Bear, Diah and Pasha

New Year… New What?

Posted on the December 12th, 2008 under Life by Papa Bear

Hey didle didle… It’s Friday again and it’s time to write about the beautiful Malaysia again. I left my wallet at home today and luckily I managed to find enough coins in my car to pay the toll to the office. If not, I had to do that cat face, the one that the cat with the big eyes in Shrek…, and get away without paying the toll… one more time…

This post is neither about me forgetting to bring my wallet nor will it be about the toll that I have to pay but it will be more than just that.

How many months have passed since the historical victory of the opposition parties in the last general election? Many months is the answer. Not an exact answer but should be good enough. What has changed besides the people and parties leading some of the states?

From where I am standing sitting typing, I do not see that anything has really changed. Where are the pre-election promises made? Now you know… When the so called pro government mainstream media talked about the bad sides and the failures of the newly elected Pakatan Rakyat government, they and their die hard supporters screamed about how unfair the news are lately. Have they ever stepped back and looked at how such opportunities are given to the media?

That’s the beauty of politics. Good politicians would look for sensitive issues to politicize and for as long as there are gullible people out there, these schemes would work wonderfully. All they need is to work on the emotional aspects of these people and they would get truck loads of fanatic supporters who would miserably fail to see beyond the reality of promises made.

For example, you live at some places where you know that once you drive out of your house, you have to pay toll and when you do that, the image of Samy Vellu will be popping up automatically… So when somebody promised that if they are elected, you would not have to pay toll anymore, some of you got really elated!

You voted and a new government was formed. Even a stuttering Chief Minister would not bother you as you were so confident that the changes were finally here. After a few months, that was the only change that you would ever get.

Well, don’t blame them. You are the one who have failed to see that to do something such as getting rid of tolls on our road is not as simple as the promises made There are legal implications, contractual details and many others have to be taken care of before it can be done. In the end promises were promises and you will be waiting for the cow to jump over the moon….

So, when the new government could not deliver the promises, what do they do? Don’t ask me. Anyway, I like to touch a bit on the die hard, fanatical supporters of a political party. These are the people who thought that they are always making the right choices and would not listen to anything else…

For example, what benefits would you get when a political party that you support wanted to change how the street signs should be written? Would it give you better income or your child would be smarter by doing that? Is this something that really needs to be looked at rather than the failing global economy?

For all I know if that is approved, some politicians would be laughing all the way to the bank after securing some contracts to replace the street signs, one way or another. And you will get brand new street signs and throw a party, at your own expenses, to  celebrate the victory… That’s pathetic!

As for me, it does not matter who rules this country but what matters is whether the government can bring the changes that the people wanted and walk the talk by delivering the promises made. The promises made should be realistic and not just for the sake of winning votes by taking advantage of lots of politically blind people out there.

As for those who would do anything for your beloved political party, make sure that you know the difference between “will try to do” or “will do” and “have done that” as it is very easy to use “will do” than “have done” when saying something…

So, hey didle didle, when will I stop paying toll? When will I get free water? Is there any new hope in the new year? New Year… New What?

Are we doing things for us, our children, our future generations, our country or just for some charismatic politicians?

I need to go home and get my wallet.

By the way, this post came right out of my head without any draft and therefore, I should stop before I give you some headaches…

Ps:
Will somebody please fix all the pot holes in Shah Alam before somebody got seriously injured or died or should we wait for the next general election for that to happen?

Pss:
It is too early to wish happy New Year, so I will do that later…

Psss:
I am not an UMNO, PAS, DAP or PKR member…