The year 2015 was, overall, unproductive for me – both professionally and personally.

I can give you no quick answer about my top highlight and low point of 2015. I simply can’t point out my most outstanding moment last year, and neither can I trace my biggest downer in 2015.

The best answer I can come up with is “I don’t know”. And I believe I know the reason why.

It has everything to do with the state of our country and how our leaders have ‘driven’ everything to a state of confusion in 2015: the political and financial scandals, the price hikes of everything and anything, racial tensions, the rise of social ills, the mis-education of children due to the unchecked flood of information from the Internet, and the degradation of the family institution.

The Low Yat incident, which was triggered by a theft case, had not only turned violent but racial as well.

Like any normal working mother willing to do almost anything for the best interest of her children (and other children as well), I have made quite a list of resolutions for 2016. This list includes being more kind to people from all walks of life, to work harder than ever before, and to live my life to the fullest – because I am optimistic that 2016 will be an optimistic year for my beloved country.

Even the Prime Minister is optimistic about 2016, or else he wouldn't have set the target of Malaysia developing into a safer and more prosperous society this year. And we know our Prime Minister has always been a man of his word.

As my first act of kindness, I lift my glass to toast Malaysia’s leaders, each and every one of them. And with my best wishes, I offer them three suggestions to take on their political journey in 2016, in hopes of shaping a better Malaysia:

1) Produce a stand-up comedy show
There seems to be a rise in the number of politicians who get kicks out of making nonsensical comments when responding to the plight of the rakyat. These ‘comedians’ should really have a platform of their own, with an open mic session or a stand up comedy show. And I don’t say this in jest. For at least the people would know that they are up for some meaningless, entertaining discussion and not have to bother feeling insulted.

2) Take a course on human communication or psychology
People, in general, just want to be heard. The problem is, most of our leaders only hear, but don’t really listen. For if they listened, they would understand. So I suggest making it mandatory for all our leaders to study human communication, or even psychology. Hopefully, this would help them develop some capacity for listening and understanding one basic human necessity: genuine, two-way communication.

3) Implement non race-based politics
Last, but certainly not least, let’s do away with race-based politics. For the only thing close to being ‘unified’ in Malaysia, is the broadband. Till then, I remain hopeful that one day all our political parties and our MPs will truly serve their constituents, each and every one of them, regardless of race or religion.

Finally, a quick shout-out to the media that keeps the people informed; let us carry out our duties responsibly and with integrity. Carefully examine everything we broadcast or publish, no matter how big or how small, if not for anything other than making things better for our nation and its people.

Here’s to a better Malaysia in 2016.

And Happy New Year, to one and all.

The views expressed here are strictly those of the author's and does not necessarily reflect Astro AWANI's.