New Era

On Saturday night, I sat alone in the new house, facing the tv, waiting for the reports on the polls to be announced. Instead, I was updated by repeated SMS-es and phone calls which were accurate despite the newscaster insisting to their viewers to wait for them for the official results.

And of course, as you know, the results were just staggering, with the ruling coalition losing the 2/3 majority and 5 states wrenched from their rule including where I come from. From a disbeliever, I was transformed as the night wore on, mingled with hope and fear. Hope that suddenly, there is light at the end of the long, corrupt tunnel of what used to be unending reign of the current government. Fear because when the same thing happened in 1969, there were racial riots which raped the nation. The Chinese were targeted and slaughtered around KL. Despite trying to hide this history from the younger generation, it is still too recent for older ones who went through that horror who are able to tell us of the terror they experienced.

Later, I was brought to the realization that this swing of votes were not based on race or religion, which alleviated my fears. Now, hope is soaring in all our hearts for a Bangsa Malaysia with the new changes.

Of course, we must also realize that these new people we voted in are green and do not know their way around. Good and bad. Good because they hopefully be humble. Bad because the existing ones will use whatever means they can to throw off the support given to these new folks.

To me, I’m just happy the changes are here and will be willing to give leeway for error to the new rulers.