Democracy

Democracy - to many it's just a word meaning a system practised whereby there is election and voting. In actual fact, it is more than a word. It is a perspective. A perspective of the people on the future of their nation. In Malaysia, we have claimed that we practice a democratic system and the people have the power to choose the Government that best represents them. This is a claim most frequently used by the ruling government to claim that they have been given the mandate by the people to rule the nation as they have been in power since the country gained independence.

Most Malaysians who do not have the access to the internet might buy that story but what democracy is there in Malaysia when there is gerry-mandering involved in the elections? What's more, the Government has passed an Act which requires publication companies to renew a license every year. With this Act in place, the Government is practically in control of all the media. No news coverage is given to the opposition unless it's a negative one. Even campaigning permits are restricted. Without a leveled playing field, where is the essence of democracy?

10th November 2007 - A day that will be forever etched in my mind. A day when the Malaysian people stood up as one against all the injustice brought about. I honestly believe that the forefathers have the most sincere intentions to form the social contract to live in harmony and to go to greater heights as a nation. Sadly this social contract has been misinterpreted and the lies are spread. It was on 10th November 2007, Malaysians from all walks of life come together as one to push for an electoral reform. The four reforms demanded are:

1. The use of indelible ink to prevent repeated voting.
2. The prevention of ghost voting (actually it means ID theft by using IDs of the deceased to vote and it does not mean that the supernatural is rife in Malaysia with the deceased rising from the dead to vote).
3. The abolition of postal voting.
4. Equal access to the mainstream media by all political parties.
   

It was indeed a moment to be proud of. The space trip by a Malaysian cannot even compare to the feeling i felt from this rally. It is indeed true that the best things in life are free. To see how the divide and rule tactic used did not stop the people from going on as one to demand for their most basic rights - the right to have a fair and clean election. Personally i would say that moment was as significant as the moment our forefathers got together to demand Independence from the British Government. Such a rally did not cost the Government billions. All it took was the determination of the people in the country to achieve liberation. Despite the odds staked against them, with 4000 police personnels standing guard and using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The truth will prevail regardless. Here is a link to the al jazeera coverage on the rally http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtQxwS0CfGs

My day started off gloomy too but i guess a smile from a waitress and this event did brighten up my day though i think the waitress was just trying to get me to eat at the food court. 10th November 2007 - a day i salute the TRUE HEROES of Malaysia and not a SPACE TOURIST :P