GE15: Time for light to triumph over darkness

 

Preparations for the general election are taking place just as we celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights, today.

The essence of Deepavali is the triumph of good over evil, of right over wrong, and the exorcising of demons within us and in society.

One of the most popular Deepavali myths is that of the vanquishing of the demon Narakasura. One version has it that God in the form of Krishna answers the call of the suffering public and kills the demon. Another more popular version has it that while fighting with Narakasura, Krishna collapses and his wife Satyabhama takes up the fight and finally slays the demon that has been troubling society.

These stories symbolise both internal and external conflicts and how everyone can and must overcome the demons within and without.

Evil, of course, comes in many forms, as do demons.

On the personal level the demons include jealousy, greed, cruelty, injustice, egoism and sloth. As we celebrate Deepavali, we are reminded to work on ourselves so that we can be rid of these demons, these characteristics and shine as a light to others.

On the societal level, demons such as cruelty, egoism, selfishness, bigotry and injustice take possession of leaders of organisations, institutions, government, or nations and cause considerable damage to the lives of the people. Sometimes the actions of these leaders cause war and conflict; sometimes their actions cause racial or religious tensions; and sometimes their actions rob their own people of their rights as citizens.

The Deepavali light is about good governance; it is about a corrupt-free society; it is about inclusiveness as humans; it is about ensuring justice for everyone; it is about building bridges and eradicating conflict.

Isn’t this what we all want?

Malaysia is a great country to live in but certain political parties, certain politicians, certain powerful individuals, and certain credos and mindsets have turned it into a mess.

Certainly, we have good infrastructure and modern facilities, and certainly we don’t have civil strife as in some other countries. But a nation is more than that.

Are our leaders competent? Are our leaders enlightened or greedy and self-interested? Do we have progressive policies that allow opportunities for every citizen to shine? Do we have a corrupt-free government or system? Do we have an education system that builds knowledge, skills and character? Do we have a national credo that helps bring all Malaysians together? Is there equal justice for all? Are the powerful and connected protected by the system?

And who among the individuals vying for leadership can carry the torch that will light up our lives and bring the shine back to our nation?

As we go into GE15, these are some of the questions we should be asking ourselves.

If we vote based on race or religion or fear or greed, or the fact that we received a hamper or a handshake, we will be dooming this beautiful nation.

Another aspect of Deepavali is the importance it gives to womanhood. As I mentioned above, in one of the Deepavali stories, Satyabhama, the wife of Krishna, kills the demon Narakasura. The story symbolises the power of women to bring about change, to bring about a better society.

From my observations, I find that women are generally less corrupt than men. If we want a more corrupt-free government, we should put more capable women in government. I find that women are also more likely to be tolerant of other people’s ways and beliefs.

Such characteristics are favourable for promoting good governance and building bridges between people in multiracial Malaysia.

In recent years, we have seen some capable women in Parliament and in government – especially in the former Pakatan Harapan Cabinet. We need more like them.

But of course, we don’t need women politicians who think they are in Parliament to represent women only or only talk about women’s rights. Women politicians must go beyond fighting for their own gender and become truly national in outlook.

And although women are taking greater interest in politics and the future of the nation, not enough of them are participating to make a difference. It’s time for today’s versions of Fatimah Hashim and Rafidah Aziz to rise and shine.

It’s time political parties stopped seeing their women members as decorations or fit only to prepare dishes and decorate meeting venues, or go house-to-house to canvass for votes or serve as a vote bank.

Although about half the voters are women, and although all parties have women’s wings, women have not been given enough importance. Educated and capable women should, therefore, be given an opportunity to show what they are capable of. After all, more than half the university population in the last decade or so has been female.

I hope to see more women candidates being fielded in GE15, because I believe there are many Satyabhamas out there who can successfully slay demons such as corruption, injustice, sexual abuse and racial strife.

I believe there are many capable and caring women who can bring light not just to our homes but also to our nation.

How much longer should we allow political instability to drag this nation down? How much longer can the nation shoulder economic woes before it sinks? How much longer should we wallow in this darkness? Isn’t it time we walked in the light? - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.