LETTER | Dream of a progressive Malaysia

LETTER | Is our country worth saving or do we just watch it dig its own grave while we run to seek refuge? It's a question that's been daunting in my mind for a long time.

I tell people that there is still hope for us yet. But honestly, I do wonder if it's true or if am I just telling myself another lie to help me get out of bed.

It's easy to say we need to do our part and things can change. However, seeing conservative policies remaining and not going away anytime soon, far-right politicians aiming to divide our country's citizens and taking away what little freedom we have to enjoy life, it's understandable why many would want to flee and jump at any opportunities they get to escape from this hell.

While those like me choose to stay behind as we still believe in the dream that our nation will be a progressive one and live up to the standards of progressives nationwide.

Being progressive isn't only restricted to understanding the works of Karl Marx, Noam Chomsky, and Jean-Paul Sartre. It's understanding that the structure of our society is badly broken and a new one has to be built.

While that belief does align with left-wing ideology, it has to do more with being open-minded. It can also be accepting change while simultaneously upholding your values on how society should function

Maybe my version of a progressive nation is different from that of the Malaysian government but that doesn’t bother me as much as it should. The reason being is that I understand that change cannot happen overnight but a process.

Again this isn’t so bad because it shows that our nation is willing to change. While being gradual and the bare minimum is still better than nothing.

Which is in fact how the world is. The more we change and understand each other, the more the laws are modified to keep up with the times.

However, it seems that we are still stuck in our ways while those in the opposition parties wish to take our country back to the so-called “Glory Days”.

Unlike our counterparts on the right, the progressives in our country are split.

There are those who join political parties and organisations in an attempt to spread their views and help make as many changes as they can. Regardless of how big they are.

Then there are those who choose to keep their heads down and zip their mouths.

So long as they can provide for their family and have decent-paying jobs there is no need to fight for a better Malaysia. The reason is that it’s a lost cause to save our country when it refuses to save itself.

While I disagree with this statement, to this day it is a question worth asking. Why bother fighting to make this country a better place when many are too arrogant in their ways and demonise those who disagree with them?

To many, the dream of a progressive Malaysia is a losing battle. A battle many wish would end soon.

However, I still believe that we would soon see victory and reap the rewards of our continuous struggle. I only hope that I live long enough to see it.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.