And This is Surprising How?

Got this from a typical Malaysian, apparently:

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) — Information Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir has acknowledged difficulty in getting government messages across to the people because the public was more interested in entertainment matters.

He said the ministry's budget was increased every year but the messages it delivered lacked impact.

“Although the role of departments and agencies under the ministry appears comprehensive, there are still many people who have little understanding of issues and problems that are reported.

“This has resulted in the public often questioning and not supporting government policies,” he said at a briefing conducted by the ministry for Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament here Monday.

Ministry Secretary–General Datuk Seri Dr Arshad Hashim, in his briefing, said RTM faced tough competition on dissemination of information from VCDs and the internet.

He said the problem was compounded by the popularity in using SMS to convey information.

The Malaysian Government having a hard time trying to get their messages to the rakyat? Quelle Surprise! No, really? Wow, who'd have thunk?

It's amusing to see. How many of you feel as if you are working with the government, instead of working around or against it? Is it our fault that we perceive the government to be obscurantist, obstinate, dangerously mercurial and mostly irrational?

And we have high–ranking executive officers of the Law of the Land wondering why we won't listen to them — why, whenever they say something, they're met with indifferent silence or protest, protest, protest.

Well, the protesters are the newbies, the idealists — they're protesting because they don't know any better. The silent ones aren't silent because we're happy with what we're told — I don't think so. It's just that we've learnt, through trial and painful error, to not listen and work out ways to do what we want.

No one wants to listen to crap they don't have a stake in. Apart from the obvious, essential thing like Law and Order, and food, utilities and shelter, I don't think we really don't care what the government does, simply because no matter what is done, I'm pretty sure the rakyat don't get to give any kind of input, apart from the token, “speaking to the rakyat” kind of deal. Say what you want about policy, morality, religion or whatever.

No one pays attention because so few people have a say in this.

Contrast this with, say, Akademi Fantasia. With Akademi Fantasia, who wins, essentially, boils down to how many idiots can vote for Mawi how many people will vote for your favourite character grinning nitwit helpless pawn of Corporate Malaysiana artiste. It doesn't matter if the judges call Mas your favourite artiste a talentless nincompoop! You just vote like a fucking lunatic and your artiste will win! And be subjected to hilariously stupid advertising deals!

That, ladies and gentlemen, is mob rule democracy in action. If only the government could do something like this. Combine the dreaded SMS, villain of every governmental agency and washed-up and/or budding music superstar, with governmental policy, and watch people (at least some of us at any rate) take an interest.

Imagine! Proceedings of Dewan Rakyat, televised with live chat, with the requisite “MP PERMATANG PAUH POYO!!!!11” messages! SMS votes on the news, not only about important yet incredibly brain-damaged policy decisions, but also if Sharizat should continue talking to Rafidah, who's dissed her on ‘confession hour’! Fistfights in parliamentary debate! It'd be so disgraceful it'd bring the ratings up the roof!

It'll happen in Bizarro Malaysia first, I suspect.

Come to think of it….