Is 268-event lead to true democracy?

In the next few days, this country will be celebrating the 51^st Merdeka.

The spread of democratic ideals and practice have many times been explained by Barisan Nasional leaders on the assumption that democracy or personal liberty are ideals that is foreign to us - an assumption at least as old as Herodotus¹. But event of Permatang Pauh has shown otherwise that people in this country can have a lively interest in democracy as something relevant to their own situation. I think the old assumption deserves to be re-examined with a thumping 15,671 majority given to Anwar Ibrahim two days ago.

Is Malaysia really a democracy and are we committed to a price of a just and equitable rule for all citizens in this multi-ethnic and multi linguistic country? I have a first hand experience of how the nonviolent agitations are put down with brutal force in this country. It will not be too far fetched to assume that limit to democracy for minorities, in terms of economic discrimination and cultural-linguistic domination, could potentially lead to more social disobedience like ones in India and China.

Some say Anwar’s victory in recent election at Permatang Pauh is akin to People Power in the Philippines and the aftermath of Trisakti in Indonesia. To them, his victory is the culmination of a long resistance by the people against the 50-year running authoritarian by corrupt governance of Barisan Nasional government. In the event leading to the assassination of Ninoy Aquino in 1983, the country was bankrupt, the government plunged further into debt and economy contracted. In the case of Indonesia, I have seen change of three presidents from Habibie, Wahid, and Megawati before some early signs of stability are spotted in SBY’s administration. The fall of Suharto marked the beginning of a difficult and multi-layered transition process. During these periods, economy was growing a subsistence level and there were number of regions were in grip of communal frenzy, never witnessed before.

While I am sure that the restoration cost can be high, the rebuild of democratic institutions after fifty years of authoritarian rule is critical for political and social actors to challenge the entrenched political clans and bring Malaysia democracy to the next level.

I am not sure if Anwar is really committed for true democracy or not, but the motion of fairer democracy has started and cannot be stop. Anwar looks promising to lead, but it doesn’t stop the rest of 26 million Malaysians from contesting.

The train motion for better democracy is no turning back! The new democracy will be built based upon a shared value system, which is identifiable and distinct and which transcends national, religious and ideological differences.

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¹. See for example Herodotus, The Histories 7. 135, rev. ed. (Harmondsworth, 1972), p. 485: the famous reply of the Spartan emissaries to the Persian general Hydarnes