Time for politics to have principles: Zaid

Penampang: Former Senator and Minister of Law, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, said that while Barisan Nasional's (BN) strength lay "in its power, the police, Election Commission and control of the media, that of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lay in consultation, brotherhood and fraternity."

Saying this was what separates the ruling party from the opposition, he claimed "they (BN) have lost the ability to sit down and discuss power-sharing and the problems of the people."

He said the BN today is not the same as the BN of those days.

"It takes time to regain people's trust. Once it's gone, it takes a long time to be restored. It is so important for PR not to belittle people's trust in us.

You have to work hard to keep up with the people's expectations," he said in his talk at Malam Bersama Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

The talk was in conjunction with the launch of "Lest We Forget" authored by political activist Dr Chong Eng Leong. Several hundred supporters and members of the public attended the event with the theme "Beyond Communal Party Towards a Two-Party System" organised by the office of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Vice-President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan at Restoran Atlantis here.

Zaid said it was time to bring some principles into politics. "When people join a struggle or a party, it must be one of principles. It is about time we bring some," he said, and recalled his own resignation as Minister of Law.

"They told me we have to reform. To change, we have to make progress and review the law. And suddenly, you detain a photographer, a blogger (Raja Petra) and a Member of Parliament.

"I was the Minister-in-charge of the Law and I didn't even know about the arrests. I said, 'I can't face the people. What do I tell them'?"

On former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad belittling his decision, Zaid said when a man rules with an iron fist, he forgets what principles are all about.

Zaid said the present economic situation made it more challenging how to help the people in difficult times.

He also hit out at the media for portraying that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) is not strong and divided.

Reacting to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's recent statement that PR would pecah (break up) in one year, Zaid said the BN always underestimated the Opposition because they have been in power for so many years.

While acknowledging the problems facing PR in terms of policies, he attributed this to being a new partnership and first-timers with no previous experience in working together and administering the respective states.

"Pakatan leaders (DAP, PAS and Keadilan) are aware. If you go against the wishes of the rakyat, you also will go. This is the power of the rakyat."

Zaid said he made it very clear to leaders in Keadilan "that our perjuangan (struggle) should not be confined to only one kelompok (group)."

He cautioned that no one community can view itself as being greater than the other if nation-building is to proceed smoothly.

"Gone are the days when we had to take care of our own communal group.

"If you are a Kadazan, and you believe that your interests are better and superior than any other community in Sabah, it will destroy Sabah.

"If the Chinese feel they are smarter or better, it will destroy this country too. Similarly, if the Malays, Muslims, start talking about Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy)..."

Calling on Malaysians to be a new people, Zaid said we are all richer by being Malaysians and that our strength lies in our diversity.

"We cannot be just Kadazans, we cannot be just Chinese; we have to be Malaysians. I am richer as a Malaysian than just a Melayu from Kelantan.

We work together and learn from each other.

"We are multi-racial, multi-religious, we cannot change. There are 100 ethnic groups in the country with different religions and different rights.

That's why in the Constitution, we are all equal as citizens - one person, one vote."

He also dismissed claims that Pakatan Rakyat had opposed the Malay Rulers saying it was propaganda. "They say we are pengkhianat (traitor). What the hell have we done? We were just explaining the constitutional position of Perak.

"It's our opinion but this does not mean we don't respect the Sultan. And we never did anything to 'hina' (humiliate) Islam."

"I want Malays to succeed but we don't have to resort to chauvinistic or racialist thinking. That is dangerous." He argued that for Malays to go up, they have to be open, educated and be mixing around with other communities.

"You have to work togetherÉco-operation. This country was built by many groups of people. Negara cemerlang, terbilang, gemilang, this is all our contribution, all the communities.

"Don't think that only we (Malays) have given sumbangan (contribution)," he said to applause.

Also present were Dr Jeffrey, PKR Supreme Council member Christina Liew, PKR Sabah deputy chairpersons Datuk Kong Hong Ming and Datuk John Ghani, State Treasurer Dr Roland Chia, Organising Chairperson Daniel John Jambun and political activist Dr Chong Eng Leong.

DE
23/08/09

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