In the course of my interactions with others and in the social media, I have come across the following observations even among educated and “savvy” Malaysians.
- The head of government, i.e. the numero uno in government, can do no wrong and we cannot second guess his/her motives or intentions;
- We are a democracy because the government is elected periodically. In between elections we can do nothing, even if the roof has caved in;
- Political activism like the work carried out by Bersih is a waste of time. Five Bersih demonstrations have occurred, nothing has changed;
- The police can stop, arrest, and convict you of any offence and mete out punishment as they please.
Maybe some of these feelings are born out personal observations and experience. If we are denied our fundamental rights long enough, the reality may just sink in.
But as Malaysians, no matter our circumstances, we must always cling on to our democratic rights. No matter how much they have stifled us, we must not stop questioning and demanding answers from those responsible. If we lose sight of this, they win and we lose by default.
The head of a government is not an emperor of a bygone era. The government the prime minister leads is the government based on the Constitution and the rule of law. The prime minister is accountable for all actions and omissions in between elections. The president of the USA is subjected to impeachment if he has done something wrong. He can’t argue he is elected directly by the people and therefore no censure can be imposed on him other than through another election.
If democracy is just holding elections, why then is there a need to have various institutions of government, separation of power, checks and balances, and rule of law?
Bersih is a bona fide organisation. Fighting for free and fair elections and clean government is not a crime. If we doubt the “authenticity” and the effectiveness of Bersih, it means the psywar being staged has begun to work. If one can say that Bersih has achieved nothing for Malaysia’s democracy, as accused by certain quarters, one can also say the same thing of other institutions of government such as the Parliament, the Judiciary, the Human Rights Commission, and the Election Commission.
The police department is an enforcement agency. It cannot be the investigator, prosecutor and the judge at the same time. Police actions can only be based on applicable laws. It can’t promulgate laws or convict and sentence wrongdoers. Only the court of law can convict an offender and mete out the punishment accordingly. If our experience with the police is different, that is not real policing at work.
There is a term – “lose by default” – which means failure to act; or failure due to our inaction or neglect. The onslaught on democracy and basic human rights is everywhere, from Poland, Russia to even the USA, perpetrated largely by the privileged groups and the powers that be. If we do nothing, we lose by default. If we tolerate and accept abuse or irresponsible actions, we lose by default again.
TK Chua is an FMT reader.
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