The Prime Minister, Najib Abdul Razak, in a recent speech – as reported –
planned to ‘quash any threat bent on disrupting public order’. If Najib
has the political will to do so then this must be good news for
Malaysians. As they say charity begins at home, so Najib must have the
political drive to start the ball rolling now.
Disruption in politics can best be defined as a situation characterised
by ‘provocation’ – mental or physical – that can cause unrest or public
disorder. Provocation comes in many forms. And a responsible government
must have a strong political spirit to halt all forms of threats that
can disrupt public order. The formula is rather simple: stop the
provocation and there will be no unrest or public disorder in the
country.
It hurts the people more
First
and foremost, there must be a political determination to get Perkasa – a
rabble-rouser NGO – and those of the same political faith with this
organisation to behave. Holding wild demonstrations for political
reasons have disturbed the peace-loving people living in states won by
the Opposition.
Conducting a mock funeral for the Penang Chief Minister in front of his
home is another blatant provocation. Alas, in some cases police inaction
has caused matters to exacerbate.
Najib should go after the sponsors who are paying the Mat Rempit to
cause trouble in states held by the Oppositions as well as at gatherings
held by the Opposition and NGOs.
Allowing an UMNO-sponsored ceramah to be held nearby an Opposition
ceramah is deliberate provocation. This is a desperate move by those
with vested interests to see unrest and public disorder. In some past
incidences flinging eggs, stones and water bottles at the crowds with
some yobs pelting stones and splashing paint on vehicles of owners who
attended Opposition ceramah are all elements that can disrupt public
order.
Burger stalls were set up in front of Ambiga's private home to offer her
beef burgers when she is a Brahmin and a devote Hindu-vegetarian. Then
the ex-army veterans conducted their despicable butt exercises in front
of her home. All these are barefaced provocation that has upset the
Indian community.
One reason for such threats to public order go unabated is because the
authorities in charge of maintaining public order are perceived as to
have done nothing material to stop the mobsters from performing their
stunts. When there is no civil will to stop threats of this nature it
will hurt the minds of the people more.
Lack of political resolve
The media has not stopped from distorting news and facts to demonise the
Opposition. The showing of sexually explicit stuff through the media to
mock the Opposition has not gone down well among the masses. Using
helpless religious figures to favour an insensible political decision
made by UMNO leaders has irked the people more.
The UMNO-led government has not stopped all these deleterious and
deceitful campaigns to deprecate the people who seek social justice.
The government itself must be clean and not corrupt. A government that
promotes a fair policy that favours the people will invite less
provocation. If a government is seen to be corrupt and practises unfair
policies it will unquestionably peeve the people and thus invite
protests.
When there is a genuine protest for a rightful cause, Najib has no right
to quash such a public dissent. In many countries, a deceitful
government has invited a lot of disruption to public order especially
when the government is corrupt, inept and the people are being
oppressed.
For instance, stop giving ‘bribes’ disguised as aids to the people to
win votes in elections. As this involves taxpayers’ money and it will
naturally incur the wrath of the people.
Government has something to hide
In some countries, peaceful rallies have been organised to tick off the
government of their bad policies. Failing to wheel clamp such protests
the authorities have known to be high-handed. They provoke peaceful
protesters to cause chaos and deceptively use this opportunity to tell
the people that the protesters are hostile and violent.
Peaceful gatherings are allowed in any democracy. Stop provoking these
peaceful protesters as they may have some valid reasons why they go to
the streets. When the people seek a clean electoral roll and fair
elections it is the role of the government not to turn them away.
Refusing them their noble requests would only show that the government
has something to hide from the people.
There
has to be a fair and free election before mandate is given to any
political party to rule the country. It should be democratically-elected
leaders through a clean electoral process where any deceitful means to
gain power such using tainted electoral rolls should not be entertained.
When peaceful rallies are deliberately provoked there is bound to be
some reactions from the people. If this is what is desired by the
authorities then blame not the people who are provoked.
Act firmly without compromise
A government of the people must ensure that the rights of all Malaysians
as stipulated in the constitution are given recognition. The rights of
all – Indigenous and non-indigenous – must be sincerely attended to.
The majority race and the minority races have their own rights as
Malaysians.
Deserting the interests of the minorities at the expense of the majority is akin to provoking the feelings of the former.
Thus Najib should act firmly without compromise to quash any threat bent
on disrupting public order such provocations, corruption and the
deceitful approach to politics.
Not only must the rights of the majority but also the minority be
attended to cause harmony in society for all Malaysians to live
peacefully and preserve democracy.
The welfare and prosperity of the people must be the highest goal of the
government of the people and for the people, and not politicians.
Politicians cannot be seen enriching themselves and their cronies when
given power. They must be seen to put the people’s interests before
others.
The foundation of democracy from the Islamic point of views is not based
on the superiority of the majority and the putting aside of the
minority. Neither should there be superiority of race in Islam.
Against racial discrimination
Islam
views on racism whether upon open or hidden as an evil aspect of life
which has to be eradicated. Differences in colour, tribes, races, or
traditions are not to be excuses for unjust behaviour or treatment of
the people. Islam is against racial discrimination:
"O Mankind, we created you from a single pair of a male and a female,
and made you in to tribes and nations so that you may know each other
(not that you despise each other). Verily, the most honoured of you in
the sight of Allah is he who is most righteous of you." (49:13)
There cannot be a concept of race superiority or inferiority in any
democracy. All Malaysians must be treated fairly as they have their
rights as citizens of the country. They have all contributed to the
success of the country.
No imaginary groups in this country are planning to destroy any other
groups or race. No sane Malaysian would want to uphold the law of the
jungle in this country. They merely want the people’s voice to be heard
in a democratic process, as when politicians are unfair and the media do
lopsided reporting the opposing groups have no other choice than to
detest.
A civilised manner
The
detesters may talk loud but are not wily and definitely not violent.
They seek a trustworthy government and they strive for truthfulness and
not deceitfulness in politics that only favour a few self-seeking
individuals rather than the masses.
The people must not reject the course of action of those who seek
electoral justice and fair elections. These groups should not be
rejected by the people. The people instead should reject politicians who
disguise themselves as saviours of the masses but are corrupt and keep
on amassing wealth for themselves and their cronies.
Malaysians, for that matter, are generally peace-loving people and the
detesters are there to defend the institutions and systems that are just
and abhor what is unjust. This is to benefit national life more. There
will be no doubts and distrust of the people when they see justice in
all spheres of their life.
The people’s aim is for long-term interests. They are here not to
destroy what has been achieved but further improve what has been
defective. They seek changes but not in a warped or a selfish way.
Healthy debates
A
healthy national dialogue should always be encouraged and the people
are now eager to listen to a debate between Najib and the Opposition
leader. Debates work in western democracy as this a civilised manner
for the people to decide the best party leader that should lead them.
This is where differences of opinion could be channelled prolifically to
the people and the country. And towards the end let the people decide
who they would like to lead the country.
To deprive the people of healthy debates between leaders is an utmost disgrace in a democracy.
It is only when the media news is skewed and politicians are
self-seeking would the people go to the streets to protest to seek
justice. This too can be a peaceful ‘language’ of engagement when some
politicians are just adamant and are not willing to change.
Nothing is disjointed or irrational when protests are done peacefully.
Seeking justice in a peaceful manner cannot be branded as dirty. To seek
a better option for the country does mean that the people are adapting
to dirty ways to achieve their political objectives.
Deserve to be criticised
Leaders must acknowledge that whatever successes in the country are
attributed to people of all races in the country – the majority and the
minority groups. As such, all people must be respected for their
contributions and desire to choose a government of their choice.
The electoral process should pave the way for a two-party system to
exist in the country for a better democracy. The country would be a
better place with a two-party system where no power monopoly is allowed
to dictate the people quirkily. Only then would the nation not be
bogged down by endless problems and conflicts inflicted by a single
dominant political entity.
The peace-loving people who protest for a noble cause will never be
deterred and would instead stay motivated, resolute and more spirited to
tread the path of rectitude in seeking a two-party system for the
county.
Whichever party rules, it must be seen that the nub of the matter is
that the government will be fair to all and continue to uphold
democracy, trust and promises made.
Perceived as duplicitous
It only shows the desperation of the situation facing Najib and UMNO-BN.
Threatening to quash dissent while ignoring the coordinated violence
perpetrated by some hired brutes is not going to favour the government
of the day.
Najib has the onus to quash all corruption, cronyism, racism, electoral
fraud, flouting of laws and the constitution, police ruthlessness and
violence at Opposition ceramah for the people to cherish democracy in
the country. But he does not seem to have the political stamina to do
so.
Malaysia Chronicle
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