What's the motive for wanting change?

What's the motive for wanting change?

* Umno general assembly
* Opinion

2010-10-22 15:42

By LIM MUN FAH
Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE

The haze is back, contaminating the environment, making it almost suffocating.

But on the political front, wisps of fresh breeze, surprisingly, generated from the Umno Youth and Wanita Umno general assemblies, with voices calling for openness, toleration, moderation and democracy.

If all the broad-minded remarks are heartfelt words and all the pleasing words reflect and reveal the honest feelings and attitude of the speakers at the two assemblies, there is great hope for the country becoming better, with a more promising future.

We do not hope that all these are done just because political leaders are trying to gain votes

since the next general election is speculated to be held next year.

From a radical racist to a moderate Umno Youth chief, Khairy Jamaluddin's change seems to have enabled the people to see a ray of light through the thick grey clouds, just like the sun these few days, which has been blocked by the hazy environment, but nevertheless radiating a glowing orange-red atmosphere, so beautiful and romantic, yet very far away.

Khairy said that Umno must accept the reality that Malay voters have split into half, and the party must adopt the path of tolerance and moderation to win the support of non-Malays, or the BN might risk losing 50 more parliamentary seats it currently has.

Could the motive for change come merely from just wanting to win the next general election, and not from a real change of views and attitude? We hope not.

Nevertheless, Umno is still a party that fights for the interests of a particular racial group. As long as it is still a racial political party, it must continue serving its racial membership and it will be difficult for it to truly transform into a political party that fights for all.

Racial politics has dominated Malaysia for more than half a century. Have we come to the critical point today to completely cut all ties with it? It is not a political reality that can easily be changed by embarking on a high-profile promotion. It is a reality that must be faced by Umno, the MCA and the MIC sooner or later.

Umno is the locomotive of the BN coalition. If Umno fails to take the lead to change, they can never win the people's support no matter how high-profile the MCA and the MIC are.

Undeniably, times have changed and the myth of racial politics is gradually dying. The speed might be very slow and we can never know when changes will be made, but for sure, the time will come someday.

After the 2008 general election, the political situation suddenly changed. It has inspired many passionate young people to join politics. The desire to pursue democracy and freedom has reached a new record high. It has also brought new vitality and competitiveness to the democratic movements in the country. At the same time, it has also brought the next general election a new, hardly predicted situation.

Today, changes have become the common demand of the civil society.

Standing at the watershed of a historical turning point, no matter whether it is the BN or the Pakatan Rakyat, the slogans to opening up, be tolerate, moderate and democratic should not be shouted just to gain votes. Instead, the slogans must be turned into actions and the efforts must be taken as a long-term political ideal.

Sin Chew Daily