A Democracy in it’s Infancy

At a voter registration centre in Afghanistan today, a bomb went off; among those killed, children.
It is a symbolic situation - a democracy in its infancy struggling to mature in a climate of violence.

In Malaysia, Alhamdulillah, we have been spared such violence - but our democracy has also seemed to find it hard to mature.


I have been warned by those around me to be careful when talking about politics.
To not criticise those in power too openly.
After all, I am a government-sponsored student -
not the wisest thing to do, is it, to bite the hand which feeds you?

Largely this advice has come from well-meaning people, from family and friends.

But with all due respect, and with no intention to shame or embarrass, I humbly assert that it is this very mindset which has held democracy back in Malaysia.
An unwillingness to challenge authority in fear of the ‘bad things’ which can happen to ME, is the very thing that has led to ‘bad things’ happening to ALL OF US -
the kleptocratic mess we find our country in today.

This self-censorship kills the freedom of expression necessary to hold our representatives in government to account.

And yes - they are OUR representatives. They work for us, NOT the other way around.

The allowance I receive is from the PEOPLE of Malaysia, NOT the government’s.
Is it not, then, even more of a responsibility for me to speak out against a government oppressing my people?
Is it not selfish of me to sit down quietly and let the corruption of my government be?


Yes, I realise that in saying this I may come across as a naively idealistic young kid.
But perhaps it is because I am young that I have so much to lose with a corrupt government in power.
It is because I’m so idealistic that I can speak with a clear conscience, no strings attached.

So I shall speak.
And in my own small insignificant way, I shall hold to account those in power.

As Afghans die in a bomb blast seeking their democracy,
we in Malaysia cannot let our democracy die quietly.

Rise up and speak.



P.s. if you are afraid of speaking up because of the government, perhaps its time you get a new government.

Saad and Ayyan

Two 10-year-old boys meekly approached me, wearing sheepish grins. 

“Assalamualaikum..”

“Yes?”

“We want to apologise about yesterday..”

Yesterday as the two boys entered the masjid, they saw me and whispered (audibly) to each other: 

“Chang Ching Chong is here” 

- alluding to my Oriental appearance.

Fighting the temptation to give them a piece of my mind there and then, I instead kept my cool and approached the man who brought the two boys to the masjid.

I asked him who they were - he said they were his son and nephew. Aged 10.

I told him what they called me, and reminded him that racism is wrong in Islam.

Visibly embarrassed, he told me he will handle it.

I asked him not to scold them - they are only young and didn’t know better. But they DO need to be told that what they did was wrong.

After salah, I approached the family of three as they were leaving the masjid.

“I just want to say that what you did today was very brave - apologising.

Not many grown-ups are able to do that.”

They grinned. A bit more proudly this time.

Saad and Ayyan, you are growing up in a world full of prejudice and hate. Already some of it has tainted you.

But as long as you retain the courage to admit your mistakes and apologise, there still is hope.

(And we adults can learn a thing or two on that too)

The people’s ‘tidak kisah’ attitude 

       leads to 

                  ignorance;

which provides fertile ground for

                       kleptocracy, 

            cronyism, and 

blind fanaticism.

the apathy of the rakyat = the corruption of her politicians