Friday, July 15, 2011

So much of democracy.

I'd never fail to flip the page when I see anything regarding politics in the newspapers. I just hate it because politics is so complicated! There's so many names, so many faces, so many political party! What more, the never-ending corruption?

But (there's always a 'but' eh?), Ms. Mary, my English 101 lecturer, made us do all these crazy assignments on politics, United Nations, and anything that make (help) us be aware of the world around us. I never really question her or myself, why politics? because I just assume that she adores it as she seemed so gung-ho about the world or Malaysia, that is. But as I'm writing this, I guess she's trying to make a point. A point that is, it's not only and always about us. I realized a lot of time people (including myself) are so selfish and their only concern is about: me, myself and I. Well, its time to change that. God taught me something last two weeks ago and it hit me. Being selfish (although not intentionally) affect others and it creates misunderstandings.

Well, anyway, back to the topic. I've been reading a lot lately and I realized how much I've missed out in life or in this fast paced world. Yeah, I may know a lot of things but I don't know enough. But then again, I wouldn't know everything in this world and the statement "I don't know enough" won't stop until I die.

Malaysia accepted the Westminster system since Bapa Kemerdekaan (Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman) shouted "MERDEKA!" 7 times on the 31st of August 1957. Malaysia inherited a new independent Government based on parliamentary democracy similar to that of Britain's (Abdullah Sanusi B. Ahmad).

Democracy: government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system (Dictionary.reference).

After the whole Bersih 2.0 rally, I saw that Malaysia is NOT really a democratic country. And the United Nations should just remove Malaysia as a member of Human Right Council. Why still pretend that the government actually still cares about Human Rights? It's stated in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

But yet the police force used excessive and unnecessary force on the people. Firing tear gas and water cannon for absolutely no reason at all. Effects? Thousands got injured, and one man died. Oh, not to forget firing tear gas into/towards/near (not exactly sure which one) Tung Shin Hospital, to err.. quote Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, "protect its patients from Bersih 2.0 protesters who had sought refuge there." Well, you know what? It doesn't make sense at all. How is firing chemicals protecting the patients? This is pretty hilarious.

Article 20.
(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

Well, apparently not in Malaysia because Bersih 2.0 is illegal. The Rakyat were peaceful, not the government though.

Article 21.
(1) Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
(2) Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.
(3) The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Again, not so much in Malaysia. Dirty politics, corrupted elections, and all the rasuah (bribery). There's no transparency at all! Pretty much BS on Malaysia being a part of UNDR.

I'm definitely not saying that Malaysia should withdraw from UNDR (although I sound like it). But what I'm trying to say is that the government should do what they had signed and in a way, keep their promises (I'm not sure if promise is the right word. It's 3am in the morning).

I learnt in IPC (Interpersonal Communications) that Malaysia is a low-power-distance culture (power that is evenly distributed throughout the citizenry), which simply means, Malaysia IS a democratic country. It is a government of the people, by the people, for the people.


We the boss ;)

Malaysia, be a man, do the right thing (Russell Peters).

:)

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