Is there a place for a person like me?

I am a devoted citizen of cyberspace. I do everything here, make friends, communicate, do business, get entertained, listen to the latest music and generally have a good fun with this thing called the world wide web.

And for sure, since I am a reading Malaysian, I go to the online MSM channel and independent blogs for my dose of socio-political news. Much as I spend my time on facebook and youtube and various piss-about forums, I cannot help but get caught in the rush of pre-tsunami and post-tsunami political awakenings of Malaysians.

But I don’t keep blogs. I don’t write long-winded piece. I just don’t have the time. But now I’m making the time.

Why?

Because I’m genuinely afraid for my country, my fellow country people, and our unique way of life, warts and all.

Again, why?

Well, like I said, I don’t write long pieces. It’s like this – when I read Malaysia Today and other long famous anti Barisan websites and blogs, I encounter so much anti-Malay venom. Yes, most are anti-UMNOPutera or strictly anti-Barisan, but many, many views, in particular in the commentaries, really makes you cringe. While reading, I look around and just wonder what my Malay colleagues in front of me and besides me think about those.

On the other hand, when I visit the pro-Malay or if you want the pro-UMNO blogs, you’ll see similarly sinister and disturbing sentiments, again mostly in the commentaries.

It's like there is no compromise. You are either in this extremist camp or in that extremist camp. Where's our much talked about compromy? Our middle ground?

My thought is this. Is there a place for a person like me? Who still truly believe that there’s a bright future for a multicultural and multireligious Malaysia. Who believes that yes we have done good as a nation for the past 51 years warts and all. That the only way to move forward is through positive engagement and more positive engagements. That Barisan Nasional has done a lot for the nation and that their model can actually work? That yes the Malays are right to enforce their claims and privileges (although the terms could be more subtle)?

But I do want what Barisan Nasional has failed to deliver the past 51 years – minimal corruption, minimal poverty, better distribution of income, better transportation, better local council etc.

So is there a place for a person like me?