Racism

Barack Obama has just been elected President. The White House will admit its 1st black President. A nation previously notorious for centuries of slavery and racial conflict finally voted for change. I read the news with amusement and admiration for the US voters.

I can't help but to compare the US with my hometown, Malaysia. I know many might think that the two countries are on opposite sides of the globe (literally and figuratively) and that there's nothing to compare. Alas, Malaysia is more alike the US than most people think.

For a start, Malaysia, like US got independence from the British, though a few hundred years later, and without bloodshed. Malaysia is also a multiracial country, with its own history of racial conflict and racism. US has elected a black President. When will Malaysia accept a non-UMNO PM? A few hundred years later perhaps, when UMNO finally condemns Malaysia to a point of no return (might not be very far now, mind you).

I'd also like to commend the US Presidential election campaign. Instead of buying votes and fixing roads and drains every four years, Presidential candidates debate about current issues affecting the people and their plans to overcome financial and social woes. For the record, BN candidates have been known to shun debates, claiming it to be a waste of time.

The reason they flee from debates is totally understandable. Having seen some videos of our ministers answering questions whether in forums or in parliament, it would have been even more humiliating had they debated in public. These are the very people the Malaysian electorate have voted into parliament to DEBATE.

All these facts have only proven one thing: we are very far away from a truly mature election process and even more so from a truly 'malaysian' Malaysia.

An adaptation from the movie V for Vandetta, to remember the 5th of November