MAY 9 marked a turning point for Malaysia as it signalled a new beginning for the country, which was ruled by a single party for 60 years.
But, seriously, have there been great changes? Does the country deserve the moniker New Malaysia? Or, is it still a nation of fossilised bad habits?
I would argue that our country is, sadly, an example of the latter.
Consider our taxi drivers — be it blue, red or yellow — they are all the same, with an extremely small exception.
They drive recklessly and blatantly beat the traffic lights in full view of police officers. The enforcement officers helplessly look on as if they are conquered by national lethargy. Of course, it is not true of all officers, but the exception is, well, exception.
The Petronas Twin Towers area is a prime example of a place that you will see all types of motorists breaking traffic laws in the book. They park at traffic lights as they please, even blocking the entrance to the parking lot.
Cars, buses and taxis are parked on both sides of the road, causing traffic jam, day and night.
We seem to show the world that we are a lawless country.
Forgive me for saying this: this will never happen in Singapore. Because, they mean business. We are just ambling into lackadaisical lethargy. There seems to be no national will, both at the individual and government level.
Are these taxi drivers and bus drivers so powerful that the authorities cannot do anything?
These are signs of a lawless Third World country.
The only way to rid of such taxi drivers and bus operators is to jail them and confiscate their vehicles.
Harsh misbehaviour requires harsh punishment.
The situation gets worse when the government has an event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The drivers of ministers and senior civil servants park their cars as they please, causing massive congestion and inconvenience to the people. This must stop if we want to see a New Malaysia.
Amplify this errant behaviour nationwide and you will see the problem becoming a national culture.
Fire engines can’t get to the scene of a fire because vehicles are blocking the entrance. Lives are lost unnecessarily. Ambulances can’t reach those who require urgent medical attention.
Balraj Khanna, a long-time resident artist in London, in his A Nation of Fools, describes the terrible behaviour of some people in India.
I may sound harsh, but he would not be wrong if he said he was describing the behaviour of some Malaysians.
I am glad the current government is looking into institutional changes.
It is time that the Pakatan Harapan government overhauled the enforcement agencies.
A.M.K.S.
Kuala Lumpur
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated World Cup page