[1691] Of re: thank you Mr. Prime Minister for small government

Dear Mr. Prime Minister Sir,

How are you these days?

I heard it has been cloudy over there in Putrajaya for the past several months. I reckon starting the day so gloomily almost every day does little to inspire the heart. I do not envy you but I wish you well regardless!

Fortunately for many others, it has not been all doom and gloom everywhere. The sun has been shining brilliantly for the past few months now here. With blue sky as a background, white cotton-like cloud slowly crawls across the space above. In other words, life is not too bad at all. You should get out of Putrajaya more often and enjoy the sun!

Initially, I had thought a storm was brewing. All those threats issued by various groups made me all jittery and I am only glad that those threats did not materialize. I am sure many others felt the same way. Those dark clouds inevitably broke up and gave way to the sun. Hey, we all could use some time under the sun!

Anyway, enough about the weather.

How long has it been since March 8?

About a hundred days? I cannot believe that it has been so long since March 8. How time flies, do you not think so?

Just after March 8, I have heard a number of individuals doubting the stability of Pakatan state governments in the west coast of the Peninsula. They alleged that DAP and PAS could not possibly work together. On the contrary, those state governments are still standing and they appear to have warmed their seats rather comfortably.

Well, good for them.

In fact, instead of worrying about the stability of these state governments, I am now concerned with the stability of the federal government!

I am worried for you because I like how the whole equation works out at the moment. The latest general election put a pause on those Sovietique developmental corridors which involved too much central planning for my taste. At the same time, some of the more outrageous wealth redistribution policies proposed by the Pakatan front could not be implemented because you have successfully manned your fort in Putrajaya.

The result?

A small government!

I wanted a small government and I got it. And you, sir, made all that possible! You sir, are one of the greatest things a lot of libertarians could ask for.

And you know what? I love you for that!

I know, I know. I am probably one of those weird individuals whom not too many find it easy, if at all possible, to accommodate. This law is tyranny; that speech is too populist; those rulings irrelevant; these papers rubbish; etc. It is as if nothing could please people like me, libertarians!

There are people out there that think libertarians are rebels without a cause. But they are wrong dear sir, they are utterly wrong. All we wanted is a small government.

We just want to manage our own money. We do not want to have our money redistributed by other people. We do not appreciate being forced to fund the EPF so that it could buy some local banks. Oh, we hate bailouts. We do not like paying excessive tax and we do not plan to fund any subsidy. We would like the government to concentrate on what it is supposed to do and that is governance, not doing businesses or redistributing wealth. We do not like to be told what to do. We want to speak freely. We want to shout nonsense in the middle of the Dataran Merdeka. We want the state to get out of our bedrooms. Take those CCTVs in public spaces down. Our religious beliefs are our own, not yours. We want local government. We want a liberal democracy!

We want freedom.

All in all, we, libertarians, the individualists, distrust the state. So distrustful we are that we would want to have a strong check and balance mechanism in the government. And the current political scenario allows just that!

You sir, have made the impossible possible! You have achieved what many have failed. Without you, we would not have got what we aimed for. Because of you, we libertarians, previously always grumbling, have now begun smiling. For that, you thoroughly deserve a raving applause. For he’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fellow, for he’s a jolly good fellow, that nobody can deny!

These days, too many people say too many bad things about you. Understandably, you may feel lonely sometimes but fret not however. Whenever you are feeling the blues, be rest assured that there are those whom appreciate you!

So, take heart dear sir. After a rainy day in the evening, just go outside of your office and look for a rainbow out there. If you are lucky, you may find a Leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Kind regards,
Your friendly libertarian

P.S. Do you have any plan to abolish the Inland Revenue Board? Filling up those forms is such a drag. Worse, those IRB songs are so bad that it made Britney Spears a superstar!

p/s — a version of this article was first published by The Malaysian Insider.