Stay Focused

By Amde Sidik

Was asked, why did I jump into politic now, not before?

I've long and short answers, for this purpose I choose to give the short one.

Like many others, I find far too many things aren't politically correct or satisfactorily balance for the majority of the population in the State. Words correct and satisfactory are very subjective, I'm talking as an ordinary man on the street. Assuming 51% of the people on the ground are contended with our political affairs, I would say that would be an achievement already. Good enough for me. I'm not comparing Malaysia with sophisticated nations; I'm still comparing an apple with an apple. In our case, comparing with countries like, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Not long ago countries above were just of the same status as Malaysia, in fact we even edged them in many fronts. Now they all outran us. A tiny Singapore at one time part of Malaysia is sound in many directions. Of course, not everything in Singapore is rosy, but they do have certain quality to be proud of.

Again, Singapore being small may be at advantage but being big too. Country with big population should have bigger selection of leaders to choose from.

I'm limiting my argument to just economic, technology or even science and commerce, these are visible discussions and easily understood by masses. But, what say we? We've been too complacent over the years and too preoccupied with trivial things, like, who owns word Allah. We're proud to show the world that we know how to punish our own kind. We spent some much time talking about how to manage a multi-ethnics and multi religious society, yet we don't even know the different between kelepa and kalapa.

So much talk on morality and religious consciousness. All these have taken up our time and energy. We lost concentration to improve our state and nation, and to improve the quality of our young men's brains, in the end we are equated with Zimbabwe.

I don't see a visible sign for improvement, otherwise I'm happy enough take up a back seat watching my favorite TV programs or doing things I like most. Of course no guarantee I'm a better politician, what I can assure is I'm not repeating mistakes and no parroting if I can avoid.

In countries which are better managed, the people are happy. People are happy not necessarily because they are turning millionaires or billionaires.

In our society happiness is measured by the kind of materials one owns, thus to reach that destination must only be via the glory of becoming politicians, shorter still, join BN, thats what some PKR YBs are doing now.

What about those in opposition now? May be some have two things in mind, one, incase they can strike with little luck from here, or in another, those want to live up to their ideals, called it fight for and with the people he represents. Put me in this slot.

Am I expecting extraordinary things that Malaysia can do all this while?

I don't expect miracle, sending Malaysian to Russian shuttle wasn't extra ordinary but killing Altanutuya or killing others for no good reason was. Squandering vital documents-wiping out what inside the cpu which caused life and death to people is extraordinary.

The way I look it, we couldn't decide what good for the state and for our ordinary people, for the last 50 years. We were depending on others, so to speak.

We couldn't express what we think. We cannot participate fully without being blackmailed. Shut up or else... I mentioned somewhere in my earlier writing, if only my late father, uncles and aunties are still kicking, I'm sure they would say what the point of being merdeka, no point in forming Malaysia together? My father, uncles and aunties were smart ones; they didn't say joined but formed Malaysia.