If a tree falls in a forest...

Technorati tags: Comments, Appeal, Economy, BN, PR, Politics, Malaysia

Related post: An appeal to the warring Malaysian Politicians

Yesterday, Walski posted something that his friend Anas wrote, which was published as a full-page advert in The Star today (see page N37 in the print edition).

The intent of the letter was to make the politicians (to whom it was targeted) realize that the most pressing issue at hand today is the economy, a concern that has pretty much been ignored. Or worse, that we're being lied to about the real impact of the world economy on our own.

The question is, however, would the very people it's targeted to read it? Or even care to?

Some of Walski's other friends, via the comments to that post, pretty much had similar reservations.

If a tree falls in the forest, and no one is around to hear it, will it make a sound? 
(the comments, the riddle, and what Walski personally thinks, in the full post)

That question, according to Wikipedia, is a philosophical riddle that "raises questions regarding observation and knowledge of reality".

The reality about Malaysian politicians? From Walski's own perspective, politics to these politicians is more than just a job, it's a lifetime pre-occupation. In a nutshell, the politicians may (or may not) read the ad, and worse, even if they did, they probably won't give a shit.

Like what regular reader CKGord said in his comment: "... What a waste of ink".

Masterwordsmith, through her comment, has similar reservations about whether or not them politicians will give a hoot.

Similarly with Antares, who thinks that the ad is a naive exercise. But Antares, my friend, it's also not about being politically neutral or pining for a return to Mahathirism. Rather, it's an appeal for all concerned to not ignore a situation that can potentially lead to a homegrown economic meltdown.

Walski, like a lot of people, is no big fan of Barisan Nasional, and in particular, is no fan whatsoever of UMNO. Let's make that one crystal clear.

The Nut Graph, a couple of days ago, posted a report about the apprehension the Orang Asli in Perak are having with the prospect of BN returnng to power in the state (hat-tip: Antares). Even before the uncertainty of the state leadership can be resolved, once and for all (the only conclusive way is via the ballot box), activities damaging to the Orang Asli, which the PR government put a halt to, have apparently resumed.

"Tijah, a Semai, revealed that in the days following the swearing in of the Barisan Nasional (BN)'s Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as menteri besar on 6 Feb, several trees in the forest near Kampung Chang, in the outskirts of Bidor, had been marked with red paint for logging purposes.

"There are helicopters flying around, surveying the land," she said when met here on 14 Feb.

Other Orang Asli leaders in the state who spoke to The Nut Graph said logging activities in Sungai Siput, which were halted and had their permits revoked by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government, have also been renewed.

A sand mining operation upriver from Kampung Pos Bersih, which was stopped only a week before, was restarted on 12 Feb, they added."
(source: The Nut Graph, emphasis by myAsylum)

Pakatan Rakyat, to Walski, while far from perfect, is pretty much the only hope we have of breaking the hegemony that BN has held for the past half a century. Apart, of course, from something totally cataclysmic happening... like Malaysia being crushed by the noodly appendages of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Or being more down to Earth, invaded by a Vogon constructor fleet, and subjected to their poetry. Or even worse, by Singapore.

But seriously, as of right this moment, PR is about the only hope we have. BN knows it, and they're shit-scared. The prospect of losing power and influence is probably a mind-numbing fear. And then, there's the prospect of Najib becoming the PM. Nobody, as far as Walski knows personally, is looking forward to that.

In the meantime, a lot of effort, and resources, are being put into trying to upheave legitimately elected governments in the PR-controlled states. We saw it happen in Perak, and more recently, similar attempts in Penang.

That effort and focus takes away from addressing the crucial issues facing our nation today.

Yes, Walski, too, has his reservations whether or not the ad placed by Anas Zubedy will make any of the politicians come to their senses or even blink. But the key thing here is that at least Anas is trying to do something positive. 

And that attempt and positivity is what Walski supports, which is why he posted the letter on this blog yesterday.

Even though the reality may very well be that the falling tree will tumble down in silence...