COMMENT In order to see change, the time has come for Malaysians to get out of their comfort zones and take on new and unclaimed grounds. Old mindsets have to change, and new ones built on faith - daring to believe the impossible - have to be put in place.

Describing herself as a “product of the Mahathir era”, Selangor Legislative Assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan said she grew up reading The Star and thinking that MCA leaders were the only ones she could aspire to be like, should she desire to become someone prominent in the future.

“But my eyes were opened, after hearing from (my close associate and now political secretary) Edward Ling and meeting Tony Pua,” she says in her book.

“DAP's Malaysian agenda resonated within me: the concept of a stronger check-and-balance and a two-party system is what attracted me.

"Besides, both the late Karpal Singh and (DAP supremo) Lim Kit Siang are two very admirable figures,” she added.

In looking for change, Yeoh found out that she herself had to undergo what she calls “renovations of the heart”.

Only after she had dealt with the internal struggles could she look at the bigger picture, without wavering, even though the political scenario may not be the rosiest.

“I am a work-in-progress,” she wrote in an email from Vancouver, explaining the rationale behind the title of her book.

“No one is ever ready for politics. It's a process to learn about people, policies, and learn from our own mistakes. I am still learning, even after seven years in politics. Politicians have weaknesses too, just like everyone else, which I want young people to relate.”

No bed of roses

Although most of her fellow campaigners during 2008 general election were her own church mates, according to Yeoh, there were others whom she had personally encountered, who had a different view from hers.

One woman, for example, practically chased her and her fellow campaigners away, shouting: “You cannot be here! It’s better if you are not here so our church doesn’t get into trouble. Don’t stand here, stand outside the gates!”

That is the irony for someone, who is exhorted to live as ‘salt of society’ to preserve the morality of society, but unwilling to support someone who seeks to preserve the moral integrity of the nation.

Years of political conditioning have indeed turned some to be fearful of the feudalistic lords in a country that is supposed to be established on democratic values.

Another person whom Yeoh had consulted asked her: “What makes you think that  you’d be any different from the BN politicians?”

Isn’t it sad that we have totally lost hope that change is possible? Change has to begin with ourselves. To this gentleman, Yeoh’s campaign slogan appears to say it all: “We may be inexperienced, yes; inexperienced in corruption.”

Yeoh is a firm believer that it is time to look beyond race politics. DAP is not just for the Chinese. “There is Dyana Sofya, who was the DAP candidate for Teluk Intan in 2004. There is also Kasthuri Patto (left), my colleague and someone I treat like a dear sister, who is very hardworking and has a genuine passion for people,” she said. “They deserve our support.”

Unless there is, first of all, a renovation of the heart, it is impossible for these two persons mentioned in Yeoh’s personal memoirs to see the bigger picture that Malaysia truly needs a change for the better.

No perfect politicians

I have often said to friends that there are no perfect politicians, only some who are more corrupt, and others slightly less inclined.

Hiding behind the veil, however, some friends who still have “unrenovated” hearts are quick to pick on any fault that they can find in Pakatan. “I support Pakatan, but I do not agree with PAS” or “I think Anwar is not  qualified to be the prime minister.”

My question to these friends has always been: “What makes you think that the present prime minister has the people’s mandate or is qualified to become the prime minister of Malaysia?”

Or, “name me any cabinet minister who is not tainted, and has the moral character to be the next prime minister.”

If the sad state of affairs of our nation is the result of 57 years of the BN’s doing, well, how would you expect things to unwind within just six years?

What Hannah Yeoh’s book has helped me realise is that, if we truly want change to take place in this nation, this change has to begin with us.

Echoing Yeoh’s words, we need to have faith that, with God, nothing is impossible. During the life and times of the Wright brothers, flying was an “impossible” human task, but today with AirAsia “anyone can fly”.

“You have to believe that all things are possible. Be faithful to the little things and let God do the rest,” Yeoh wrote in an email to Malaysiakini from Vancouver, where is currently attending some seminars.

“Good things can still happen in this land. It's not over for Malaysia.”

She added, “We politicians can’t do it alone. We need the entire generation and the coming ones to be working on the same purpose. I wrote the book to inspire young people that there is hope. And, for those overseas to consider returning.”

Her book project was a joint effort with fellow OCFer (Overseas Christian Fellowship), Baru Bian (right), who is currently the assemblyperson for Ba’Kelalan in Sarawak, to encourage Malaysians to return to serve the nation.

It is also an honest account about her personal struggles as a politician, so that she can change the perception not all politicians are in for self gain or the contracts. “There are clean ones, too,” she argues.

To see 'Change' - or as the DAP slogan puts it, “Ubah” - we have to break out of the cocoon and accept “out of the box” thinking in order to move ahead with the momentum that has already been set by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Each one of us has a role to play, and it was Anwar who kickstarted his Reformasi movement by fighting one man, his nemesis, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but the Reformasi movement has impacted personal lives including that of Hannah Yeoh.

Part 1: Back home for a special calling
         
Part 2: 'More good men and women wanted in politics'


STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.