New dawn a letdown for many

Malaysians who woke up on May 10 to a promise of a new beginning are feeling betrayed by the petty squabblings of leaders as they struggle to make ends meet.

I WONDER what the historians of the future will write about the year we’ve had?

If one were to hypothesise, I venture they would say that we’ve had a decidedly mixed year.

They would, for instance, be surprised that in 2018 Malaysians were still arguing if it was okay to wish someone “Merry Christmas” (a Facepalm emoji would be appropriate at this point).

Yes, this argument we’ve been having around Christmas time would be quite amusing years from now.

But historians would also first record that on the morning of May 10, the country woke up to a new dawn. The fact that an alliance that had governed for over 60 years could be replaced overnight was, for many, nothing short of a miracle. The sense of change that people felt was palpable. In fact, it felt cataclysmic. A new democratically elected government without violence or bloodshed was without precedence, especially when compared with our neighbours like Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia.

The newly formed government, promising a new Malaysia, began tackling corruption at the highest echelons of the previous administration. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission ( MACC) got to work charging former ministers, politicians and senior civil servants.

But as at late December, despite the slew of high-profile corruption cases, no one has been convicted. The wheels of justice appear to be moving very slowly but Malaysians are happy that these cases have been brought to court. The number of high-profile exposes, such as 1MDB, Felda and Tabung Haji, also showed that transparency was important and corruption would not be tolerated.

But if GE14 was to have been a marker for further change in this country, why then does it feel like nothing has really changed?

The much-promised reforms, including eliminating restrictive and unfair laws, such as The Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, have not materialised. Many elements of the Pakatan Harapan manifesto have also not been realised.

My fellow columnist and colleague, June Wong, describes the year as thus, “It is with relief and sadness that 2018 comes to an end. This must be one of the most intense years Malaysians have lived through in the country’s existence. We were on an emotional roller coaster.”

I couldn’t agree with her more. Another friend described the state of the nation as, “A lot of positive vibes for the first half of the year and a lot of negative vibes for the second half.”

Somehow, “Malaysia Baru” feels like the same old Malaysia. It feels like we are at a crossroads.

Yes, Malaysians woke up to a new dawn on May 10, but many now feel betrayed. The most important thing to an average salary earner is the cost of living. And I’m not even referring to the B40 group here (bottom 40% of households with monthly income below RM3,900). Even the average middle-income earner can feel the pinch as prices have not come down.

And for these people, the petty squabbling among our politicians – in government and in opposition – feels just that, petty. They have had enough of the endless policy flip-flops that have plagued the administration.

Our new government’s honeymoon period is well and truly over. And the sooner our ministers realise that, the better.

A colleague told me that a ministry secretary-general confided in her that the last six months have been demoralising and troubling for the 1.6 million civil servants as they are being looked at and treated suspiciously by the government.

“It is good that (Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir has asked the civil service to work with the government but both sides need to reconcile and stop distrusting each other. The lack of experience of ministers and deputy ministers is the most pressing issue for us. Both the politicians and civil servants must bear in mind their agenda is for the country and the people,” he told my colleague.

The current government must know that the rakyat have already had a taste of change. And in another four years, change could very well happen again.

Historians of the future will write that 2018 ended on a turbulent note with the needless and unnecessary death of firefighter Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim. Ethnoreligious groups from both sides of the political divide have used his death and the incident prior to it – the Seafield Temple riots – to stir up racial and religious sentiments in the country.

But – and this is my sincere wish for 2019 – I have faith that Malaysians will realise before it is too late, that despite the fissures, our multi-ethnic and multireligious society must be protected at all costs.

Moderate Malaysia must drown out these extremist views. If we are to progress as a nation, then unity among the races is the only way forward. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to one and all! Here’s hoping we have a better 2019.