It is not about race!

A developer patient of mine came a few days ago. Since it was in the afternoon, I was relatively free and after consultation we chatted for awhile. He read about my resignation news in the papers, and he congratulated me for making the decision.

I asked him how he rates the PR government in Selangor since his projects are mainly in Selangor.

He told me that under PR, it is now getting very difficult for housing projects to be approved. Because of this, there is a short supply of houses, and demand which exceeds supply has forced the house prices going to sky-high level. A link-house in SS2 now cost about 700,000.

He said that in the past, he could always seek ‘jalan’ to get his project passed. Now it is difficult because everything has to follow the book since the Big Brother is ready to pounce on any wrong doings.

But having said all these, his parting words were: despite getting less income and businesses, he will vote for a 2 party system for his future generation’s sake.

This is from a businessman who has extensive link with the former state government especially some of CSL’s exco members. He got his datukship from their recommendation too, and yet he has come around and said that we must vote for better governance and more check and balance. It has nothing to do with race and religion, for during the whole conversation that I had with him, like with many others, not a single word about race or religion was raised.

I recall some of the hawkers who were former branch chairmen of MCA in cheras and who were my patients and friends have quit that party. (BTW, I have been an adviser to the hawkers and RT in Pudu since the 80s, long before i joined a political party).

So the sentiments in urban area is now almost across the  board, for a 2 party system.

Contrary to the Big Brother’s propaganda that only the Chinese is against the government, I view this as an urban-rural divide.

IN fact, many Chinese and Indian voters voted for Malay candidates in areas where PKR or even PAS stood in the last General Election, and many Malay voters voted Chinese candidates.

With inflation rearing its ugly head, and prices of foodstuff going up and up, there will be more discontent in the urban areas. Unlike their rural counterparts, where life is easy and expenses relatively low — and income good due to the high prices of the commodities- the urban people are finding it more and more difficult to survive.

When people are finding it difficult to survive, and yet they see their own tax money being misused, how are they supposed to feel? It is natural that they feel disgusted and that translate to a vote against the power that be.

This is across the board, as I have said, and not confined to any particular ethnic group. So the urban revolt is not like what the Big Brother painted.. It is not really racial.

It is more about corruption, abuse of power, misuse of funds, lack of transparency and accountability, distrust of institutions which are supposed to safeguard the interest of the people, not the power that be.

Only a racist would have labelled this urban rural divide as racist.  And to label as ungrateful those who voted opposition is an insult to the principles of democracy.

I have often stated that the world today is a different world altogehter, and all of us need to use different approach,  to our own family, our children, our friends, in our work and so on. Political parties should learn to adapt too, and looking around the world, it is obvious that corrupt and dictatorial regimes are falling like bowling pins.

When urban people vote for a coalition whose platform and manifesto is for fairness and equal opportunities for all, rather than the coalition that emphasizes on race, can you call them racist?

If they want to win back votes, they have to do better than just labelling others being racist.