“Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy.”
– F Scott Fitzgerald, Notebook E

COMMENT | This year, when compiling my top five newsmakers and news stories, I thought I would do something different. These are not the obvious choices of top newsmakers, and comprise those who got lost in the toxic brew of dashed expectations and cynical political manoeuvrings of the news cycle.

I am loath to give politicians any more publicity, even on my meagre platform. As far as I am concerned, the Pakatan Harapan government has no excuses for not carrying out their reform agenda.

They have controlled states, and supposedly have the experience, but what we have been witness to is an endless succession of politically motivated stalling tactics, embraced most often by partisan fervour.

I would like to think these five newsmakers remind us of who we are, but more importantly, where we are as a country. The fact that this list includes three people who are not with us anymore is – or should be – a stark reminder that who and where we are at the moment means that we should stop dreaming about a New Malaysia, but open our eyes and confront the Malaysia before us.

In no particular order, here are my picks for the top five newsmakers.

M Indira Ghandi

Supposing someone kidnapped your child, what would you do? Suppose someone kidnapped your child on religious grounds? Suppose the state chose not to help you because it needed to reinforce the primacy of the state sponsored religion? What would you do?

Even now, the state refuses to codify laws that would put a stop to such kidnappings, hiding behind legal precedents in a cowardly manner to safeguard religious and racial interests.

I honestly have no idea how M Indira Gandhi and her family continue with their long struggle to find their missing family member while the state claims ignorance.

How do politicians live with themselves? How do their supporters rationalise their anointed inaction? There will be no grand gestures for someone like Indira and her family. They are alone in New Malaysia...