I studied abroad for four years during my undergraduate education, and then returned to Malaysia where I have lived for the last two years. In that time I have been frustrated and awed in equal measure by Malaysians. I am most frustrated when faced with the apathy of many young people in my generation. Yet, there have also been occasions when I have been bowled over by the kindness and generosity Malaysians are capable of.

As someone who intends to live long-term in Malaysia, I try to focus on the good while acknowledging and doing my best to contribute towards the things that need fixing.

I will admit that Malaysians have a tendency to whine, and we certainly get easily distracted, but to say that we are the worst people is a little too much, as this ‘British Expat’ seems to think .

After reading his rant, I seriously wondered if he has been living in the same Malaysia that I have been for the last two years. Yes, in my Malaysia the drivers are terrible, too. And yes, there are plenty of keyboard warriors too. But, in my Malaysia ordinary Malaysians are often quick to step in when their fellows need help.

How else to explain the many grassroots and informal efforts that mobilised ordinary Malaysians to collect and distribute relief supplies to victims of the East Coast floods. The opposition politicians also gathered their resources to contribute to the relief and rebuilding efforts.

In my Malaysia I have seen many brave ordinary Malaysians stepping up to demand our rights. They do this despite the serious legal consequences they face under the many British colonial-era laws that our ruling government has conveniently retained to oppress us and maintain power. Despite intimidation, our online newspapers persist, our political cartoonists keep drawing, and our human rights lawyers keep tweeting.

Perhaps this kind of news doesn’t travel to certain parts of Bangsar and Mont Kiara.

But enough about this guy who doesn’t seem to have many interesting Malaysian friends. I would much rather talk to my fellow Malaysians. I know it’s hard to feel hopeful lately about Malaysia, but that’s exactly why we must be optimistic.

Cynicism is both easy and the first step towards apathy, things that BN really wants you to be. What better way to maintain the status quo than an indifferent populace? In our current state, holding on to our optimism is nothing short of revolutionary.

While we lack many of the tools that allow for participatory democracy such as local council elections and a referendum act, we should not stop demanding them. Nor should we give up our right to peacefully assemble as guaranteed by Article 10 of our constitution to make our voices heard when we feel our government is behaving in unjust and corrupt ways.

Do not forget the Bersih rallies, occasions when we came together to demand change from a government that does not tolerate street protests. My favourite memory of Bersih 2.0 is how quickly everyone helped each other after we were teargassed by the FRU.

Engaging with the issues

The urgency that led us to protest during the Bersih rallies is something we must strive to channel into the ways we engage with the numerous issues that plague our country. While it is not sustainable or effective to rely solely on street protests to express our dissatisfaction, we must retain the camaraderie that was so evident at those rallies. Corruption and bad governance affects us all.

Most importantly, I urge my fellow Malaysians to stay focused on what is truly important in this country. No matter the distractions thrown our way, whether it be dress codes or wombats, we must prioritise and choose to spend our energy and outrage wisely. Because the journey towards a better country requires that we be ready for a marathon. We must be ready as a collective to continually defend and support those who dare speak truth to power.

And finally, stop waiting for a better Malaysia. Ask yourself what you are doing in your small way to make Malaysia better. Whether that’s working with your local council to ensure your neighbourhood is a dengue-free zone, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or supporting local NGOs that are doing good work. Make sure that it doesn’t fall to others to save Malaysia.

DEBORAH AUGUSTIN is a freelance writer and researcher.