Today marks the 30th anniversary of Operation Lalang which brought about the darkest days for democracy and human rights.
There was not only the arrest of 106 Malaysians, including opposition leaders – 16 of whom were from the DAP, including MPs and State Assemblymen – trade unionists, social activists, environmentalists, Chinese educationists and religious workers, there was also the wholesale attacks on press freedom with the closure of three newspapers, the assault on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and the series of undemocratic legislation which caused a tectonic shift in the Malaysian political landscape, subordinating the legislative and judicial branches to the Executive.
Operation Lalang in 1987 brought the fragile plant of Malaysian democracy to the brink of ruin and disaster.
But Malaysian resilience, the spirit and love for freedom, justice and the nation, did not wilt or capitulate but sprang back not only to recover lost ground and to achieve new democratic breakthroughs as in the 13th General Election when 52% of popular vote sought the first change of national government but the people were denied the fruits of democratic victory because of undemocratic gerrymandering of parliamentary constituencies.
Democracy in Malaysia is facing another crisis, superadded on to which is the international infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy.
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy of the world”, but after more than eight years of his premiership, Malaysia falls far short of the conditions to be a “normal democracy” let alone being the “world’s best democracy”.
Only a change of government at the national level, for the first time in 60 years, can Malaysians fully restore democracy, the rule of law, human rights and save Malaysia from the interntional infamy and ignominy of a global kleptocracy.
On the 30th Anniversary of Ops Lalang mass arrests, I call on Malaysians to unite to save democracy, the rule of law, human rights and to eradicate corruption and kleptocracy.
#1 by good coolie on Saturday, 28 October 2017 - 12:18 pm
If we achieve a two-party system, consider that a gift from heaven. Whichever party that is in government will have to be clean and effective; otherwise the opposition party will pick at the government and expose inefficiency and corruption.
In Kelantan, Penang and Selangor, the once arrogant Czar sits in the opposition looking for any scent of corruption in the State Government, even though the most it could sniff out was a Bungalow bought in Jual Murah (Penang), a finding of unfeasability regarding an under-water tunnel, and an unfortunate, accidental landslide. I think Barisan (in effect, UMNO), will be very good in the opposition benches.
#2 by good coolie on Tuesday, 31 October 2017 - 4:51 pm
Najib is capable of launching an ‘Operations Kallang’ or “Operations Ballang” if UMNO led Barisan loses the elections. Don’t forget that N is a worthy pupil of the Mahaguru. In fact N surpasses the master at skulduggery.