Fight the good fight

Monday, May 06, 2013

7am.As a first time voter, I eagerly did my duty. I woke up early, put my game face on, braved the scorching heat for 2 hours before I was able to make my mark on the paper for our future. The future of the children I might have one day. For their children. Maybe, one day.

I don't kid myself. I was never  into politics and never had the stomach for it. But I, like so many of my fellow first time, doe-eyed voters got caught up in the election wave. Our generation, the new generation, went to vote for the first time.Blue ink fingers baby. No, I did not post my blue finger on facebook. But I am a proud voter. I voted for the change I wanted. The change that one day Malaysia will be a racial free country, that our skin colour and religious beliefs do not dictate and do not represent who we are as a person. 

You see, this isn't about the fact that BN won through obvious lies and deceit. It's not about PR losing yet again after the hopeful bersih-ing of the electoral system. This is about my dad.

My dad, was born here. He went through the same hardships, he tapped rubber in the mornings before going to school. He went to public school. He learned to speak the occasional Tamil words. He played football with his kaki bola. He makes the occasional racial joke. Because everyone does it. He is a Malaysian. And he is growing old. He turns 60 soon. And then he turns 65. And 70.

And like so many from his time, he wants a change. A change from the corrupted leaders of his time. Filtering his hard earned money for their own selfish gains. A change for a chance to see a better future for his kids. Yesterday marked another let down in his life time. Something he had miniscule control over. To see an old man look sad and resigned is something I never want to see again. He might never see the fruits of his labour in his time. The good fight he put in as a responsible citizen for his country. But he wants his kids to see it. The hope that one day, our government will be the government for the rakyat. So daddy, I voted for a change yesterday. It didn't win the overall election, but I'd like you to know it was for you. I want you to see change in your time. Because you deserve it.

I'm as idealistic as can be. I have hopes that the winning government will reform. And if they don't, we'll have another election in 5 years. I'll pray for you, my current government. Because you have a lot to do. The long journey ahead will be rough, but if you can prove us wrong, you will regain our trust. That shall be your biggest victory.

So let us not be sad. Not for long at least. Our work is cut out for all of us. Be the change we want to see in the world.