Can you vote for monkeys and expect them to take care of the ripening bananas!

Malaysia is a land most certainly blessed by the gods from time immemorial. Only Malaysians seem to fail to see this truth. It is either because they take the blessings of the gods upon this nation for granted or they are disinterested or couldn’t care less as long as they are able to get on with the business of living.

It is this failure, the inability to appreciate and value and savor the manifold blessings upon the country that should prove to be the undoing of the people of Malaysia.

Instead of focusing on ensuring the equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation and forge ahead to better themselves in a globalized environment, Malaysia’s governing leaders seem more bent on abusing and misusing the nation’s multiple resources.

Facing up to the facts

Let’s face up to the facts of reality. The resources of any nation, including Malaysia, are not infinite. If not carefully managed and utilized, these resources will deplete quickly leaving us and the future generations of Malaysians with nothing much to savor.

It is therefore incumbent upon the Malaysian government to show the way and to act in a responsible and trustworthy manner in ensuring that all of our nation’s resources are managed with zero wastage and be free of wicked manipulation.

Nevertheless, Malaysians are now awakening to the painful and harsh reality that there not only has been a gross waste of the nation’s resources but abuses and misuses of resources are reportedly widespread and these may perhaps just be the tip of the iceberg.

If people in positions of authority can be singled out by the media and be accused of corrupt practices, it is anyone’s guess what the rest of those below the pecking order are up to as their bosses are blatantly engaged in abuses in this era of the politics of plenty.

If accusations of corruption can be hurled at the top brass of the Najib Administration, it is hard to believe that the rest of the administration are accountable and free from corruption. A fish always rots from the head.

Difficult to quantify abuses of power

While over the last three decades it is difficult to quantify the extent of abuses that have taken place in the era of the politics of plenty, what is evident, without any doubt whatsoever, is that there has been and presently is, a widespread evil that has spawned other evils to arise such as deteriorating race relations, the gap between the rich and poor widening, an inefficient judiciary and a police force that has powers beyond that which is necessary, which itself is a form of blatant abuse leading to Malaysia being described even by Mahathir Mohammad himself that it is a “police state.”

These are merely some of the abuses that have come about owing to the powers-that-be engaging in the politics of plenty rather than focusing on ensuring meritocracy, law and order and good governance are in place.

Instead of strengthening the institutions of government, the abuses occurring in the process of the era of the politics of plenty has downplayed true democracy and failed to create social cohesion as witnessed in countries where the economic growth has benefitted enormously most of the peoples of these nations.

The coming 13^th General Elections

In this respect, with all due consideration to the current and past political leaders, it is best that the so called progress made in the last thirty years be considered as a real farce, and for voters in the coming 13^th General Election to do the hard work of thinking and screening the candidates up for election before casting their votes.

In the past, owing to money politics and other forms of electoral abuses, voters have been swayed and influenced by the promises of the politics of plenty to cast their votes in favor of a candidate.

It is high time for the Malaysian voter to rise to the occasion to display maturity and wisdom in opting to vote for their candidates and to throw out those that do not live up to expectations.

Selfish, self-seeking individuals should be clearly taken note of by voters and be shown the exit door despite their ability to promise heaven to voters.

Votes should only be cast for candidates who are willing to serve and have a proven track record of having served the people in safeguarding and promoting their interests.

Is, for instance, a sum of RM500 or more being paid to buy votes a worthwhile offer to take up to further fuel abuses and corruption which should end up destroying the nation? Are Malaysians going to still be short-sighted in their thinking or see through these political ploys?

Please don’t vote for monkeys and expect them to take care of the ripening bananas!

Malaysia Chronicle