Are We Seeing Catalysts Of Change?

Perhaps the ebb and flow of political rhetorics, economic uncertainties and social “upheavals” that have tainted the Malaysian landscape on a broad front, since the last general elections, are signs that profound winds of change will rip through the country.

Most of us who have felt hard done by under the dictatorship (that’s correct) of Dr Mahathir for more than 20 years believe the catalysts of change will be like a crescendo, building up steadily to reach a point of no return.

For the rest who are still locked in the mind frame of the “ancient regime”, they continue to harass and intimidate the so-called “pendatangs” and “traitors,” resorting to jingoism and caveman tactics to cow those who are not of their kind, or so they think.

The Umno-owned newspapers such as Utusan Melayu, Berita Harian, NST, and their blogheads are never lost for words in their tirade against anyone who steps on Umno’s toes and tail. Propaganda and sometimes incitement is the name of their game.

Surprisingly, a minister, from their own camp, dares to call a certain former prime minister the “father of racism” and for that, this minister is now under fire by these zealots or stormtroopers who may have gone through the indoctrination process at a place called BTN.

Who will come out on top in this socio-political struggle? You can form your own conclusion depending which side of the fence you’re on. But look at other world events and trends of the past and one can see a pattern – nothing stays on forever.

It all boils down to staying power but surely the end must come – sooner or later.

Remember the Soviet Union and communism? If not for Gorbachev and perestroika, Russia would not be reborn and all other Soviet states not attained their independence and freedom.

Remember South Africa and apartheid? If not for F. W. de Klerk, South Africa would have remained an international pariah and not become a multi-racial democracy.

Remember the Iranian monarchy under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi? The Iranian Revolution in 1979 saw the monarchy overthrown and the rule of the ayatollahs began under Ayatollah Khomeini.

Remember a divided Germany – East and West and the Berlin Wall? Well, the Wall is no longer there and a united Germany has moved on to become one of the economic powers of Europe.

Remember all the world’s dictators from Franco of Spain to Pinochet of Chile, the rise and fall of dictators in Africa and Asia, and the rise and fall of ancient empires?

Yes, someone will point out that North Korea’s Kim Jong-il still holds sway as the “Supreme Leader” but don’t you think his time will come eventually?

So will we be able to realize a dramatic change in government in this country, say by the next general election? Let’s hope so.

Thanks to events that have been unfolding in our midst in the last few years that tell those with eyes wide open that this country deserves better than the corruption, discrimnation, underhand tactics, bigotry and racism that permeate and manifest in our national psyche.

We should be able to look back and say:

Remember the days when an Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition conducted its political hegemony over most of the country’s populace with arrogance and deceit. Where the people are made to feel they owe the ruling government a living and not the other way around. Where only the few reaped rewards while the majority are given only crumbs or none at all.

Remember Teoh Beng Hock and his mysterious and untimely death while under questioning by the MACC.

And remember that Dr Mahathir had finally admitted that Umno is a racist party and therefore, he is a racist, too. Could anyone doubt him based on his many utterances that this is Malay country.

– Illuminati