The Opportunity provided by historic May 9, 2018 decision must not be wasted to set the country on a new direction away from sham democracy, kakistocracy, a failed state and global kleptocracy to a leading nation of integrity and a Tiger Economy which is united, democratic, just, progressive and prosperous

I believe that I am one among the overwhelming majority of Malaysians who had not expected that Malaysians are capable of making the historic decision on May 9, 2018 to make a peaceful and democratic transition of power, much as we wanted it to happen – and in my case, I have dedicated 52 years of life to this goal.

The opportunity provided by the historic May 9, 2018 decision must not be wasted to set the country on a new direction away from a sham democracy, kakistocracy, a failed state and a global kleptocracy to a leading nation of integrity and a Tiger economy, which is united, democratic, just, progressive and prosperous.

This is a mission which cannot be accomplished in 100 days, two years or in one five-year general election cycle, but will engage the commitment and dedication of patriotic Malaysians for a decade or two.

At this stage, we are still feeling the reverberations from the historic decision of May 9, 2018, viz:

The cracking up of UMNO, which for six decades, have virtually claimed the divine right to rule Malaysia - with another MP leaving UMNO, leaving the party with 43 MPs, and another five allegedly set to quit UMNO;

The resort to the toxic politics of lies, hate, fear, race and religion which culminated in the Anti-ICERD rally of 8th December 2018. There was both pros and cons – among the pros, the country moving solidly towards a democratic state where the people can speak and assembly peacefully and in accordance with the law; among the cons, the lengths the practitioners of lies, hate, fear, race and religion are capable of going to pursue their selfish and petty political interests at the national expense.

The monstrous 1MDB scandal, which cast Malaysia to perdition by being condemned by the world as a global kleptocracy, must be a terrible lesson for all Malaysians, that we must never again allow the nation to be pawned to anyone’s greed for power or wealth and that the interests of all Malaysians of diverse races and religions and future generations must always take higher priority than the interest of one man or group of persons, however exalted their position or power.