Forget about racist bigots, concentrate on bigger issues

Haresh Says as published in the Malay Mail today.

• A THREE-HOUR downpour in Kuala Lumpur on Monday crippled the city as motorists were caught in bad traffic on their way home from work.

Normal, mah. 

• With countries in the region bracing for El Nino, Malaysia is set to suffer another prolonged dry spell which could see our padi fields dry up and water reserves depleted. This could severely affect efforts, if any, to turn Malaysia into a self-sufficient country. Water rationing could be reintroduced, causing disruption to our daily routine and businesses.

Sure will be okay, lah. 

• MCA decided not to contest in the Bukit Gelugor by-election. Some mocked them, calling them Malaysian Chicken Association or Malaysian Cabut Association. But why should the party waste funds on a parliamentary seat which DAP will surely win? Instead of splurging on buntings, posters and feeding the truckload of “supporters”, they might as well spend the funds on helping the constituents.

Typical mainstream newspaper, lah. 

• Terengganu is in a crisis and could suffer the same fate Perak did in 2009 after former Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Bukit Besi assemblyman Roslee Daud and Ajil assemblyman Ghazali Taib quit Umno at press time, with more rumoured to be leaving the party.

Umno ar, serves them right lah. 

As an acquaintance recently said: “Who cares about bread and butter issues? Write about race and religion. Sure get plenty of hits and likes on Facebook.”

Those in the know would have been aware that PAS has been calling for the implementation of hudud since it was passed in the Kelantan legislative assembly in 1993 – the year the world wide web was introduced.

But the fact is, those riled by racist remarks made in recent weeks have no qualms reading racist advertisements when it comes to job applications or lodging. Oh yes, there are also race-based sports associations in the country.

To not write about it is NOT an attempt to ignore the situation. But the logic is simple: why give publicity to those who continue to ridicule another based on faith or skin colour? What makes them better than the rest of us? And why should we participate in such shallow, unintelligent remarks?

Instead, I take issue with our porous borders (which I had extensively written about last week) and road conditions in the Klang Valley. Just take a drive in Section 13 in Petaling Jaya, where the roads are filled with potholes. Imagine the number of damaged rims and suspensions suffered by motorists. 

Streetlights in Kelana Jaya and Ampang are supposed to function once the sun sets. They were not planted in the middle of the streets as decoration pieces. Sadly, that is the case up to this day. 

We have also been calling for better drainage and transportation systems for years. Yet our roads are often flooded if it rains heavily for an hour or two. Imagine the frustration of those caught in traffic.

Prices of goods and raw materials continue to go up. Apartments and condominiums are nothing less than RM500,000. Even the prices of houses in small towns like Bentong and Taiping have shot up. Yet, wages have generally remained the same for the past decade.

There are so many things we should be angry about and take issue with, everyday woes that affect you and I. Such criticism is warranted to address shortcomings as we strive to achieve a developed nation status by 2020.

But how are we to progress if we are often held back by silly issues made up by racists bigots? To participate would be an even bigger crime.

I am all for battling for the rights of the average Ali, Ah Chan and Devi but let’s get real. Let’s make a difference.