The unlevel playing field

I apologise to my readers for the brief silence. I have been unable to write for some days. I suppose the death of Beng Hock really took a toll on me. People told me before I ran for office that there would be a price to pay to be in politics. I never expected that a little more than a year since we took the State Government, I would lose a friend in such a manner. I was warned of that price, I just never expected it to be this heavy a price!

Justice for Beng Hock must be pursued not only by wearing some badges or gathering solemnly in remembrance of him. A life gone too soon. Beng Hock must be remembered each time you think of justice. Is justice obtainable in this land?

Critics sometimes live in illusion. They imagine a level playing field here in Malaysia. Last year, some of us offered ourselves to play in what others would term as a ‘sure-lose’ match, against a 50 year old defending champion. Taxpaying spectators demand for a good match. Not everyone realises that there is no level playing field. The goal post is tilted on one side. The linesmen are used to seeing the defending champion lead the match. The referee feels indebted to the defending champion. The spectators are frustrated with the quality of the game. Why are the players constantly delaying the match by ‘politicking’ and screaming at each other? Don’t they realise that time is ticking away? It’s a dirty field. The field is terribly uneven. The main media sponsor only focuses on the defending champion attempting to score goals and when the greenhorn misses. Players are seen protesting – one of our team mates collapses on the field. We can’t continue the game this way. We first need to fight for a level playing field.

It is no longer just a dirty field, it is a dangerous field! I’m bracing myself and my team for possible attacks on us. It can come in so many ways. All I’m asking of the spectators is this: you will know it when it comes and when it does come, ask yourself this – is there a level playing field?