Malaysians deserve better leaders

Malaysia is truly blessed. We have the best of everything, from amazing world-class beach resorts to the most accessible oldest rainforest systems in the world. From the highest mountain in Southeast Asia to the tallest twin towers.

We’re a shopper's paradise, a food lover's haven, and a melting pot of different races, religions and cultures. In other words, Malaysia is truly Asia.

Yet, our greatest strength is not in any of these things, the country's greatest blessing is its people.

Yes, we may bicker over petty and trivial stereotypical matters that can cause major rifts amongst the different races like children fighting for their favourite toys, but ultimately when push comes to shove, we always know who and what we are in the end. We’re all Malaysians - anak jati (the true children) Malaysia.

And you don’t get a better display of how true Malaysians are but during times of disaster and national crises. Malaysians of all age, race, religion, creed or colour have never failed to show solidarity by coming together to reach out and help each other in times of need.

It doesn’t matter if you’re Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Punjabis or any other race, when disaster strikes - be it natural disasters or global pandemics - regular Malaysians always rise above the political polemic as one, notwithstanding which government of the day is in power. 

Yet, over and over, we are constantly mired and tainted by the ugliness of dirty racial politics and religious bigotry in our country. Coupled with a cancerous form of extremism in partisan politics, I can never understand why with a country so full of natural talent and heart that we are still dealt with such a lousy hand within our politics and government.

We Malaysians deserve better. We deserve a better government, system and policies. But most of all, we deserve better leaders.

Malaysians are by and large a peaceful and docile citizenry at heart. We aren’t apathetic but are highly tolerant and forgiving by nature. Even our street demonstrations are docile.

How else do you explain that our economy is still intact even when half a million demonstrators thronged our streets during the Bersih rallies? There were no riots, looting or violence but instead, you had petty traders enjoying brisk sales as if it was a carnival.

We are so tolerant that we can even thrive within a system of government that promotes institutional racism and supremacist policies for decades without any fear of a backlash from its citizenry. The country’s ability to still remain competitive after all these years is a testament of our strength and resolve.

But for how long? Eventually, it will come undone. And somehow I feel that time is nigh. We do deserve better and so it’s time we say enough is enough.

Enough of the corruption, lies, bigotry and racial discrimination. Enough of the systemic erosion of our civil rights and social liberties. Enough of the incessant and unscrupulous plundering of our country’s national treasures. 

Enough of the political backstabbing, petty party infighting, party hopping and political manoeuvring. Enough of the discord. Enough of leaders such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar Ibrahim, Najib Abdul Razak, Muhyiddin Yassin, Azmin Ali and all those running our country to the ground.

It’s time true Malaysians come together by setting aside all our differences and usher in a new generation of forward-thinking citizens eager to make this country one that we are all proud to call home.

Malaysia is sick, she is suffering from a political pandemic that has existed for far too long since its inception in 1957, and must be dealt with at its core. The time to act is now, for we can’t wait any longer or else more good Malaysians will leave.

Are you willing to answer this call? I don’t know about you, but what I do know is that Malaysians deserve better. - Mkini