The six state elections in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu are finally over. As in any elections, there are victors and losers. There are also questions, assumptions and often the call for some to step down or resign.
MUDA (Malaysian United Democratic Alliance), a relatively new party fared very badly in the recent state elections. MUDA president, Syed Saddiq he took full responsibility for the party’s dismal showing. He further reiterated that the party’s defeat in all 19 seats it contested will serve as a “maturing experience”.
There were various kinds of perspectives and response to what MUDA should or should not have done and should now do, following their poor performance in the recent state elections. As an observer, I put myself in the shoes of these young people who took chose to stand for the state elections. I wonder how Syed Saddiq and his team feel. It is good to note Saddiq’s comment that their defeat would serve as a maturing experience.
As these people are mostly very young, I hope they will take their recent defeat as a learning curve to be responsible and trustworthy politicians in Malaysia. I am sure many of them, including Syed Saddiq were fully aware of their possible defeats in the state elections. Yet, they took the chance. After all, there has to be a start somewhere.
To all these young, aspiring politicians, I salute your courage. However, I am sure you are aware that there are many things that you have yet to learn in ensuring clean politics in Malaysia - like how you should campaign, how to respond to questions, criticisms or different situations as well as how to be steadfast in your beliefs. Do take time to do a very honest post-mortem and I am sure you will find the answers.
As for the calls to step down or resign, please disregard them. I do not think this is a fair call as many of you were first timers. Take it as a learning curve to better prepare yourselves for future General Elections. I do not think an employee would be asked to resign at his or her first mistake. Employers would show grace, guide and teach their employees to perform better. I think if we were not shown grace, we would not have been at our present positions in our places of work.
Malaysia needs good, smart, capable and trustworthy leaders who are humble and hardworking. And our country is not short of them. So, to our aspiring candidates who failed to win any state seats, neither despair nor give up after one failure. Work with all your heart without any hidden agenda and prove yourselves. Then promotions will follow. I believe as the old, the young, the experienced and not so experienced come together, putting the nation first, there will be a synergy for the birth of a righteous nation. This is our Malaysian dream.
To all who have worked hard to make Malaysia better, thank you! May each of you be given wisdom in all decisions that you have to make on the behalf.
By Mei Wong
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