7 Things to celebrate this Merdeka

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This list could have been much longer, but seven seems to be the magic number for all kinds of magazine content, online or offline. It just so happens that seven is exactly the right number for this list, so here goes.

1.     Restoration of a functioning democracy

The way the previous government led by Mr. Najib Razak was going, with draconian legislation aimed at curbing dissent, dodgy judicial appointments and degrading the independence of democratic institutions like a free press and an independent election commission, it looked that a slide into full blown authoritarianism was only a matter of time. Unlike many more so called developed nations recently, Malaysian voters to their credit recognized the danger and acted accordingly.

2.     Not a kleptocracy anymore

Whatever else may happen, but Malaysia is unlikely to see another scandal on the scale of 1MDB. The vote was as much a way for Malaysia to show what they thought of being taken for such a massive ride, as it was for change and a more responsive government.

3.     Freedom of expression 

This column is naturally most elated at this after a period when so many voices were threatened and bullied into silence. If the election had not turned out the way it had, it is entirely likely that the alternative news media online would also have been silenced. As the Washington Post’s new tagline says; “Democracy dies in darkness”. Great vigilance on this front will be required because authoritarian politicians fear this freedom the most.

4.     Intellectual freedom

Government doublespeak and hypocrisy was rampant in this area where all kinds of expensive blue ocean and innovation programmes were launched based on encouraging curiosity, but both students and professors were banned from actually having any opinion against the policies of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. Hopefully Malaysian higher education will get a real fillip with the proposed repeal of the UUCA Act.

5.     Level playing field

While racism has been entrenched in Malaysia since independence and the current PM, Dr. Mahathir is not shy of looking at the world through the lens of race, the fact that the ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) is much more a coalition of equals than BN ever was augurs well for the future of policymaking from a national perspective rather than a racial one.

6.     Lower cost of living

The tax holiday has been an immediate help in lowering the cost of living and delivering a much-needed feel good factor for the new government. The push for austerity in government operations including procurement and wages as well as the strength of the anti-corruption crusade should also help in restoring the economy to a more sustainable footing and making life a little easier for the hard-pressed middle class.

7.     Hope

Most importantly, the sullenness of the past few years has given way to unalloyed optimism that even the most intractable problems dogging the nation can be overcome with the new spirit of accommodation and optimism on display.

The people are the ones who effected this change, and no politician can take credit for it. That is the real cause for celebration today.

Hidup Rakyat. Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia.

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