As the countdown down to a purported and unprecedented mass gathering of Bersih 4 peaceful protest ticks, the current political masters and their puppets need to know quickly what Malaysians do want and do not want. Lashing out threats of arrests or throwing all kinds of objections and spanners in the works to thwart the exodus of citizens on the eve of Merdeka celebrations is not a smart strategy.

Instead, it will do immense good to Najib Abdul Razak and his coterie of newly-minted cabinet ministers and relevant, well-paid servants to lend their ears and hearts to what Malaysians want and do not want, and to take the convincing measures to address what matters most to Malaysians.

If there is a genuine will, there will be an assured way.

Malaysians do not want to be divided along race and religious divisiveness. They want to remain united in their diversity. Hence, stop all this talk and political nightmare creation of ‘Malays are under siege’ messages; stop the repeat of ‘apa lagi Cina mau?’ insinuations; and never ever say, ‘balik India’ again.

Malaysians want jobs for themselves. They want every opportunity to be productively employed with the observance of minimum wage scales as upheld in many civilised countries. They do not want to hear the repeating record playing ‘locals are too choosy’ claims any more.

They want a cabinet team that can supervise the employers effectively and not suck up to protecting the higher profit margins (profiteering) that recalcitrant investors and owners lust after.

Malaysians want a police force that can be looked up to and respected as in the old days of the ‘mata-mata’. They want to continue to know, believe and enjoy the protection that a policeman on the street or at the police station will give. They do not want to feel threatened by the presence of the police or worse feel that the law-keeper is more a political party vanguard than a citizen’s saviour without fear or favor.  

Malaysians want politicians who know how to keep the quality of ‘bersopan’as a categorical imperative when talking to the citizens through the media. They do not want these elected and appointed individuals to practice name calling and throwing insults like ‘orang gila’, ‘penghianat’, etc. They want the politicians to be shining examples for their children, too.

Malaysians want more of the nation’s blessings from heaven above, like our oil and crop revenues to be better and more transparently managed for the provision of education for our young and healthcare for the elderly. They do not want to be shoved around with budget cuts leaving parents in the lurch when the ringgit sinks, and senior citizens be given merely an express lane at public hospitals but matched with low priority healthcare.

Malaysians want direct, accountable answers to the many questions they raise from time to time as a check and balance on the KPIs of politicians. They do not want to be accused of being ‘plotters’ against the government for asking questions.

Malaysians do not want more and more laws. They want smart, diligent observance, implementation and supervision of the existing laws.

An even cleaner government tomorrow

Malaysians want a clean government. If the government of the day is clean, they want an even cleaner government tomorrow. They do not want a government that claims to be clean but shuts down any public attempt to demand that their government should become even cleaner.

Malaysians want to create governments that are capable of building the nation to greater heights of glory. They want their elected representatives to work hard and showcase how they are progressing on the deliverables promised during election campaigns.

Malaysians do not want peddler-politicians who knell down before the masses at campaign times and after that you only see them in three-piece smart suits in print or television and worse, often breathing down their necks with threats and warnings.

Malaysians want to be proud of their nation’s status. They want to be seen as a working and healthy vibrant democracy. They do not want a regime; they certainly do not want a communist state or a socialist tyranny.

Malaysians want to be proud of the country they will uphold, fight for and defend in good times and bad. They do not want a country that is relentlessly being attacked and ridiculed and hurt by politicians who are wayward, dishonest and greedy, thinking of amassing wealth for themselves and their families and cronies.

Malaysians believe that after 58 years of Independence, there is no more justifications to ask for more time to correct all the ills of this nation. Malaysians believe that those who have failed to make this a greater nation after over half a century must be held accountable henceforth.

Malaysians in summary want a nation that is highly motivated by results. They do not want another day to be wasted tripping, falling, slipping and hurting themselves because of all the political dribbles of race, religion, rulers that have been the sole strategy of politicians these past three decades. They want a United Malaysia in preparation for the journey ahead over the next half century.

In a nutshell, enough is enough. Get your acts together. Malaysians are saying: Do something. You lead, follow or get out of the way.

Is there anything wrong in the way Malaysians are thinking and feeling as the countdown to Bersih 4 rolls?