Our dream Malaysia

Netizens comments on writer's blog shows many are continuing to hope for a better Malaysia.

COMMENT

Over the past few years, more and more Malaysians are playing their role in making Malaysia a better home. While some assert that Malaysia is perfect as it is now, others think the nation can do a lot better.

Unfortunately, some from the latter category lose hope as clean and fair election, ethnic equity and low crime rate never seem to become a reality in Malaysia. Thus, they emigrate in search of a better place to live. Great talents and expertise leave with them.

However, we are lucky to have many great Malaysians who continue hoping for the Malaysia that we will be proud to call our home one day.

It is in this spirit, I created a Tumblr blog on July 6 to provide an avenue to share the hopes Malaysians have for their beloved nation. They were posed one simple question: “How does your dream Malaysia look like?”

About a dozen people came forward to record their hopes for Malaysia on the blog thus far.

A number of them touched on racial equity. For instance, one hopeful Malaysian wrote, “I dream Malaysia to be genuinely a home for every Malaysian; no one is privileged to tell any particular group of race/ethnicity of where they belong or should return to. No one should be other-ised and/or racialised, which means one’s identity should be self-proclaimed rather than labelled by others.”

In the similar vein, another Malaysia longed for Malaysia as a place where securing a place in higher educational institutions and matriculations is not determined by race.

With crime rate rising rapidly here with the recent spate of shootings, a couple of Malaysians dreamt of safety and security.

One said, “My dream is to see Malaysia as a safe home – as a place where the Malaysians can walk freely without having to fear for their safety all the time.”

Another wrote: “I hope to see a Malaysia where one day, we can walk on the streets without worries or fears, because, when that day comes, we can truly be proud to call ourselves Malaysians.”

In addition, some expressed their strong yearning for Malaysia to have good educational and public transport systems.

“I also dream that Malaysia will be able to make education affordable to people especially in rural areas and have it on par with their counterpart in the urban areas as well on par with international education standards like neighbouring Singapore.

“I dream that one day Malaysia will have efficient and accessible public transport system from both Perlis to Johor and Kuching to Lahad Datu.”

Play your part

With that, many are pinning their hopes on the younger and coming generations where one hopeful Malaysian wrote:, “I dream that the effort made by the newer and younger generation in changing Malaysia to become a better nation can be respected, recognized, and taken seriously by the older generation! Do not be afraid of change!”

Thus, more Malaysians are upbeat now that Malaysia will move with the times and be one day in the league of an advance nation.

This is reflected in many of the comments such as, “My dream Malaysia is one in which people are not judged by their skin, sexual-orientation and political beliefs rather by their pure intentions and kindness” and “I dream that someday refugees who live in Malaysia will get better treatment and will not have to live in fear anymore.”

However, a politician took the wind out of the sail when he commented on the blog that his dream is quite impossible in which the politicians and the government actually work for the people.

Of course, we understand that we have a lot to fight for before realising our dream Malaysia. Nevertheless, it is essential to keep our hopes and dreams alive as they give us the drive to continue trying.

They will also stop us from leaving our home halfway with despair. Our beloved nation needs the involvement from all of its visionary citizens in order to prosper. Please stay and play your part.

Finally, borrowing from John Lennon, “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And [Malaysia] will live as one, [a home for all].”

You too can share your dreams with similarly hopeful Malaysians at http://dreammalaysia.tumblr.com

Tamil Selvan Ramis is a FMT columnist.