Has life improved in the past five years?

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 8 years ago · Published on 5 Dec 2017 2:47PM · 4 Comments

Najib Razak casts his vote during the 2013 general elections. Voters must ask if life has improved or worsened since GE13. – EPA pic, December 5, 2017.

HERE’S a message for Malaysians: our vote is ours to give.

Seems like an obvious and trite statement, right? 

But the fact is there is going to be a gush of Malaysians of all types of influence saying all manner of things at regular intervals from now till the polls. 

Some of them will use the heft of their titles and positions and will even employ reasonable language to get Malaysians to vote for the status quo.

The mainstream media will feature these voices under the guise of exclusive stories to push subtly the point that change may lead to mayhem. 

But the only questions that need to be answered are these: has life improved for us since GE13 in 2013? 

Has our standard of living improved in the last five years?

Or has it regressed?

Do you go to sleep and wake up troubled by worries about cost of living more than at any time over the past five years?

Have you and your family been forced to change your diet because your ringgit doesn’t stretch as long anymore?

Are you happy with the space to practise your religion? Or do you believe constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion have been eroded since the last election?

Do you believe unity in diversity in still a strength or that racial polarisation has become an issue in Malaysia?

Are the rule of law and natural justice concepts important in Malaysia? Or have the tenets been marginalised?

Has corruption become an even bigger problem in Malaysia since GE13? Are you impressed with the steps taken to combat graft and jail the corrupt?

Do you believe your leaders are more honest and capable from five years ago?

Is your neighbourhood safer today?

The checklist of questions is long. The type of questions to be answered will be different depending on your economic status, race, religion and which part of Malaysia you call home.

As tiring and tedious this process is, it will help Malaysians answer this all important question: has life improved since 2013?

It does not matter what politicians, corporate captains or the royalty tell us in the run-up to the polls.

Disregard their words of advice because they have their own motives for their “advice”

Our vote is ours to give.

Has life improved in the last five years? – December 5, 2017.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Zahid Hamidi fear mongering that UMNO would be finished if it loses. IF its true, UMNO cannot survive a losing an election. THEN its time to finish it off because after 60 years in power, it cannot survive, the foundation of the party, the basis of the party is rotten and worthless and risking the future of the Malay and the country

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • To give a simple answer, life has become harder, and the country has gone downhill – in almost every aspect, and the current political leadership is morally bankrupt. Verdict: vote this government out without any hesitation!

    Posted 8 years ago by Kim quek · Reply

  • If Wealthy celebrities says no, ordinary citizens definitely don't. The problem is, like Trump base, the UMNO-PAS base may not vote logically.

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Although I agree that life has regressed in the last 5 years, my question is will anything change should the opposition take over? Nominating Dr.M as interim PM? really?

    Posted 8 years ago by Donald Trump · Reply