Will Malaysians ever think critically?

 

It has been a news-packed week in Malaysia.

There was some good news. The cabinet agreed to amend the Federal Constitution to enable automatic Malaysian citizenship to children born overseas to Malaysian mothers. Prior to this, quite oddly, only children born to Malaysian fathers overseas were guaranteed this right. Finally, after three months in power, we have a decent reform for our unity government.

But that’s where the good news ended.

There was a scary report. Terengganu PAS Youth conducted a military-like parade where men wore costumes, carried replica weapons, and brandished a giant replica sword on a vehicle. Their costumes were quite comical but the posturing with swords and shields seemed like they were sending some strange war-cry to the rest of us.

Then, there was a ludicrous report that a PAS member of parliament claimed that the affordable meals under a new government initiative could lead to autism. She was roundly given a verbal bashing by a range of people and organisations.

Malaysians saw three former prime ministers in the news this week. PM4 who was also PM7, was apparently considering joining Ibrahim Ali’s Putra party. The nonagenarian doesn’t know when to stop, does he?

PM6 was in the news because he filed a motion to review the ruling upholding his conviction on grounds that the apex court hearing had breached the principles of natural justice, including his right to fair trial and to counsel. He’s still trying to say he didn’t do it.

And, PM8, was in the news claiming that his political party is the victim of “selective prosecution”, after its information chief, Wan Saiful Wan Jan was charged with corruption. Wan Saiful is the current Tasek Gelugor member of parliament, and was arrested and charged in relation to the Jana Wibawa initiative.

This programme was another pandemic stimulus initiative; this time to help Bumiputera contractors. Allegations of corruption continue to plague our nation.

The Auditor-General’s Report revealed this week that only 28 out of the 136 ventilators procured by an external provider for the health ministry from 2020 to 2022, at the height of the pandemic, could be used. This debacle has resulted in the loss of RM13.07 million for the government, and comes at a time when ordinary folks are tightening belts. Another tale of seepage.

Then we saw a report that the country’s largest employers’ group, the Malaysian Employers Federation, fears that up to 60,000 people could lose their jobs this year, double the yearly average of the past. Most job losses are expected to be in manufacturing and construction.

So, it appears that it is the same-old story of a wonky socio-economic climate, more political shenanigans, and continued corruption in Malaysia.

Yet, in the last general elections, we did not vote emphatically for reforms. Instead, we returned a hung parliament, and this weak unity government of compromise was our last resort.

Why? Aren’t we fatigued by the same politicians? And, how is it that after everything, voters don’t seem to think critically, and make informed choices?

I reckon that ultimately, only an informed and empowered citizenry can hold any government, our politicians, or the administration to account. Because like everything else in life, the more informed we are, the better equipped we become to actively partake in any decision-making process.

But for this to happen, Malaysians must learn to think critically.

When people cry sympathetic support for strange cosplay-like parades by ultra-nationalistic political parties, or think that it’s okay for politicians to claim selective persecution when hauled up on corruption charges, it simply shows a serious inability to think rationally.

Many don’t reason but just accept. They passively assimilate information. If their preferred politician or political party is questioned, they just conveniently fall back to the “political harassment” argument. They don’t think critically or think that it is appropriate to examine the facts before deciding.

Malaysians do not seem to empower themselves to have informed opinions. Rather, they rely on parochial indoctrination to determine their decisions.

Isn’t it time for all Malaysians to start thinking critically?

If we properly observe, analyse, interpret, reflect, and evaluate what is happening around us, we can see the pattern of abuse, malfeasance, and mismanagement that happens in our country.

Yet the last general elections shockingly demonstrated that our education system has failed us so badly. Young voters made their choice in a narrow-minded and ethnically charged manner. The racial and religious divide in the country is so apparent.

If Malaysians start thinking critically, surely, they will vote in a considered manner. People will analyse issues, devoid of any propaganda, brainwashing, or religious indoctrination, before deciding.

But for many, they have a dogmatic interpretation of how to maintain balance in our complicated nation. They still vehemently believe that certain communities need special privileges. And, appeasement on racial lines colour every argument.

Are your decisions for your life, your work, the safety of your family, the growth of your career, the longevity of your business, and the survival of our nation, made after you have critically analysed, reflected and evaluated relevant issues?

If we don’t cultivate this ability to think critically for our nation, Malaysia will be in trouble. - FMT

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