Malaysians should take seriously what the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in Pekan yesterday about making Malaysia the “best democracy in the world” and put him to the test.
At present, Malaysia is among the “worst democracy in the world” where citizens could be arrested for wearing yellow T-shirts and attract the full might of the law for supporting a peaceful rally in pursuit of a perfectly legitimate and democratic campaign for free and fair elections, including mass arrests and the firing of teargas and chemically-laced water cannons at unarmed and defenceless Malaysians.
A government seriously committed to the goal of becoming the “best democracy in the world” would not have arbitrarily and undemocratically banned Bersih 2.0 as an illegal organisation but would have engaged with all political parties and the civil society as to how Malaysia can transform itself from a “flawed democracy” into a “full-fledged democracy”.
This is why I said yesterday that the Barisan Nasional Government is not qualified to talk about wanting to be the “best democracy in the world” when it has not revoked its unjustified ban on Bersih 2.0 declaring it as an illegal organisation and dropped all charges against those arrested in connection with the Bersih 2.0 campaign.
For this reason, I welcome the dropping of the charges against the 30 activists of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), including the six who were detained earlier under the Emergency Ordinance (EO), in connection with their support of the July 9 Bersih 2.0 rally.
The question next is when the unreasonable and undemocratic ban on Bersih 2.0 will be revoked?
Najib’s claim that the government is able to make the “historic decision” to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) and review several other laws because the people had become more educated who appreciated a mature democracy and a legal system that could safeguard basic human rights has only begged the question about the independence, professionalism and integrity of the judiciary in the country.
Malaysia’s judiciary has a long way to go to recover its judicial professionalism, independence and integrity which it enjoyed before the series of executive assaults on the judiciary for over two decades – beginning with the 1988 judicial crisis resulting in the sacking of the Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas and two Supreme Court judges.
Malaysia cannot be said to be on the path to become the “best democracy in the world” without a total overhaul of undemocratic laws – including repressive legislation like the Universities and Universities Colleges Ac, Official Secrets Act and Sedition Act – and key institutions in the country as ensuring an independent, professional and incorruptible judiciary, Attorney-General’s Chambers, Police, Civil Service, Election Commission, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency, etc.
Najib should present a full blueprint of how he proposes to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world” with democratic laws and truly independent institutions when Parliament reconvenes on October 3.
This will be an acid test whether he is serious about the repeal of the ISA and other draconian laws to make Malaysia the “best democracy in the world”.
#1 by sheriff singh on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 2:45 pm
I can bet you he hasn’t a faintest idea of what his vision is all about. Its all cakap-cakap aje to give the people some small excitement. More of these rhetorics from now on. It all part of an image building process, nothing more. He has to do it as the wolves are at his doors.
#2 by Jeffrey on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 3:28 pm
Dropping charges against the 30 PSM activists including 6 who were detained earlier under EO is logical/necessary since PM has agreed to repeal EO, iy being nonsensical to continue detaining them when EO is now deemed “repressive” even by the PM and set for repeal. Likewise lifting the ban on Bersih. This is inextricably linked to release of the above detainees. They were detained by reason of their Bersih’s activities. The 3 reasons given by authorities for banning in first instance Bersih were (i) it sparked an atmosphere of unrest and worry among the multiracial community in the country; (ii) spreadied propaganda to incite the people to topple the government by distributing certain leaflets; and (iii)) its activities gave bad image to the country, which can threaten and undermine public order, security, economy and the country’s sovereignty and affect the harmony of the multiracial community – fundamentally the same 3 reasons for detaining the activists. So if the activists are now found not guilty of (i)(ii) and (iii) how can the continued ban on Bersih being justified being based on these same grounds?
#3 by DAP man on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 4:00 pm
Malaysian version / definition of best democracy:
1. Arrest anyone wearing yellow T shirts.
2. Black out offending lines from the Economist.
3. Summon newspaper editors to write what UMNO wants.
4. “I tolong you, You tolong I”.
5. Detain Teresa Kok and Sin Chew reporter under ISA.
6. Shackle university students’ thinking faculties.
#4 by tak tahan on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 4:07 pm
The repeal of NEP must also be included in the blue print by Najib otherwise how to become the best democracy.The minority groups has been discriminated because of NEP and we want equal right for every Malaysian.AJib,you better do it and we hope this time it won’t be your famous trademark again,ie flip-flop,broken promises and fake 1ThisThat.
#5 by Loh on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 4:15 pm
///4. The court case was initiated by the officers responsible, not by me. But supposing no court action was taken, how do I explain why Anwar had to be sacked because he was unsuitable to succeed me as Prime Minister?///– Mamakthir http://chedet.cc/blog/?p=598#more-598
Mamakthir is either confused or pretend to be so to fool the people. It was a political decision to ditch one’s opponent within a political party for whatever reasons, and he should face the reactions of other members. Indeed a person is made a leader of the party with the support of other members. It is only fair that a person’s standing in the party is decided by members in the party. By removing a political opponent using the law of the country, Mamakthir made use of the nation’s law for his political advantage. Thus he not only abused the law in the country to silence critics and he persecuted a person who could threaten his position as prime minister, most probably by trumped up charges. Yet he pretends to be innocent by asking how else could he have removed his opponent? Of course he chose to jail his opponent like killing a chick to teach the monkeys not to try to be funny.
#6 by yhsiew on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 5:57 pm
If Najib really wants to do a good job to make Malaysia a better democracy, he can study how some of the 26 full democracies progressed from partial democracies to full democracies. What problems they faced and how they overcame them. From their experience Najib can take note of which pitfalls Malaysia should avoid and which areas the country should focus on.
Learning from the experience of the full democracies will undoubtedly help Malaysia to shorten its time period to attain full democracy.
#7 by monsterball on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 7:47 pm
His vision is looking ..for better idea how to keep fooling Malaysians…and an escape route…..incase……
Everywhere I go….more and more Malaysians are eagerly waiting for 13th GE and vote for change.
#8 by Godfather on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 8:02 pm
Najib’s blueprint is, er, er, er……BLUE. That’s all he knows.
#9 by boh-liao on Monday, 19 September 2011 - 11:20 pm
Blue?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiZPmQSQpsk&feature=related
#10 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 - 7:46 am
I say its completely unimportant to know the details. Its obvious that this thing is obvious similar to his failed strategy of Public-Relation-led campaigns such as 1Msia, NEM etc. When a manager does that, after being told NOT to and REPEATEDLY mind you, its time to fire his ass..
#11 by k1980 on Tuesday, 20 September 2011 - 10:30 am
Malaysia the “best democracy in the world” ? I am going to nominate Jibby for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011…..The judges are going to die laughing at his nomination.
“Liberty consists of being able to do anything that does not harm others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every man or woman has no bounds other than those that guarantee other members of society the enjoyment of these same rights.”
Equality, on the other hand, was defined as–
The law “must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in its eyes, shall be equally eligible to all high offices, public positions and employments, according to their ability, and without other distinction than that of their virtues and talents.”
Jibby, Where is liberty? Where is equality? Where is fraternity?