The Songket Conundrum
“The differences are obvious…” I said to Ahmed* after shocking him into a sweaty state {or at least that’s what I love to do with humans when I’m pissed with the blatant situation that never changes in Malaysia}.
Ahmed is a kind gullible soul who thinks good of every single neuron existing in the fabric of Malaysia’s intricate Songket of socio-elite.
“But your vote counts – you should vote for … – the country will be in Peace as it has always been” he stressed. “Our economy will alleviate, and the Chinese and Indians will be happier…” he added. “The world will recognize us again, after Mahathir” he grinned.
I’d love to believe that, but I’ve lived long enough to see the differences between the people of the nation. At best they tolerate each other. In the grapevine, they connive, slander, murder and are condescending to each other. One is always fighting for something – for recognition, more power, more money in their pockets, more talk shows {in the media}, more cars, bigger homes, bigger offices with less responsibilities, less concerts, more cover-ups. They’re even voting for Islaam Hadhari – a so-called Islaamic Renaissance of sorts.
I looked at Ahmed. He was dressed nonchalantly. He looked like a Saint. He could be a saint, and I could easily pass off as Lillith with blonde hair unveiled and perceived as the ‘orang sesat‘ in multi-racial Malaysia.
“Ahmed, do you know how much they spend on those buntings alone?” I asked, pointing to the blue and white, green and white; and blue white and red plastic rectangles pasted on almost every wall, every corner, every lamp post, and every tree. Overnight, my little city looks like a Bollywood town of yesteryear. The only thing missing was P.Ramlee, and Saloma. He insisted we have enough bullions left in the Central Bank to carry the country out of the dumpster.
I burst out laughing. Yeah right. I was just born about this very instant.
Ahmed was serious. He insisted that if I voted for the biggest racial party, I would be wealthier. I would secure a better job, with bigger paychecks. I work for an NGO. We don’t get much least to say do we have a life. He went on saying that the Malays will be in control of the situation.
“What situation?” “How have they ever been in control of?” I queried. He looked at me blankly, trying to convert me into this new religion – the religion of the great ‘Ketuanan Melayu‘. He hurried to shut me up by saying that what Mahathir did for the region was something incorrigible. I was shocked. How could one who supports UMNO look at Mahathir that way? How could anyone say Mahathir was the cause of Malaysia’s downfall?
“Aainaa, tomorrow, is voting day – make sure your vote counts!” he said raising his voice. “If you vote for UMNO, then I will give you …” he promised me a hefty paycheck.
I grinned and nudge him that if he seriously thought I’d vote for any of them, he’d have to consider another job.
“UMNO cannot afford me,” I snapped.
“The Malays of yesterday didn’t wait for things to happen” I added. “During Mahathir, he made things happen. Today’s ‘leaders’ wait for things to happen – for the skies to fall down and make way for bigger things. At least our Ringgit Malaysia was accepted even at Frankfurt International Airport, and at ‘Bureau de Changes’ in Europe. The economy was booming and even the worst of the worst UM graduate would land himself a job” I retorted. “Today’s leaders take time for things to happen. Even yesterday’s promises have yet to be fulfilled. I could easily turn and sway the country out of its miseries, but I’m not a politician. I’m just a Sorbonne graduate whose degree is not even recognized in Malaysia.” I added.
“Aainaa-Ridtz” he whispered. “The more reason as to why you must vote for …” he insisted.
“Ahmed, the day I vote will be Malaysia’s uprising – I will vote for a Presidency, and turn the country 180º – albeit, I’ll be the first President or at best, its ‘puppet-meister’. It’s not which gender manages the country whether male, or female, but a better mind – a Unified Mind, not a better race – Malaysia needs that – not insisting this or that race is better than the other, this or that religion is better than another.”
We parted ways. I could hear his slight exasperation whispering “Melayu sesat“.
Haprak!
*Obviously not his real name!
Filed under: Malaysia