AS an overseas voter, I had greatly anticipated returning home to Malaysia for the first time three months after our nation experienced one of the region’s most historic election results.

Everyone was aware of the loud, big-ticket changes – zero-rating of the goods and services tax, cuts in government spending, appointment of new individuals to top judicial and government positions, and the charging of our former prime minister.

Change has defined almost everything the government has embarked on since taking over on May 9.

But I was curious to see if I could find any subtle change that affected the everyday lives of the average Malaysian.

Driving around in KL, I overheard over the radio a sort of public service announcement of an anti-government rally that was to be held simultaneously in several states the weekend I was home. 

It’s hard to understand why this short, 20-second announcement, would symbolise anything meaningful, unless one has grown up in a country where government-controlled media has an almost-blackout of any event, forum or opinion that defies the status quo.

But here it was – an opposition rally being announced on a government-controlled radio station.

Post-May 9, the pages of our local English and Malay-language dailies have been filled with not only the expected coverage of government leaders, but also an-almost equal coverage to the new opposition.

This opening up of the media post-GE14 has become a source of amazement and disbelief for those of us who have been journalists in Malaysia in the years after Ops Lalang, which marked the beginning of the end to freedom of the media.

But for something as momentous as this, the shift was seamless, almost as if media practitioners were afraid to draw too much attention to it, lest it be taken away from us again.

In a similarly understated fashion, while the rabid, racist cries of ultra-Malay groups continue to be heard post-GE14, it’s worth noting that there is no longer the once-unspoken, but obvious, government approval for these bigoted statements.

To expect an end to prejudice and xenophobia is unfortunately unrealistic for even the more-enlightened societies but sending a clear message to racist groups that they no longer enjoy a nod of approval from the government of the day is a great way to start.

On Saturday, a Bumiputera economic congress concluded with a rather harsh reminder from its keynote speaker, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, for businesses to stop expecting handouts and to change their work ethic if they ever hope to be successful.

After covering more than my fair share of such forums and meetings in the past, I would have expected speeches to be peppered with cries of “Malay supremacy” and inflammatory remarks claiming that the rights of the Bumiputera businessman have been usurped by migrant communities.

Instead, attendees got a harsh dose of reality.

Do these and the countless other subtle changes already taking place in Malaysia count any less than the loud, sweeping ones the news organisations tend to pick up on?

Decades of fighting for a more just, clean and efficient government has left most Malaysians impatient for all-encompassing change when we voted in a new administration.

The emasculation and helplessness we have long felt, appeared to have been finally overturned with the May 9 election results.

As understandable as our haste for change may be, we should also remember that for some things, simply a change in policy or sacking of corrupt leaders may not be enough.

Because when it comes to long-held beliefs and working culture, we will have to be satisfied with the fact that change may come slowly and silently but will be no less momentous. – September 3, 2018.

* Julia Yeow has been in journalism for two decades and counts it as her first love, despite enjoying brief stints as a lecturer, clown and salad maker. She is a strong believer in social justice, and holds that there is sometimes more truth in the greys, than the blacks and whites.

* 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.