How wise is Vote Wisely this time?



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A.G.Mustakim

“Opposition parties may raise a lot of issues but they are unable to come out with adequate solutions”, he said “they are long on promises, but short on delivery unlike Barisan that delivers what it promises”.

Deputy Prime Minister at the award ceremony of world affiliates and world prize winners of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant – January 27, 2008

The opposition is not obliged to come-up with any solutions. By all counts, it is the duties and responsibilities and the trust that they people have given the incumbents to seek the most appropriate solution. The opposition has their duties and responsibilities to point out where the incumbents have gone wrong. In this context, the government needs to be transparent so that all the stakeholders (the opposition included) can assist the government to deliver its promises to the people. Unless, the government has something to hide then it becomes opaque.

However, most often than not transparency and accountability is a rare virtue. Hiding facts from shareholders become the norm. After all without information all stakeholders are blind and the one-eye jack is king of the hill. The opposition being industrious will use all means in their disposal to extract the facts from the government. This often led to tensions between the two opposing parties. On party may say it is facts whilst the other may insist that it is just speculations, heresy and rumors. Is it not obvious for everyone’s sake that the government should come clean and let all facts be known?

After all after 44 years of independence how do we really judge whether the people have been short changed or not? If Malaysian wants to use Singapore as a yardstick then is it obvious that Malaysian have really been short changed. At the very least we could be at par. I really could not believe that because of the NEP, Malaysians could not progress to be at the same league as Singapore. This is a blatant excuse for all the inefficiencies, ineffectiveness, mistakes, wastages that we have made. Why can’t we come clean and admit to all these? Why do we insist on living in delusions, cheating ourselves on what we could have achieved?

Whether the opposition believes that there are short comings or inconsistencies between what the government is claiming and what is in reality. It is the duty and responsibilities of the opposition to highlight these issues. It is for the sake of the country and welfare of the people rather than just to score points.

As an alternative, it is the right of the opposition to tell the people what they can do when they form the government. The incumbents often respond to these criticisms as empty promises that the opposition cannot keep. But without giving the opposition a chance to govern, how will we the people ever know?

It is actually a choice between going forward with the devil that you know and the devil that you don’t know. If you choose the devil that you know then you can anticipate the type of life and future for your children that you are going to get. The question is, can you live with that, or will there be always a question in your mind that things could have been better.

If there is always a doubt, why not make a change now. After 44 years, it’s a long time to still have doubts in your mind. It’s high time that there should not be anymore regrets. After all choosing the opposition does not mean that the world is going to end in a clap of thunder when you make your choice. That is in the movie, in real life mistakes will take time to manifest itself. There is still opportunity for you to make adjustments. But 44 years of mistakes and adjustments is way too long, it is therefore high time real change should take place and the people play their part to make it happen.

Take a good look at the United States, between the Republican and the Democrats. Take a good look at the United Kingdom, between the Labor Party and the Conservatives. I have not seen these countries reverted to the stone ages when changes were made. In fact they make changes when the policies of each of them are not acceptable to the people anymore. In this way, they manage to maintain their competitiveness and their standing in global matters.

Fear of failure is not an option, if we want to progress further in this highly competitive world. It is the same as falling in love with a girl from a distance. You will never know if she feels the same way as you do unless you have the courage to approach and talk to her. Imagine living all your life regretting that you should have spoken her when you had the opportunity. Yet you did not because you fear of being snub or turned down. These are unfounded fears, even if she did snub and turn you down; you are not going to drop dead in front of her because of that. A little embarrassed may be but you won’t die. Perhaps it may make you a better and a stronger person. I can assure you after a while the embarrassment can turn to humor and life is worth living after all.

After living for 44 years with the devil you know, obviously you know what to expect when you make your choice. Do they really deliver what they promise? Can your life be better? Have we been short changed or they are also giving you empty promises over and over again? The choice is yours VOTE WISELY.