Independence
As we approach Merdeka, I’m not exactly sure whether to be happy or sad about it. After 52 years of independence, Malaysia has reached a new low in almost every aspect of life I can think of. Politics, crime, environmental pollution, economy, protests, etc.
I remember reading earlier this year, Kuala Lumpur is ranked the 4th most dangerous city to be in the WORLD! Not in South East Asia, not in Asia, IN THE WORLD! Looking at the other cities in the list, it’s unbelievable that KL is 4th in the list.
National crime rate increased 15% in 2006, and has been increasing ever since. 97% of the population feel unsafe while only 1% feel safe to be living in this country.
KL is also ranked the 3rd most environmentally polluted city in the world, after Bangalore and Chandigarh in India. The “haze season” seemed to be worsening every year and respiratory illnesses is increases year after year.
Recent protests (which shall not be named here) caused racial tensions and tipping the country into another May 13. Political parties’ internal and external conflicts ripple throughout the country, with everyone pointing fingers at everyone else except themselves. No one ever admits that they are wrong and move on. Instead, blame others and it goes in a circle. Again and again.
Worst is the economy. Being a fresh graduate, I feel the tight grip of the recession rippling through the country’s economy. Even Singapore is now out of the recession, but where are we? Still stuck in a recession even after several financial boosts from the government.
Just read the papers today, in order to achieve developed nation status by 2020, out economy needs to grow by 8% every year or else, Vision 2020 will all be for nothing but a national gimmick. An embarrassment to the country and a laughing stock for everyone else.
Independence Day is in 2 days. Wonder if I should be happy or sad? Who will bridge this gap?
One of the most polluted cities, yes, but no.4 on the world’s most dangerous cities is a bit over exaggerated. Are these people trying to say that KL is more dangerous than most American cities where people carry firearms around freely, and London, the so said ‘Knife Capital’ of the world? Yeah, crime in KL is definitely on the rise but no.4 might be due to the fact that we have a Crime Minister leading the country and an Anti-Corruption Chief who says OK to child pornography since ‘every’ Malaysian man has some in his handphone(in defense of his own son caught with child porn in OZ). God knows what would be of Malaysia when 2020 happens. As far as i know, this country and its fucking politics are already a laughing stock.
c3po
31 August 2009 at 5:11 pm
I think crime rates is calculated per capita which makes London and New York’s stats way lower than KL. Yes, there are knife stabbings in London, I’ve lived there before but crime rates there are pretty much low though when it happens it’s pretty serious. Corruption, political stability, economy and other things factored in too contributed to our “rise” in rankings. With the recession and all these protests, that’s probably why we’re pretty high up…
Qi-Guang
2 September 2009 at 3:40 am