I've had just enough time... to vote for hope
My finger stained blue on election day...
Today, the
5th of May, my countrymen votes. It has been an emotionally charged
period that has divided and polarized the nation. If there is any agreement in
rhetoric, it is – we should stay “united as one nation, one people”. The government
said we are and should persevere this proud heritage. The opposition said we
are not and pushed for a change.
But the sad
thing for Malaysia is – the people know better. Whether it is the government or
opposition, things are not going to change that much. Discrimination by race is so deeply ingrained
that it is not going to disappear overnight. It is only – “Will it be better or
worse than the current state?” Whether it is for the citizens who condone it
for the benefits they bring, the citizens who oppose it for the pains they
suffer or for the majority who live with it because they don’t know what else
to do. We are all living a lie. The country is sick because the people are
sick. And we are all sick because we made moral and ethical compromise; and we
made them because we are not brave enough to stick our necks out and things are
not bad enough to compel us to. And, we are afraid that things will turn out
worse.
I have my
finger painted blue this morning after I cast my vote. I left the polling
station with a heavy heart because I voted not with enthusiasm and optimism. I
voted for what I think it is the lesser of “two _____”. And I cry for my
country because of that.
