The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is outdoing himself every day with taller and ever incredible claims – yesterday claiming that no one else but Barisan Nasional should take credit for the repeal of the Internal Security Act and other law reforms he announced in his Malaysia Day message and today reiterating that the repeal of the ISA is not due to pressure from any quarter but an effort to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.
Najib should stop the charade of claiming to want to be the “best democracy in the world” when what he should do is to immediately end Malaysia’s ranking as a “flawed democracy” before Malaysia could qualify to rank among the full democracies in the world.
The third edition of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) Democracy Index 2010 released early this year categorised Malaysia as a “flawed democracy” due to “a gradual erosion of civil liberties and political culture in the past year” with Malaysia’s aggregate score dropping 0.17 to 6.19 out of 10 from the previous index in 2008, and the overall country ranking falling from 68th to 71st out of 167 countries.
Twenty-six countries, headed by Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand,Australia, Finland, Switzerland, Canada and Netherlands in the top 10, were in the first category of 26 “Full democracies” – which includes two Asian countries, South Korea (20) and Japan (22).
Malaysia with the overall 71st ranking, is in the second category of “Flawed Democracies”, trailing behind South Africa (30), Chile (34), Taiwan (36), Israel (37), India (40), Timor-Leste (42), Jamaica (43), Panama (46), Brazil (47), Mexico (50), Argentina (51), Sri Lanka (55), Thailand (57), Indonesia (60) and Mongolia (64).
Who advised Najib that the repeal of the ISA (which is be replaced with two new laws raising concerns whether they would be ISA type of substitutes) and other reforms, Malaysia will catapult not only from the ranks of “Flawed Democracies” but to top the ranking of “Full Democracies” as to be the “best democracy in the world”?
The EIU’s Democracy Index is based on five categories: electoral process and pluralism; civil liberties; the functioning of government; political participation; and political culture.
The condition of having free and fair competitive elections, and satisfying related aspects of political freedom, is regarded as the sine quo non of all definitions of a democracy.
On “electoral process and pluralism”, Malaysia trails behind 88 other countries – 26 “Full Democracies” and 62 “Flawed Democracies”.
This is the most powerful vindication for the Bersih 2.0 peaceful rally for free and fair elections on July 9 and indictment of the high-handed and undemocratic repression of the Bersih 2.0 campaign by the Najib administration.
Before Najib prates about wanting to be the “best democracy in the world”, when is he going to revoke the unjustified government ban on Bersih 2.0 which declared it an illegal organisation and drop all charges against those arrested in connection with the Bersih 2.0 campaign?
Lim Kit Siang
#1 by yhsiew on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 5:48 pm
All lies from him. Everybody knows he is a slick person.
#2 by tak tahan on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 6:15 pm
Unqualified flip-flop PM.Number one liar.Semua cakap tak serupa bikin.PR and civil groups should corner him and make him walk the talk.We Rakyat meanwhile would be ready for Bersih3.0 signal.
#3 by pulau_sibu on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 6:45 pm
Why UMNO finally decided to get rid of ISA? That is to protect themselves. They think everyone would be like UMNO, going to use ISA when in power. So, in order not to be detained by ISA under coming Pakatan government, they decided to first abolish ISA… totally a self protection act
#4 by yhsiew on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 7:44 pm
#3 reference
The main reason is Najib’s popularity sank dramatically to 59% after Bersih 2.0. If Najib did nothing to shore up his popularity, BN would be in for a rough ride come GE13.
Najib’s repeal of the ISA was actually “forced reform” – possibly done against his will. Nevertheless, he had to take such action to save his sliding popularity.
#5 by boh-liao on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 7:58 pm
D “best democracy in d world” – wow! Pls 4give our low-standard n low IQ NR, who tot dat just announcing a few syiok-diri yet-2-b-done changes means world class democracy
Chin jia gon 1, d entire nation cries 4 him, MALUlah M’sia
#6 by boh-liao on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 8:04 pm
Watch d real Charade mah, baru syiok, best 1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charade_(1963_film)
#7 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 8:10 pm
Najib really is stupid. Period. After announcing the removal of ISA, instead of revealing details, he spouts one grand statement after another. THIS one is so dreamy it just screams PR exercise.
THIS is not how you do anything hard on policy like removing the ISA. There are real issue of the removing the ISA, its not so simple but instead of dealing with issues and talking details of a real plan and idea. All he does is spout ADVERTISMENT like a shampoo commercial.
Forget it I say. Nothing will change.
#8 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 9:13 pm
///Everybody knows he is a slick person///-#1 by yhsiew.
Yeah right, if you use EIU Democracy Index 2010, he will turn round to say that our flawed democracy ranking at 71 was because EIU had not in 1910 taken into account his 2011 slew of reforms repealing ISA, EO and PPPA. Didn’t the Economist just said “well done”? He’d say, “wait and see, our ranking in 2011 would soar. Although we’re flawed we will however improve buckling world wide trend of democracy in retreat (esp in USA, UK & france) as observed by EIU.” We Malaysians are closer to be able adjudge more realistically whether democracy here is improving or regressing.
#9 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 9:20 pm
Is EIU methodology realistic? Curiously in case of EIU, we’re overall better ranking than Hong Kong and Singapore at ranking 80 and 82 respectively though the 2 countries are better in governance than us suggesting that democratic ranking by EIU standards do not necessarily co-relate to governance standards… Another curiousity is by EIU ranking, a little known African country Botswana at 35, Colombia (notorious for drug trade, guerrilla insurgencies & hyperinflation) and Peru (a country of military coups and torture of rebel or criminal suspects, including women, is still common in military and police bases) at 62 are both ahead of us at 71. What gives? EIU judged us a notch better at 71 than (say) Freedom House of narrower criteria, at 80 for 2010. According EIU ‘happy’ country Bhutan at 102 is many times worse than us whilst according to Freedom house Bhutan at 71 is better than us at 80!
#10 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 9:50 pm
All these international rankings should be viewed with a pinch of salt. Locals are in better vantage position to judge and compare based on close felt experience. Generally govt elites react more draconically and less democratically based on their assessment of actual or perceived threats to either the security of their countries/societies (as in UK USA or France) or security of their own power/ruling position. In our case it got worse after 308 tsunami when UMNO elites feel the security of their power position threatened. That’s the time attacks on places of worship, cow head threats, bogeyman attacks based on plethora of police reports against anyone imputed to have disrespected royalty, religion etc, Utusan’s provocative writings intensified as never before…
Najib’s initiatives in withdrawing draconian legislations, IF followed through, may next year earn us a better EIU ranking but it won’t reflect realities that the country would more likely get less and less democratic from its present baseline if minorities are increasingly used as bogeyman by the ruling elites and their supporters (feeling inscure of their position) to drum and shore up support based on race and religion in both election at national or party levels…
#11 by asia on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 9:56 pm
They are treason giving foreigner citizenship and vote rights
Betray
Even abolish ISA cant save
#12 by tak tahan on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 10:17 pm
Haiyah..why so cheem and long winded when simple good gesture can easily explain if one nation is moving into the best state of democracy or not?Just repeal all the out-dated ISA,EO and all those whatnot acts or provisions which infringe human rights and freedom.Period.Then Najib should and fat Ross together could shout and claim credibilty for his bold reform otherwise go and chiak sai la!
#13 by Loh on Sunday, 18 September 2011 - 11:44 pm
///The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is outdoing himself every day with taller and ever incredible claims – yesterday claiming that no one else but Barisan Nasional should take credit for the repeal of the Internal Security Act and other law reforms he announced in his Malaysia Day message and today reiterating that the repeal of the ISA is not due to pressure from any quarter but an effort to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.///–Kit
Najib should look into the mirror and ask himself whether he believes in true democracy rather than boasting that he intends to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.
Malaysia ranks 71 in the EIU Democracy Index in 2010, and is categorized a flawed democracy. That means Malaysia is not yet a democracy. To be the best democracy, Malaysia has to overtake 70 other democracies in the world. Najib should be reminded that the majority of the population in the country, who were placed in the special position as requiring assistance or risk disappearing under the sun, were considered to require 15 years of Article 153 protection to be fully matured to be competitive on equal terms, are now, 54 years later, said to still require. Clearly the majority of the population is not yet ready to be fully participating in true democracies. The votes of this population can still be bought by the government. Perhaps Najib intends to define the best democracies as the type where the government was able to condition the people into voting them back in power despite non-governance. Najib can also be proud to announce in the United Nations general assembly that UMNO government has the greatest ability to divide the population in the country, and to gerrymander the constituencies that government in Malaysia follows dynastic succession with certainly in election results. Other democracies cannot claim to be better than Malaysia because election outcomes are not known beforehand.
Najib has the uncanny talent to create new definitions for peculiar events.
#14 by Jeffrey on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 12:10 am
Don’t know about his reforms, whether he has will to see it through, but in terms of personal public relations (PR) Najib is indefatigable. Besides the many walkabouts in China Town (Petaling Street in KL) and Penang and smaller places (Gelugor and Jelutong) and active interaction through his blog and the social websites Facebook and Twitter, many of the the younger generation were surprised that he took time off on 16th sep night to attend the Astro’s 15th Anniversary “Suara Kami” concert at Merdeka Stadium in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebration. He was probably just about the oldest person there, cheering like youngsters, taking photographs etc. 99% of youngsters audience did not expect him to join their interests to watch performance of local Yuna, Hujan,The Typewriter, Psycho Unit, Soul Krazy) and international artists (Chinmayi, from India, Hins Cheung from Hong Kong and Rania, from South Korea). The Rania girls were all wearing shorts with plenty of aurat displayed. Looks like Jib is really working very hard to be personally popular at all levels and generations to try keep his job.
#15 by cskok8 on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 12:17 am
Aiyah, not happy with these biased westerners ranking, just create our own loh. BTW I am shocked that we are ranked lower than Timor-Leste.
#16 by Loh on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 1:56 am
Ibrahim Ali of Perkasa notoriety said that if the laws against terrorism are unlike ISA, Perkasa world oppose it. That raises interesting questions.
Is Perkasa opposing it in the parliament? Perkasa is not UMNO, and Ibrahim Ali has only one vote in parliament, would Najib be sacred once again of that one vote and would flip-flop again? Najib can say that since Ibrahim Ali is not matured enough to accept changes, ISA stays. Najib would then be seen to be afraid of Ibrahim Ali after having declared that he was not afraid of Anwar. May be Najib was not afraid of Ibrahim Ali alone, he was afraid of Mamakthir who is Ibrahim Ali’s puppet master.
Muhyiddin having claimed that he was surprised at Najib’s announcement regarding ISA repeat but praised Najib all the same declared that there are other laws to act against the opposition parties. Clearly he confirms that ISA and other laws such as Official Secret Act are meant to prevent opposition parties from gaining legitimate support from voters to form the next government. Najib declared that he tried to make Malaysia the best democracy in the world by ensuring continuation of government despite general elections. He does it by putting credible opposition leaders behind bar using all other laws in the country through other government institutions.
Najib says that he respect human rights. Does he also respect personal sexual inclinations? If so, when would sodomy cease to be a crime when other countries allow same sex marriage? More importantly why does the government keep the law when the law has seldom been invoked, and once it is done, it is against the same person twice? Certainly Najib’s claimed that one particular person has a right to justice cannot be tenable when that person was not raped, but claimed to be consenting partner. Why was Najib willing to appear stupid in making that statement if it was not for the purpose of protecting his larger interest than his reputation? Clearly Najib cares more about removing a person whom he thought was a threat to his political survival. Yet we heard Najib claim that he was not afraid of Anwar Ibrahim.
#17 by boh-liao on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 2:01 am
We pray very hard dat none of d plenty aurat-displaying international artists suffered d same fate as AS (woe betide them shld pink lips cast his lusty eyes on them, immigration records gone n then C4ed), don’t play play, man
#18 by boh-liao on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 2:09 am
Ya lor, best democracy means can hv gay n lesbian clubs in universities, like in most uni in d 1st world lor; can also hv he-he n she-she marriages, OK 1; sodomy then is natural 1
#19 by monsterball on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 10:14 am
From the worst to the best democratic country?
From being imatured Malaysians that needed tear gas bombs and water cannon by the police to teach Malaysians how to behave to become overnight great citizens?
When come such another PM?
NEVER!!!