One is a MP for Kota Bahru that won under Barisan Nasional ticket and the other a champion environmentalist who was once the Vice President of United States under Democrat and recently bagged himself a Nobel Prize.
Zaid Ibrahim definately earned my respect when it comes to speaking up against the wrongs of the government. And he earned extra points from me for his critical views as he is on the same side where his critical views is fired at. He has spoke on taboo subjects, off limits subjects among BN MPs such as the decay of the judiciary in Msia, the need for freedom of press, the need for Msia to make do without dacronian laws such as ISA and OSA, the essence and limits of Article 153 and the list goes on and on.
In another part of the world, Al Gore has articulately brought out the worst of mankind and captured it in a documentary An Inconvinient Truth that to me is more terrifying and real compared to Nightmare on Elm Street. Al Gore being a well respected statesman, when he speaks, I'll definately stand up and listen.
So I read both their books. Verdict? Excellent discourse of facts. Most interesting similiarity to me is that both articulated the need for more freedom of information to the people. In Zaid's point of view, empower the people to check and balance the govt. Give the people the right to seek information and let people be part of the combatants against corruption and the wrongdoings of the govt. Al Gore says the same thing. Use and give "reason" to the public to decide. And both agreed that the public should be aware of their own rights. Be it the Bill Of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, all the cases fought in Supreme Courts, The Constitution....etc.
One things for sure is that in Malaysia, we need to do whats's right this time. The Assault on Reason in Msia has already taken its toll on many Msians. I believe its time now to wake up, smell the air and say 50 years is enough.
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