Plain meaning of ‘independent’


by Clive Kessler
Malaysiakini
May 10, 2012

Excuse me, but as a puzzled outside observer I just do not understand.

Or perhaps it is the case that others do not understand the “plain meaning” of everyday words?

Yesterday Hanif Omar was named to head an “independent” commission of investigation into the events of April 28.

Yet several days ago he joined forces, and combined his voice, with two other former inspectors-general of police to call for action against the leaders of the Bersih movement for mounting a “coup attempt”.

“Independent”?

My amazement here is not directed against Hanif who has always sought to project and prove himself a dutiful, and ever available, servant of the national interest as he sees it.

But I am flabbergasted at the obtuseness of those who have bestowed this serious responsibility upon him, of those who might think that making such an appointment is in any way “seemly” or appropriate.

Governments that behave unwisely, inappropriately, arbitrarily and that show a complete absence of good sense and clear-headedness, even an inability to see and think “straight” and honestly, destroy their own credibility.

And, often, themselves with it.

Where this kind of disingenuous obtuseness meets cunning and outright, brazen shamelessness the insistent will of the powerful is often, and often quite dubiously, at work.

It is not simply a question here of “doing the right thing”, of acting justly and being seen to be doing so.

Even in their own best interests, surely the authorities can do better than this.

  1. #1 by Bigjoe on Friday, 11 May 2012 - 7:38 am

    Everyone knows that such panels was never going to be independent and unbias – they are EXCUSE GIVING i.e., the very core of UMNO’s m.o.

    The issue is how much they will get away with it. The idea really is to come up with these things to diffuse criticism against Najib & UMNO. Make enough of these things AND the message of PR gets diffused and confused. People will start get confused why PR complains are so many, varied and complicated. In the end of reality shows and one-liners, complicated message will lose.

    Its time PR regroup and resend a simple message to the voters why Najib & Co has to go – they just giving excuses, they have NOT fixed anything wrong even if they admit what they have done was wrong. Najib claims of achievement of ‘tranformation’ whether its this panel or ETP, ISA, corruption, crime, schools etc are all largely falsehood. They are simply fake resumes no employer i.e., the Malaysian public should fall for.

  2. #2 by monsterball on Friday, 11 May 2012 - 8:57 am

    Waste of time to talk about Hanif…a show dog to another show dog.
    When you have Hasan Ali still shouting against Christians…right now…another show dog performing.
    I presume Ibrahim Ali is resting.
    His show is the best.
    Treat all as Comedians and ignore them.
    Let the PR Politicians keep exposing.
    That’s what they are elected for…and doing such a good job…the UMNO b show dogs are indeed…low class.

  3. #3 by monsterball on Friday, 11 May 2012 - 9:00 am

    The bunch of show dogs appointed by Mahathir’s show dog are not important at all.
    Lets see how many votes can these show dogs get for Najib.

  4. #4 by Winston on Friday, 11 May 2012 - 9:29 am

    Mr Kessler, nowadays, crimes are almost non existent in this country, if you believe what is reported or rather NOT reported in the MSM controlled by this government.
    Everything is bent towards their will!
    Soon, they will classify this country as the safest in the world, that is, if they have not already done so!
    And the laws in this country are their laws and they have five and a half decades to have them tilted in their favour.
    That’s why all these decades, the opposition have been confined by such “laws”.
    That’s why UMNO/BN always insisted that the opposition play by the “laws”.
    It doesn’t mean that they are very law abiding!
    No, absolutely not!
    It’s just that the “laws” are passed to favour them in everything that they do!!!
    That’s why UMNO/BN always turns out to be the winner because the dice is loaded!!

  5. #5 by Cinapek on Saturday, 12 May 2012 - 12:54 am

    Malaysia have their own strange and twisted way of interpreting the norms of good governance.

    Not so long ago when our former bald headed foreign minister was interviewed on BBC’s Hardtalk, he was cornered by the interviewer on the racially discriminatory policies in Malaysia. He could not answer the interviewer and was reduced to mumbling “We do things our way” by way of explaining the unexplainable.

    The same minister, when he became Home Minister, also detained a Sin Chew reporter under the ISA “for her own safety” when she reported on the racist remarks of the UMNO members in Penang.

    So, Mr Kessler, are you clear now why you see these illogical thinking at the top level in UMNO?

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