The past year politically and nationally has been a major disappointment. That sentiment is expected to be carried on into the new year. In fact, I predict it is going to be a very difficult year for parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.

It is the Members of Parliament who are the guardians of parliamentary democracy in a constitutional monarchy-parliamentary democracy form of government which is our form of government. It is the MPs who shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that parliamentary democracy is upheld and practised without compromise in the country as it is parliamentary democracy which protects the rights of the people to self-govern.

The challenge will be to see if our MPs will fight for the people when parliamentary democracy is threatened in any way.

It would be interesting to see if and when our MPs would even be able to receognize when there is a threat to parliamentary democracy! Since the Sheraton moves in 2020, the people have not seen the ability of MPs to discern when there is such a threat and to act to avert it.

It was hoped that the 2022 general election would have changed that reality but that never materialised.

It is very unlikely that we will see our MPs act differently in 2024! If they do, it would be a miracle!

But then, I am a believer of miracles. So, let’s see what happens and whether our MPs will fight on our behalf or acquiesce to expediency or the forces the unity government is beholden to!

Politics and national issues aside, personally, I’m sure all of us have our own resolutions. My 2024 wish is for all our wishes to come true!

Happy New Year, all!