One hundred and one days ago

It was an exceptionally hot morning. Despite my not-so-rosy health conditions, it had to be done. I struggled to the car, after which the wheelchair was loaded. Wheeled into one of the classrooms at the Anglo Chinese School in Klang, I dipped my finger into a bottle of ink and put the ‘X’ on two ballot papers.

It took less than a minute. Why all the hassle? I had to do my part so that the next generation, including my daughter, her children and grandchildren, will have a better quality of life.

Later at night, a few ex-colleagues came over with food and titbits. With our eyes glued to the TV, we talked about various outcomes. At about 2am, we were convinced we did the right thing.

This was 101 days ago. Today, we have to ask ourselves: “What would have happened if we did not make the change?”

Forget the pledges, promises and undertakings contained in manifestos. Forget what has been achieved and what has not been. There will be enough time for us to decide if the current batch of elected representatives or their parties deserve another term.

We had known of the plunder of the nation’s wealth; we were aware of the methodical abuse of power; we acknowledged inefficient systems were draining our resources; and all notions of good governance had been dismantled. But who dared say it?

One hundred and one days ago, sources of such information, would have been tarnished and accused of treason or “planning to overthrow a democratically-elected government. The self-serving politicians and their cohorts in the media fraternity would have dutifully carried out their tasks.

For once, we are free of the lies, deceit and misinformation on issues that had affected our beloved nation. Now, information is freely available. The mainstream media (for the first time) is behaving as purveyors of news.

A hundred and one days ago, short of waving the ‘I love PM’ flag, most editors were displaying much more loyalty and faithfulness to MO1 than party cadres. For them, the party and its leaders could do no wrong.

The propaganda that they spat out has since been consigned to the bin. For a change, decent space and airtime are being given to the opposition. Even Umno MP Bung Moktar Radin’s four-letter word got prominence. He has not been forgotten or forgiven because he is seated on the wrong side in the House. That episode would have been buried as a filler 101 days ago!

In the past, editors insisted that they would decide what the public should know. They selected and edited reports. Editors also played the role of the government censor, some even destroying thousands of printed copies of newspapers because something negative about the government had been allowed by the gatekeepers.

Names like Tony Pua and Lim Guan Eng were (then) taboo. Today, every word they utter is like gold – extra care and attention is given to their speeches and press releases. They were then ugly ducklings. Now they are swans!

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was, and still remains, the mother of all financial scandals. Yet, hardly anything on it was reported 100 days ago. News on related court cases down south was a big “no”. Even the phrase ‘1MDB’ was banned in newspapers, leaving Joe Public to rely on the Internet (and Malaysiakini) for much-needed information.

The ‘dumb’ button

Even foreign networks like BBC, CNN and Aljazeera had their problems. In-house minders were ordered to pounce on the “dumb” button on news bulletins on the slightest inkling that 1MDB or the PM would be mentioned.

Their “demonise the leaders” campaign started 1,000 days ago, and 101 days ago, some of them were still at it. There was no dearth of people wanting to get their five minutes of fame – and all got it. All they had to say was: “DAP and Lim Guan Eng are against Muslims and the Malays.” One private TV station perfected this into an art.

Even in defeat, there was no grace. Results were deliberately delayed by the media. Announcers muted their exuberance. “Hebat Negaraku”, sung and produced by corporate bigwigs, which was supposed to be the victory song that morning, had to be consigned to the archives.

Some who were prominent in issuing statements against the then opposition disappeared into oblivion with their tails between their legs. So, did highly-paid communications experts and propaganda chiefs. They were all out of job. As the present PM would say, there was no more ‘dedak’ (animal feed) to pass around.

Overnight, websites closed; writers joined the unemployment queue, and personal computers and laptops were available at discounted prices.

Former British prime minister Harold Wilson remarked that a week is a long time in politics. But for Malaysians, 100 days is a short time to judge the ‘lalang’, who continue to sway with the wind.

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R NADESWARAN says the best thing he did 100 days ago was to persuade his daughter, Vichitra, to drive him to Klang and wheel him into the polling station. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com. - Mkini