Malaysia Boleh?

I will be honest here. I used to cringe .. a lot… whenever I hear shouts of “Malaysia Boleh”… anywhere, even at sporting events. I mean, its actually a meek war cry .. imagine soldiers shouting that while charging the enemy. Doesn’t quite cut it.

That is until 9 May 2018. Don’t even need to shout it because in our hearts of hearts, those two words were emblazoned and burned into our memory and conscience forever. 

Malaysia Boleh – we not only did something for our country, we are actually the shining light of democracy to the world now. No other nation can say they have a change in government, without bloodshed or riots. 

Even in the eye of blatant bias all along the voting process, negative bias treatment of candidacy and opposition parties, excessive gerrymandering, hastily enacted rules and laws to frustrate all on the opposing side … 

Despite.., in spite of …, Malaysia changed the government by muscling democracy to more than just bare popular vote threshold. With odds so stacked against us, we not just prevailed… we faced it hard, looked them in the eyes, doubled down, and …we did not just win, WE TRIUMPHED. Malaysia Boleh… oh yes, we can, and we did. 

Like another writer said, now we are a beacon for democracy for the rest of the world to follow. Malaysia, a population of less than 30m…, showed the world you can achieve proper democracy with non-violence, if you want it hard enough, and you need to unite in ONE VOICE.

THE DIARY

It’s been an exhausting yet exhilarating 12 hours. My thumb has never had such a workout. I felt like I was holding Beyoncé’s and Taylor Swift’s handphone. The number of messages might indicate that I was in running for the most popular person on earth. 

What was most exhausting was trying to ensure the messages were roughly true. Even more exhausting was trying to pacify friends who were losing heart. It was all so busy, I forgot to eat. 

Then half an hour ago, a close cousin asked via WeChat about the progress. As I changed tack to type a personal response, tears flowed freely as I typed “my country has changed government”. I don’t know why, maybe I do.  I am sure many of you do too. This is not like winning Thomas Cup joy .. this was a struggle by so many for our country for so long. 

I cannot thank the legions of opposition leaders and members enough who had to endure so much for so long. The general public just stood under the umbrella they provided. The umbrella of justice and fairness, they had a voice for us as we went along our lives. Hidup Malaysia!