‘Austerity’ was picked as the most-looked-up word in 2010 by Merriam-Webster dictionary. But if you’re asked to pick a word to describe 2010, what word will that be?

Malaysiakini asks several personalities - some more famous than others - to sum up 2010 in just one word.

    

SUSPENSION

Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in Prime Minister's Department:

NONE I like to end my year with a bang and I believe I was instrumental in kicking out the four (Pakatan MPs) and suspending them for six months.

I am happy because they were such a nuisance in Parliament, flouting rules and the Standing Order, and they should be taught a lesson.

OVERRUN

Lim Lip Eng, Segambut MP:

I choose the word "overrun" because it may refer to:

1. ‘To go beyond the normal or desired limit’ as in cost overrun, which is common in the government’s mega-projects.

NONE 2. ‘To seize the position of (a rival) and defeat conclusively’ as in the position of Pakatan Rakyat state government in Perak, which was undemocratically overrun by the BN.

3. ‘To spread swiftly throughout’, as in corruption overrunning the country.

4. ‘To spread destructively’ as in cronyism overrunning government projects.

5. ‘To run or extend beyond a limit’ as in Abdul Taib Mahmud has overrun his term as Sarawak CM.

NONE AUDACIOUS

Jason Lim, Strategic Management Consultant:

The year 2010 saw Malaysia set off on grandiose, but necessary, do-or-die plans to lift itself out of stagnation amid a backdrop of scepticism, competition, vindication and ultimately desperation - if things are to change for the better, this is where it starts.

TURBULENCE

Ibrahim Ali, Pasir Mas MP and Perkasa president:

NONE Malaysia experienced political tension, with various issues raised that put the country on top of the frying pan. The Malay rights issues took centrestage, with questions  raised on its relevance to today's era. The Malay rulers even spoke out against the issue of being manipulated for political purposes.

Meanwhile, (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim added fuel to the turbulence with his allegation that 1Malaysia (concept) is a copy of One Israel.

    

BITTERSWEET

Hannah Yeoh, Subang Jaya assemblyperson:

NONE 2010 has been a year of mixed emotions and events. The result of the Sibu by-election was the highlight for me, and the Sibu miracle was sweet! The defection of Pakatan MPs left a bitter taste in our mouths. The attacks on places of worship, though ugly, could not break the beautiful tolerance among Malaysians.

Meanwhile, in my private world, the sweet news of my first pregnancy was also met with the sudden loss of my much loved grandma.

1MALAYSIA

Namewee, rap artist:

Everyone talks about 1Malaysia this year. People should believe in and support 1Malaysia before fighting for it.    

    

FOOTBALL

Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief:

wan ahmad farid salleh interview 041007 ponder I choose the word 'football' to correlate with some of the most exciting moments in 2010. But more importantly, it is because it is connected to the most inspiring person this year - Malaysian football coach K Rajagobal - who managed to go against all odds and defy the critics in reviving the Malaysian football team.

He is living proof that we do not need big names like Claude Le Roy, Frank Lord or even Joseph Venglos in order to succeed. In Rajagobal, we can see hope. In him, we can see confidence. In him, we can see the fighting spirit. In him, we can see a better future for the young team.

If only we can see those qualities in our politicians of both political divide!

REVERSAL

Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, Umno Youth chief:

NONE Reversal. Of fortunes. For the first time since 2008 there is a perceptible trading of places between BN and Pakatan Rakyat. We have started to gain traction and momentum. While not completely out of the woods, public support is steadily growing especially after a number of by-elections.

Pakatan, however, has walked into one crisis after another and the magic has clearly disappeared. Hopefully, we can build on this until the GE, which I think will happen at the earliest in the last quarter of 2011, but most likely sometime in 2012.

    

FRUSTRATING

irene fernandez trial 100908 03 Irene Fernandez, director of Tenaganita:

Seeing the final nail hammered into democracy with an unjust and controlled Parliament. The judiciary is gone, so are agencies like MACC, which are no more independent.

Workers, especially migrants, cannot assert their rights and we have institutionalised slavery where perpetrators act with impunity leading to the poor getting poorer; and efforts are being made in the controlled media to divide us through race and religion.

The only way out is CHANGE.

 

What is your word of the year? Send in your ‘WORD’ along with a brief explanation (100 words or less) in the comments section below. For non-subscribers, send your entries to editor@malaysiakini.com with ‘Word of the Year’ in the subject box. A selection of the best comments will be published tomorrow.

 

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