You Have Been Challenged, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi!

by M. Bakri Musa

“Saya pantang dicabar!” (lit: “I am allergic to challenges;” fig. “Don’t challenge me!”) declared Prime Minister Abdullah in an uncharacteristically bold assertion to the media on the eve of BERSIH’s massive street demonstrations in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday, November 10, 2007.

You have now been challenged, Mr. Prime Minister, openly and publicly by your own citizens, and you have emerged impotent! That huge street rally may be illegal to you, but the King had consented to receiving its leaders and their petition. In effect, the King too has challenged you, Abdullah! In case you did not get the message, you had just been served a very public royal rebuff.

I too, challenge you, Abdullah! Instead of arresting those ordinary citizen demonstrators, I dare you to arrest their leaders, Anwar Ibrahim, Hadi Awang, Lim Kit Siang, and Raja Petra Kamarudin. Those ordinary folks were merely exercising their basic rights as citizens of a democracy: the right to free assembly and to petition the authorities.

As per the refrain of the Ghostbusters theme song, “Who are you gonna call now!” Mr. Prime Minister? Your fabulous Fourth Floor boys? Your son-in-law who is using you as his “protection?” Imagine being considered as such by your son-in-law!

Khairy Jamaluddin obviously had not heard of your “demonstrations are not part of our Malay culture” bit. Either that or Khairy had blissfully ignored it as when he led that pathetic street demonstration against your official guest, US State Secretary Rice.

In a speech earlier in the week, Khairy demanded that the authorities “come down hard” on the BERSIH demonstrators. While there were some water cannons and tear gas canisters unloaded, the demonstrations went ahead smoothly and successfully to the palace. The police even released most of those arrested. Your son-in-law challenged you to be tough on the demonstrators, and you came out lembik (limp).

Dim Wit Understanding of Democracy

In denying the BERSIH demonstrators their police permit, Abdullah demonstrated only a dim wit understanding of democracy, akin to that held by Saddam Hussein and Pervez Musharraf. Both were voted in with over 98 percent of the votes, and they took that to mean they could ride roughshod over their country and citizens. Never mind that their elections were anything but fair and free.

Democracy means rule of the people, but it does not mean mob rule legitimized through the ballot box. Electoral victory is not a license for tyranny of the majority. As Fareed Zakaria wrote so eloquently in his book, The Future of Freedom, democracy is more than just elections. Even if elections were fair and free (far from the reality in Malaysia, hence the demonstrations!), obsession with or sole reliance on them would threaten the other far more important aspects like the rule of law, private property rights, separation of powers, and the right to free speech and to assemble freely.

Elections regular or otherwise, honest or rigged, do not guarantee these; only independent and impartial judges could. An independent judiciary is thus the hallmark as well as the guarantor of democracy and freedom, certainly much more than universal adult suffrage.

As for the state of the Malaysian judiciary, the Lingam tapes painfully showed what a sorry mess it is in. Even if BERSIH were completely successful with its petition and the Elections Commission completely overhauled, there is still the monumental task of cleaning up the judiciary and restoring its long lost integrity.

These points are elementary and obvious to all, save the dim witted.

Time to Deliver The Next Lesson

There is another feature of the dim witted; they are slow learners. It is unlikely for them to have learned a lesson from Bersih’s successful rally, or if they did it may not have stuck.

Since the only lesson that would register on their thick skulls is election returns, my friend Din Merican had started a campaign to register voters. The next step would be to ensure that they will vote against the Barisan coalition.

It would encourage voters to do that if there were to be substantial and effective co-ordination among the opposition parties to ensure that there would only be a one-on-one battle with the Barisan in every constituency. The objective here is rather modest, to inflict enough damage to the Barisan coalition such that it would precipitate internal squabbling especially within UMNO to trigger its implosion.

Selecting the best candidate, meaning one who would most likely defeat the Barisan’s nominee, involves studying the demographics of the constituency as well as the Barisan’s candidate. Since race is never far from voters’ considerations, the best avenue to neutralize this crucial factor would be to field candidates of the same race as the Barisan’s nominees. This was the clear lesson from the recent Ijok by-elections. Thus the opposition must be ready to change candidates on nomination day depending on who would represent Barisan.

For example, if Barisan were to re-nominate the current MCA candidate but at the last minute the seat were to go to UMNO, then the opposition must be ready to substitute a Malay candidate. If that party (like DAP for instance) cannot come up with a Malay nominee, then it should be willing to give the slot to a Malay from one of the other parties.

BERSIH’s victory should embolden the citizens to impart to the Barisan government the other equally important lesson: cleaning out the rot in the judiciary. No less than a full Royal Commission with full powers to subpoena witnesses and grant them immunity should be the objective. As Fareed Zakaria noted, an impartial and independent judiciary is the best guarantor of our freedoms and democracy. We must keep drumming these lessons lest they forget easily.

We must keep mencabar (challenging) Abdullah until he comes to his senses and realizes the obvious: the job of being a Prime Minister of our great nation is way above his head. If he does not, others either within or outside his party should be emboldened enough to tell him so.

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This entry was posted on Monday, 12 November 2007, 2:25 pm and is filed under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Bakri Musa, Election, Human Rights. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

#1 by limkamput on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 2:09 am

Yes, they have been arrogantly corrupt, blatantly abusing power and hopelessly incompetent. Yes, they hate to be challenged. But to me the incumbents have always enjoyed enormous power and abundant resources at their disposal. They could be utterly unpopular, corrupt and self-conceited and yet they will remain in power for a long long time. We just have to look at Myanmar and North Korea today and apartheid South Africa of the past.

What we are seeing today in Malaysia is not the contest for ideals and the best policy approach for this beautiful country. It is essentially a contest for power. This is manifested through the alignment and realignment of politicians from one camp to another depending on whether they are in power or out of power, in favour or out of favour. So if we keep insisting with the arguments of putting the national interest above self, being democratic and being fair, I think it will fall on deaf ears for sure on the incumbents. It is not that those in power today do not know what constitute good governance, fair play, honesty and integrity. It is about seeking power and sustaining power once acquired.

Hence, if we just struggle to change personalities in the government without a substantive plan to change, strengthen and safeguard our institutions of government, I am afraid we will just end up replacing one inept regime with another. The issue of concern to me and many others is how do we ensure the new regime we put in power will not renege as we have seen in numerous countries. While fighting against the abusive power of the day, inevitably ideals are raised sky high and promises made to change for the better. It is my humble observation that all these are hard to come by unless individuas in government are circumscribed by institutions of checks and balance. In this regard, I am of the view that we donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t install people with power first and then hopefully wishing that checks and balance will come in later. The old maxim, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is true today as it was thousands of year ago. Good governments must start from day one. What is the plan of the opposition, NGOs and the people in general in this regard?

Quote

#2 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 2:24 am

“So please grow up” says the wise one!

Ready when you are, old chap!

That is when you are able to see the difference between the discovery of the United States and the discovery of the American continent, ‘300′ years ago and when you are ready to stop taking to task posters who in your ‘humble’ opinion are talking cock – and that you’re the only one who is not.

#3 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 2:33 am

“It is not that those in power today do not know what constitute good governance, fair play, honesty and integrity. It is about seeking power and sustaining power once acquired.”

Duh!!

Jeffrey, why does anyone feel the need to have an argument with himself?

#4 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 2:38 am

“The old maxim, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely is true today as it was thousands of year ago.” Limkamput

Thanks for telling us! We never knew that before.

#5 by akarmalaysian on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 2:53 am

i dun see any wrongs for the people in exposing the governments wrong doings.but thr is something really wrong whn the people really expressed their views of discontentment in such a way thru rallies by the people and worse still by the turn out of the lawyers marching down the streets in these two different ocassions.i think the prime minister of today is the worst compared to the previous ones.i had very high hopes of this pm turning malaysia into a glorified nation but today….i really see him as the most useless pm of all lot.with his cryonies and suckers….and all the lies he himself only knws…god only knws how many times he has bitten his own tongue while eating the food the people has been paying for him.i think he seems to forget all abt that.”dun work for me….work with me”…so that i can show u how good corruption works with my administration…i guess thats what ur trying to tell us mr pm.

#6 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 3:02 am

Frankly, Limkaput

Reading your article (since you’re not addressing anyone in particular I assume it is) if you were a final year student studying political science I’d give you a C- on a good day (D meaning ‘conditional’ failure).

I don’t mean to insult you. Sorry. I hope it helps.

#7 by limkamput on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 3:18 am

My observation of you notoriously commenting out of context is right on target. I think other readers will judge your puny your brain, not me. With regard to your comment on USA and American continent, it is again a manifestation of your inability to handle some generality. For you, everything must be stated specific enough for a first grader to understand. If you are man enough, debate me like a gentleman. Please donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t resort to inciting others to go against me or soliciting support from another equally puny brain.

#8 by limkamput on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 3:41 am

Everybody seems to be a master here and everybody seems wanting to fail others the first opportunity he gets. Has it ever occurred to you that I have set a trap for you? Have you ever thought why I gave you a comment you deserve to be followed by an Ã¢â‚¬Å“articleÃ¢â‚¬Â? I want to see how you react and so far my experiment is a complete success. In case you have forgotten, you have praised me of my similar ideas before. So as we talked about lack of integrity, monkeys, nuts and banana on our PM, I want you to take a mirror and examine yourself very closely. My article is precisely meant for people having similar mentality like you if ever they come into power. What difference would they make? Is it worth the sacrifice of many who have to brave the rain and suffer water cannon and pepper spray?

#9 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 5:45 am

So now you’re calling by way of implication all 40,000 protesters morons! You’re calling Anwar a moron. You’re calling Lim Guan Eng a moron and of course Kit here! He too is a moron.

We are all guilty, according to you, of talking cock.

You already called Jeffrey stupid. You called me a moron. They are incomplete without the usual expletives. You may want to re-consider.

#10 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 5:52 am

“I too, challenge you, Abdullah!” Bakri Musa

Mr. Prime Minister, Bakri has dropped the gauntlet! Are you going to pick it up??

#11 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 6:12 am

“Since the only lesson that would register on their thick skulls is election returns, my friend Din Merican had started a campaign to register voters. ” Bakri Musa

It’s a losing battle folks!

First the Election Commission has long been a tool of the political party running the government. We know that the Commission has been drawing and re-drawing boundaries of constituencies to divide the opposition minded electorate.

Secondly, in many cases when UMNO lost the Malay vote and along with it the constituency, they would summon Zaki Tun Azmi, the recently appointed federal court judge (without even being an appeals court judge) to have the election results declared null and void for ‘offences’ committed under the Electoral Offences Act 1954. Zaki has always been a ‘resourceful’ lawyer. He always coached his witnesses. As a lawyer he knew he should not.

Now this guy sits on the Federal Court. What chance do we have?

#12 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 6:28 am

Back to basics.

Let’s not sidetrack from the core issues, the pressing demands of the day. If we lose focus & the electrons get deflected, our energies dissipate with the tide at a time when we should ride with its crest.

Speaking of PM AAB, I have heard many UMNO members speak derisively of his abilities and his Hadharism; their contempt is undisguised behind his back. It’s not just the Opposition that wants his scalp; many of those fawning, flattering UMNO-ristas who surround him wish him dead but don’t know how. In front of PM, they bow & kiss his hands (and would have licked his fingers if allowed) just to get the crumbs (read “contracts”) that might be stuck in between those grubby fingers.The problem with the UMNO-system & Bodohland is that the PM is all-powerful & wreak havoc at the drop of a hat. But when the PM is also the Finance Minister & Home Minister, then he is an Omnipotent demi-God all rolled in one. Even though the demi-god is one as lifeless and as stupid as AAB, people will still worship him the way animists worship “blocks, stones, worse than senseless things”.

On second thoughts, I think TDM ought to be thanked for such a dope PM. The Machiavellian TDM had intended that this dope be a ‘caretaker’ PM for a brief season. But as fate would have it, never before in Malaysian history has the BN been so vulnerable.

It is obvious GE days are close. We must not lose the momentum we have gained. Let’s all give our support & energies for the Yellow wave and trust the tide will clean Malaysia once & for all. I am all for the Royal Commission for the Judiciary, one more for the ACA and one more for the Police and one more for the excesses and abuses of the Cabinet and accounatbility from the days of TDM and Tun Daim.

#13 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 6:38 am

Save your blasts for the nazi-istic Nazri. This guy goes bonkers with blasts that goes off like an air-horn! He speaks nonsesense all the time; to be fair, all the time when he weighs in on some heavyweight issues in the press!

Opposition are ‘pondans’ – Nazri’s tirade
Nov 12, 07 6:23pm
The minister goes ballistic over the mammoth weekend rally. Apart from calling the opposition ‘wimps’, he also says that the ‘wires in their heads are severed’.

#14 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 6:54 am

Hello PM Pak Lah, neiither the cowl nor the habit maketh the monk.

It’s nice to be a PM but just as the hood does not make the monk, neither would a mere title endear a PM to a nation. It’s crunch time – 4 years is more than enough to prove a person’s worthlessness as a PM. In fact the first 100 days was sufficient evidence of your weak and bumbling style. But the people had been graceful and forgiving. There comes a time when God would not even tolerate a monk in a false cowl. I think the time of reckoning has arrived. If you know what is good for the nation (not necessarily for you!), then I would suggest, Mr PM, Sir, that you kindly call for a GE quickly and also announce your resignation and desire not to re-contest. God bless you.

#15 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 7:25 am

“In front of PM, they bow & kiss his hands (and would have licked his fingers if allowed) just to get the crumbs (read Ã¢â‚¬Å“contractsÃ¢â‚¬Â) that might be stuck in between those grubby fingers.” ENDANGERED HORNBILL

I cannot agree more with you, Hornbill.

Not only would they lick his fingers but they would say, “It’s finger lickin’ good!”

I don’t know anything though about those “grubs stuck in between those grubby fingers” but I feel you’re about to start another firestorm in Parliament – the first was when you likened the Hon. Minister of Information to a monkey going bananas with his nuts, or something in that order!

#16 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 7:28 am

“There comes a time when God would not even tolerate a monk in a false cowl. I think the time of reckoning has arrived. ” ENDANGERED HORNBILL

I’d be careful if I were you because you are likely to be accused of ‘talking cock’ on this blog!

#17 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 7:42 am

HORNBILL “There comes a time when God would not even tolerate a monk…”

Leave God alone! He is already has His hands busy in Iraq, Afghanistan and now Pakistan.

Pakistan may soon have odd couples ruling it. There are now contenders to power i.e. Bhutto and General Ashfak! You bet we’re going to have lots of fun with these two names.

I don’t understand why news anchors on Malaysian TV insist on mis-pronouncing Benazir Bhutto’s name.

#18 by ENDANGERED HORNBILL on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 8:11 am

undergrad2 Says:

November 13th, 2007 at 07: 42.37
HORNBILL Ã¢â‚¬Å“There comes a time when God would not even tolerate a monkÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Ã¢â‚¬Â

Yeah, there is no shortage of sinners who keep God busy. God is busy but His hands are not full!

This PM is making God work overtime! You know the way God works. He gives you a long rope & sinners think it fun to make lassoes out of them. What happens next….? Everybody knows where lassoes go….. wrapped around bullshitters!

My question is: Does this PM know?

I think the Malaysian lasso is almost ready. Are the bullshitters ready?

#19 by undergrad2 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 8:33 am

Yep. To know more about the “lasso” go here http://images.google.com/images?q=lasso&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=images&ct=title

You bet our PM knows how to lasso! The last time he visited President Bush was at his ranch. There, I was made to understand, Bush taught him how to lass – and lasso he did!

#20 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 8:43 am

If AAB got any chutzpah, he would have a public debate with Anwar on Bersih and whether their action is appropriate. Hell if he has any smart he would get Najib to do it for him. Obviously they would get creamed.

In fact, this is something Anwar should ask for – a public debate on the election from either one of them or anyone..

The PM should realize the dearth of real abilities in entire UMNO if they cannot find anyone to have an open debate with Anwar.

#21 by limkamput on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 9:35 am

Undergrad2,
Since you asked for it, I am calling you and those with similar mentality like you morons. Please donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t be smug. You are no Anwar, Kit or Guan Eng. You are a spineless talk cock king, that is what you are!

#22 by The_Dude on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 10:42 am

As the chinese saying goes:
Paper cannot cover the fire.
Not all Malaysians are ignorant. You can try all you want to block the truth from the TV or the papers or even the net. But the truth will find its way.

#23 by optimuz on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 12:29 pm

November 12th, 2007 at 06: 09.33
Can somebody tell me why the majority of demonstrators were from one race? Very few Indians. Is it a case of Ã¢â‚¬Å“where the wind blows??Ã¢â‚¬Â

Undergrad2,

You left this comment in one of the previous threads..care to explain your reasons for stating this? And, this would not be the first time you’ve had something to say about the indians – I recall a particularly nasty one you made sometime back.

At least if you come out and say that you are racist, I can respect that…but don’t hide behind ‘intelligent’ comments whilst trying to look cultured and then let your true colors show what you are really made of.

#24 by limkamput on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 12:42 pm

Optimuz, I, LIMKAMPUT, absolutely agreed with you. Undergrad2 is an insignificant piece of nothing. He tried to be smug, but is a hallow sophistication. He tried to be cultured and refined, but he is vulgar and filthy. He tried to be wise, but his comments are often out of context. He tried to be a liberal, but his comments are often tainted with bigotry. He tried to demonstrate fair play, but he is most manipulative and treacherous. He tried to be an intellectual, but he is actually intellectually corrupt.

#25 by k1980 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 1:12 pm

Bush taught him how to lass – and lasso he did! He lassoed jean

#26 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 4:20 pm

Limkamput,

Optimuz is seeking clarification on a specific comments made by Undergrad2, there’s no reason for you to seize the opportunity to launch into a personal tirade on another poster in manner you did. Posters here are interested in comments and discussion in respect to what YB Kit raised in the thread – and not have the bandwith here expended on what you think of another poster or vice versa what others think of you.

#27 by DAP118 on Tuesday, 13 November 2007 - 6:18 pm

GOOD JOB FOR DAP

#28 by DarkHorse on Wednesday, 14 November 2007 - 6:01 am

To limkamput

Why don’t you just buzz off! We don’t need scumbags like you around here.

#29 by lafuzi on Thursday, 15 November 2007 - 2:46 pm

For those who can read mandarin you can link to this blog

lafuzi.blogspot.com for more articles.

NG.9

NG. 10

P/S : Ã¤Â¹Â°Ã£â‚¬Å Ã¤Â¸ÂÃ¨Æ’Â½Ã¥Å½Â»Ã§Å¡â€ž.Ã©â€ºâ€ Ã¤Â¼Å¡Ã£â‚¬â€¹DVDÃ©â‚¬ÂMV+NGÃ§â€°â€¡Ã¦Â®ÂµÃ¥Å Â Ã©â€¢Â¿Ã§â€°Ë†
MV 1— http://youtube.com/watch?v=-D37wYFD3ro
MV 2— http://youtube.com/watch?v=mNYVNj-tPeA

Ã¦â€ºÂ´Ã¥Â¤Å¡Ã¦â€“â€¡Ã§Â«Â Ã¤ÂºÅ½ lafuzi.blogspot.com

#30 by ktteokt on Friday, 16 November 2007 - 8:57 am

Is he saying he is “absolute”?

You Have Been Challenged, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi!

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