Yes, it is time for change in Malaysia. And with the advent of church burnings, time may be running out. At the same time, what is it that must change, and why only now?
To start with, let us look at the immediate conditions. The electoral results of March 8, 2008, were a direct though largely unanticipated response to the steady deterioration of accountability in government, the rising income gap, and the flagrant undermining of the country's once reputable institutions.
The opposition parties managed to capture the mood of the times, and after their electoral victories, they have allowed their successful campaign slogans to frame their policy statements. This is the superficially obvious state of affairs.
A deeper reason has to do with the global wealth structure. The crisis that hit the world, starting with irrational American consumption and the adulation of greed on Wall Street, holds great significance for the future of Penang's - and Malaysia's - economy.
