The People Speaks

It's the morning after the General Elections of my country. The sun is still shining. And hopefully, the streets (and people) have remained calm. Reading the newspapers online, it appears that the People have spoken. In loud voices to boot!

The country's National Front wins only with a 61% stake in the Parliament. They lost 27% of the opportunities to represent to what was formerly known as the Opposition. I say this after reading Alwyn's Blog - that they are no longer the Opposition - they are now part of the Government. They will represent 39% of the House, and manage the running of 5 states - including the one which I call home.

I am trying to reconcile now how these numbers will affect and impact my life, and the lives of my kids. I am trying to download their manifestos and figure out how these changes would come about. Reading the parties' manifestoes and all, it all seems pretty frivolous and superficial. What is even scarier is that people appear to have actually bought into all of it.

My folks voted for the opposition member cos she wanted to improve the traffic situation in Subang. Oh please – there is nothing wrong with the roads there – it’s all to do with the bloody people who live there, and their I-own-the-right-of-way attitude! I lived there for 8 bloody years – I should know! And you think that a 29-year-old lawyer chic is going to be able to brainwash everyone in that place called Ulu Subang Jaya to drive courteously and better!

My sister-in-law and her family did not vote for the incumbent cos when her brother fell ill, our then-MP told her mum he did not have the time to help raise the funds. Now that’s a bloody-no-brainer to me cos why did he have to? He’s the MP – not the Saviour of the World, the solver of ALL problems! And for them to turn against him.. it's got nothing to wanting change is it? It's all gotta do with vengence for being snub.

I am not a registered voter. And it was my choice. I am not a fence-sitter. I am just oblivious to the words, promises of change, and the personal hope that each neighbor carried. I am also a firm believer that how your life goes, lies in your own two hands – not those of the government or the party that rules the policies, standards and processes. It is our OWN values and attitude that shape the way our world turns. Not theirs.

All the talk of being a ‘clean’ government and transparency, yadda-yadda-yadda – trust me, one fine day someone is gonna turn and accuse the newbies of the same. For in business, someone has to profit and prosper. And if it ain’t someone they know, you’d still be in the wrong and stand accuse of the same anyways.

A friend asked me this morning - did I really think there would be no impact of this shift in powers? I guess I would ~ I just don't see how or where or when. And here’s a list why:

• I do not see the prices of petrol coming down – what’s done is done, what’s spent is gone. Taking funds from somewhere else (like building the bridge) would only hedge the rising cost temporarily. Wouldn’t we be better off seeking ways to be non-petrol dependant instead? (err.. don’t think anyone has mentioned that as yet on this petrol issue!!)
• I do not see the quality of education improving – it’s all got to do with attitude and sadly, there ain’t many out there with a genuine passion for teaching, learning and children anymore. Giving them better salaries is not going to inspire that passion. It comes from within, not without. Giving them training is not gonna qualify them in being 'fit' to educate.
• I do not see the streets being any safer – unless all the criminals out there belong to underground societies where our newly elected reps are members of as well. Then maybe they could exert some form of in-society code that would reduce the criminal activities.
• I do not see the possibilities of many more minority races holding more positions of power. I would be darn worried if that suddenly happened, especially if they are not equipped with the intellectual tools and knowledge to carry out the task(s) at hand. Wouldn’t that then be a form of racial-nepotism/cronyism? Shouldn’t it be that the best man, in terms of knowledge, perspective and intellect wields the sword?

I am no pro-government. Don’t get me wrong. I am just fast feeling like I’m a foreigner living in my own country! I can't be bothered with who sits in the House unless there is concrete evidence that my quality of life would improve significantly under the powers of someone else. If not, it’s all the same anyways.

In conclusion, in all honesty: Five years from today, I can bet my last dollar, that my state would not have grown by leaps and bounds. And that the People will once again speak. For there is nothing worse to raise the expectations of the People, and to not live up to it.

As the saying goes - Hell hath not the fury of the person scorn. In the moment of the chase, the passion of the moment, our representatives have sold their hopes and dreams to the People. They had now better live up to it. Or it would be a very expensive divorce 5 years down the road.

Bigger and better things to come? It remains to be seen.