A year defined by RM2.6 billion, 1MDB

In the blink of an eye and a flurry of headlines, we are days away from ushering in the year 2016.

Over the past month, local and international news portals have been publishing summaries of 2015 and reflections on a year gone by.

For Malaysia, two issues have dominated and defined what this year has been about – the debt-laden 1MDB, and the rather remarkable staying power of our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, in spite of being embroiled in a RM2.6 billion "donation" scandal.

Travel bans, the sacking of deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the ironic turnaround of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from dictator to nation’s saviour, and the mammoth Bersih 4 rally, are but a few of the spin-off issues that have all made for a very busy year for Malaysia, news-wise.

But 2015 was also the year for other debilitating issues which have been denied the rightful media and public attention because of the glare from the scandals surrounding Najib and 1MDB.

Poisoned in our homes

As the two issues captured media attention and conversations of most Malaysians, we were slowly being poisoned in our backyards by what environmentalists believe is a major health disaster caused by the boom of bauxite mining in Kuantan.

The potential release of harmful metals and low-level radiation into the environment, as a result of uncontrolled and unmonitored mining activities, are believed to be responsible for an increase in medical problems for people living close to mining sites.

A report on water samples taken from the Pengorak river, near bauxite mining areas, have revealed high traces of aluminium, arsenic, mercury and manganese, and the river has been rendered unfit for drinking, irrigation, swimming or fishing.

In other words, the river is dead.

The complaints and petitions against the rate and speed of the mining boom in Kuantan are not new, but have received very little attention from the rest of Malaysia, going by how little public outrage it has garnered.

Squeezing of the urban poor

The introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) in April this year was hailed by tax experts and many economists as an already long-overdue move by the government to expand our coffers.

Critics have questioned its implementation on the basis that the problem for Malaysia has never really been a lack of revenue, but rather the mismanagement of our monies.

Regardless, a 6% GST was implemented in April and while the tax system has surely helped narrow our government deficit for 2016, the low- and middle-income Malaysians have felt a squeeze in their pockets and a blow to their lifestyles like never before.

In spite of what the government claims, the GST implementation has led to a sharp increase in the prices for everything from rice to underwear.

Coupled with a cutback on government subsidies for petrol, sugar and electricity and hike in toll rates and railway services, it has meant harder times for many Malaysians this year, and potentially even more bleak times ahead.

1MDB and Najib

Thanks to the debt-ridden 1MDB and Najib’s unapologetic acceptance of RM2.6 billion into his personal bank accounts, the rest of the world has also come to see Malaysia’s 2015 as a year of scandals and controversy.

And because these two issues have yet to be resolved and parties involved have not been called to answer charges of mismanagement and even corruption, it looks likely that they will continue to be major newsmakers well into 2016.

Of course, 2015 was not all about doom and gloom. There were accounts of everyday heroes, and stories that remind us why we love this nation so much.

Not many will look back at this year and remember the outpouring of support from Malaysians of all walks of life for the east coast flood victims, and there was sadly hardly any attention garnered by the triumphant victory of Sabahan paralympic sprinter Felecia Mikat in Singapore.

Just like the issues that should warrant pressing national attention, the kindness, warmth and goodness of 2015 too were overshadowed by the scandals, controversies and the intense politicking that have become a blemish in our country’s history.

As Malaysians prepare to face the New Year, many of us do so with a lingering despair that 2016, too, will be the year scandal hijacked the nation. – December 27, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.