My Merdeka Wishlist

Many Malaysians will be celebrating Merdeka this year satisfied that justice has finally been served on the biggest scandal in Malaysian history. This is after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was finally sent to jail after he lost his final appeal at the Federal Court over the SRC International RM42 mil case.

Malaysians can also celebrate the passing of the historic anti-party hopping constitutional amendment earlier this month. However, there remains lots of “unfinished business”.

1. Merdeka from Discrimination

After more than 65 years of independence it is time for Malaysia to move from race-based affirmative action to a needs-based one. In addition, we should subscribe to meritocracy and equal opportunities for all.

Our civil service and branches of Government should reflect the racial composition of the nation and not “skewed” in its present form.

Race-based parties and raced-based policies/politics are to be discouraged. An independent Anti-Discrimination Commission (like Suhakam) will try to reduce the unwarranted tensions created by narrow bigoted politics. The Department of National Unity should be disbanded with the formation of the independent Commission.

2. Merdeka from “Shackled” Education

The National Education Policy has succeeded in “churning-out” graduates who are not tuned to current or future-market conditions. If we want to implement IR 4.0, then we are willing to bespoke of our education system to the needs of the future.

We will not be narrow in our thinking but practical as the countries of Scandinavia, especially Finland (or closer to home – Singapore).

3. Merdeka from Corruption

If we value integrity and honesty, then we have no problems on declaring “war” on corruption. We have no problems for MACC to report to Parliament (and especially the Public Accounts Committee). We have no problems on bringing alleged corrupt people to a special Court on Corruption to fast-track all the cases. We have no problems with educating the public on the ills of corruption. We have no problems on awarding “whistleblowers” with a reward mechanism. We have no problems on a legal framework for political funding.

4.  Merdeka from Poverty

If we believe  that every child, parent has the right to a decent life, then we are concerned about our Gini coefficient.

We will look for ways to reduce inequalities between racial groups, within racial groups and between regions. Lawas and Limbang are as important as Kuala Lumpur or JB.

5. Merdeka from “ Narrow-mindedness”

If we believe in freedom of expression, then we will allow the creativity of our people, without constraints of officialdom. We will be tolerant of each other and not “overly” sensitive as we want ideas to flourish.

There are many ways other “narrow-mindedness” in a psyche but pray we will mature from those.

You may have many more “merdeka” points in your wishlist but the above five are key, in my perspective, to our progress in the years ahead. Despite the above, we must be grateful to God for His blessings:

• We enjoy relative peace and stability;

• People are compassionate and loving even though many leaders try to divide them;

• We have resources to tide-over difficult periods;

• Many do work hard to provide for their children’s education;

• Relative religious harmony even though it could be better;

• Opportunities in business to develop the nation from manufacturing to services; and

• Many still hold to integrity and honesty in their work.

So, let us develop this nation within the principles of Rukun Negara.