I observed the Perak political and now a constitutional crisis with much amusement. Seriously, I think the Malaysian political scene is better than any political thrillers. I would gladly nominate the 'Malaysia: What it means to be in power' for an Oscar in the foreign film category.
Enough has been commented on the still on-going situation so I am not going to give my 2 cents on the Perak crisis or the Elizabeth Wong scandal. I am sure there is an information overload over the issues of the functions of a constitutional monarchy and morality in Malaysian politics. Also maybe I am just damn tired watching this real-life drama, though exciting but too draggy with no end in sight.
I don't care who was right or wrong but am very concerned about the state of the economy. It is a fact that the country's economy is running on an autopilot mode. Malaysia is not a republic so the term banana republic does not apply. Maybe BaNana Federation.
Whatever.
But I do feel strongly for the people of Perak who got cheated badly by the defections. I can feel their frustrations yet they, as rightful citizens of the state, are powerless to determine who or which party can lead them. In other words they are being dictated. This sense of frustration does not only apply in politics but also for each individual and the analogy of your belongings stolen by a thief who then walks free in the end rightly applies.
Now I can truly understand why the residents of Gwangju, South Korea in 1980 took up arms and started an uprising, which only lasted for 9 days after being crushed by the military, against the Chun Doo-hwan regime because the people of that city were surpressed to a dead end. Therefore they had no choice but to fight. To fight for a better tomorrow for their kids.
By the order of the day, it can be dangerous to go against the BN but I believe it is more dangerous to go against the people when they can take the bite no more. The people will and can crush a regime if they band together, especially so when bread and butter come lacking. So perhaps those in power, from either sides, please take note to becareful on trampling on the rights and aspirations of the people - They are your Boss.
Enough has been commented on the still on-going situation so I am not going to give my 2 cents on the Perak crisis or the Elizabeth Wong scandal. I am sure there is an information overload over the issues of the functions of a constitutional monarchy and morality in Malaysian politics. Also maybe I am just damn tired watching this real-life drama, though exciting but too draggy with no end in sight.
I don't care who was right or wrong but am very concerned about the state of the economy. It is a fact that the country's economy is running on an autopilot mode. Malaysia is not a republic so the term banana republic does not apply. Maybe BaNana Federation.
Whatever.
But I do feel strongly for the people of Perak who got cheated badly by the defections. I can feel their frustrations yet they, as rightful citizens of the state, are powerless to determine who or which party can lead them. In other words they are being dictated. This sense of frustration does not only apply in politics but also for each individual and the analogy of your belongings stolen by a thief who then walks free in the end rightly applies.
Now I can truly understand why the residents of Gwangju, South Korea in 1980 took up arms and started an uprising, which only lasted for 9 days after being crushed by the military, against the Chun Doo-hwan regime because the people of that city were surpressed to a dead end. Therefore they had no choice but to fight. To fight for a better tomorrow for their kids.
By the order of the day, it can be dangerous to go against the BN but I believe it is more dangerous to go against the people when they can take the bite no more. The people will and can crush a regime if they band together, especially so when bread and butter come lacking. So perhaps those in power, from either sides, please take note to becareful on trampling on the rights and aspirations of the people - They are your Boss.
2 comments:
Hi, interesting blog. On the topic of people and regimes, there's ample track record that empires only change after a sizeable chunk of its population is exiled or put to death. An example from a study:
"In the Dong (Eastern) Han Dynasty 206B.C.-220A.D., the population of China was 50 million. After the transition of power to the Three Kingdom period 222-589, the population decreased to 7 million."
There are numerous similar examples from the Aztechs, Romans, Cambodians, the French revolution, etc. Whether modern empires will go the same route, perhaps we'll see what happens very soon.
Damien Tan: Thx for dropping by.
I believe that people today are less tolerant of surpression than in the past when people were practically defenceless until the very end they had no choice but to rise up to fight for the right to live a life.
We just have to recall how the numerous communist revolutions that swept across the world.
It seems that history is always repeating itself albeit with a different form.
Post a Comment