Real and Rhetorical Change

The theme of change seems to be the main ethos in the Malaysian political landscape since the March 8 General Election Tsunami. I am of the view that although once popular from Barack Obama's campaign slogan of '' Change'' to Pakatan Rakyat's reformasi, the credibility of the word has since diminished. We can see that in the US today despite some major changes, there are still partisan politics not by-partisan politics that Obama advocated, lobbyists and wall street remained influential over main street and so on. The campaign glitter had somewhat faded, and Americans are now facing reality once again.

Malaysia political landscape also was mesmerised by this word. Anwar mobilised the masses into believing that the Pakatan Rakyat is the agent for change with Reformasi being the theme of the opposition thus leading the opposition to it's best General Election performance.

UMNO, realising the power of that word also joined the bandwagon with slogans like UMNO Mampu Berubah and so on. The government itself introduced the Government Transformation plan and so on indicating change. But lets face it, after more than 2 years can we still believe in the word ''change"?

The reality is much of our politics are still the same. Despite the introduction of 1Malaysia, race still dominates the political landscscape. Just look at how issues are played by both side of the political divide, we will see the dominance of race. Just to prove my point, just pick up a copy of Utusan, the newspaper which is UMNO controlled and you will see how everything is racialised.

Look at what certain statement by non-Malays Opposition members and you will noticed immediately how race was the reason for such statement. So the change that many hope for, the change that wll bring an end to communal politics seems to be nothing more than an empty hope.

Then we look at cronyism and nepotism, are they getting worse or better, well whatever the answer may be, they are still alive and well, both in the ruling and opposition sides. Just look at the Selangor state government owned sand mining company KSSB where there's a discrepancies involving it's management of funds. So the knight in the shining armour in the opposition that the people who voted for them saw turned out to be a disappointment for them.

The issue of corruption remains prevalent. Despite the fact that MACC was given much needed power boost by the government, until it's a fully independent body, it will not be an effective graft busting agency. Just look at it's handling of the PKFZ Scandal, Lingam case and so on.

In conclusion, the real change that the people yearned are not coming anytime soon based on current trend. The reality is just as President Obama said during his campaign, real change occurs from the bottom up and not the other way around. So, if we want real change,the people must be involved irrespective of political leanings and so on. We have seen how the NGO movement in Malaysia has created change for what they represent. Just look at Hindraf and Perkasa to name a few. It's time Malaysians take part in the way the country is governed as only that can make real change happen and not just ''change'' as a mere political rhetoric.