Let's all help the government to do the right thing

A couple of months ago, I like many Malaysians voted for a new government. I am proud to say that along with many fellow Malaysians, we got our wish for change and for a better, fairer government.

Already there is action being taken the government by digging into issues like our one trillion ringgit debt, 1MDB, HSR, LRT3 while also trying to get the missing billions of ringgit back to help the people.

While all this is happening, I would like to ask my fellow Malaysians what more that we - the rakyat - can do for our country?

Beyond digging into our own pockets and donating to Tabung Harapan to rebuild our country, how else can we contribute?

I feel that as Malaysians, we too must play an active role to make “Malaysia Great Again”. We must change our attitude from
“tidak apa” to “I care”.

So what do I care about? I care about the safety and security of my family. And this means the community I live in. It really worries me that black market and contraband stuff can be sold so openly and freely right in my own backyard.

Recently I came across an online website which listed shops selling cheap cigarettes. I am disturbed that there are shops in my own neighbourhood selling “rokok tak sah”.

How is it possible that they can do this type of sales so freely? Where is the rule of law? And, what if this “rokok tak sah” are just the tip of the iceberg to more dangerous and illegal stuff floating around like drugs? Guns? Fake medication? Pornography?

The above website encourages the public to report shops selling “rokok tak sah” by sharing it up on this website. Beyond that, is it enough?

Just like how we chose a new government because we were sick and tired of corruption and injustice, we too need to make a choice. We need to continue to care for issues that affect us. We can no longer be “tidak apa”.

This means as caring Malaysians, we should not support shops selling illegal stuff. And we shouldn’t buy illegal stuff. It may cost more to buy legal stuff but as part of a New Malaysia, we must also abide by rule of law.

We also mustn’t turn a blind eye to illegal activities and do our part in reporting these activities to the authorities and urge them to take action.

Let’s start with ourselves – do the right thing because we care. If each of us does the right thing, then the country will be clean and safe. If all of the rakyat are doing the right thing, then it is easy for us to ask our government - what right things are you doing?

We all need to make that difference to create a better country for ourselves. - Mkini