Dont be fooled.  It is because of the opposition.

Before anyone accuses me of being an opposition supporter, let me say that my political leanings are my own prerogative. After all, “undi itu rahsia, kan?”  Having said that, lets take a few steps back and look at the forest rather than the trees.  

The word opposition tends to always be related to “The Opposition”, as in the major political party/ies opposed to the party in power and seeking to replace it.   I however, would like to point out that the word opposition can also mean a person or group of people opposing, criticising, or protesting something, someone, or another group. 

Bear in mind now that if you have ever had a differing view to any government policy, if you do not agree with how some things are done or carried out by the government or the authorities, if you write a letter to the press in protest against something or join in a protest - whether online, in stadiums or on the streets, then you are or have been part of the opposition.

There is nothing wrong with having a dissenting view nor being opposed to what you think is not right.  That is your prerogative as an individual.  It has been said that “dissent is the greatest form of patriotism”.  If you look back to the formation of this country of ours, it was in fact the dissenting views of our forefathers against the British that formed this country.

So, we have it that dissenting views are the catalyst for change and there have been a number of changes that have happened due to dissenting views.

And that brings me back to the opening line of this article.  A lot of the changes that you have seen happen of late have been because of opposition or dissent.  The changes have happened because you, The Rakyat, have decided that you want to voice your dissatisfaction and elicit change.  So, dont be fooled.  Dont let the government of the day pretend that they instigated the changes.  The changes came about from YOU.  You are the opposition.  You are the dissenting voice.

The fact that the Election Commission (finally) introduced indelible ink for GE13 was a direct result of the thousands of people that took part in Bersih 2.0.  That was a monumental gathering of members of the public to voice their dissatisfaction with the current electoral process and to demand for free and fair elections.  

The fact that early military and police voters decided to speak up that there were cases where the indelible ink was actually delible was due to a dissenting voice wanting clean and fair elections.  

Ever wondered why it took 50 years of independence for Malaysians to realise the difference between Hari Kemerdekaan and Hari Malaysia?

Similarly, why did we have to wait for such a long time before the draconian Internal Security Act was repealed?  

Would these changes have happened had the government of the day won GE12 with a resounding victory? Honestly, I don’t know, but I bet nothing would have happened.

We have seen some fine examples of the powers that be trying to do what they want but it has been the Opposition that has brought these incidents to light.

Take, for example the alleged National Feedlot Corporation scandal involving cows and condos. We, the people, would not know about this if not for the Opposition.  The same goes for the alleged 1MDB scandal related to the  misappropriation of RM2.6 billion, as well as many other scandals that have rocked Malaysia.

There have been many alleged “scandals” that have been brought to light by the Opposition and this includes the Opposition in Pakatan Harapan-led states. And therein lies the beauty of this system that we call democracy.

In a parliamentary democracy such as ours, it is important to have a check and balance.  There needs to be a governing party and there needs to be an Opposition.  If you have a small Opposition, then that is akin to giving the ruling party carte blanche. In other words, they can do whatever they want without having to answer to anybody. I believe the last nine years has been the first time since 1969 that there has been a strong Opposition in play, offering some semblance of check and balance.

The check and balance is akin to competition.  Governments will strive to do better when there is an effective Opposition.  When individuals speak up and highlight injustices, governments will learn that the true masters are the people. The job of the government is to serve the people, to make this country a better place for all of us. That’s you and me.

That’s your mother and father, your sister and brother, your neighbour, your friend.

The people seem to be a lot more vocal now, and that is important.  It is important for each and everyone of us to be able to voice our opinion, to think about what we want and to act.

The simplest way of course is to make sure you vote. And vote wisely. If you are not happy with your MP, kick him or her out. Make them work for you. They are, after all, supposed to serve you.

Whatever your political leanings may be, remember, if you disagree with any policy matters or disagree with anything the government says you should or shouldn’t do, then you are part of the opposition. It is you that has made the changes we have seen so far. It is you that will make the change for the future. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Don’t be afraid to highlight a wrong. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinion.  Don’t wait for someone else to speak up for you. Be the catalyst for change. It can be something as simple as sharing your opinion through the media or highlighting issues to your MP or assemblyman. It can be as complicated as starting a petition or even forming your own political party.

When your children ask you what you did for a better Malaysia, tell them that you shared your dissenting views that allowed change to happen - no matter how long it may have taken.

Hold your head up high and say that you were part of the opposition. – January 30, 2018.

* Dharm Navaratnam reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.