Malaysia now the sick man of South East Asia, thanks to Umno

Who does not know that change is inevitable, and you can either be swept aside by it, go along with it, or become a master of it?

The politicians in Malaysia!

And as long as this is the case, Malaysia will soon – very soon, be taken into intensive care, earning the reputation as ‘The sick man of South East Asia’.

There was a period in history, not too far in time, when Malaysia was running a lead race while its neighbors were blanketed in misery, battles, feuds and instability.

Today while these nations have come out of their pains and are racing ahead to capitalize on equitable economies, Malaysia is fast sliding backwards in its political health with a festering wound eating into the national coffers.

Fed-up of 'sandiwara' politics

Look at the battles we have been fighting since the sunset-rule of the former premier Tun Mahathir Mohamad. UMNO/BN has been pounding its artillery ceaselessly on issues and targets with political cannon balls smeared in sex, race and religion.

The presiding government under Prime Minister Najib Razak through its politicians and leaders just refuses to embrace change. And the price is a deep rift between the rakyat. Today, we are seeing the nation divided in bitterness.

In politics there may be no permanent friends and no permanent enemies – as preached by Tun Dr Mahathir; but it should not be at the expense of fighting against change.

The fact is the citizens are tired of the Malaysian sandiwara-styled politics. They are tired of the many unanswered corruption allegations. They are growing impatient with the court jesters. They are beginning to demand their right to know from A to Z about this nation’s wealth management.

Fed up of corruption and mismanagement

This restlessness among Malaysians is further accelerated not by Anwar Ibrahim or the Opposition parties but by the very fact that the working population has been feeling the heat of mismanagement and corruption for these past several years since the vintage-regime master stepped down.

They are questioning why is a nation endowed with so much of resources not able to give its citizenry a smooth sail in life? They are beginning to witness the rise of their neighbors, while we grapple and grovel of an existence. They are beginning to realize that despite all the infrastructure and grandiose mega trappings that skirts the nation, Malaysians are finding it harder a struggle to put decent meals on the table.

Change cannot be resisted

Change then is inevitable. Soon, the citizens will in increasing numbers tilt the scales. They will opt to become masters of change.

But if the powers that be continue to use brute force, intimidation and drummed up fear creation to stall the tides, then when the scales are tipped, there will be chaos. And with that the sick man would have drifted into coma.

Leaders, do you want Malaysia to be paralyzed for your own greed for money, power, control and selfish ideologies? Or do you want to be a part of that change that will take the nation out of its ailing health?

Do you still not want to learn that when you resist change and stand in its way, the devastating effects will only plunge the nation into permanent handicap?

J. D. Lovrenciear reads Malaysia Chronicle