Malaysians will greet
their 58th Merdeka not with cheer and joy like they used to before
but with despair and uncertainty of
their future and that of their children. The conspicuous scarcity of the Jalur
Gemilang on the streets and cars bears testimony to the desperate and subdued
feelings of the people at large.
The economic downturn, the plunging
ringgit and the unfavourable political climate in the country are the main
causes of this gloomy feeling of the people. The 1MDB fiasco and its adverse
and even disastrous effects are clearly seen and felt by the people at all
levels of society. There is a general feeling of disappointment and big
let-down by our leaders who seem to have placed their interests above that of
the people who elected them. The result is that the people do not trust their
leaders anymore and they badly want change which they now know for sure is not
easy to come by, even with their votes general elections.
It is just days to our 58th
Merdeka and what we see more are the all familiar yellow T-shirts of Bersih 4 than
national flags. The nation is poised for the coming mass rally by Bersih 4 on
29 August when thousands of ordinary peace-loving Malaysians are preparing to
take to the streets peacefully to demand for fair elections, greater democratisation,
independent public institutions and more freedom of expression. In fact there
are those who even demand the resignation of the PM and their numbers keep
increasing by the day.
August 29 this year will be the
most important day for all Malaysians in recent history. It will be a day of reckoning
for people power. Will it be powerful enough to defend the rights of the people
peacefully in accordance with the laws of the nation? Will it succeed to
transfer the true power to rule to the people?
As we brace for all the possible
eventualities we hope and pray for peaceful and amicable solution to the
problems confronting our nation and our people. We pray that God guide our
leaders to submit to wishes of the people. We pray that God protect our people
against all possible harm and grant them the peace and justice they deserve.
Will Merdeka 58 go down in
history as the turning point for a better and more accountable and democratic
governance in our country? We just hope so.
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