Raya gatherings or pilihanraya gatherings?

Attending Raya open houses and wedding receptions these few days can be very fascinating as we can observe everyone talks about nothing else than the most talked about issue, General Elections. Everyone talks about politics these days, young and old alike.

Last Sunday I attended two wedding receptions, one in Ampang and the other in Seremban. At both functions, the issue General Elections was the main theme of discussions right from the start till the end. I had some apprehensions to discuss the issue as I am neither a leader nor having the exact knowledge of the issues surrounding the political comings and goings of the day. I may know a bit but not substantive enough for me to give my view on the current political surroundings. My only knowledge is, changes in political landscape of the country are in the offing. UMNO is like walking at the edge of a high and slippery cliff, just waiting for a high fall.

Everyone asked me when the general election will finally be announced? My answer is “you ask Najib.” The question did not stop there and the subsequent question was “why is Najib so fickle in choosing the date for election?” The person next to me answered humorously, “for that you ask Rosmah or Dr Mahathir”.

Some of those who attended the functions incidentally are my blog followers and they think I am privy to everything that is happening behind the scene of Malaysian politics. One of them asked me, “You write extensively about politics and why do you not know anything? I hastily answered this middle aged friend, “Malaysian politics is played by only a few ‘political animals’. The rest, are just cheer leaders. Ministers, supreme council members of UMNO and other busy political and social climbers in the party are of no consequence in deciding the date of this much anticipated GE. They are just bunch of sycophants and they care only for themselves and to ensure that they will be considered as the winnable candidates in the coming GE.”

I told them that my struggle is unambiguous. I am all out to dispirit politics with racial savor which ought to be stopped instantaneously as that would lead to unmitigated disaster to the country in a near future. I am more engrossed and absorbed by this issue as no country can sustain stability without ultimate unity among all races. I have a very strong and conclusive belief that we should be disbanding all racial based political parties in this country. That was the reason why I decisively joined DAP as I judge that the party is serious in the struggle for ultimate racial harmony among different races.

I stand by my contention that racial based parties have been doing more harm than good to the country. UMNO has been incessantly drumming racial sentiments and we know that pounding on the issue continuously is with the sole purpose to rally the Malay support behind the party. UMNO realizes that the Malay support for the party has been dwindling since almost a decade ago and the party (UMNO) members and supporters brazenly make the most of issues and sentiments to the optimum and if this is not stopped we are going to inherit fractured and divided Malaysian to our generation.

I am equally enthralled by the massive corruptions and lootings of the nation’s wealth by the ruling party leaders and their cronies and I am not able to discontinue writing on this nauseating goings-on. This is our country and if one claims to be a loyal Malaysian, they have to proof their claims by going hand-in-glove to the polling stations and bring to halt altogether UMNO hegemony on the government and Malaysians.

I told those who sat surrounding me during the functions that I am unable to stomach the deceits and blatant lies of the desperate BN any longer. Believing them is an act of self insulting. BUT to those who still want to insult their ownselves they are free to do so as this country is a free country.

A few asked me how I feel with the ceaseless beatings and hammerings by UMNO leaders on me, especially by Mohammad Hasan and gang, I just answered that it does not disturb me and I don’t pay attention to this political novice. I know that he manufactures issues and lies against me but on record I am clean and have never stolen any rakyat’s money. He is just being personal against me as we used to be buddies until he became the MB and has proven to be an uncultured one.

I can’t comprehend why he is disturbed by me joining the opposition as I was his long forgotten friend ever since he succeeded in achieving his ultimate struggle to become the MB of the state. The only time I met him and had some conversations with him was during his visit to our house exactly a year ago to pay last respect to my 17 year old grandnephew who passed away prematurely in a road accident. Last Sunday I sighted him at the wedding reception of my cousin’s daughter in Ampang but never had any tête-à-tête as we were seated at different tables, quite a distance from each other..

Tonight I may be at another two Hari Raya gatherings and I am more than certain that the same topic will subject matter of discussions again. This situation will subside only when the election date is known to all. When would that be? Can someone help me with the answer?