Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!

Of Protests And Economic Sanctions

December 12, 2007

A reader left a comment on one of my previous posts, Malaysia Government Building a Police State? The Culture of Fear and Intimidation (2).
The post from November 9th was about Malaysia turning into a police state, and also how our government seeks to rule us by intimidating us and putting fear into our hearts.
One month on, after the crackdown on protests against the government, I think that Malaysia is going down a very dangerous road in stifling Malaysians rights to peacefully assemble, as enshrined in the constitution.

For purposes of discussion, I would like to respond to this reader’s comment in a blog post, as I feel that there are many people who might share the same views as this reader.

syikin said:
come on brother.. if the government doesn’t handle the protesters, highest possibility of Malaysia being 2nd Myanmar is very high. Already now the UN is butting their heads in to let make malaysia government allow freedom of speech to take place.

The last time the US intervene, Myanmar, Iraq, Iran and the never ending turmoil in Korea was created. It’s best not to let outsiders to meddle in the country’s internal affairs. And Roswell’s lips also must be taped to avoid nonsense sprouting out.

The government is quite lenient compared to its small neighboring country. The government is already under threat by HINDRAF when they boasted to make Malaysia into the next Sri Lanka.

Think it out rationally and practically. Do you really want to make Malaysia into a turmoil like Iraq, Iran and Myanmar? I’m not willing to risk the country’s security for some protestors. It can damage the precariously unbalanced worldwide market and Malaysia’s internal finance.

Which means, we might lose our jobs and our families will be badly affected.

Dear syikin,
As I see it, there are 3 differing views on the government’s crackdown on the protests. The first camp views the government’s heavy-handed actions as a violation of free speech and also a violation of OUR constitution. The second camp views the government’s actions as necessary to prevent the country from descending into chaos, thereby affecting their livelihood. The third camp are those who don’t really give a damn, and as long as they don’t kacau anyone, let no one kacau them.
I am from the first camp, while I am assuming that you are from the second camp. I state this clearly so that you will recognize that my statements will be biased towards the first camp, and I don’t claim to speak for all.

To start it off, do you mean this?
Because we don’t want UN to impose economic sanctions on Malaysia like Myanmar, we should stop protesting so that the government doesn’t need to crackdown on us?

Do you realize that is like saying:
Because we don’t want a judge to sentence us to jail, the women should stop dressing provocatively, so that we don’t have to molest them?
It sounds incredulous, doesn’t it? Maybe you should think of what you’re telling me.

Right now, the government has cracked down on protesters. You are in favor of this.
The 40,000 strong Bersih rally, the 30,000 strong Hindraf rally, the 100 strong Human Right’s Day march by the lawyers.
All these rallies were deemed a threat to ‘national security’. The government thinks they know that these rallies are riots in the making, that the people joining these rallies want to cause chaos and destruction in this country. You tell me to think it out rationally and practically, so I’m telling you to think it out rationally and practically:
If 40,000 people and 30,000 people were really going to riot and be a threat to national security, if they were really hell-bent on causing harm to anyone, don’t you think you would have seen more police who have died or been hurt? Were there any weapons found? Things like guns, parangs, machetes? None right? So what is the basis on cracking down on a peaceful protest? My point is, how are these protesters a threat to national security? Are they from the Communist Party of Malaya, using guerrilla tactics and killing innocent people?

Maybe you would argue that there are also alternative ways to make a point.

Maybe sign a petition and send it to the Prime Minister’s office? Do you think that is really going to work, especially when the petition is effectively telling the Prime Minister to implement steps that will reduce his stranglehold on this country?

Maybe we could wait for the elections and use our votes? Yes, I will do that. Even though I know the Elections Commission is very government-friendly. Even though 8000+ new voters have been shadily transferred into my Ipoh Timur constituency. Even though 60% of total votes in this country wins you 90% of seats in Parliament. Even though the voice of 7000 people in Putrajaya constituency is equal to the voice of 70,000 people in Ipoh Timur. I will still vote. But that doesn’t mean I have full confidence in the freedom and fairness of the elections process. Did you even know that the chairman of the Elections Commission has stated that no other regime is capable of running the country? This coming from a man who is supposed to be independent! The newspapers didn’t print it, but Malaysiakini did.

Let me ask you a question:
Say, you vote for BN in the coming elections. Then let’s say hypotethically, the government then immediately raises the price of petrol to RM5 per liter.
What will you do then? Submit a memorandum to the PM? Wait for the next elections? Or just sit back and suck it up, while the government continues to spend all your taxpayer’s money on mega projects, and mega bailouts like the Port Klang Free Zone. Do you not wonder where your money goes sometimes?

My point is, protesting against the government is not a bad thing. It gives the people a chance to voice out their concerns, because other avenues have been found to be ineffective. It tells the government that the people put them there, and they should work for the people, not against them.

So, finally, to answer your question: no, I do not want economic sanctions to be applied to this country. This will affect you, me, and everyone else.
However, instead of asking protesters to stop protesting, you should be the one asking the government should start allowing peaceful protests. The right to peacefully assemble is enshrined in the constitution of Malaysia. Read it up if you haven’t already.

Badawi said that public safety will prevail over public freedom. He will not hesitate to take the stiffest action on irresponsible people.

I leave you with the words of a much wiser man than that scumbag, as posted in maddruid.com:

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

— Benjamin Franklin (January 17 1706 – April 17 1790)

You Might Find These Interesting

• UMNO Respects Other Component Parties? April Fool’s Was Last Week
• US to Malaysian Government: Allow Peaceful Assembly
• Malaysia Government Building a Police State? The Culture of Fear and Intimidation
• Submitting Memorandums to the PM. Will it work?
• Let The Race Begin!

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