Political maturity and civility

I really don’t know what is running through the minds of the DAP, PKR and PAS leaders. Are they really that stupid? Are they really that politically un-savvy? Or is it they lack the political maturity and civility so important in ensuring that political leaders become good leaders?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Seriously, I really don’t know whether I want to write anything today. I also don’t know whether I should write my normal cheong hei article or just deliver a quick and sharp jab to the jugular. And even more so, I don’t know whether I want to write about Pakatan Rakyat and the present internal crisis it appears to be facing. Should I maybe instead just log off and go read a book?

I have been whacked and at times despised for treating my enemies with respect. When it was finally confirmed that Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is really going into retirement after all, I phoned the then ‘First Lady’, Jeanne Danker, and wished her well. I said I would rather Pak Lah not resign but instead stay on. We may be ‘political enemies’ but I do not like the idea of Pak Lah being forced out of office in such an undignified manner -- meaning by the people he trusted. I also told Jeanne if there is anything I can do for her please do not hesitate to let me know -- not that she needs my help considering I can’t even help my own son who is in jail.

And remember, I was the one who was whacking Pak Lah to kingdom come since the day he took office as Prime Minister on 1 November 2003. And also remember, it was during Pak Lah’s tenure that I was detained under the Internal Security Act in September 2008. Yet I felt sorry for the old man although he would rather see me die in prison.

When Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad retired as Prime Minister on 31 October 2003, I stopped whacking him like I had been doing since 1998. In 2005, I went to Tun’s house for tea and hosted him to a dialogue session that same year at the Kelab Century Paradise. I even kissed his hand in the proper custom and tradition of how a Malay should conduct himself when he has an audience with someone much senior in age -- which disgusted many people. And I paid homage to Tun on Hari Raya -- except last year when I spent my Hari Raya in Kamunting.

And Mahathir too detained me under the Internal Security Act back in 2001. Yet I saw fit to offer him the respect an old man and ex-Prime Minister should be given.

I know many are puzzled with regards to my ‘weird’ conduct. Some even accuse me of selling out and of not being consistent in my stand. One day enemy, another day friend, next day enemy again, and later friend again, they would say.

It is not that I am being wishy-washy. I know who my friends are and who my enemies are. But my friends and enemies come in many categories. Some may be personal friends, some business friends, and others friends of the same cause (rakan seperjuang; meaning comrades-in-arms). And the same goes for my enemies as well.

I know how to treat both my friends and enemies. But I can be enemies with someone in one category and yet still a friend in another. For example, Ibrahim Ali is a friend, a very good friend, although I do not agree with his political moves. I would be the first to whack him on political grounds but I go to his house for dinner and Hari Raya. In fact, I quite like Ibrahim Ali although I can’t stand his politics.

Malaysians still have a long way to go when it comes to political maturity and civility. Seriously, if Najib or Rosmah were to invite me over for tea I would be delighted to say yes. But I would still oppose Najib and Rosmah in the political arena. But once Najib is out of office what is there to whack him for any longer? We may disagree as far as our politics are concerned. But that does not mean I have to hate the guy. In fact, and I have told his brother so, I quite like Najib. I only disagree with what he is doing.

That, I suppose, is one of my many faults -- and I agree I do have many. But is my ‘crime’ of being too ‘soft’ with my enemies really that bad? It could be worse. There are many who not only do not know how to show maturity and civility to their enemies, they also do not know how to do so with their friends. Look at what is going on in Pakatan Rakyat. You would imagine that DAP, PKR and PAS are enemies rather then friends.

Why can’t the three Pakatan Rakyat ‘friends’ sit down and thrash out all the issues? Why the need to publicly whack each other through the government-owned mainstream media? When the government-owned mainstream media twists and spins the issue you scream and shout. You accuse the government-owned mainstream media of distorting the issues with intent to create a rift in the opposition ranks. But that is what they do. It is their job to run down the opposition. And it is you who is giving them the ammunition to do so.

I really don’t know what more to say on this issue. I can say a lot and I am sure many of you know I have the ability to go on and on. But today, somehow, words seem to escape me. I am, for once, speechless. I really don’t know what is running through the minds of the DAP, PKR and PAS leaders. Are they really that stupid? Are they really that politically un-savvy? Or is it they lack the political maturity and civility so important in ensuring that political leaders become good leaders?

The DAP, PKR and PAS leaders no longer appear able to distinguish between friends and enemies. They want to sit down and talk to their enemies while they whack their friends. And in doing so they are making a mess of Pakatan Rakyat. And for me it is too painful to continue talking about the matter. So I might as well just stop here and say no more lest I say something that we may all regret later.