Monday, April 09, 2007

Politics and The People

Why Everyone Should Be Politically-Motivated
Mekyam is a regular commentor here as well as in Rocky's Bru, Sheih Kickdefella and other blogs.
Mekyam (I dare not suggest that she is a woman just by her nom) dropped a comment in my posting "Building Bridges".
I am reproducing the comment as a posting. Here's what Mekyam said:

" Nuraina: This is going back to basics -- basic propaganda.

I'm with you. They ARE ignorant, but not THAT stupid! It's not blogging per se they are against, it's having their DISHONESTY, IRRESPONSIBILITY and TREACHERY against Malaysia and Malaysians EXPOSED!

Like you said, they are just using a blanket accusation against local bloggers. They are not concerned about those Malaysians who blog about their personal interests and idiosyncrasies.

They want to stop bloggers who are concerned and informed, who blog openly and intelligently under their own names, from revealing things the government would rather keep from public scrutiny. This is directed at owners of news-portals like Malaysiakini and MalaysiaToday too, especially the latter, because Raja Petra provides interactivity not unlike blogging for every news and article on his site.

They have labeled these bloggers and news-portal owners as "politically-motivated bloggers," making it sound like being politically motivated is a dirty word.

It is NOT! If "politically-motivated" is what some Malaysians do, advertently or indvertently, to thwart actions of public servants, from the PM on down, which are not in the public interest, then why shouldn't these bloggers be politically motivated? They are after all Malaysians.

In fact each and everyone of us breathing Malaysians, whether we are blogging or not, should be politically-motivated. Politics concerns us. All of us have a vested interest in all things political. In fact, the trouble with Malaysians is that we have not been political enough. We have been too complacent and uncomplaining about how we are being governed. That is why the current government think they can get away with what they're doing.

Politics is the simply the tool of governance. Thus it touches every aspect of our lives as citizens. Who are they, these people we ELECT and PAY to take care of our politics (i.e the running and governing of this political entity we call Malaysia for us Malaysians), to tell us not to be politically-motivated? Who are they to start this propaganda, this smear assaults, against our some of us for being good responsible citizens? Who are they to turn around and attack us for defending our rights? How dare they!

I'm not a blogger and not likely to be one anytime soon, but this bullying and sly vindictiveness of our elected representatives, especially ignorant ones, really incenses me as a citizen."

10 comments:

Mat Salo said...

Mek Yam! Touche! Excellent commentary Mek Yam...

If it's up to me this comment should be published in the - day I say it?- ENESTY or STAR where EVERY citizen deserve to hear this very apt summation of the current state of the Malaysian politico-blogo scene...

You are right, I can't stand the "bullying" either!

Anonymous said...

You know Nuraina, I think this whole "gertak" business is because we as citizens have always let elected reps get away with it.

They all dah biasa. So they forgot that an elected government is still the servant of the masses.

All these while people have been "discouraged" to criticise and demand accountability. With blogging's viral propensities, it is irrepressible. It is the fact that Malaysians read blogs that disturbs the politicians.

Information can fuel meaningful decision-making. They muzzled the media. So it is no surprise that Malaysians turn to blogs for information.

If this means empowering people, bringing accountability, improving governance and instilling ethics in the powers that be (yes i'm a romantic), then GO BLOGGERS !!!

J.T. said...

"In fact, the trouble with Malaysians is that we have not been political enough. We have been too complacent and uncomplaining about how we are being governed. That is why the current government think they can get away with what they're doing."

Mekyam raises many good points. However, referring to the quote above, I would like to give my two-cents worth. Some Malaysians are afraid to rock the boat because they do not want to risk jeopardising their families' livelihood. They could be sole breadwinners. Actions of some family members (who are merely dependents) ultimately affect the rest of the family. That is the risk some won't take.

I admit some just give up trying to say anything because they think "what is the point? I won't be heard."

That said, I am glad there are some people speaking out intelligently for the others (through blogs)- speaking for those who cannot and would not.

“The nation will find it very hard to look up to the leaders who are keeping their ears to the ground”- Winston Churchill

Anonymous said...

To MEKYAM!

Keep up the brilliant comments Mekyam!You make my day!

Blogs have the potential to turn into a credible source of information and education for society, and it is exactly these kind of well thought out comments that are going to turn the POTENTIAL into REALITY.Though you usually keep your comments short and sweet I have been mentioning your name to some friends as someone to watch out for!I have been saying "She's definitely worth a read! The linguistic expression that she uses is a joy to read and the sequencing of her thoughts, simply delectable!"

Its a pity that due to a certain obnoxious fella on Sheih , you have decided to not comment more there- alas, as an empowering agent, not everyone has the wisdom to distinguish that the quantity of the comments is no where near as important as the quality!

Wish more like you Mekyam!

PS- Some others to watch out for is Roxanne and Loneranger- i always read and marvel at their mastery of the language!

Unknown said...

The damned if you do and damned if you don't situation of malaysians is damned damning. Damn those damned politician and their damn tactics. Damn them them damned idiots.

Hi&Lo said...

This is a nugget of wisdom from Mek Yam. If we don't care abt what's happening to our country, future generations will be damned.

We may be powerless as individuals but collectively we can shake and move things.

Despite the elected reps ineptitude to listen, the noise level will be too hard for them to ignore.

Anonymous said...

How many people are like jeff ooi and rocky, who dare to speak out at the risk of compromising their livelihood. It takes a lot of guts and for that I salute these two icons. Oops, not to forget Nuraina, susan, marina, and the many brave women who have more guts than most of the men in Malaysia. these are the people who walk the talk, walk the walk.

shar101 said...

Hoowah! That's one helluva broadside from a broad.

*Sorry, Mekyam. I got a feeling you're a lady and 1st para was written for dramatic effect with the utmost respect.*

This administration is not just suffering from blogfear, it is also ill-equipped to respond to what bloggers are offering to the general public. Sending ZM to RDC to learn it's latest techniques to regulate blog activities is one fine example of our government's ineptness. When a little honesty would have tip the scales, obfuscation is still their game-plan.

And now that the Bloggers United movement has morphed into a tangible entity i.e. NAB, an upfront and in your face type of organisation for the purpose of engagement, will or can the government ignore our legitimate claim for democratic representation?

In a way, NAB's formation will invariably protect the majority of bloggers whose postings are personal in nature. The government's onslaught is indeed aimed at socio-political blogs as Mekyam mentioned but in their haste to refute, they have paintbrushed the entire blogosphere as anti-government.

It will still be an uphill battle but I'm certainly glad that some of us have made a stand. If we are politically-motivated, it's because our politicians are morally-deficient.

Anonymous said...

Alamak! Who shined the lights in my eyes? Ai..ai..ai..ai..ai!!!

One day you're sailing quietly through your fave Malaysian blogs, local and abroad, nodding your head in agreement here, mouthing "Damn Right!" there, wowing here and oooing there, gnashing your teeth in one and laughing yourself mental in another... and the next thing you know, that passionate tirade you typed and sent hurtling through yon cyber (which gave you even more satisfaction than the turkey on rye you were wolfing down after a hard day's work) rated its own Entry in the immensely popular 3540 Jalan Sudin! OMG!!!

Dear Nuraina, I feel like one of those stage extras being pulled from the wings to take a bow. Flattered and flustered. Thank you. You know, this could really get to a... GIRL's head. ;-)

Or as shar101 said... BROAD! I'm okay with broad. Broad is good as long as we're not talking about my behind. :-D

Thanks also to hi&lo, j.t., mrh-carthage and mat salo for the virtual pats on the back and the more than kind "hear! hear!". I was merely reechoing what you guys and those Malaysian bloggers I visit daily have been saying in many different ways.

j.t., you are absolutely right. Not everybody can take the risk of standing up to be counted. Which is why I so admire these bloggers who put themselves on the line. I too number myself among the timid and the handicapped. But when called, I'd like these front liners to know that mekyam will not hesitate to help swell the ranks, raise the decibel of the din, add her coppers to the cause, dig the trenches, rip sheets for bandages, bungkus nasi lemak, swallow the microchip, apa sajalah...

mrh-carthage, at the risk of sounding like a mutual-admiration party and giving people toothache, I'd like to say that your articulate and plainspoken comments always stand out for me too. :-)

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