Where have all the brave men gone?
Today, these people on whom we once pinned our hopes have become mute, a pale shadow of their former selves, toeing the line rather than resisting it.
Clement Stanley, FMT letter
There was a time before the 14th general election when many a brave person stepped forward with gusto and conviction to speak up for a New Malaysia.
These were the voices of hopes, dreams and promises of better days ahead if the opposition did the impossible and came to power. These voices were eagerly waited upon as they bred new life into what was thought to be a forgone conclusion. These voices united a nation, hitting the very nerve of all Malaysians who voted for change. In such orators and fighters lay our trust.
But where is Tony Pua? Where is Rafizi Ramli? Liew Chin Tong? Nurul Izzah? Teresa Kok? Yeoh Bee Yin? Kula Segaran, Tian Chua and a host of others who were then opposition leaders? They were supposed to be our guardians of democracy and the voice of conscience.
Not anymore. Despite being fully aware of the burning issues at hand that continue to taunt and provoke the people who voted them into government, these voices have disappeared into the wilderness. How else can you explain their reluctance to confront their political master on contentious issues like the controversy surrounding Dr Zakir Naik or the recent dignity congress?
There was once a time when these voices would come out with guns blazing to reprimand those in power.
But now, like obedient little children at bedtime, they are content to listen to bedtime stories with a happy ending.
Today, these people on whom we once pinned our hopes have become mute, a pale shadow of their former selves, toeing the line rather than resisting it.
Today, they prefer to play the role of the three monkeys who see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. It is simply easier that way.
Perhaps if Peter, Paul and Mary had to sing their hit song “Where have all the flowers gone”, they could be tempted to add one more line:
Where have all the brave men gone? Gone to blazers, every one.
When will they ever learn? When will they ever learn?
