BTN

The 5 days turned out to be "okay" as I put it to my mum, my general answer for everything. As in, "How was exam?". "Was okay." and "How do you find Ireland?". "I think its okay." I think I've made my point.

As much as I wanted to believe that the course was a place where they brainwashed students into being extremely pro-government (and by government I mean UMNO), it wasn't exactly that because the points that were repeatedly brought forward were valid. The issue of Malay Supremacy is tricky, and lies at the very foundation of Malaysia's current political turmoil. How do you protect Malay rights without upsetting social equality? PKR has apparently found a way to do this but theories and promises are what they are, mere words, and until its practiced, no one can be absolutely certain that it will work.

The problem is the huge contrast in perception and way of thinking between the older and younger generation. The reason the opposition party achieved that much success in the last general election was not only that the people had lost faith in BN following rampant corruption and political feuds within the party itself but also because they are looking for something new, something to change the constitution to make it more relevant. Why must we tie ourselves to a set of rules that was made 51 years ago, a time when the country was still burdened by social issues and political uncertainty? Many things have happened since the conception of Malaysia. All the different races have learned to unite and work together in developing the country and not just that one race. Surely we should make room for change.

On the other hand, its easy to say "Right, change everything, scrap the old constitution and we'll make a new one" because we don't regard these things as highly as do the older generation. We take it lightly and don't bother to understand how it came to be. It is what it is, half a decade's old set of laws. But to them, it is a sanctity. What it took for them to reach that stage where they could finally make decisions for their own country in a land that is rightfully theirs. The amount of pain and suffering that they'd had to endure whilst under sovereign control, some as we know willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of independence. Thus, after all the tears and blood poured into the fight against the British empire, it is important that the sanctity of the constitution (mostly referring to Malay rights) as written by them be upheld to ensure that never again will they have to capitulate to foreign invaders. Change everything, and all the effort would have been for nothing.

The truth of the mater is that Malaysia is a country occupied by different races and it'd be near impossible if these social groups didn't argue amongst each other and have difference in opinion once in a while. But we as humans have the virtue of tolerance, and that is what makes for a peaceful and harmonious country. Nowadays its people wanting more, demanding for everything but not willing to give anything. In the end no one wins.

31st August is around the corner, but the leaders are too busy thinking of ways to move themselves up the neverending political ladder and the people are on a constant lookout for the next big issue.

Happy 51st Birthday.



p/s: Thanks fifa, jijat, yana, ji, sarah, kara, gp5 for making things less awkward and the experience that much better for me because as much as I take solace in being alone, it also has its limits. Hopefully we'll meet again.