Let public decide on Hamid’s racially charged views, says ex-Bar Council chief

Retired chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad must be allowed to express his opinion, although his provocative views on race relations may be seen as destructive by many, former Bar Council chairman Ragunath Kesavan said.

Similar democratic space, he pointed out should also be accorded to the group of 25 prominent Malays (G25), comprising retired civil servants and influential leaders, who were on a different page from Abdul Hamid.

"I am extremely upset with the stand taken by Abdul Hamid, who once occupied the highest position in the judiciary," Ragunath said, referring to Abdul Hamid's role as the chief justice for nine months, from 2007 to 2008.

"We (council) supported his elevation to be the top judge then because he gave the impression of a man of integrity," he said.

In September, Hamid drew criticism from leaders within the ruling coalition and the opposition for claiming that only the Malays had fought for the country’s independence.

Comparing Hamid with the G25, who in an open letter on December 8 had asked for a rational dialogue on the position of Islam and Islamic law in a constitutional democracy, Ragunath said the public now can hear diverse views that has emerged after the 2008 general elections which saw the ruling Barisan Nasional losing its two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

"They (G25) too have the right to speak out and influence public opinion. Let the people evaluate," he added.

"As such, we can also hear the views of prominent people who do not put on their thinking cap," he said, referring to Hamid's latest call, asking political arch rivals Umno and PAS to unite to check the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, from further consolidating political power.

Hamid, in a letter published in Utusan Malaysia yesterday, stated that PAS should emulate Aceh’s move when it cooperated with Jakarta after the northern Sumatran province was hit by a tsunami in 2006.

“10 years ago, Aceh, which was fighting for an autonomous Islamic state, was hit by a tsunami that resulted in thousands of deaths.

"Now Kelantan is hit by floods. Due to the tsunami, Aceh and the Indonesian government agreed to co-exist. What about the Malaysian and Kelantan governments?" he reportedly asked.

Hamid said both the federal and Kelantan governments should repent and start prioritising on bigger issues such as religion and race, instead of party interests.

The PAS-Umno unity government talk have surfaced again after Kelantan and seven other states were hit by severe floods last week which claimed the lives of 27 people and caused estimated damages of about RM1 billion on properties and infrastructure.

Ragunath said Hamid's views were skewed as the Chinese could never become a political force in this country as the Malays and Muslims formed the majority in Malaysia.

"Moreover, the overwhelming number of non-Malays have accepted the role of the rulers, the position of Islam and the special privileges accorded to the Malays," he said.

Ragunath said more voters, including the Malays were drifting away from Umno-led BN because it lacked good governance such as transparency, accountability, equality and justice.

He said it must also be remembered that it was the non-Malays who returned the BN government to power with a strong two-thirds majority in 1999 even after the sacking of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"The Malays then voted for the opposition, especially PAS and PKR. However, since the 2008 election, voters have moved away from the BN because it lacked good governance." he added. – January 4, 2015.

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