Keperihatinan - What it does mean?

I’ve been trying to find the translation for the word ‘keperihatinan‘. Unfortunately it’s rather hard to find out without the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Malay Dictionary. If you know the English equivalent, do post a comment. But why the trouble for this word? What I can deduce is this: the translation for keperihatinan is concern. Concern as is ‘The company’s concern in the welfare of the employees’. Now to answer your question: the word keperihatinan have been used over and over again in Malaysian Mainstream Media to describe the Federal Government’s efforts as well as the move by Egyptian PM who promised a one month bonus to demonstrators in Cairo. Apparently, in the news, the Federal Government and anyone anti-Opposition (PAS, DAP, KeADILan) are all perihatin - or concerned - of the plight of Malaysians. There’s only one problem…

…The Government of the States of Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kedah have not any thing major. It has been only one month. Pak Lah enjoyed 100 days in office as his honeymoon period - not to mention an actual honeymoon later. Apparently, the fairness and neutrality of Malaysian Mainstream Media dictates that the mentioned State Governments must implement changes immediately after the election. Never mind the chaos, just as long as it is done. Only Pak Lah has the right to 100 days in office. *rolls eyes* That is really fair and just.

Anyway, so what does this actually mean? With less than 30 days in office, the State Governments could barely do anything of their own. They can initiate, but to see fruits will take time. This means that anything they do for the first 100 days are decisions the previous government. This would include activities and functions, approval of land application, development agreements and other tenders and contracts awarded by the previous government.

I’m not sympathising any Government - past, previous or future. Instead, I am urging you to be fair and equal. If A gets x amount of time, B should get x amount of time for doing the same thing. That, my friend, is fair and equal.

Next issue: keperihatinan is used after a problem has been raised over and over again. The news anchor used the word keperihatinan kerajaan when it came to accidents by commercial vehicles (read: express bus). Despite the successive Minister of Entrepreneurship and Cooperatives Development, nothing have been done to address the issue of road accidents involving buses. If there were any, the initiatives were studies, proposals and hangat-hangat tahi ayam enforcement of the law - which was abandoned 2-3 months later.

The Penang’s inter-religious council, on the other hand, was an interesting move by the State Government. It showed the people that Lim Guan Eng’s all about action and less talk. As time passes, my respect for Lim and his immediate predecessor increases. He, in my view, is bringing Penang to a new level. Instead of lamenting over spilled milked, the people of Penang should use the situation to their advantage. For those of us outside Penang, we should use this opportunity to evaluate who’s actually working for the rakyat. Is it the party or those in the corridors of power. It could be neither. But Lim Guan Eng’s move in that respect, as well as a number of others, is a rare case of No Talk, Action Only as opposed to No Action, Talk Only in Malaysian politics.

I am of the view that as long as you are the government - irrespective of your party, ideology, religion and race - your primary duty is to serve me and other people who are collectively known as the rakyat. Not only did we vote you into office, we are also paying you to take development projects and initiatives. That primary duty is what you owe us. Is it logical for a creditor to be grateful when the debtor repays the money owed? I don’t think so. Rather than that, the debtor should be grateful the creditors did not call the ah longs!

Can one be labeled as perihatin if one waits until the situation is either chronic or overdue? I doubt that. Then again, my mastery of Bahasa Malaysia is not ‘Excellent’. It’s more of a ‘Good’. After all, I got a 4B for that subject in my SPM. When you are genuinely concerned and dedicated to your cause, it shows.

Another thing worth saying, keperihatinan does not man scoring political points. I just hate those who try to do that. You’ll end up looking stupid instead.