Right after I graduated in 2004, I saw myself standing in the middle of a junction that will lead me to several different lifelong careers. It was a hard decision to choose a definite answer, because with the education I received plus all the talents discovered along the way, the sky’s the limit. With my passion for art and creativity, I was confident that Graphic Designing would fit me like a glove. On the other hand, I’ve always had a thing for writing, both in Bahasa Malaysia and English. And soon after that I came across my first job offer as journalist for a local English newspaper. I was extremely excited, I thanked God and my soon-to-be-employer for giving me the opportunity to touch souls with the stroke of the pen (or with the punch of the keyboard these days). I still remember the level of enthusiasm like it was yesterday.
But little that I knew that the decision to walk the writer’s path would be a discovery of things I’ve never learned in college and that it would change my perception forever.
Say it wise not say it all
After a while I finally left the news room, because while cruising on the media tag it didn't take me long to feel the strong clench on my hands. I couldn’t write what I wanted to write. I couldn’t touch souls the way I wanted to. I was suffocated by the clasp and the interference of executive power and personal motives. In a layman’s term, I couldn’t write anything else but positive things when it comes to certain group of individuals in the field I was assigned to. And so there I was, discovering that the true function of media was corrupted at its best.
I soon repelled from journalism, and continued my adventure in discovering other sides of mass communication and media. But this time, with a new perspective. I could easily say I was severely injured by the experience gained while working behind the journalist’s desk. I saw ‘behind the scene’ shows first hand and was extremely frustrated by it. And so from that day on, I lost my faith in the mass media.
I am pretty sure that many other matured Malaysian citizens share the same sentiment as I do. Those were the days where we were not allowed to shout out disagreement towards certain policies, let alone question the motives behind them. News were sang according to certain notes, claiming that it was for the best. Words were shoved into our mouths unwillingly. Malaysian prime media companies became the instruments of the government. Some of us were aware of it, while others were still sleeping soundly to the fake lullabies sang to us day after day.
And on the eighth day God created internet
And so when when the world wide web first became a hit, I’m pretty sure that no one would imagine the impact it could deliver to political and media scenes respectively. It all started with a brilliant idea of scrapping diaries and paper journals, and simply transferring the routine by posting thoughts and videos on a personal homepage to be shared with circle of friends. Inevitably, this method transformed from a girly hobby into massive networks of media expressionists. And soon the power that lies beneath it became stronger over time.
Back home, the power of this infinite information sharing system or so-called ‘alternative media’ soon grew immensely. There was no turning back. People started to realise that there is another source of unfiltered information on events that they never heard of or imagined could happen in our country. Real news and real opinions were heard. Guerrilla journalists and writers were born overnight, and the minds of the people were heightened to a certain consciousness.
Though at that point of time I was tempted to start my own blog and jump onto the rant wagon, I never did. Knowing the fact that I often fail to set limit in expressing my thoughts, I saw blogging as a death trap that would swallow me the mo
ment I slip. And with the arrest of few unfortunate bloggers by the local authority, it convinced me more that I’ve made one of the few right decisions in my life. But come to think of it, are we really committing treason when all we wanted to do is to voice out our dissatisfaction in a peaceful way?
Traitors or heroes?
The word traitor or
pengkhianat in Malay, has been mistakenly used and abused since the first day the British set foot on our soil. It was used to label characters who were Robin Hoods of their time, fighting for a good cause, for their people. In Kelantan, Tok Janggut was labelled a scoundrel and a terrorist. While in Perak, Datuk Sagor and Datuk Maharajalela were treated as criminals for assassinating J.W.W Birch who went over the line, oppressing Perak's people by charging taxes and enforcing unreasonable regulations. And as we all read in history books, our heroes finally met miserable deaths in the hands of a British shipping company infested with pirates and robbers.
But that was then, a time when the people didn’t even know how to spell democracy. And this is now, when we are proud to be one of the most democratic and peaceful country which claims that freedom is for everyone. But are we really all that? Has the tyranny of the Brits disappear along with age, or was it carbon copied and pasted into our very own version of dictatorship? If you ask me, 53 years is a very long era for a coalition of political dynasties to be at a nation’s summit. I wonder how many strings were pulled to stay in power that long? Hmm, go figure.
Makhal Shakti
Several months before the 2008 General Election that shook the nation's core, I remembered the time when Malaysia was trembled by the event when tens of thousands of citizens spilled the streets of KL for the BERSIH gathering to pass a petition to DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. It was a peaceful gathering at first. They were out there in the streets not to create chaos, but simply to show some support and concern towards the present day’s electoral system. But the Federal Reserve Unit had to come down with anti-riot tanks and intimidation methods. These non-hostile people were provoked, male and female were beaten, dragged and caught. Few opposition leaders were then dragged to court and charged as culprits.
And the funniest part was when the then Prime Minister came out with a public statement that demonstration is not and will never be a part of Malaysian culture. Really? Then I guess what they wrote in history books about how Dato’ Onn Jaafar and his mob demonstrated against the establishment of Malayan Union was a complete bull, simply because it's not part of our culture. And what about the Hartal during the time when the Federal Constitution was in a head-to-head battle against the People's Constitution? And as we all know, the Federal Constitution was favoured more by Uncle Jack and was put into place as the nation's structure as we know today.
Say what now?! Aiseh, if you don't know what I'm rambling about, go pick up some Malaysian history books-lah, friend. It seems like the perfect timing considering that we're celebrating our Independence Day, don't it?
So, now it's time for 21 questions. Let's look back into our lives and surroundings. Have we actually transformed into a full-fledged independent nation over these 53 years? If yes, why can't we get rid of the perception that venting dissatisfaction and questioning the government are NOT acts of treason? That we're merely voicing out because it's a fitting response after years of being suppressed in our tiny little boxes? Look at us. When will we free ourselves from being slaves to the corporations, the banks, the capitalists, the masons, the executives, the political elites and other forms of oppression we’ve faced all these years? Have we unchained our hands from the clasp of these new-age tyranny?
People power is the foundation of a nation, because the people are the ones that could either make a champion leader, or whitewash a tyrant. But how can the people suffer and yet our country managed to transform itself into one of the few towering economy giants of South East Asia? All the exclusive shopping malls across the country, can we even afford to shop there?
It seems that we sacrifice more than just being the nation's pillars and pay our taxes. For example, to protect certain interests, we still need to pay tolls wherever we go, and on top of that our cars are much more expensive compared to neighbouring countries with sluggish and unstable economy. Well, it just doesn't tally does it?
The people's champion
As for the cherry on top of the icing, I remembered the time when the nation embraced Thatcherism with the privatisation of GLCs and utilities, long ago under Tun Mahathir's jurisdiction. And I remembered the song they sang back then, about how privatisation will increase productivity and efficiency of government entities and that it was inevitable as most developed countries have already adopted such concept. But privatisation spells one very subtle but significant thing - capitalists and their corporations taking over the people's assets. In summary, we've been robbed off our belongings and since then started paying more for what's already ours. Talk about championing the people and straying away from our ex-colonisers eh? Hmmm.
The wake up call
So what's the remedy for this, one might ask? I say we need to start voting for a new show, instead of voting for new faces to run the current, ever so sloppy and corrupt show. It doesn't matter which party rules, it's still going to be the same if the structure is not completely rebuilt from ground zero. These party leaders are merely faces, continuing the same old show passed down by Uncle Jack to our founding fathers. And when new faces supersede the previous ones, what do they do? They take the structure of the existing show, shake it off a little while adding some extra garnishing, re-brand and re-package it, spice it up with a nice creamy fresh concept, idea, vision (or in its lowest form - propaganda), and call it their own. But bare in mind that such 'hot-then-cold' reform happens almost everytime a new premiere comes into office. That it would not deliver positive effects to the people. That the bankers will still be laughing and looping all the way to the, err, bank. We will still feed on low minimum wage, live in debts, pay numerous if not high taxes, face extreme level of inflation, suffer from rapidly escalating cost of living etc etc. But surprisingly we still allow ourselves to be manipulated into believing that it's the best show for the whole wide world, and that globalisation and free trade systems are best served hot and soupy. We need to wake up and realise that we're staring at a breathtaking mirage, but once we get there we will finally discover that we were merely hallucinating.
But, all else is not failed. The best is yet to come. After the tsunami which swept the political topography few years ago, I realised that nothing is impossible if we are united. I might have lost faith in government orchestrated media, its so-called plans for the nation and the system it built for us, but I found new hope in each and every Malaysian who has waken up, stood up and let the voice of the people roar throughout our beloved Motherland.
So, don't you think it's time you wake up and leave the compound of your make-believe comfortable boxes and join me on this side of the wall? Or you can just ignore this call and continue with your life, only to curse yourself and your government whenever you see an Arab or a white dude shop at Pavilion. Think about it. Selamat Hari Kemerdekaan, comrades.
p/s: Essay ni aku pernah persembahkan pada bakal majikan aku satu masa dulu, tapi dah diolah semula supaya lebih personal dan relevan sebelum aku post sebagai hidangan. Dah lama tak menulis dalam English. Mungkin dah berkarat..hmmm
