I’ve always dreamed big. No dream was ever too audacious enough for me. I know exactly what I’d do with $10,000,000. I know exactly how I’d govern the whole world. I have plans on combating global poverty and malnourishment. Climate change is any easy enough topic for me combat. But those dreams and plans will always remain a fantasy I play in my head when I’ve got nothing to do.

In the past few weeks, I’ve managed to turn the odds on some things in my life and made them reality. A courtship that I never thought could have materialized turned into a daring adventure and show of tremendous resolve both on my part and hers and is now a cherished reality I’m living out. My soured relationship with my previous organization is now a thing of the past and I’ve moved on and have opened avenues to future collaboration with them. I’ve reinvigorated my passion with human rights issues. And these things have started me to think about the things I want to achieve in my life.

I’ve talked about being in politics before but in my heart, I’ve always known that any involvement in politics in Sarawak means to sacrifice whatever you cherish the most. Successful politicians have to throw away their self-dignity and play kiss ass to the ones in real power. Struggling politicians have to bear their name being dragged through the mud without any remorse by the successful ones. All politicians will have to endure being followed by people only seeking immediate benefits for their loyalty. All elected representatives have to live the next 5 years of their terms knowing that whatever issues they promised to highlight during their election campaign will never be heard in the state assembly, let alone be resolved.

I’ve seen firsthand how Sarawak politics can make or break a person. My dad has been involved in it since I was born. It brought him great power and respect but it brought him down faster and lower than he has ever been. If I go down this road, I don’t have to look far for the possible consequences in store for me.

I want to do this. I want to run. It doesn’t matter if I fail and lose my deposit. I want to run as an independent candidate. I plan to run in either Batu Kawa or Kota Sentosa. It has always been a normal practice for a Chinese to run in these 2 seats but I want to show the state and country that we are ready to break the norm of majority race candidates. If we are going to continue claiming we are racially harmonious, then let’s show it.

Whether I stand next year really depends if I can garner enough support before registration and also if I’m actually around.

Question is now; will I dare to live the dream when the time comes to put my money where my mouth is?

I remember the last time an opposition leader announced his taking of the government. It was, never.

The worst beating BN ever took was in 1969 where the opposition managed to gather 49 out of 144 seats. But taking into account that Malaysia was formed in 1963 and this was the first ever parliament election where Sabah and Sarawak was included, this doesn’t say much.

Fast forward to 2003, Pak Lah emerges as the prime change that people have been waiting for. With his promises to clean-up corruption and pledge to lead Malaysia to greater heights, the public ate up his words and responded by giving BN a landslide victory of 198 out of 220 seats in the 2004 parliament elections. He brought Terengganu back to the fold and set his eyes on the last opposition strong-hold, Kelantan.

He probably would have succeeded if he had not overlooked 2 factors.

1. While the government has changed facially, it is still as corrupt as before.
2. Anwar Ibrahim, the shining new hope that grows with every mistake the government makes.

When Wan Azizah announced her vacating the seat, many knew what was coming next. Coincidentally, like the boy who cried wolf, someone made claims Anwar was up to his old habits and violated his not-so-secret-garden. Conveniently, police threaten to arrest Anwar which would stop him from standing at the by-elections. It didn’t materialize as the government realized that the public would not fall for the same lie twice. Honestly, if the man really is fond of rear action, I don’t mind. I’d rather trust the nation in the hands of a rear-ender than a puppet of his own cronies.

His win was convincing and the sight of him in parliament was a sight to behold. Being handed the leadership of the opposition coalition, he audaciously proclaimed that by September 16 he would succeed in getting 30 BN parliament members to join the opposition thus giving him the mandate of forming the government.

It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be able to get 30 seats and it seems highly unlikely a change in government could happen so soon. But regardless, he has shaken the government by its foundations. Ensuring nobody crosses over, a bulk are sent away on a ’study trip’. Political parties within BN are going to NGOs for lists of demands. I’ve even heard a rumor that Anwar will be arrested and charged with sedition. The last time I heard that word used was from the movie ‘V for Vendetta’.

It doesn’t really matter if Pakatan Rakyat gathers enough turncoats. It doesn’t matter if Anwar isn’t made Prime Minister this year. The way he has gotten Najib shaking in his boots is evidence enough that victory for round one belongs to Anwar’s corner. Why Najib and not Pak Lah? Well, we all know who’s running the government now. It’s just that the blame keeps going to the meek Pak Lah.

As a sidenote: It’s funny to see Dr M keep harping at Pak Lah when all the troubles that are happening now all stem from Dr M’s previous administration eg inflated fuel prices, inflation, corruption.