JULY 4 — “No one is above me, and nothing is beneath me.”

Looking back at my life, I realise that I have — whether consciously or not — held on to that ethos, the confidence accompanying it. Which probably means that I tend to do very stupid things if those choices are judged by convention, and thereafter expect to survive things just because. I do ride my luck.

Confidence has made rather than broken me so far, and I am staying the course.

Why these thoughts on a bright July day? Well, I’m about to start a new adventure and I need reminding, and if it resonates with others, well my job only gets easier.

The next five years will determine if my boldness is just youthful foolishness which I’ve never quite rid off.

I am about to embark on a project to offer my expertise and experience, recruit others of similar drive and passion to join and increase the base of political operatives and operations in the country.

The real answer to beat elitism which pervades our political landscape is to increase the number of active participants, not just increase voters.

The Demirakyat April Socialbaker report

The barrier to entry is much lower than what most people think it is. They are often discouraged to pursue meaningful and active participation through a political party or NGO or movement by the traditional think of what constitutes voter-leader relationship.

That has changed. The record number of citizens spending for late booked flights — everyone had to wait for the Election Commission (EC) to announce Polling Day after Parliament dissolution — to return home to vote is one indicator. Another, the group which took the EC to court to let them vote abroad and there is the matter of millions of Malaysians who had to return home all over the federation to get their ballot sheet. They are all very vested in the country.  

And before you decide to join the cause or not, let me tell you about myself.

This quiet Cheras lad

The law student, my team-mate, was flapping his coat like a farmer chasing ducks or the sort as he strode up and down the room making a speech no one should need to endure. It was painful, very. And if it was not apparent by then that we were losing this first debate round then a white flag was being raised slowly by his every syllable.

That was my first inter-varsity debate, and it was annoying.

I did not know my team-mates much or our accompanying university personnel, for we were hastily assembled as our predecessors left debating after being devoured at an international competition. And here we were, the replacements, being trounced by a junior Universiti Malaya team.

Which was the appropriate cue to just tag along for the remaining rounds and enjoy the Penang sunshine in February. I decided without weighing the consequences, nor my team-mates’ feelings and took over.

We won one and lost another, and were spectators at the finals. But I never had to be just the extra dude in a team ever again. If I am in a team, I run it.

I have the confidence to deal with ambiguity and not look over my shoulder and wish someone else was at the helm.

That’s where the “no one is above me” line comes in. I’m quite happy to respect everyone, and given a lesson in humility ever so often. We all need a kick up the backside. I’m looking forward to my next one. But I don’t do being passive very well, or be just a follower.

How about a safety net then? Which depends on what a fall constitutes. “Nothing is beneath me” is a reminder of where I come from. If you want things, then you must focus on what you want and not be carried away by what you can lose. The fear of loss is the primary reason for talent shed in the bushes of obscurity. It is good to know what you can lose, so you remain hungry.

Reminds me of a political activist who hails from a wealthy family and holds a robust university degree. No matter how much he tries to show a level of empathy and maybe there are times he really means it, he struggles to come across as genuine.

This is what we shall

Grassroots empowerment is the way forward for Malaysian democracy, and in the Internet we have the answer to all the reasons why the rule of the many was never possible, till now. Things are different now.

The election has liberated millions of Malaysians, even if the outcome does not flatter anyone.

There is a newfound energy of what is possible, and not live in fear of a regime. The present government knows it is on borrowed time unless it changes its ways, but transformation may kill what is the heart of BN, opportunism.

The Demirakyat May Socialbaker report

Throughout the election period at PKR we put together a strategy involving websites, Facebook pages, Twitter campaigns, YouTube videos, surveys, infographics and ground teams.  All powered by volunteers with selected contractors. Every sen was stretched.

Socialbakers had PKR’s Facebook page “Demirakyat” as the page with the most page engagement in the country for April which was where most of the campaigning occurred (April 3 dissolution, April 30 early voting before polling proper on May 5). This measurement factors all pages, political and commerce.

Friends of BN were 5th.

Underlining that a small group of absolutely fantastic people, drinking a lot of soft drinks, can take on the financial leviathan BN is online.

It’s time to take the battle beyond the general election.

We now want to help people organise themselves using the Net, and then maximise it and engage the population, their target group, with greater accuracy.

But we are not cognisant of everything, and with other minds joining in, we can only get stronger.

What we have to do is get many people to use the democratisation element of the Internet. It’s not too much when everyone does a little. We can get everyone to do more when they want to.

We have the tool, but the culture of communication is the missing component.

The technology is there, it is time people adopted the attitude to use it right.

Now, do you think we should talk?

By the way, “no one is above you and nothing is beneath you.”

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.