The maturity, or lack of it, of some Malaysians

How you do reconcile Malaysia with the United States and the United Kingdom? You don’t. Malaysia is different and unique in how it argues its ‘logic’. You just need to understand how the system works in Malaysia. In the United States and the United Kingdom, there is a method in its madness. In Malaysia, there is madness in its method.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Malaysia must retain the Internal Security Act (ISA) because it is needed to defend the special position of the Malays and Malay rights and privileges. This is the argument some use.

And in what way is the ISA able to defend the special position of the Malays and Malay rights and privileges?

Well, the ISA is a detention without trial law. And whomsoever questions the special position of the Malays or opposes Malay rights and special privileges then he or she can be detained without trial under the ISA.

So says the defenders of the ISA.

Is it a crime to question the special position of the Malays or oppose Malay rights and special privileges? Yes, it is, under the Sedition Act, says the defenders of the special position of the Malays and Malay rights and privileges.

Well, if questioning the special position of the Malays and Malay rights and privileges is a crime under the Sedition Act, then why not arrest and charge that person under the Sedition Act? Why detain that person without trial under the Internal Security Act? This would probably be the logical question you and I ask.

This has already been explained by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PERKASA’s de facto patron, Fidei Defensor or Défenseur de la Foi. And Dr Mahathir explained it as follows:

Not always can the government find the evidence of a crime having been committed. This means it is not always possible to get a conviction. Therefore, the ISA needs to be used whenever there is lack of evidence of a crime having been committed. Furthermore, the ISA is a preventive law. It is no use punishing someone only after a crime has been committed. The government needs to detain a person to prevent that person from committing a crime even while he or she may just be thinking of committing a crime.

That is what Dr Mahathir explained when he was still the prime minister of Malaysia. Now do you understand why we still need the ISA? And now do you understand why sometimes the government needs to use the ISA instead of charging that person in court and putting him/her on trial? And now do you understand what may be considered logic to those in government may be considered hogwash and utter stupidity to others? It’s all a matter of interpretation of facts.

Okay, let’s go to the next point.

In the United States, sometimes Americans vote Democratic Party. Sometimes they vote Republican Party. And sometimes they vote neither -- they vote for the fringe parties or independents. And sometimes they swing from one party to another in each election -- they vote Republican in one election and Democratic in another. But Americans who vote for one party instead of another are not regarded as traitors to their country whose citizenship should be withdrawn.

In the United Kingdom, some British vote Labour Party. Some vote for the Conservative Party. And some vote neither -- they vote Liberal Democrat or for one of the ‘fringe parties’ of Wales, Scotland or Ireland. And in the coming general election this weekend, those who voted Labour in the last election are going to vote for the ‘opposition’ Conservative this election, while some have said they are going to shun both and instead vote for the Liberal Democrats this time around. But none of these British voters who swing from one party to another are considered traitors to their country whose citizenship should be withdrawn.

In Malaysia, if you vote for Barisan Nasional you are considered a loyal Malaysian. If you vote for any party other than Barisan Nasional then you are a traitor to your country whose citizenship should be withdrawn. That is what the government supporters argue when they ask for the citizenship of the ‘traitors’ who voted opposition to be withdrawn.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, if members of the white community or Caucasians fight for the rights of the non-white community such as the African-Americans, Pakistanis, Indians, etc., these people are considered civil rights activists.

In Malaysia, if members of the Malay community fight for the rights of the Chinese or Indians, these people are considered traitors to their Malay race.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, those who vote for the party that is not the ruling party but is in the opposition are merely exercising their democratic right in voting for the party of their choice, as allowed and guaranteed by the constitution.

In Malaysia, those who vote for the party that is not the ruling party but is in the opposition are considered not grateful for what the government has done for them.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, the government is obligated to look after your welfare because you are a legal citizen of those countries and you pay tax. So, as citizens and taxpayers, the government is obligated to look after all its citizens, never mind which party they voted for in the elections.

In Malaysia, the government is obligated to look after the welfare of only those who vote for the ruling party and not those who vote for any other party even though you may be a legal citizen of the country and a taxpayer. And if you vote for any party other than the ruling party, then the government has a right to withdraw all aid even it was promised during the election campaign.

Yes, things are very different in Malaysia compared to in the United States and the United Kingdom, although all three countries are considered democratic countries that choose its government through an electoral process.

How you do reconcile Malaysia with the United States and the United Kingdom? You don’t. Malaysia is different and unique in how it argues its ‘logic’. You just need to understand how the system works in Malaysia. In the United States and the United Kingdom, there is a method in its madness. In Malaysia, there is madness in its method.