The last time I posted on this blog, I was excited, anxious and hopeful for a change of government in my country, Malaysia. When the government of my choice didn’t win (although they did win more seats), I was crushed. I never came back to post anything and I left this space without another word.
However, I never left writing, neither did I stop hoping for change, even though in my darkest moments I floundered. Now, five years later, my dream has come true, even when I could barely muster the hope my country so desperately needed. Malaysia’s recent General Elections (also referred to as GE14) changed even the most cynical minds. It proved that we should always have hope, no matter what. Hope in our country, in our fellow countrymen and women, and most important, hope in ourselves.
Even I, a known idealist, had become a bit hardened by the previous administration that was under Najib Razak. He had employed so many underhanded tactics to remain in power that I figured that there was no point even voting.
Enter Tun Dr. Mahathir, who decided to join the Opposition (whether that is a positive or negative remains to be seen).
Enter my beloved fellow countrymen and women.
As GE14 approached, my Facebook feed was swamped by Malaysians scrambling to cast their vote, despite the fact that the general election was fixed on a weekday and the thousand and one problems with postal voting, an outdated form of voting for Malaysians residing overseas. Post after post detailed kind Malaysians who willingly offered their help to bring back the paperwork necessary to make voting happen. My feed also detailed thousands of Malaysians who battled traffic jams, delayed flights and cramped buses just to get back to their home town where they would forever change the course of history with their vote.
And then it happened. Tun Dr. Mahathir won, fair and square and Malaysians everywhere literally woke up to a new dawn. Never in my years of being politically active did I ever imagine such a tidal wave of change, but it happened. Right in front of my eyes, and the disbelieving eyes of many. It was overwhelming really, to take everything in.
Until now, I have not yet caught up with everything. There are many who have forgotten Tun Mahathir’s past and have been quick to idolise him. At the same time, there is a camp who are cautiously rooting for him, always keeping in mind his dictatorial ways. This is the man, who after all, imprisoned many of my fellow activist friends through his Ops Lalang. This is also the same man, who threw his best political aid in jail after they could not see eye to eye.
Some say that people don’t change. However, I would like to continue hoping for the best, for this wonderfully young and vibrant country. No matter what, Malaysia will always be my home and close to my heart, hence I would like to hope for the best.
