Malaysian Media and Culture 01

I was born in the year 1996, which is the Tun Mahathir's era and so I called myself as the 'Mahathir Babies'. When I was in my primary school in the year 2003 to 2008, which I started to learn things fast and was able to know more information, the Prime Minister was Tun Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi. However, in my opinion, neither Tun Mahathir nor Tun Abdullah Badawi gave me huge impacts on any part of my life.

Since young, my parents seldom talk about politics in front of us. (Alright, maybe they did but I don't remember at all.) At that time, the only thing I know about Malaysia is, we have a 'signature' building, the tallest building in the world, KLCC. The reason my parents didn't talk about politic issues with us may be, they are afraid that this is not an issue that is suitable to discuss out of our home. They will always say something like,

"Don't simply talk about politics at outside ah, later kena tangkap by police!"

During that time, most of our parents are educated by their parents who had experienced the May 13 incident, not to defend or talk bad about the government as they may always have the 'rights' to harm the rakyat. Parents' education is always the most impactful way to educate their child, therefore our parents use the same mindset to educate us. Rather than saying I was born in the Mahathir's Generation, it's more accurate to say that my parents live in the Mahathir'era for a long time. As Mahathir ever used the past May 13 incident to panic the rakyat, they are influenced by Mahathir on their thinking and attitudes: NEVER talk bad of the government, obey the government. For me, I have more attention on politics after Dato Seri Najib became the Prime Minister. First is because, I growth and learnt to gain information on the internet (and there is so many information about him), not only from my parents; secondly, the sound of the rakyat had become louder during the new era. Even the children can know what is happening without needing to ask their parents.

The national event that I remembered the most is no doubt the General Election 14 which just happened last month. I feel that this is the very very first time I felt that I'm so tied up with Malaysia's issues as every single vote, every single second is so important to all of the Malaysian. When we open Facebook, Twitter, they are all flooded with GE14 new updates, GE14 results, GE14 live videos and so on, this situation can even make those who didn't have the intention to know about it to feel like,

'Eh, I think I MUST follow up this issue so that I can discuss with my friend later',
'If I don't know ah, later no common topic lo'

etc.

The power of social media is so great and it even makes a country 'unites'. Therefore there are some posts joking that,

"It's not the power of rakyat, but the power of Facebook who makes the history rewrote." (Chuckles)