No longer will the generation X’s and Y’s buy in to the propaganda of the ruling party. No longer do we want to be spooned fed with information or do we want our opinions to be formed on what the leaders want. We seek and form our own opinions and we have the Internet as our field to share and disperse our ideals, opinions and views.
The Times They Are a-Changin’
by Iqbal Abd Ghaffar
The chart topping song sung and wrote by Bob Dylan in 1963 captured the spirit of social and political upheaval that characterized the 1960s. It talks about how things have changed and how people should embrace and welcome it.
Though Bob Dylan in 1964 denies that his song had any resemblance to the situation then, it continues to inspire and draw attention to itself because of the simplicity of its message transpired through its lyrics.
The times do change and in this beloved country of mine, throughout its modern history, notable events have colored each stage of the country’s journey since independance.
In 1957 Malaya gain independence, 1960 emergency was lifted, 1963 Malaysia was formed, 1965 Singapore left the federation, 1969 racial riots, 1971 NEP, 1987 Operation Lalang, 1988 Constitutional crisis and UMNO declared unlawful, 1988-89 Economic Recession, 1997-98 Recession, 1998 Anwar sacked and now 2008 BN loses customary 2/3 majority in the 12th general elections.
From the years noted above, one can see a pattern that a significant event occurs in Malaysia every 10-12 years. This happens towards the end of the decades ending with the digits 7, 8, or 9. A coincidence or has this been fated?
When Anwar was sacked in 1998, his mentor turned nemesis Dr. Mahathir had jailed the former premier and ensured that he will be too old to be active in politics when he was released from prison some 15 years later. He was released in 2004 after his sodomy charge was overturned.
In Mar 2008, BN faced its worst electoral defeat since 1969 (then Alliance Party), losing its 2/3 majority and wiping out many its component parties to oblivion, most notably MIC, Gerakan, and PPP. The man who had capsized the BN’s ship was the same man who had gave BN the best performance for BN in 2004. He had made the very people who voted for him in 2004, turned against him in just 4 years! No PM and BN chair person has succesfully done what he has done in such a short time!
Under his premiership, corruption became rampant, cronyism and nepotism was the basis for giving out government contracts, UMNO became a party for his family and became super racist, BN MPs were arrogant, the economy was growing at a pathetic 5-6% per annum and was heavily mismanaged, cost of living spiraled upwards, Malaysians were disillusioned from Vision 2020, freedom of press was gagged, and the government’s operating expenditure grew by 50%!
This was all done by 1 man, who had NO balls to deliver his manifesto promises of 2004. His raft of promises for reform was severely badawised (root word: badawi meaning to over promise but under or never deliver). His speeches were highly rhetoric and hypocritical!
Today, 10 years after Awar’s absence from Parliament, he has returned “home” as a new man. 6 years vanquished in prison has changed him and his perception of life. It gave him time to muhassabah (reflect) upon himself. Thus now, he has reinvented and position himself as a leader for the rakyat espousing the concept of people supremacy against UMNO’s Malay supremacy.
His bandied loose coalition of opposition parties have is now a formidable force recognized as the Pakatan Rakyat or People’s Alliance. With the grievance of the people and their hate for BN and UMNO for its arrogant ways, the people of Malaysia have now come to accept a Malaysia not lead by BN. The people of Malaysia have matured since the political crisis of 1998 and now wants a say in leading and shaping the country.
Since 1998, some 2 million new voters have registered many of them who were going through high school and university in 1998 are now in the workforce. These people or better famed as generation X and Y’s are far more tech savvy, sophisticated, are information hungry and does not subscribe to the norms and opinions of the old or baby boomers.
No longer will the generation X’s and Y’s buy in to the propaganda of the ruling party. No longer do we want to be spooned fed with information or do we want our opinions to be formed on what the leaders want. We seek and form our own opinions and we have the Internet as our field to share and disperse our ideals, opinions and views.
Come the general elections of 2008, these young turks went home and shared with their kampung folks, their parents and grand parents news and information that was not accessible to them. They told about the arrogance of BN and the corrupt practices of its leaders. They shared stories of how their lives are harder in the big city and why they are unable to send so much money back home.
The use of new and cheaper technology such as the hand phone and Internet had made news so much more easier to disseminate. This was particularly true with SMS as it has a higher penetration rate of 98% compared to the Internet. Every rumor is now news!
Though Anwar Ibrahim hails from the era of the baby boomers, he has embraced and listens to the needs of the gen X’s and Y’s. This is evident and proven by the makeup of his party members, assembly men and MPs. Most of the are in their mid 20s to late 30s who are educated and professionals. Even DAP and PAS have a better representation of young faces in Parliament.
Compare that to the leaders, assemblymen, and MPs of BN, the majority of them are made up of people in their early or mid 40s. This now becomes a challenge of ideals: the young verses the old.
This however does not mean that Anwar ignores the older generation and baby boomers. He is the best that these generation have. He is a a bridge between the Gen X’s and Y’s and the baby boomers and senior citizens.
BN particularly UMNO are now like aging dinosaurs. The meteor has already hit the Earth, and everything around it is dying. Yet they do not want to change. They do not want to reform or adapt. They choose not evolve with the changing times.
Many of its component parties are calling for reform yet they’re voices become muted because of a deaf chairman and PM. He is ignorant and turns a blind eye on the rakyat’s wishes and choose not to listen or see their plight.
For BN to survive, UMNO must respond and change. Abdullah at all costs must go. Najib at all costs must go. Corrupt leaders and politicians of UMNO, MIC, MCA, and the other component parties must go. Samy Vellu must leave! He’s overstayed his welcome by some 20 years already.
The magical date of Sept 16 draws closer. Some remain skeptic, some couldn’t be bothered while some are excited and await this day like a child waiting for their birthday to come soon so that he or she can be showered with gifts.
Sept 16 2008 will mark as a significant day not only as Malaysia Day but may be recorded in history as day that the ideals of change and new dawn materializes or as the day that Anwar commits a major badawi.
The times, they definitely are a-changin’.
IAG