The embarrassing inadequacies of our country have been amplified, especially after our 51st independence day. As usual, our government sees this as another opportunity to further segregate and create disharmony amongst the people in their conniving, manipulative way.

One would think that the latest political uproars would alert the government that change is imminent and that we have had enough of their corruption and degradation of the system. Unsurprisingly, they are too engrossed in their own greed to notice the rising demand for a fair and just government.

After years of silence and oppression, they can only hide behind their accusations of sedition and threats to national security, the former being an obvious joke. Whatever happened to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights? That everyone has the right to freely speak on matters of political importance without fear of suppression?

The very thought of such stringent forms of censorship in our own country is repulsive. In contrast to what the government perceives itself to be, these actions merely accentuate the close-minded, conservative, right-wing views that are aimed at creating a uniform society, devoid of any form of individuality and personal expression.

It is only a matter of time before we, the people, will decide that it is time to stand up for our rights, for our country, for everything that we believe in. A democratic form of government is not a privilege; it is our inherent right as human beings.

What is the point of proclaiming our nationality and shouting ‘Merdeka’ when we are treated like prisoners in our own land? The government may intimidate, bribe, coerce, and use force, but they fail to realise one thing, an idea can never be extinguished, a belief will never fade, and the power of the people will never be relinquished.

Malaysia, tanah tumpahnya darahku.

Before I end, permit me to share some words of wisdom from the mask-wearing hero, V, from the movie, V for Vendetta.

"This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.

"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.

"Words offer the means to meaning, and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? Cruelty and injustice, intolerance and oppression.

"And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame?

"Well certainly there are those more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable, but again truth be told, if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror. I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War, terror, disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense."