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Monday, July 25, 2011

Angry Malaysians & Pragmatism

The Star's Wong Chun Wai has a point when he hinted that political discourse in this country can be conducted in a civilised manner and measured tone.

He asked: "Can we stop being angry people and try to make sense of the issues affecting the nation instead? Or better still, just laugh at them? It’s just the run-up to the silly season, as cynical reporters call it."

Unfortunately, readers of Malaysia Today had responded in a manner which justified Wong's call for courtesy in disagreement. It is not nice and appropriate to call him names. Wong has a right to voice his opinion and we have ours to disagree.

I agree with Wong that most of us are too consumed by anger and frustration to be able to stay courteous.

Perhaps, it is partly a mirror or a reaction to the political responses and actions taken by our politicians and ruling elites.

To be able to debate openly and courteously, there is a need of a platform to do so. Sadly, most of the mainstream media channels in Malaysia are controlled by the ruling coalition. I would like to encourage Wong to open up his newspaper and related media channels to provide an avenue for differing views and opinions.

By allowing a platform for us to do so, it will help to moderate voices of discontent in the country. Wong's good suggestions and editorials would not have been rubbished as mere PR exercise for certain political masters. He should persuade his bosses in MCA to not fear direct engagement with the people/rakyat.

He should also use his influence and access to the Barisan top leadership to change their approach towards peaceful public dissent and to start listening to the ground and grouses.

People are angry because their views are not respected but treated with disdain and hostility by the government. There is a general sense of being played out by the politicians who were given mandate by the people to govern in trust.

Wong has made a good observation: "In short, the rules are not consistent. Make it clear and easy for all parties to apply to hold such talks. Let there be fairness. The political and media landscapes have changed but many of our civil servants and leaders are still stuck in a time warp, and seemingly indifferent to it."

I sincerely believe that Wong's hope of a courteous discourse is not Utopian. There is an innate good in Malaysians if not we would have had a hibiscus spring long before the jasmine revolution in the middle east.

Malaysians have been a patient lot. There are not many governments which can continue to govern and rule absolutely despite countless of scandals, controversies and mismanagement.

With inflation skyrocketing, economy in doldrums, job opportunities shrinking and brain and money outflow, we could use Wong's know-how and know-who to start getting the government and politicians from both sides of the fence to focus on addressing these issues.

I am sure we have heard of the idiom, "A hungry man is an angry man..."

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