Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!

Together We Are 1Malaysia - A Website Review

September 16, 2008

So I got alerted by TheStar Online about Najib Razak’s foray into the online world at http://www.1malaysia.com.my. Similar to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s http://warkahuntukpm.com.my/, Najib’s 1Malaysia allows you to submit comments, which will purportedly be read by Najib.

I am glad that Najib has this site for Malaysians, because I know he cares for the little people. For example, he took time off his busy schedule to give advice to Saiful Bukhari on his sodomy allegations. I mean, if he is willing to spend time with a university dropout, surely he would listen to a working dude like me? Right?

I know that Abdullah’s website doesn’t work, and probably the email is going into someone’s spam folder because I have not had a response to a query I sent to the PM some time ago (and it was a serious one). So I gave Najib’s 1Malaysia a spin, in the hope that these leaders who say they listen show that they are actually listening.

First, a smiling and genial looking Deputy Prime Minister peers at you from behind your computer screen, urging you to click on the video’s play button. Foolishly, I clicked it, and sat through 13 minutes of Najib. Was it that bad? Well, let’s just say I enjoyed listening to the birds chirping in the background. The message, although filled with so much positive hopes and aspirations for the country, ring hollow, especially in such dark times, where 2 people are still being detained under the ISA without being charged with any crimes. And it’s Najib speaking, and as much as I wanted to believe the sweet words coming out of that smiling old gentleman’s mouth, it’s Najib, yo.

If you’re interested in Najib’s biography, then there’s a pdf version to be downloaded as well. Conspicuously missing from his official biography is his role as UMNO Youth chief in the 1987 Ops Lallang. I’ve read about news about his spat with MCA’s Lee Kim Sai, and that’s missing as well. I guess if you want the juicy stuff, you’ll have to go Wikipedia Najib.

There’s also a photo gallery of Najib’s mugs, and here’s my favorite, for no particular reason:

And finally, the raison d’être of the site: the comment box. Unfortunately, I believe that Mr. Najib will not get your messages (or it will get them truncated) because there is a 750 character limit to each message. Nevertheless, I posted the following comment to Mr. Najib:

Dear DPM, After watching your video, you make me want to believe that you are sincere. However, I have to temper my believe with the fact that the party you represent, UMNO, is impervious to reforms.

If you are serious, then look into the injustice of the ISA. To detain a journalist for doing her work beggars believe, and I do not think that the Home Minister did not consult you before giving his approval to the police.

So far, you have kept quiet on the issue, preferring to talk to your boss about transition plans. If you are truly sincere in wanting the best for this country, perhaps you should start by addressing the misuse of the ISA in the country.

Thank you.

Will I get a reply? Probably not, and even if I do, it’ll be from a standard template or automated response. What I can say is, I do not believe this to be a useful tool for the DPM to engage Malaysians. Most Malaysians have already given up hope on the administration, and most won’t even bother sharing their comments with him. Anyway, since this is a website review, I’ll give it a 1/5 for the chirping birds in the background of the video. I’m willing to bump this to a 4.5 if I get a personalized reply.

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