BERSIH 2.0

When it comes to politics, I am apathic. But when you are several thousands of miles away from home, and the only life support system you have is the Facebook, it is inevitable I too -- no matter how politically apathic -- get caught of the recent "yellow fever" bug spreading epidemically in and outside of Malaysia.

After watching the many video-clips posted on Facebook, the uber-massive, history-making, chaotic demonstration last Saturday looked so reminiscent of what had taken place in Thailand not too long ago. One of them even reminded me of the Tiananmen Square incidence, when a Muslim guy, face covered in Jihad-style, stood amid the thick cloud of tear gas and began performing his prayer alone while a troop of FRU trucks with its water cannons came down the same street head-on. But that old chinese lady, drenched in chemically tainted rain, with a stalk of flower in her hand, she reminded me of no one.

A national heroine after July 09, she refused to back away from the chemical insults. When people asked her to run, she said, "If I leave now, how are we gonna go on in the future?" and stood firm in her path and what she believed in.  Frankly, I am not sure what she believes in. In fact, I am not sure if she, or the million of my countrymen in that gargantuan mess, truly knew what they were fighting for. (Because....they love their country?)

No doubt many things  in the country need to be corrected. Electoral system reformed. Justice uprighted. Corruption nipped. Special privileges scrapped. Public transport bettered. A meeker weather. But correct me if I am wrong, in their long march, in bright yellow T-shirts, on the black tarred road,  has the opposition offered clear directions of how to get to a better Kuala Lumpur city of the future? Yes? No? Or are they just a group of people who only criticizes incessantly but never contributes constructively like that irritating, trouble-making colleague in a meeting? As a political renegade, I don't know.

But what I know is that I grew up disliking Dr.M. Not the way he looks but his administration. Personal preferences aside, despite all its shortcomings, his long tenure proved to all that he was the I-Did-It-My-Way Frank Sinatra of Prime Ministers. He turned the country into part of the "East Asia Miracle" with his original remedies concocted especially for Malaysia. It was all glorious until, of course, the financial crisis in 1998. Many might not be able to, even up to today, accept the way he had treated his then heir apparent ,but every physician knows best, when handled carefully, sometimes a little poison is the best cure. And hasn't the country got out of trouble relatively unscathed as compared to the other SEA countries? Even though I still don't like him championing for special privileges so vehemently, I am learning to swallow the bitter pill prescribed in The Constitution. It's very much like loving someone unconditionally -- you accept them, warts and all. And with all his originalities, no one could have loved the country more than Dr.M. The tumultuous demonstration last weekend was a totally unnecessary way of displaying one's love for the country. It's so not our style.

Anyway, deep inside, I know the country will be fine, with or without demonstrations. After all, we are Malaysia Boleh, aren't we?