IS THIS A COUNTRY NOT IN DISTRESS?

Seize the moment
Bernie Chow | Sep 22, 08 5:10pm
Given the precarious and fragile situation that our beloved country is now in, the gravity of all that has been happening since Mar 8, the almost untenable current leadership and with a history behind us of manipulative, unscrupulous and devious politicians using race/religion cards, I would certainly support any attempts and opportunities for a new government to take over.

It is without a doubt that our general elections have always been held on an uneven playing field - gerrymandering, suspicious electoral rolls and postal votes, main stream media control, money politics, etc, which means that results could have been fraudulent and not reflective of the desire of the majority.

We have tasted all forms of gross inefficiency and lackluster public delivery services, unabated corruption, racist policies with scant regard for meritocracy and transparency, showing neither genuine concern nor sincere respect for the poor and the marginalised.

Race and religion have been politicised to the hilt and this has affected every sphere and strata of our lives from civil/public service to education, health and transport systems. Tainted and myopic ways of operation, laced with corruption, racist and self-serving ways is the order of the day.

Year after year, the Auditor-General’s reports reveal nothing but sham, unchecked abuse and misuse of power, blatant corruption and yet nothing happens and the reports are relegated to a corner with no one taking responsibility.

Further more, we know that the three arms of legislature are in tatters - all in need of cleansing, rejuvenation and almost total transformation before they can be effective and credible. We can only see what has been shown, but what about those cases that are kept secret under the pretext of the Official Secrets Act ?

The country is heading towards a national crisis, both economically and politically. The onus is on us as Malaysian citizens to put an end to all this for the sake of our future generations. 51 years is enough. The decay has to stop.

Our country is truly in an unique, never-experienced-before situation and that itself calls for a unique and conscientious response, perhaps even having to adopt a paradigm shift. For the first time in our political history, there is some semblance of an option, an alternative government in-waiting, waiting to be given a chance to be tried and tested.

It is incumbent on all of us as responsible citizens to give them this chance to begin the long and arduous task to transform, reform and ‘un-corrupt’ all systems.

It is time we stand up to be counted and not hedge and hide under all sorts of ‘moral’ and ‘righteous’ reasons. We are living in unprecedented times and we deserve the government that we get or want to have.

The country cannot run on auto pilot any longer. The serious business of governance and righting the wrongs have to begin. So seize the moment and support change!










Tuesday, September 23, 2008
IS THIS A COUNTRY NOT IN DISTRESS?
MALAYSIAKI REPORTS:


Raja Petra to be sent to Kamunting Sep 23, 08 9:34am

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin will be sent to Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak today to begin his two-year detention under the Internal Security Act, said his lawyer.

The home minister has signed his detention order last night to be held without trial under section 8 of the tough security law. Under the Act, the government can renew his detention indefinitely.

Lawyers said that the police had informed them this morning that they would be taking Raja Petra to the detention centre.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court is to hear a habeas corpus bid by Raja Petra's lawyers to overturn the detention of the controversial blogger today.

Habeas corpus is a writ ordering prisoners to be brought before a judge to ascertain if there are any procedural defects which could render their detention unlawful.





READ BERNICE CHOW (HERE) AT MALAYSIAKINI


PEOPLE, STAY CALM BUT UNITED