Today 10.05.2018 marks a historic day for Malaysia.
The impossible has happened.
Over 10 million voters took to the polls on May 9th to elect a new government to lead the nation, and as a result; Malaysia will have a new government.
To me, this election is significant for a number of reasons.
#1 - The election was won despite lots of cheating.
I am just going to call it.
This election was dirty.
Gerrymandering, racial fear-mongering, threats, bribery for votes all stood in the way of the opposition from winning the election. Literally, everything you could phantom out of a cheaters' imagination, from trying to disqualify your opponents from a proper campaign to unprecedented delays in confirming ballot counts was used to undermine the process of a fair election.
And despite delays by the Election Commission, the official results were finally announced at 3.00 am in the morning. Together as a nation, we have overcome all the obstacles above.
A new government will be formed.
#2 - Malaysians are courageous for change.
"Every vote counts."
...is a common saying. Today, I now know for sure, it is not a cliché.
The stakes in this election were high.
It is an open secret that our former country leader, Najib, is mired with allegations to be one of the main complicit of the largest corruption and kleptocracy case in the world. Najib's leadership has always been a concern for me because his example sets the tone for the entire nation.
24 hours ago, few of us would have thought we would live to see this day.
Najib was powerful. He was both the Prime Minister and Finance Minister; allegedly controls the Attorney General, police and arm forces.
He was virtually unbeatable.
10 Promises of the New Government for the First 100 Days.
The road to this election was relatively quiet in my opinion. Just a few days ago I was in the state of Kedah and had made new friends in the largely Muslim populated state. But I steered clear from discussing politics. This continued all the way to the beeline at the polling station. For I had a fear that if I share my political views openly, it might accidentally give an easy excuse for any authority to falsely claim I am inciting racial hatred and rob away my opportunity to vote this election.
Today, I happy to learn that the nation including the state of Kedah has disagreed with Najib's example and leadership.
I do not feel alone anymore. I feel a renewed sense of hope that Malaysians do have the courage to strive for what is right. And I look forward to positive changes and reforms the new government will make in their first 100 days.
#3 - New Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water
The new government looks set to bring positive reform to institutions all across the board. However, nothing excites me more in the prospect of working with the new Minister of Energy, Green Technology & Water.
Teresa Kok, MP of Seputeh
As of this writing, it is not confirmed yet. But it might be the veteran parliamentarian Teresa Kok.
Teresa, an opposition leader since 1995, has successfully defended her parliamentary seat with a whopping 63,000 majority vote last night.
Teresa is well known for fighting against corruption and unfair treatment in government dealings. She has braved several arrests before; once under the Sedition Act in 2008 which does not require the ruling government to disclose the alleged offense and another time for making a parody video mocking inconsistencies within the government.
Final Thoughts
The era of Najib is over. Malaysia rejoice!
Coincidentally, his era coincides with my entire working career (2008 - 2018). I hope his era of business and politics would prove obsolete; where everything seems to be driven only by money, patronage, and power.
And give way to one where those who contribute and add value to society the most be rewarded the most.
Buzz
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Photo credits
Dawn in Malaysia: UweBKK (α 77 on ) on Visual Hunt / CC BY-NC-SA
10 Promises: Says
Teresa Kok: Sun Daily