A very Happy New Year to my fellow Malaysians!
I wish to specially mention: Happy New Year to the lawyers who marched in Putrajaya! Happy New Year to the unionists and workers who had stood doggedly in the picket line to demand fair working conditions and minimum wage! Happy New Year to the one hundred thousands concerned citizens who participated in the BERSIH gathering! Happy New Year to the men and women who bravely faced water canon, tear gas and imprisonment during the HINDRAF rally!
Also greetings to the Kampong Berembang folks who fought determinedly for their housing rights. Similarly, greetings to the residents who had protested against the toll hikes.
Least we shall forget the ISA detainees of various allegations and their families. Wish they could regain freedom in the coming new year.
All these people, together with many groups which I have not mentioned, had contributed to make 2007 a year of awakening. We have witnessed a series of events reflecting the rising awareness of Malaysian people on various issues related to citizen’s rights and democracy.
The nation is now at a crossroad. The New Year of 2008 is not celebrated with optimism and jubilation. A huge economic and political crisis is gradually unfolding. We are witnessing a major economic slowdown as a result of flawed and outdated developmental policies. Inflation will continue to climb higher in 2008. The prices especially for food and oil are soaring. It is clear that the ordinary wage earners and small businesses will be burdened with the main share of the economic hardship.
The ruling regime however is unlikely to take positive steps to resolve the problems of people’s basic welfare. The elite of governing parties are engrossed in corruption and scandalous embezzlement of nation’s wealth.
In spite of the problems and difficulties, we expect 2008 to be a year of transformation. The country may face a general election soon. Malaysians deserved a better system of governance. The time has come for Malaysian citizens of all ethnicity and religion to demand a change.
Happy New Year!
I thought you put a video of Chua Sui Lek when I saw the video icon above. Haha. Anyways, happy new year to you.
Oh, pertaining the Chua’s tape, the police are at their same TACTIC again i.e. “oh, let us see if the video clip is authentic” and “the distribution of the DVD or VCD is illegal”. If that is the case, then somebody should just upload Chua’s video on a website and distribute A4 papers with the URL.