September 2008 is definitely the longest month, or at least the last half of the month. Most likely October would also be the same. For the followers of REFORMASI movement, it is a long ten years’ wait that ends September 20th, 2008.
Will it take another ten years? Countdown into the second decade started September 20th, 2008. Time seems to move so slowly, especially when one is holding one’s breaths. This is the mother of all cliff-hangers for reformists in Malaysia.
Here in Thailand, in “the land of smiles”, politics are equally intriguing. It is amazing how people always underestimate the power of money. In democracy, money still rule. One always has this notion that democracy is about people’s power. Those who were in power then amassed immense wealth and are now wielding it to buy them back into power. Be that as it may, one still has to resort to democracy, to give ourselves some rays of hope. There is a little light though, coming through the cracks.
What about Malaysia? Half a century of grip is not a grip. It is a deep-rooted and cemented foundation, supported by the might of all the key government machineries. The 7,000+ Special Branch officers of the Royal Malaysian Police of a total of 58,000+ head count who do nothing but devoting 200% of their time towards ensuring that UMNO reign supreme. This number is a modest estimate. The job that they do is not an exaggeration though. This organisation is at the apex of the whole structure that is propping UMNO up. How does one take a swipe at this evil creature? Not a lot! It will take perhaps another decade. Very depressing indeed!
Then what about the opposition leader’s initiative to topple the government via defection of the ruling party’s MP? Anwar Ibrahim himself admitted when interviewed by The Daily Telegraph that “We have the numbers but we can’t move”. The Malaysian Insider also reported that the PAS Secretary General, Kamaruddin Jaafar said that he expects the stalemate to continue for years to come until a general election is held.
Brace ourselves for a long haul then!
Here’s Dan Hill’s First Blood, in true troubadour form!
It’s A Long Road (Dan Hill)
Will it take another ten years? Countdown into the second decade started September 20th, 2008. Time seems to move so slowly, especially when one is holding one’s breaths. This is the mother of all cliff-hangers for reformists in Malaysia.
Here in Thailand, in “the land of smiles”, politics are equally intriguing. It is amazing how people always underestimate the power of money. In democracy, money still rule. One always has this notion that democracy is about people’s power. Those who were in power then amassed immense wealth and are now wielding it to buy them back into power. Be that as it may, one still has to resort to democracy, to give ourselves some rays of hope. There is a little light though, coming through the cracks.
What about Malaysia? Half a century of grip is not a grip. It is a deep-rooted and cemented foundation, supported by the might of all the key government machineries. The 7,000+ Special Branch officers of the Royal Malaysian Police of a total of 58,000+ head count who do nothing but devoting 200% of their time towards ensuring that UMNO reign supreme. This number is a modest estimate. The job that they do is not an exaggeration though. This organisation is at the apex of the whole structure that is propping UMNO up. How does one take a swipe at this evil creature? Not a lot! It will take perhaps another decade. Very depressing indeed!
Then what about the opposition leader’s initiative to topple the government via defection of the ruling party’s MP? Anwar Ibrahim himself admitted when interviewed by The Daily Telegraph that “We have the numbers but we can’t move”. The Malaysian Insider also reported that the PAS Secretary General, Kamaruddin Jaafar said that he expects the stalemate to continue for years to come until a general election is held.
Brace ourselves for a long haul then!
Here’s Dan Hill’s First Blood, in true troubadour form!
It’s A Long Road (Dan Hill)
It's a long road
when you're on your own
And it hurts where they tear you dreams apart
When they draw first blood
That's just the start of it
Day and night you got to fight to keep alive
It's a real war
Right outside your front door, I tell ya
Out where they'd kill ya
You could use a friend
It's a long road
And it's hard as hell
Tell me what do you do to survive
And every new town just seems to bring you down
Trying to find your peace of mind can break your hard
It's a real war, right outside your frond door...
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