The bell has rung

This article is an extract from my speech at the launch of Raja Ahmad Aminullah's latest book, ‘The bell has Rung: Time for a New Generation’, on the 6th of August.

Raja Ahmad is a student of law who is more comfortable being a poet, writer and artist. But he does not just write. He is an activist.

"Genta" means bell. What is meant here is a warning alarm, a wake-up call, about the fate of the country.

Raja Ahmad begins and ends this book with 9 phrases: fed up, nauseous, tired, bored, fed-up, annoyed, breach of trust, squandering, and betrayal. It is characterised by Professor Emeritus Abdul Halim Ali, who wrote the foreword of the book as a "register of the rakyat's cries".

This book puts together a number of problems that worry the people; rampant corruption, compromised elites, and white elephant projects. It adds that the political space is not for accumulating wealth and personal luxury, but in fact is a platform for service and upholding a pure struggle.

The author suggests several key points that need to be taken into account: two Islamic principles to strengthen unity in our society, namely lita'arafu and rahmatan lil alamin, as well as intellectual and educational issues. What the writer aspires is for a space for public intellectuals and an arena of freedom to speak and create. So that the people become more educated.

As a guide for all, the author quotes the messages of great figures, such as the four earliest Islamic caliphs, Rendra and Edward Said.

The most important thing in this book is the future direction of the country. For Raja Ahmad, it is in the hands of the new generation. And he has confidence in the new generation.

However, he is worried about the views of the older generation; "...the conversation about the problems of this society is often dominated by the generation in their 60s, 70s, 80s, even 90s. The voices of the new generation are often drowned out in these conversations. However, it is as if, for the old generation, this new generation does not exist at all. It seems that these two segments are living in a parallel universe.”

I agree with this 1000%!

Our fate depends on the new generation. One of the three great challenges the world is facing is technological progress which brings with it many benefits, although there are also humanistic issues. Today we are living in two worlds, which are physical and digital. Many from my generation are not comfortable being in a digital world. My child's generation is not only comfortable, but they are also the ones who drive the digital world. In the future, my generation will be less and less comfortable.

We can argue about this at length. But in essence, when it comes to GE15, many people desire a Prime Minister who is in tune with the new generation.

Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah is the Foreign Minister of Malaysia. Views expressed are the writer’s own.