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10.3.08
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Berubah-berubah politiks di Malaysia
Despite retaining the majority, the Barisan Nasional front suffered its largest lost of Parliamentary seats in the recent Malaysia General Election to only achieve a simple majority while conceding five states to the opposition.
Although I think this is a timely welcome shift, it still is a great shock to me. My brother, particularly as a socialist, is pleasantly surprised. We grew up in a strongly BN-led Malaysia, much of it developing with mega-projects that transformed the skyline of the capital city and my hometown, Kuala Lumpur. I always thought BN has been doing a good job in moving Malaysia forward, despite certain racially-sensitive issues which was one of the tensions that boiled over in this recent election. The incumbent Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, who I have viewed as a more people's person than his predecessor and doing a decent work in changing gears in Malaysia's economy, was hurt by displeasure over him "sleeping on the job". I was under the impression of an invincible BN-front, but that has now been successfully contested. Did BN fall because they were too complacent?
Maybe similar lessons can be learnt for Singapore's political scene. I'm pro-PAP as I believe it is the right government for the island state. Despite them claiming and trying to keep in touch with time, they still lack on political freedom and self-rights in terms of its stance on free speech, homosexuality, etc., and these will no doubt be points of reconsideration down the road.
Was it time for a change? With the return of Anwar Ibrahim and a stronger opposition front, so much is changing in the political landscape of Malaysia. If the opposition proves to be competent, they will gain major inroads. As long as it isn't led by PAS, the party that wants a radical Islamist state for a country where at least 40% of the population are of a different race. Good luck to the future of Malaysia.
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Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
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