I want to believe
I think today I just witnessed an incredible snapshot of what a real Malaysian democracy would look like. It was at the 2nd Malaysian Student Leaders Summit. I went on assignment, attending the young YBs forum on subsidies. The organizers (the United Kingdom and Eire Council for Student Movement - UKEC) invited Khairy Jamaluddin (UMNO), Tony Pua (DAP) and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PKR).

What was amazing to me was how these three young men tried to woo the crowd with their ideas, facts and analysis. Not by putting each other down. Well, they're politicians, so of course BN and Pakatan Rakyat tried to put each other down, but this kind of trash-talking was done with humour, and was kept to a minimum.

It was amazing how civil and - Heaven forbid - fun the discussion was. And it was amazing how the crowd - consisting mostly of students - responded enthusiastically. With applause, laughter and even boos (again, done more in humour than to seriously humiliate the speakers onstage).

The intellectual bar of the debate remained high throughout. I'm not saying these YBs are angels, and neither am I saying that each had watertight arguments. But they each shone in their own ways, and this is what democracy is about as well - allowing spaces for complex and difficult ideas to be discussed publicly and with civility.

I know there are many disgusting things happening in the political scene in this country right now. But this single forum today gave me a glimpse of what a truly democratic Malaysia might look like. I am convinced that the results of the last General Election have made it incumbent upon politicians (well, those politicians who have been smart enough to learn) to try their best to win us, the rakyat, over with their arguments and their vision. As it should be in any healthy democracy. Instead of passing off unresearched, idiotic opinions as fact and then shoving it down our throats.

So, the voters are the ones who are responsible for raising the level of political and intellectual debate in this country. Which is empowering, and very, very sweet. I just hope we, the citizens of this country, realize that this is what we have to defend - an emerging Malaysian democracy. Not this individual leader or that individual leader. Because individuals can come and go. Individuals can change - some might have us believe that they turned from devil to angel overnight. Some others have fooled us by appearing to be angels to begin with and then baring their fangs once they tasted power.

But no, if we as society keep vigilant and keep politicians on their toes, they will have to engage us as human beings. We will all have to deal with our complexities and learn to discuss ideas via independent public institutions that have integrity and that are accountable.

I did find one thing about the forum distressing though. All the speakers onstage were men (which is not really a problem in itself, because sometimes organizers have to choose speakers based on availability and so on). What really got to me and my colleague was that even during the question and answer session, all the folks who came to the microphone were men! That's right, out of maybe 15 - 20 people who lined up to ask questions afterwards, not a single one was female. That's really not good.

I'd be interested to know why the women in the audience did not ask any questions. Being a gender trainer myself, I would assume (and I might be wrong) it's because already the arena of finance and politics is already seen as such a male domain, and to be spoken to by three men onstage kind of reinforces this stereotype. But this is where the overall environment can be made more inclusive towards both men and women, perhaps through reminders every now and then to strive for proportionality in access and proportionality in participation.

OK, that's my spiel for today. I also saw The X-Files. And tomorrow (as always) I have a ton of work to get done.