BN's 'hidup gaya baru' will be the death of the rest of us all

The words “hidup” this and “hidup” that; “gaya” this and “gaya” that; “baru” this and “baru” that – are the words that is synonymous with BN’s 50 years of lording over this tiny nation.

And so, a nation so small in comparison to many others dotting this planet, Malaysia probably has the most number of shopping malls and entertainment outlets. The obsession is to build, build and build more malls and shopping arenas, and to market these as “Hidup gaya baru” as can be seen from the mega billboards and not to mention the perennial advertisements that keep the main stream media alive these days.

But BN, where are the parks for the rakyat? Where is the open safe place for the young to exercise, socially integrate and indulge in healthy activities?

BN, where are the playgrounds in each taman? Oh, yes there are you may retort, but have your leaders and supporters taken notice of how pathetic these are? A miserable swing, a see-saw, a slide – all rotting away in the weather; overgrown lallang ora neglected half-field full of thorny undergrowth; and that occasional cleaning up when the rakyat make noise.

BN where is that exercise park for the elderly? We mean the ones that are like in Hong Kong where you get two-court sized space every four to five blocks of high-rise apartments away that is safe, well lit and clean 24/7.

BN, do you know that when dusk descends, our youth take to the streets on motorbikes as Mat Rempits? BN, do you know that young kids are practicing acrobatic stunts on bicycles right into the wee hours of dawn not far from your PWTC headquarters? They do so because that is the only space they have and it is free from traffic only in such wee hours.

BN, do you know that with so many shop lots in every taman, in every township and in the cities, you have allowed internet cafes and snooker centers to sprawl. And the “Hidup gaya baru” is recruiting growing numbers of youth to graduate from all these entertainment outlets.

Where are your mobile libraries and public reading facilities?

BN, do you know that for a country that is blessed with sunshine and bell weather all year round, the need for indoor gyms is a waste? But this is the “Hidup gaya baru” that has been growing out of sheer desperation because outdoor exercising in those far and in between spots is a high-risk job especially when you have to do it outside of the crowded times.

All the wrong priorities

“Hidup gaya baru” is truly setting the citizens backward – which also explains the rise in diseases that were not there before nor in many countries elsewhere today. But again BN will explain itself and get scot-free by stating that people need to change their lifestyles, while fast food franchises are aggressively marketed by BN-proxy and crony businesses.

“Hidup gaya baru” is also about great launches with unashamed announcements of “stau lagi projeck oleh BN” and absolute zero maintenance after that. Just take a look at the many ugly, filthy, rundown dwellings all over the nation.

“Hidup gaya baru” is also about spanking highways and overhead bridges – never mind the fact that the rakyat have to keep paying for these for as long as they have to use them. After all did not the Tun Dr Mahathir argue that BN can give you all these “hidup gaya baru” facilities for as long as the tolls can operate with the protection and license under the cloak of the OSA.

BN oh BN, do you realize where all these "hidup gaya baru" is driving the rakyat into? Rakyat can you please educate the leaders and policy makers and the guardians of the nation - BN, before we all plunge into a backwater ravine someday in the future?

Malaysia Chronicle