Letters
by Loh Meng Kow
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the BERSIH gathering and petition were “tantamount to dragging the institution of the monarchy, and the king, into politics”.
PM AAB is underrating the wisdom of the King. When he makes his routine audience with the King before Cabinet meetings, what has PM AAB taken it to be? Does he consider it a chore having to brief the King on the affairs of the state, and the government plans of action? Does PM consider it a formality only, and that the King’s role was to spend time listening to what the PM had to say as though the PM was talking to a tape recorder, with no playback. The government was elected by only the majority of the population, but government actions affect all nationals who are equal subjects of the King. While the PM may be a PM for his family, or a sector of the population, the King has the welfare of the people of Malaysia at heart. Though the King does not directly implement policies, the King could offer his wisdom which the PM might not follow. We certainly have a thinking King.
The population is certain that the prime minister have not informed the King on the ways UMNO and his subordinate parties in BN rigged general elections. The people wanted to inform His Majesty the ways BN manipulated general election processes, and made suggestions on how the country could be saved from ruins. It is certainly the decision of the King to consider the course of action. To prejudge that the King would be dragged into politics is to belittle the position of His Majesty. The King is above party politics, and he is the symbol of the nation to whom all citizens pledge loyalty. The King could choose to advise the PM on the proper course of actions for the benefits of the nation. He could also invoke the constitutional authority invested in him as King. All such actions do not amount to involving in party politics.
The memorandum could be submitted in many channels. BERSIH informed the public that a memorandum would be submitted to the King with the advance information about the salient points to be included in the memorandum. BERSIH further informed the public that at the appointed hour, representatives of BERSH would proceed to the Palace to submit the memorandum, and the public could take the opportunity to indicate their agreement by their presence. Since there was no curfew declared in Kuala Lumpur on 10 November 2007, people are free to move around, wearing attire of any colour of their choice. FRU has obstructed traffics and misused its power to manhandle the public who moved peacefully, forcing them to divert from their destination.
The warning by PM AAB against the people coming to town on Saturday, and arbitrarily declaring the movement of people as illegal had indirectly given directive to the Police Force to use force illegally on the people. That action alone shows that the IGP was incapable to acting independently or utilizing his authorities appropriately.
DPM Najib said that the small number of people that turned up to support the memorandum paled in comparison to what the government, or was it UMNO, could organize. We know UMNO has the funds to organize gigantic picnic, or even government funds to advance party interest. The people who were in KL on Saturday came on their own, despite obstruction placed by the police. They did not go for free meals, like the open house organized by BN parties. They pay to tell BN enough is enough!