I think everyone’s heard about the slap on the wrist the Student Council bullies received, over the jeering and badgering of a few students. Lim Kit Siang has a post about it, and I noticed one of the comments remarking on how these Student Councillors would make find additions to the UMNO fold.
Another thing clicked in my head. A colleague once told me that the Deputy President’s post over at UMNO Youth is usually reserved for firebrands - or that the said post is traditionally regarded as being occupied by firebrands. I suppose that explains holding aloft the kris and amusing displays of passion on Condi Rice’s visit to Malaysia.
What is it with cultural heroes, eh? I don’t get it. It appears that anybody aiming to lead in UMNO has to have the appropriate street cred: been thrown in jail for being a dissident, protesting or being seen to protest, or winning some moral, but ultimately pointless, victory of some sort. They have all the effectiveness of show trials - or that’s what I think. It appears that people buy into these credentials.
It’s supposed to show, apparently, that one can “walk the talk”. Well, yeah, that’s all well and good; but having the balls is the only requisite for gung-ho displays of patriotism. The long walk toward coming up with a good idea, or a good plan, or even a good system of getting things done, all of this requires months of frustration and thinking through problems. Walking the walk while talking shit really serves no purpose. You only make yourself look foolish.
Is that what some Singaporeans think of Chee Soon Juan? I don’t know - I certainly do. He’s made many public displays, have been arrested numerous times, but I don’t see any real alternatives proposed - concretely worked out - to what the PAP’s been offering. Does that make his reactionary stance pointless? I don’t think so, but it definitely diminishes any sympathy garnered from his frequent, public displays.
But why doesn’t the above condition hold true in Malaysia? Why aren’t we willing to question those who love grandstanding, those who love to show people their mob-inspired mettle?
In the meantime, we live in a country surrounded by folk- and pseudo-folk heroes. People praise them for their courage, inspired by reticient FRU guards or otherwise, and go about their own business. Come election time, the public is reminded of these public displays, as if public displays of ‘courage’ are proof of one’s willingness to pursue with the “struggle”.
(Ah.. the word “struggle”. It is emotive, and indicative of an on-going conflict. I wonder if UMNO is willing to change the word “struggle” in relation to Malays to “upkeep” since they’ve already plundered everything worth plundering in the name of greater ethnic superiority.)