Wishing for better times.
BEFORE we proceed with the main topic of this article, first and foremost, let’s touch on a sad episode in the life of our nation; a digression, excuse me.
Life is like that
In the course of one’s life journey, there are occasions for happiness and celebrations; there are times for sadness and mourning. What can happen to a human being can also happen to a country. For instance, Sarawak has just ended an official mourning period for the untimely demise of another Chief Minister of the state, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Let’s continue praying for the well-being of his family in whose bereavement we all share. Their loss is our loss.
As the Malay saying assures us, ‘Patah tumbuh hilang berganti’ (sense of continuity) – the new Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg will chart his own course. Upon the latter we pin our hopes that he will be the Chief Minister for all Sarawakians and an articulate advocate for Sarawak’s rights in Malaysia.
Hail to the new chief! My felicitations!
We are looking forward to the first 100 days in office of the brand new Chief Minister and his team.
Meanwhile, let’s move on.
Year of the Cock
Economic forecasters have told us that this Year of the Rooster will be a challenging period: accumulated political and economic problems carried over from last year will still haunt us. The politicians’ plates are full – the huge national debt, the worrying household debt, unemployment of youth including university graduates, to mention a few.
Let’s hope that those walking in the corridors of power can catch the bull by the horns.
Recently the assurance from our Prime Minister saying that this year things would not be that bad is but a small consolation. Remaining optimistic always, say after me – next year will be even better.
One silver lining is in the prospects of TN50. What’s that?
If you haven’t heard about this ‘creature’ before, it is the new roadmap for Malaysia thought out by the government leaders that in 33 years’ time, Malaysia will be a country enjoying a stable economy, equitable distribution of wealth, and a happy people. That’s an ideal situation.
The government has introduced this 30-year plan for discussion by as many people as possible so that by 2019, there will emerge a mental image of Malaysia. My guess is that TN50 will take over where Vision 2020 leaves off, devising and evolving into an economic model acceptable to most Malaysians of the next generations.
People no longer talk about Vision 2020 – Malaysia achieving the status of a fully developed country – because we cannot attain that status in three years’ time. Plans of celebrations for its success with self-praising speeches, with grand rallies, and expensive fireworks displays will have to wait for 2050.
Being optimistic, we must always be. Let’s imagine life in Malaysia after 2020 come 2050 by thinking about this: Rome was not built in a day.
The government has started a series of dialogues with university students on the TN50. As it is the National Transformation Discourse, ordinary citizens would like to join in the great conversation, if they can.
A happy Malaysia
Allow me to say that all Malaysians would like to see their country prosper and that ordinary people hope to enjoy some of the crumbs under the table.
Malaysia can be described as a happy country if Malaysian children can go to preschool, attend formal classes, reach secondary level and possibly on to the next step – tertiary education. And jobs or something useful to do, after undergoing through the various levels of education, would be available for most of them.
It is the objective of every family that it has enough money for daily needs, a roof above the heads and a little savings for the rainy days. As for life hereafter, this is a matter of the individual’s choice: to hell or to heaven or somewhere in between.
While on earth, however, the ordinary people will be happy if their government can manage the financial affairs of the country properly, observe the provisions of the Federal Constitution and the tenets of the Rukun Negara.
Many ordinary people may not be able to read and understand fully the provisions of the Federal Constitution but they have heard people talking about the enjoyment of freedom of speech, of assembly, and of religion and beliefs. They have heard about human rights – rights to own property including those over traditional lands.
With reference to the Rukun Negara, they have heard other people mentioning the rule of law, importance of good behaviour, of being loyal to King and Country.
They have also heard about the New Economic Policy, Economic Transformation Plan and Programmes of all descriptions – all about equitable distribution of wealth, about closing of gap between the haves and the have-nots, about the eradication of absolute poverty.
For Sarawakians and Sabahans, it is about measures with which to address the regional disparities, about their fair shares in the money from the extraction of oil and gas off our shores and trees from their backyard. Will they be fairly treated within the next 30 years?
Will government invite ordinary people to the roundtable talks about the TN50, to supply feedback, to contribute input, to even conjure up new ideas, if any, and to criticise the government’s proposals constructively?
At the moment, people would like to seek government’s assurance that when TN50 is being discussed by the general public, they need not worry about the presence of someone reporting to the police – the norm of the day.
That little freedom from inhibition, of intimidation, and of adverse repercussions, will go a long way to making Malaysians thinking Malaysians. Sometimes, they may be at odds with one another and hold opposite political views most of the time, yet they are all stakeholders of this beloved country; they are the architects of this nation’s future and fortunes.
Will they have a chance to play a role within the framework of the grand scheme called TN50?
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