Lesson learned from the past

AUG 28 — In a few more days, we will celebrate our 55th year of being independent. National Day is the best day to reflect back on our journey as a nation. First, there are no other days which are more significant in our nation’s rich history. Second, it reflects exactly another year of us being fully responsible for dictating the course of Malaysia. We have no one else to blame, as the power has been solely in our hands. This day is also special for me personally. It used to be the only day in the year where my friends and I would get the chance to actually wave the “Jalur Gemilang” during the annual celebration in primary school. It was also the time of the year where my father insisted that our house showcased the “Jalur Gemilang”, though it was my younger brother’s duty to fix the flags due to his thinner physique. From my primary school days, I also remember working with the entire school to produce a huge, extra-long “Jalur Gemilang” for this special day. Those were amazing moments. I would limit my reflection this time on the political aspect of August 31. Many of us assumed last August that we would have seen the results of the hotly anticipated 13th general election by now. But most of us were wrong, and it now seems unlikely that the GE will be held in 2012. Today, I don’t want to discuss assumptions on the outcome of this postponed election. What concerns me most is the effect of this delay. Datuk Seri Najib Razak has until April next year to call for election and both parties are now happy to use this time to strengthen their positions. However, although both political sides benefit from this delay as they can reduce the cracks internally, this wait has increased the cracks between Malaysians as a country. The intensity and frequency of the fights in the political arena has increased as the year progresses, and has given all political parties something to work on to prove their worth. Read more.... Jarumemas: Seeing is beleiving...