w000000000000000000000ttt!!!!
I accidentally became Nik Nazmi’s “official photographer” after I decided to tag along with his campaign team on Sunday evening. We went to an Indian-majority area and the reception was absolutely raving. I was taken aback at how wide the community opened their arms to Nik Nazmi. And I lost count at how many residents he shook hand with.
The photo above portrays a serene atmosphere. Do not be tricked by it however because behind me was a freaking festival complete with fireworks and a quartet of pakhawaj or tabla or whatever troupe!
Afterward, Nik Nazmi was joined by Tony Pua, Loh Gwo Burne as well as three other speakers at a public speaking session.
Why anak muda? Ask the pretty lady that introduced Tony to the crowd.
Malaysian politics is immature and most politicians of older generation do not have the maturity to develop Malaysian politics. Our political scenario is one of bankruptcy. It is stuck in the 1960s and 1970s. Our policies are outdated and if we continue on this path, the whole world will leave us behind. South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have left us behind when once, Malaysia was in the same league with these countries. Unless we change, we will find others like Vietnam up ahead while we will be left languishing behind, competing with Ghana and the likes. Even the Arabs are catching up when once, Malaysia was instantly recognized as the most modern of countries with a Muslim majority along with Turkey. The horrifying thing is, these seasoned politicians, especially from BN, are proud that we are competing with backwater African countries instead of modern East Asian and European states!
First world infrastructure, third world mentality, they say. Indeed.
Ironically, it will take younger generation politicians with fresh ideas to give our politics the maturity our country urgently needs. It will take new politicians to develop first world mentality by implementing good policies to cope with the changing world.
This is why this blog endorses the candidacy of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Enough of politicians whom are stuck in the past, with their outdated mode of thinking, with their inflexibility. Enough of politicians that still resound the specter of May 13 to gain support. We are the future and we deserve better. We need new policies to meet new challenges and achieve greater height.
We want ideas, not threats, not freebies, not feel good news but ideas.
Friend Nik Nazmi is running for election and he has produced a video articulating his agenda for his constituency.
At the Malay College, we used to joke that he would be the first among our class to be thrown into prison, courtesy of ISA. We did not joke about him being the first among our class to run for public office.
Friends. Remember to blog about Nik Nazmi tomorrow as part of an initiative to put bloggers into public office!
While I am at it, allow me to touch a criticism directed at the effort made by Siber Party of Malaysia. They wrote:
While we read blogs and we do operate a blog, it is only our platform and website to inform the good citizens of Malaysia about our views and policies on matters that concern all Malaysians.
Which also means we are not going to support a blogger because he or she is a blogger. we want to know their stand, their approach, their policies, philosophies, politics on all things Malaysian and the world. [Between axes. Siber Party of Malaysia. February 25 2008]
I absolutely agree that we should not support a candidate just because the candidate is a blogger. Yet, I need to point out that the criticism misses the whole point of the initiative: the initiative at its heart is about freedom. I wrote ‘liberty’ or ‘freedom’ no less than 4 times in emails that I sent out to probably 100 bloggers and the entry which introduces the initiative.
The idea behind the effort is to put those that embrace freedom of expression into public offices. From these offices, they have opportunities to defend their and our freedom from tyranny. I honestly believe the bloggers whom I have listed believe in freedom of speech, which is essential to blogging. Elizabeth Wong has probably been doing something for liberty when I was in diaper (okay, that is an exaggeration). Jeff Ooi knows what freedom of expression is, especially when it revolves around blogging and I know enough of Nik Nazmi to know that he appreciates freedom. TAs for Badrul Hisham a.k.a. chegubad, well, he is up against the son-in-law.
The crux of the message is freedom. Indeed, supporting a candidate just because he is a blogger does not make sense. I would certain not support a religious extremist‘s candidacy for public office just because he is a blogger.
So, Siber Party of Malaysia, are you willing to reconsider your position?