What Do the People Want? (22/4/2008)
Peace.
Social and economic independence.
A mentally and physically healthy society.
And, perhaps foremost to some, the freedom of faith.
A few simple extras to make life a little more exciting wouldn’t hurt either.
Most are content with what they’ve attained if, by the time they reach sixty, they have a grandchild or two to play with—provided those basic conditions are met in a sustainable way.
But for those still striving for more than they truly need, the ego often has its own appetite—whether for power, status, fame, or fortune. And in pursuit of that glory, a man may find himself stepping on others’ toes, challenging long-held foundations, or tearing down established icons.
The pursuit of happiness becomes a gold rush.
More is always better. And soon, there’s no longer a line between basic need and raw greed.
When Greed walks in, Compassion and Charity slip quietly out the back door.
Wisdom disperses to the wind.
Corruption enters.
Judgment becomes clouded. Ignorance creeps in, blurring the truth from the lies.
This is the haunting reality of elected officials—not just here in Malaysia, but around the world.
In the age where even the most remote villager owns a PC, and every other Tom, Dick, and Harry has a blog to express their feelings, it is no longer easy to sell water by the river.
The Information Age is here, and with it, there’s nowhere left to hide for those who once relied on public ignorance to feed their private ambitions.
What once happened behind closed doors is now broadcast before the world.
And yet—even with this level of communication—there are still those who manipulate truth for short-term gain, chasing after riches and power while pretending to serve.
Many of us are trapped within this vicious cycle. Some knowingly, some not.
But when the opportunity presents itself, many would succumb to this very human weakness.
One wife is not enough—we need three or four.
One car is not enough—we need a fleet to maintain the image.
One house is not enough—we must have multiple, scattered across cities, for convenience or to house extra families.
We tell ourselves we must leave something behind for our children and grandchildren—and that takes a lot of doing, on top of what’s needed for our daily lives.
So we sell our souls to the devils,
and hope for glory in this life—and the next.
At what cost?
❂ Greed and the Fall of Nations
Greed is what separates us from the lower creatures, for only man kills out of greed.
To hoard wealth while others are in need is one form.
To ignore poverty when you have the power to help is another.
To refuse to serve, to hoard positions, to abuse public trust—all are children of greed.
Corruption is born from greed.
And many once-mighty rulers have fallen by its blade.
History has warned us again and again.
Yet the message rarely reaches the heart.
Few figures have left a moral impression on the world like Mahatma Gandhi—a man in a loincloth who brought the British Empire to its knees through sacrifice and compassion.
A selfless man has no room for greed.
Can today’s leaders ever become selfless?
Highly unlikely.
Because the question most politicians ask is no longer:
“How can I serve?”
But rather:
“What’s in it for me?”
“What is my signature worth?”
These are the very people who swore before King, country, and Scripture to lead with integrity—yet many have become lost to the seduction of self-interest.
“When the salt goes bad, what else can we turn to?” — Persian proverb
❂ Who Can We Turn To?
Perhaps the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, remains one of the last living embodiments of Wisdom beyond Wisdom, the living echo of Bodhisattvic compassion. But even he is being pulled deeper into the politics of his homeland.
Who then can lead us?
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George Bush? Hardly.
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Dr. Mahathir? By then, already showing signs of senility in political judgment.
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Pak Lah? Wavering in public confidence.
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Anwar Ibrahim? Waiting for the right moment.
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Tok Guru Nik Aziz? Spiritually grounded, yes—but not a model easily applied nationwide.
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Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh? Respected opposition legends, but limited in reach.
The government has failed to document, celebrate, and harness the wisdom of these individuals into a collective force for national good. Biographies, yes—but few shared blueprints for younger generations to follow.
Just as children need role models to grow,
a nation needs living examples to trust.
And in this Age of Decadence, or what the Buddhists call the Dharma Ending Age, we’re left asking:
Who can we trust to prepare the next generation for the changes to come?
With global resources dwindling, food insecurity rising, and climate collapse looming, humanity will soon face the consequences of its arrogance.
We must shift our fundamental values now—before it’s too late.
And greed? Greed is only the beginning.
The other two sicknesses of the human heart?
Hate and Delusion.
✧ Postscript – 2025
Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad turns 100 today.
I wished him a happy birthday.
And in my heart, I also remembered these words I once wrote—long before his second (or third) political act, long before the social media storms, long before the world cracked open.
I do not write this to attack him.
Nor to glorify him.
I write to ask the same questions we have always needed to ask:
What do the people really want?
What kind of leadership is worth following?
When is enough, truly enough?
May this nation—may this world—one day rise beyond greed, beyond self, beyond delusion.
And may we all play our part, no matter how small, in reclaiming truth from the shadows.
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