Letter: The new world order is emerging too fast

LETTER | Leaders and governments the world over, especially in the Third World nations, be better warned that the times are changing and changing fast.

Communication technology is infusing a new immunity into communities all across the globe.

In the wake of this global pandemic of the corona family virus, Covid-19, the networked society is pushing further the borders of connectivity - with or without fake news.

Even a 200 over years dynasty - the current monarch in Thailand - seems unable to fence itself from the emerging world.

Borrowing a leaf from Irish author and philosopher Charles Handy, every chaotic situation gives birth to a revolution of mindsets.

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered layers of restlessness the world over.

Hence, while it is no surprise, it must also serve as a clarion call to all leaders and governments over what is transpiring in neighbouring Thailand.

Communication technology will give no place to hide transgressions.

Puangthong Pawakapan, a lecturer in international relations at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, said: “The more the state tries to suppress it, the more it has gone viral. Also, the way they wrote the posts on Twitter, it is difficult for the authorities to pinpoint that they were discussing the monarchy. For example, they shared a poster of the Korean film ‘The Kingdom’ and said the hashtag is about the film. Of course, readers know the true meaning of it. I got the sense among the young tweeters that they thought they could get away with it.”

Hence, as we navigate through this Covid-19 pandemic, all governments and leaders and rulers are coming under the sweeping networked society's radar.

As humanity struggles with health concerns and food shortages and social restrains, how political parties, leaders, governments and Rulers conduct themselves in private and public cannot escape from the stinging weapons of the Internet Kingdom.

No amount of laws or any overdose of threats of action can clip, curtail nor stall the emotions registered, shared and viralised in this emerging new world.

It is a new and challenging order unfolding upon all governments on planet Earth and Malaysia cannot be an exception.

As we battle the Covid-19 while remaining apprehensive of acute food shortage and an imminent global recession like never before, the caution is that transparency and accountability are rising to new notches.

If you are not up to the mark, you will succumb under the reins of the new world order that connect almost instantaneously, just like how the virus spread so fast across continents.

In this regard, our own leaders and politicians better wake up. The times are different. And it's changing too fast.

State fascism and autocracy have been pronounced dead. Corruption and power-grabbing by ill-conceived means and methods will collapse faster than a stack of cards.

We are already seeing how political leaders and ministers are being punished for their antics ranging from donning PPE suits to frolicking in a swimming pool and to stamping their face on relief handouts in the wake of the virus outbreak.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.