up for what we truly believe in and only care about ‘being nice’ to avoid ‘kecil hati’.
It is as if people ‘tolerated’ the oppression because they do not have many choices. Life is hard as it is so we should just ‘bersyukur’ or be grateful and not complain or attempt to change the status quo.
As a tourist or a foreigner who visits its tourists spots, Malaysia may look very impressive. But in reality 40 per cent of Malaysia’s households earn less than US$15 a day, or RM1,500 a month (two-thirds of the World Bank’s low-income threshold).
Even with my salary as a young professional, I feel that my purchasing power has been greatly reduced by 75 per cent compared to when I was working overseas. I really empathise with those who have to live on and support a family with less than RM1,500 per month.
You will see that these are the people who travel using the country’s overcrowded public transportation system; rely on our overcrowded public hospitals; ride motorbikes in the rain with garbage bags as their oversized raincoats; shop at pasar malam; and have lunches at gerai by the road or ‘longkang’ side, probably eating only once a day. Mind you, this 40 per cent of Malaysians is close to the majority who have gone ‘hungry’ in a resource-rich country in so many ways for way too long — be it denied quality education, freedom of information or a good quality of life. Now do we blame them for taking to the streets to let out their frustrations?
“For if you suffer your people to be ill-educated, and their manners to be corrupted from their infancy, and then punish them for those crimes to which their first education disposed them, what else is to be concluded from this, but that you first make thieves and then punish them. “ — Thomas Moore
(Quoted from his book “Utopia” written in 1516)
I have always been apolitical and maintained my objectivity in assessing our country’s situation. I am not a member of any political party and have never taken part in rallies.
Most of my contribution has been based on humanistic considerations and most of all because I love this country so very much. But today, with Bersih 2.0, for once in a very long time, I feel very proud of my country.
I know that we are now gaining momentum to right the wrongs that have long overshadowed and restrained this country from unleashing its fullest potential.
My only regret is why did we wait this long?
* Siti Kamariah Ahmad Subki is a returning young professional keen to make a difference and see this country fly to greater heights.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.
