First of all I have to apologise for not informing you of my one-week leave. Many readers have called up to ask about me.
I'm really very, very sorry for being unable to reply to each and every of your e-mails and phone calls.
I have to tell all of you that I'm fine and doing very well now.
Perhaps, this has something to do with what has taken place in the country lately. A series of political events have aroused endless imaginations among the people. While some of these have been made with some factual foundation, others are purely wild imaginations.
I can only say that the political ecosystem in this country is currently in the midst of drastic transformation. During the course of this process, we have seen a fair share of controversies, conflicts, even struggles.
For instance:
- Why has the government cited the Internal Security Act in making arrests and detentions?
- What was the hidden message in Zaid Ibrahim's resignation?
- Will the 2010 transition plan go as scheduled? Will there be any unpredictable changes to the timing, conditions and contents of the plan?
- Will UMNO's infighting be peacefully resolved eventually?
- Can the BN framework be sustained at all?
- Has the 16 September plan to topple the government failed or merely postponed?
- Is Pakatan Rakyat preparing itself for bigger things ahead? Or is it simply at wit's end?
I am not going to analyse all these questions one by one here, and sure enough I won't be able to provide the accurate answers. Perhaps, many things simply do not have the right answers!
"Today, the ISA has completely lost its rationale for continued existence."
After all, we can still see that our politics is indeed in the midst of transformation, and our existing political parties, authorities and politicians are not prepared for this kind of transformation. They dread and resist the changes, and have become self-contradictory along the way.
Take the ISA for example. In the past, this used to be a superbly powerful tool to bring dissidents under the government's authority. Back in the 1960s and 70s, when the entire nation was enshrouded in the veil of fear, no one had been bold enough to question its existence. During the Operasi Lallang in the 80s, while the Act was somewhat successful in taming the turbulent political atmosphere back then, public dissatisfaction was nevertheless triggered.
Today, in the 21st century, the ISA has completely lost its rationale for continued existence.
In a seminar calling for the abolition of the ISA two days ago, thousands of people came fearlessly to lend their voice. Let's put aside the energy-charged speeches by the activists and thunderous applause from the audience, the most touching episode was the prolonged standing ovation offered by the audience when the families of ISA detainees were invited to the stage.
Why do those in power fail to see such a change in the people's minds. Or is it because they have been so busily engaged in the power play that they are completely drained out of energy to respond to the calls of the people?
This has once again protruded the issue of severe hollowing of the country's incumbent leadership.
The political tectonic plate of the Malay community is moving rapidly. In the past, UMNO was occupying a huge portion of the plate, and in absolute control of the situation.
Half a century has lapsed, and the once conservative Malay society is now split into three different fragments: one remaining conservative, one moving towards religious fundamentalism, while another in tireless pursuit of freedom and reforms.
The latest string of events has shown that UMNO has wanted to further consolidate its plate, but gets the opposite effects as the other two fragments are slowly drifting apart. As if that is not enough, BN's once solid framework is also beginning to splinter, thanks to the latest developments.
While Anwar's integrity may to certain extent be weakened by Pakatan's failed attempt to topple the existing federal government by 16 September this year, the largely futile counter-measures adopted by BN have also helped relieve some of the pressure on the Opposition.
(By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
MySinchew
2008.09.25
PEOPLE'S POWER
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