The Malaysian dream

Listen to the peoples’ merdeka message  

It is customary for our leaders to give their merdeka message to the people every year. This year that marks the  51st.annivesary of our independence there seems to be a slight difference where the people instead, have in their own way, given their merdeka message to the leaders on two separate occasions, on March 8 and August 26.On both these occasions the message was the same.  
 
On March 8 the people of all races sent a strong message to the Barisan Nasional(BN) government that they need change in the form of drastic reforms in the administration of the nation. The government promised to bring those reforms but the pace was too slow for their liking. Unfortunately instead of concentrating fully on realizing those reforms it was more preoccupied with internal party squabbles.
 
Five months later the rakyat in no uncertain terms have again cried out for those reforms that are badly needed, especially at a time of economic uncertainties, that have put tremendous strains on their budgets. Their plea came in the form of the just concluded Permatang Pauh by-election when the voters on behalf of the 27 million Malaysians expressed their displeasure once again by voting for the opposition. The resounding victory they gave the opposition is an indicator that the people are serious in their demands for change.  
 
The people want a fairer economic policy for all Malaysians regardless of ethnicity, a more committed combat against escalating inflation, fighting corruption, restoring integrity to the judiciary and police, respecting human rights and giving more freedom of expression for the people. In short they want good governance and an administration that would place the interests of the people above all others. The people were even willing to give the opposition a chance knowing that ti may not be able to keep its promises.
 
It is time for the government to seriously start listening to the voices of the people. Poverty and all socio-economic problems transcend racial, religious and political barriers so should be our efforts to eradicate them. The people of all races have risen above racial divide and voted for multiethnic cooperation to overcome our basic socio-economic problems that equally affect all communities. Their voices are loud and clear – they want genuine changes in policies and a greater commitment to boldly implementation them to put right the many ills that plague our nation.
 
We have come a long way to develop our country to what it is today, but after 51 years of self-rule the most glaring problem we have is the racial and religious polarization of our once united multiracial population. It is very unfortunate that despite living together all these years we are still identified by our ethnic origin. Today we have become less Malaysians but more Malays, Chinese or Indians. Wherever we are, in schools, offices, on the fields, on the roads and even places of worship, we are constantly reminded of our ethnicity. Isn’t it time to rid of this racial mindset and adopt a more multiracial one that will one day lead to the evolution of a united Malaysian race?

Martin Luther King once said "I have a dream,a dream that the sons of slaves and their masters will one day sit together as equal". That American dream has not only come true but soon the son of a slave may soon become the president of the most powerful nation on earth.
 
Similarly the vast majority of Malaysians share a common dream, a dream that one day Malaysia becomes a developed nation by the whole hearted contribution of all races, a day when all communities are accepted as equal and every citizen feels equally proud to be called Malaysian. It is time for leaders at all levels to listen to the merdeka message of the people and act to promptly to realize these dreams of all Malaysians - a Malaysian Dream
 
Dr.Chris Anthony