JULY 7 — Events over the past week have brought to question whether
Malaysians can trust the Barisan Nasional (BN) government? And if not,
can Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has made great strides to
reclaim the coalition’s popularity, regain the people’s trust?
Let’s look at some of the events this week that has likely undermined
not only his support but also his 1 Malaysia. People First. Performance
Now.
Najib’s offer of a stadium for rally instead of electoral reforms
movement Bersih marching through town pressing for free and fair
elections.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin had interceded
and got Bersih to agree to the prime minister’s suggestion which was
carried by the media, including the Umno-linked pro-government TV3
television station.
What has happened since then? The prime minister has passed the
entire matter to the police, saying they have a final say whether the
rally can be held in a stadium. Meanwhile, the Cabinet met yesterday and
decided that Bersih cannot use any stadium in Kuala Lumpur because it
is an outlawed organisation and might cause a nuisance.
Add to that is the police applying and getting an order to restrict
91 individuals, including Bersih chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, from
entering Kuala Lumpur this Saturday.
Are any of these actions done in good faith? Can we trust the word of
a government especially when it comes out of the mouth of the prime
minister? Or has he been economical with the truth and never wanted to
find a solution to Bersih’s demands.
And what about his endorsement of a silat group as the country’s
third line of defence just days after the group threatened to go to war
against those who rally on July 9? While Najib has every right to praise
anyone he desires, it leaves much to be desired that he is endorsing a
group that is prepared to go to war inside the country.
“I believe if there are evil enemies who want to attack the country
from without and within, ‘anak-anak lincah’ will rise to fight them,”
said Najib in a fiery speech last night.
“But tonight, we do not gather to fight,” added the prime minister,
saying “We do not gather to wield the keris (dagger). We gather for the
loyalty and unity of our country,” and “We do not fight the non-Malays.
We embrace them as fellow citizens.”
Yes, the prime minister is right. We are all Malaysians but to
endorse a group that is prepared to wage war against fellow citizens
over philosophical differences is definitely not what Malaysians should
expect from a national leader.
Can Malaysians trust Putrajaya and its current occupants? It is a
question that can only be answered in the next general elections. Just
like the success of Bersih will be reflected when everyone agrees that
the next general elections is free and fair.
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