COMMENT | Dr Mahathir Mohamad has finally made Malaysia a democracy. I am typing this while in Malaysiakini. I owe a great debt to Malaysiakini, co-founders Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran. They gave me an opportunity to write when the mainstream media was censoring or ignoring my letters.

Also to Dr KJ John, who introduced me to Steven, who in turn assured me that speaking truth to power, whoever that power is, would not be censored in Malaysiakini. Malaysia finally has a two-party system, as how I defined it in my last piece. I have no idea how the losing party will redefine itself, but that is not important. What is important is that the former prime minister has finally broken the chokehold that Umno had over the Malay community. He has unleashed the genie from the bottle. What has he released?

Mahathir has released that sense of freedom of choosing and sanctioning elected representatives that is the basic requirement for a functional democracy. He has stopped our slide into a failed nation status and has demonstrated that Malaysia is truly a democratic and moderate Muslim country. Do not underestimate this moment. Do not slide into cynicism. This is how it feels like when a country is born.

Yes, this is the birth of Malaysia. A Malaysia for which the people who voted decided what they want this country this be. A people who chose not to remain under the thrall of money, handouts and racial and religious preoccupations. A country born out of desire for change and to reject a kleptocrat who had shown no interest in reforming this country, but maintained that cash is king.

The people have spoken. Cash is not king. The people are king. The people decide who they want and who they reject. They, the people decide, if you are worthy to lead them, and not that you have the right to lead them. Politicians should remember this. The current incoming government should remember this. Most importantly, we the rakyat should remember this: that the people decide.

There will be many challenges that we face. But what is most important is that we now know we can face them as Malaysians. We understand that if we can throw out a hegemon that has ruled us for six decades, we can surely throw out a coalition which will govern for the next five years. Politicians understand now that nothing should be taken for granted. You may play the old race games but when people have tasted freedom, they do not so easily want to give it up for the benefit of unscrupulous politicians.

Perfect storm

Now, the most important thing for the next regime to do first is to get rid of the National Security Council Act! Then, start cracking on those reforms which involve our basic freedoms that have for so long been constrained. Throw the anti-fake new laws out. Allow the press to operate freely. Allow university students the freedom to express their political beliefs. Stop funding organisations that are meant to indoctrinate the Malaysians. Impose term limits on politicians so that they understand that there is no job security when it comes to serving the rakyat. Everyone gets a chance and not the same old faces dictating policy.

All these can be done without much hassle and fanfare if the newly-minted government is really interested in carrying out reforms. They can be done quickly and will demonstrate that the people’s trust in them is not misplaced. There is so much that can be done, which does not involve huge economic expenditures but the political will to make Malaysia a truly functional and vibrant democracy.

There is no honeymoon year. There are no more excuses. Within this new government are people who shaped the old one. There is experience, but more importantly, the knowledge of what is wrong with this country. The opposition is now the establishment. They have federal power and with it the means to truly save Malaysia.

The rakyat have given you this power. The rakyat have placed their faith in you. If you do not change, we will change you. Most importantly, this is not the time to further partisanship in this country. This is a moment for true reconciliation. A reconciliation based on the knowledge that you were borne on the wings of the rakyat’s voice and not by the feudalistic politics that assigned power and prestige.

Use this opportunity to save Malaysia and radically change the political landscape and not further entrench special and political interests. For so long the opposition had wanted this but they had to wait until the perfect storm engulfed Umno and the people were ready and demanding change. For so long, dissent was defined by opposing Umno. Now it will be truly defined by speaking truth to power. I hope Malaysiakini is up to the task. I hope I am. I hope we all are.