Syed Hamid: If change can't come from within... bring change from the outside

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — In yet another subtle tweet, former Umno supreme council member Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar today called for change from the “outside”, hours before polling day.

“If we don’t learn from history than history will punish us to become part of the story history. If we can’t change from within let us bring the change from outside. It will be refreshing and rejuvenating,” he wrote in his latest post on the microblogging site.

Prior to that, Syed Hamid had expressed his amusement that his open letter to Malaysians yesterday had been interpreted as a call of support to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election.

In his previous tweet, which was shared by almost 600 users, the former Land Public Transport Commission chairman said he was in support of “positive changes, democracy and fair election. But not only to support Barisan Nasional.”

When stated by a Twitter user by the name Rahman Ariffin (twitter handle @ManPin) that the former minister was “only trying to stay noticed”, Syed Hamid replied that his concern was more on building a united country with integrity and respect.

“At this age my friend I don’t think I want to be noticed. I had enough of that. I’m more concerned about building a united country with integrity and respect. Sayang. Pada Negara,” he responded.

In his two-page open letter yesterday, Syed Hamid had called on voters to voter for a “positive change” without fearing those in power.

He reminded the role of the voters are not to make the strong even stronger.

He said amid being distracted with “gifts, flashy ad campaigns and fearmongering tactics”, he hoped Malaysians have had the chance to her the “voices of reason”.

“Come 9 May, let us all, my fellow Malaysians, vote with our conscience to make a positive change. Vote with your heart. Vote sincerely. Let good judgment prevail.

“Vote for people with integrity, honour, transparency, accountability and those who are hardworking and trustworthy, so that these qualities can be imbued in a government that they represent,” he said.