Barisan Nasional’s unfulfilled promises, what will you do?
By USMAN BAWANG
Every political party has a sales pitch. During an election, they each propose a manifesto containing the sweetest, and often impossible, promises.
Consider some of the promises made by Barisan Nasional in 2004.
Barisan Nasional:
1. Ensures that each community is represented in line with the practice of genuine power sharing.
2. Addresses your needs by combating corruption and enhancing the quality of government services.
3. Cares about your needs and will seek your views on important issues.
4. Upholds the diversity of religious practice, language and culture.
5. Will nurture humanitarian values and civic consciousness.
6. Is strongly committed to Parliamentary democracy, which gives each citizen a say in the administration of this nation.
7. Safeguards the interests of all citizens. We listen to and act on the hopes and aspirations of all groups regardless of age, gender, ethnic background and religion.
8. Calls upon all groups to participate in nation-building. Young people, women and rural folk in particular, make up a large proportion of the population. They must be given the opportunities to participate and contribute. Freedom to worship other religions is guaranteed by the Constitution.
9. Will continue the all-out campaign against corruption, without fear or favour.
10. Will improve the application of Syariah law in the country, and ensure Muslim women have recourse to a fair and just legal system.
11. Will continue to promote a culture of zero-tolerance for corruption.
12. Will nurture a more open and participative society, working together with NGOs.
13. Will improve the gender sensitivity of the police force.
That’s a bunch of nice-sounding noble promises. How could any sane Malaysian reject such a proposition?
But there is certainly a difference between what was promised and the outcome.
Running through the list, what has Barisan Nasional achieved since the last election? Perhaps, two years is not long enough to see results.
Fair enough. But we should ask ourselves – has the government shown any efforts to fulfill these promises? Can Barisan Nasional explain why some of them were quashed?
There is no point in calling Malaysia a democratic country if we elect a bunch of people to power and then leave them to their own devices, without holding them accountable for their actions and promises.
What should we do?
If you believe the government is doing a great job and has fulfilled all its promises, good for you. However, there are a few options if you don’t think you’re getting a run for your money.
1. Complain about the fly in the soup, shut up and continue to drink it.
2. Complain about the fly in the soup, complain even louder and send it back to the kitchen, hoping that you get a fly-less soup.
3. Go to another restaurant the next time you eat out.
4. Complain about the soup and refuse to pay.
Personally, I wouldn’t accept Option 1. Option 4 would be a great form of disobedience, although I wouldn’t recommend it. The choice is between Options 2 and 3.
And Option 3 is the best. But realistically, there are currently no spectacular “restaurants� in Malaysia.
Barisan Nasional has proven itself to be a reliable steward of the country and economy. I don’t think the masses are demanding a regime change. People just want the government to fulfill its nice-sounding election pledges and serve soups without insects.
Which option would you choose?
Are you part of the sleepy, forgetful population?
How many times are you going to complain, before you start considering other options?
–
USMAN BAWANG is a contributing writer for theCICAK.
Usman is a politically agnostic cynic who is working on his M.A. in History. He likes going on beach breaks and long walks.
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hmhmhmhmhmh. All that said, flies are a good source of protein
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But seriously
I guess until the opposition manages to stabilise itself and prevent its knees from collapsing, BN is the only viable choice…
Its a necessary evil I guess….
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More specifically, do you think it is the current leadership of BN or BN as a whole that is the cause of promises not being fulfilled?
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I agree with the cyber_tapir that the present state of the opposition parties is not suitable for the Malaysian population at the moment however I feel that having a significant opposition in Parliment has proven to be ‘useful’ to keep the goverment in check (think of the times when Karpal Singh or Lim Keat Siang was the opposition leader in Parliment’.
My point being, we should at least have a balance of power for the moment rather than a complete shift of power.
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I agree with Darcy as well. Expecting/wanting a complete change of government at this stage is just wistful thinking. However, to hold the present government accountable, a sizeable Opposition should be voted into the Parliament. That’s how democracy is really supposed to work.
I must say that I disagree with Usman Bawang on there not being any other ‘credible’ restaurants right now. DAP has an abundance of that. Since it’s inception in the 60’s, it has proven beyond doubt of it’s commitment towards fighting for a multiracial, meritocratic and accountable Malaysia. Capable (although admittedly a little bit pass their date dues now) leaders such as Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh, as well as many other DAP MPs, have also shown time and time again that they’re willing to sacrifice personal freedom for what they believe in. How much more can you ask from our politicians? Pity we don’t seem willing to repay them more generously for their efforts.
What DAP really have a problem with, however, is it’s image (”Chauvinistic Chinese party”) and the perception that its present leaders refuse to retire to make way for younger blood. However, these problems are not serious ones and shouldn’t deflect the commitment the party has shown towards its principles and aims.
“Barisan Nasional has proven itself to be reliable stewards of the country and economy.” - Usman Bawang
True, up to a point. But one can rely on past achievements for only so long. Don’t you think it’s time BN start reinventing itself to better suit Malaysia’s new conditions? For starters, those race-based component parties in it just completely contradicts its “Bangsa Malaysia” national identity-building rhetorics. And as for the economy, aren’t the AP issue, flight of FDI to China/India, failure of the Multimedia Super Corridor, failure in recognising the need to invest in the biochemical industry to replace the dwindling manufacturing one earlier, high unemployment rates for new graduates, etc indicators that the government has also fallen short on the economic front as well?
But the most ridiculous argument that I have heard before in regards to why people are reluctant to vote for the Opposition parties is that they are untested in government. What the…? Ummnn… wouldn’t they continue to be untested if people don’t vote them into power? And furthermore, we won’t know how they will perform when in power if we are never willing to give them that chance. The British colonisers said the same thing about Malaysians governing Malaysia in the 40’s/50’s, but BN seemed to be doing alright (up to a point) without British interference. The world didn’t come crashing down then, did it? And lastly, the whole point of democracy, as oppose to communism or facism, is choice. The choice to choose our representatives. What’s the point of that if Malaysians seem reluctant to try other restaurants once in a while for a better deal with this privillege? After all, if the new restaurant serves terrible nasi lemak, nothing’s stopping you from going back to the previous one.
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I guess at the heart of the issue is the plain fact that most Malaysians are just too comfortable.
They may see the fly in the soup, they may realise its wrong, but heck, the soup still tastes good.
Generally people are afraid to try something new. Its the basic fear of the unknown.
The way i see it, until BN screws up big time (serving a soup full of flies maybe??)a lot of people will not have the motvation to vote opposition.
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There is a tendency today for some of our political leaders to blame their staff and civil SERVANTS. That is the worst thing to do. Telling them ( workers ) will not work. We need to have the right attitude to change. Change cannot be regimented. Change must go through education. We should not stop from providing enough education, enough guidance and support for our people to change.” Blaming them would only mean the political leaders themselves did not know how to handle their staff.
Since 1957 or is it 1963, the people in power today are from yesterday. Do you think they have changed or will bring a change to the country ?
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