“Malaysia: culture change”
For good or worst?
By suren
For good or worst?
By suren
The Curtains will soon be down for 2011 and the nation will be welcoming 2012. Reflecting back on how Malaysia has been doing, one significant change seems highly visible, ““demonstrating” culture” which was once a very rare phenomenon in Malaysia before 2011. Most Malaysians now can in a jiffy name a few demonstrations as it has been so common in Malaysia, from demo’s for rights, a cleaner pooling system, a walk to present a toilet bowl as a gift to authorities, demo’s by presenting agitating shaped cake as gifts, students breaking in varsity complexes and bringing down flags, march and riots to amend laws and even as we read there are rumours of coming uproars of demonstrations in Malaysia
Inevitably the political stirs caused by the larger power share to the oppositions has heated up the seats for the ruling party ever since the 2005 elections. The cats and dogs among them has much coloured the political sheets in the people’s eyes. Once Malaysia has been the quiet lot in the political agenda but this is no longer the case. Umpteen numbers of demonstrations, picketing and rioting have been rising every now and then consistently. Of Course the development of technologies which makes it accessible to acquire information’s fast, phenomenal growth of social media’s which makes it easy to get groups coordinated and political uproar in foreign nations are a few causes to be blamed yet what about self-reflection on the peaceful Malaysia we had to be viewed in contrast?
Reflecting on it makes us realize that this has not been the culture of Malaysians, for some time ago we used to watch such things happen in other countries and also neighbouring countries through the mainstream news but now Malaysia is having a culture change where it is becoming a norm in Malaysia to Demonstrate, march or picket to express issues, mostly backed by political reasons, seeking rights or emotional out pours
Name it freedom of expression or human rights; there are numerous questions which needs the answer of true Malaysians such as; are we heading right or is it heading to worst? Are we Malaysians are happy and willing to accept the street demonstrations or whatever forms of “Demonstration” as a part of our culture? Are we doing it right or should it be that way? Is it okay for foreign countries to recognize us as the demonstrating country compared to the fast paced developing country image we had?
These are a few questions need to be thrown to ourselves as Malaysians and it should be answered by us too, does seeking democracy in a non-democratic ways or actions can be justified as an act of democracy?; or a view on how many did truly walked the talk on their efforts through the said demonstrations? Perhaps the culture of Malaysia and how it has been needs to be rekindled and aspired on. It may not be harming to express and practice rights but it has to be for the right cause, by the right people and in the right way which doesn’t harm others physically or emotionally and doesn’t tarnish the image of the country which was built which much efforts and sacrifices. 2012 is still a mystery on whether it is going to cultivate the new “demonstrating” culture of Malaysia or if it has other plans, for sure the people of Malaysia are to answer..
Point to ponder : A people free to choose will always choose peace ~ Ronald Reagan
Inevitably the political stirs caused by the larger power share to the oppositions has heated up the seats for the ruling party ever since the 2005 elections. The cats and dogs among them has much coloured the political sheets in the people’s eyes. Once Malaysia has been the quiet lot in the political agenda but this is no longer the case. Umpteen numbers of demonstrations, picketing and rioting have been rising every now and then consistently. Of Course the development of technologies which makes it accessible to acquire information’s fast, phenomenal growth of social media’s which makes it easy to get groups coordinated and political uproar in foreign nations are a few causes to be blamed yet what about self-reflection on the peaceful Malaysia we had to be viewed in contrast?
Reflecting on it makes us realize that this has not been the culture of Malaysians, for some time ago we used to watch such things happen in other countries and also neighbouring countries through the mainstream news but now Malaysia is having a culture change where it is becoming a norm in Malaysia to Demonstrate, march or picket to express issues, mostly backed by political reasons, seeking rights or emotional out pours
Name it freedom of expression or human rights; there are numerous questions which needs the answer of true Malaysians such as; are we heading right or is it heading to worst? Are we Malaysians are happy and willing to accept the street demonstrations or whatever forms of “Demonstration” as a part of our culture? Are we doing it right or should it be that way? Is it okay for foreign countries to recognize us as the demonstrating country compared to the fast paced developing country image we had?
These are a few questions need to be thrown to ourselves as Malaysians and it should be answered by us too, does seeking democracy in a non-democratic ways or actions can be justified as an act of democracy?; or a view on how many did truly walked the talk on their efforts through the said demonstrations? Perhaps the culture of Malaysia and how it has been needs to be rekindled and aspired on. It may not be harming to express and practice rights but it has to be for the right cause, by the right people and in the right way which doesn’t harm others physically or emotionally and doesn’t tarnish the image of the country which was built which much efforts and sacrifices. 2012 is still a mystery on whether it is going to cultivate the new “demonstrating” culture of Malaysia or if it has other plans, for sure the people of Malaysia are to answer..
Point to ponder : A people free to choose will always choose peace ~ Ronald Reagan
No comments:
Post a Comment