Lee Choon Kit
The Malaysian Insider
May 31, 2011

MAY 31 — We give people who have wronged us in the past second chances, in hopes that he or she can learn from whatever mistakes they have made. Malaysia needs a second chance from the people. In retrospect, the country has not wronged any of its people. It is after all built on the thoughts and foundation of equality.

I am not trying to antagonise any of the people who left Malaysia behind for the pursuit of affluence and happiness. I am no better myself, as I am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Australia; a degree of which can be obtained in Malaysia just as easily.

In my short four months here in Australia, I had an epiphany (or so I thought). I am contributing to the Australian society and my dear Malaysia is left out cold in the curb. I signed a petition for gay rights in Australia but I never did so in Malaysia. I pay tens of thousands of Australian dollars to the university every semester and the lecturers aren’t any better than the ones we have in Malaysia (arguably worse perhaps).

I buy Australian produced groceries in their supermarkets, thus contributing to their economy. Then something struck me; all these efforts and money could have been spent in Malaysia. I could have been a part of a civil rights movement (even if it’s just a signature on a petition); the money could indirectly contribute to our economy; I could have been helping Malaysia.

There is a profound need for talent in Malaysia, Malaysians are neither stupid nor moronic. It’s just a huge chunk of these talents chose to leave Malaysia behind. We always expect change to come from others but not ourselves.

I remember asking one of my Christian friends to vote during the 2008 elections. The response I got from her was, and I quote “I don’t vote because I’m not interested in politics *giggles*”. She wasn’t the only one. I was appalled to have received the same response from other fellow Christians.

All of them passionate about change in their ministry. I have attended countless prayer meetings when fellow Christians cried out for God and seeking divine intervention to change Malaysia. Well, I have news, people! Don’t expect God to smite the corrupted with lightning bolts. The only smiting comes from us; through voting and participating in the fight for equality and accountability from the government.

God doesn’t need to vote. He can’t. We can. Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians have left Malaysia; if only each and everyone of them voted for change; participated in rallies; pressuring the government for accountability; stood up for what they believed in; we probably wouldn’t be knee deep in inflation.

Malaysians love to complain, but we hate to appreciate (except for food, everyone loves the food). I didn’t appreciate Malaysia when I left for Australia. But there is still so much good and potential underneath all the corruption and ignorance, waiting to be harnessed.

Malaysia only seems hopeless because we have judged it so. How many us have actually done something about the inequality that haunts us still? How many of us wrote to our members of Parliament to encourage them? How many of us joined an NGO and sacrificed some of our time to fight for the causes we believed in? How many eligible voters have actually voted? We cannot abandon our home without trying!

Change doesn’t come from a celestial being prancing on the clouds, nor does corruption come from a malevolent spirit that roams beneath the grounds. It comes from us. Malaysia needs this second chance. Come home.

I am Lee Choon Kit and I am proud to be Malaysian.

* Disclaimer: I realise that not all Christians are as oblivious and ignorant as I have portrayed above. I am simply speaking from experience. That being said, I am extremely proud of my Senior Pastor Rev John Kok for speaking out against emigration from the pulpit and I have met many Christians who have committed their lives in fighting for our nation.