I Have A Dream

If Abraham Lincoln is still alive today, he would be proud. The man who led the movement towards abolition of slavery of the African-Americans in United States will stand proud of his nation for being brave in accepting changes by electing the first black president of the country.

When Barack Obama, the now president elect of US was born in 1961, the African-Americans in the southern states were still excluded from the franchise.

Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 in his inspiring speech, “I Have A Dream”, spoke about his desire of a future where blacks and whites will co-exists harmoniously and equally in the American society. He never have the chance to see this future as he was assasinated in 1968. Forty years on, his dream has become a reality.

But, what is more inspiring is that Obama was not voted in by the Americans because he is an African-American. Rather, Americans chose him for his charismatic leadership, sharp acument, and most importantly, his promise to bring changes. Americans, have gone beyond voting along the racial lines.

Let us then analyse the situation in Malaysia. When our forefathers drafted our Federal Constitution with our former colonial masters, they envisaged a society where everyone will be treated equal. Tunku Abdul Rahman and his collegue never intended for there to be a preference of one race over the other in the original Federal Constitution.

Since Merdeka, every Malaysian who reaches the universal suffarage age, regardless of age and gender have been allowed to vote, and be involved in politics without any restrain. Our acceptance of equal voting rights among citizens came almost one decade earlier then the Americans.

Yet today, Malaysia’s politics is still conducted along the racial lines. Politicians, the government and opposition alike, and narrow minded Malaysians have the mindset that only Malays can become the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

I am not being racist, but I would like to see a day where in Malaysia, everyone is treated as equal, where the term Bangsa Malaysia is not merely used as a political tool, but a word that carries a meaningful idea, an idea of a united race consisted of people of different ethnicity living in harmony.

Martin Luther King Jr. never got his chance to see his dreams come true. I hope I will get mine.