‘People, reclaim your rights’

KUALA LUMPUR: These days it would be grossly derogatory to lump former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah together with the word “Umno”.

The Kelantan prince is a man of insight with a deep understanding of “what is right for the people”.

But in today’s Umno, he is seen as of “little consequence” with many among the current crop of Umno leaders wishing that the “old man will just disappear” into oblivion.

But Razaleigh, who is better known as Ku Li, is not a fly that one can swat and kill.

He is a master politician of the old school – a leader with impeccable integrity, with one ear on the ground and clarity in thought and speech.

The astute politician has from time to time surfaced to issue thought-provoking messages and arresting calls.

His latest and perhaps timely message urging Malaysians to reclaim their country, came during a talk at the Taiping New Club recently

In the light of how a peaceful Bersih 2.0 march “Walk for Democracy” planned for July 9 has been “branded” as an anti-Barisan Nasional demonstration by a highly rattled, power-hungry Umno, it seems appropriate to re-visit pockets of Ku Li’s speech on democracy.

Razaleigh said when Tunku Abdul Rahman, the country’s first prime minister, proclaimed Malaysia’s Independence in 1957, his unforgettable words were “Malaysia is a parliamentary democracy with an independent judiciary”.

Tunku, said Razaleigh, had a grand vision of hope and happy people in spite of the looming economic problems the nation had to resolve.

“After that dawn of independence, there was a search of how we could achieve this happy society,
fulfilling the needs and aspirations of all Malaysians which was to continue for the generations to come.
“Tunku symbolised the concept and conviction of generational responsibility in his vision.

“Tunku and his generation were dedicated leaders, not for power but (with) a sense of duty to the present and the future.

“They were not in politics for the money or for themselves.

“Their guiding philosophy was responsibility to public office. Public office was seen as a duty, not as an opportunity.

“The public office was also part of their sense of political commitment to create a Malaysia that was fair, just, cohesive, and balanced.

“This was combined by a deep conviction of generational responsibility for those who would come after them,” said Razaleigh.

Greed and political manipulation

According to Razaleigh, one of the greatest losses in public office and politics today is the “loss of generational responsibility”.

He said that everything was now “surrounded by greed and the desire to be billionaires”.
“This had led to a pyramid of cronies within the incumbent political parties and their associates in business.

“It is this combination of the hierarchy of political and business cronies, which has led to the centralisation of power in the incumbent political leadership and in the office of the prime minister.
“This power (vested) in one individual allowed for the manipulation of the political system,” he said.

Razaleigh added that in exchange for the centralisation of power, “greed and self-interest were encouraged”.

He described this state of affairs as “one of the most dangerous and difficult to dismantle” because it involved 30 years of centralised power.

He said during these three decades the political style which had dominated the system was “double-think” and “double-talk” and the covert encouragement of racial and religious obscurantism.

“Freedom of speech and expression of our political concerns to change the atmosphere are restrained by how it will be interpreted by those who want to deny us the right to differ.

“Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guarantees this freedom is almost non-existent or subject to fear of retaliation or defamation.

“Legal suits intended to silence legitimate concerns of public responsibility are increasingly used.
“Unfortunately, our judicial system has forgotten the fundamental importance of Article 10 to the democratic life of Malaysia.

“Common sense seems to have been taken out of the law,” Razaleigh said.

Generational responsibility

Razaleigh said that the challenge today is to return to “generational responsibility” in politics and public office.

This, he said, can only be achieved if we have democracy and responsible parliamentary power.

“Democracy was the basis of the founding of the state of Malaysia by the Federal Constitution in 1957.
“When it was briefly suspended in 1969, the leaders of that generation were uneasy, and they restored democracy as soon as possible.

“That is because they realised that democracy has an intrinsic value in creating a citizenship that is not made up of sheep but of responsible citizens.

“Only responsible citizenship that understands democracy can bring about stability, cohesion and economic prosperity,” Razaleigh said.

He added that during the early days it was “ingrained” in the generation of leaders that democracy was not only a form but a value system.

He said the leaders understood that the value system respected the essential institutions of democracy like the independence of the judiciary, the supremacy of Parliament subject to the Federal Constitution, the respect for fundamental rights, and free speech.

“They also understood the meaning and primacy of the rule of law and not of men.
“They also knew that democracy is the common heritage of humanity that we inherited and have a duty to continue.

“And one of our inheritances is the common law system of the rule of law which is enshrined in our constitution.

“They knew that the phrase ‘common law’ meant the wisdom that is passed to us in the progress of law and the values that are encapsulated in the law governing public office and responsibility to society.

“… the laws are meant to enhance democracy and freedom but not to maintain and continue political power, he said.

Restore genuine democracy

The challenge today, according to Razaleigh, is to reverse the centralisation of power and restore the check and balance of a genuine democracy.

“We need to reclaim as citizens of Malaysia our rights in a democracy; that power and authority are positions of trust and responsibility, not to serve personal interest or as an opportunity for personal enrichment.

“We need to re-assert as politically active and responsible citizens the concept of social obligation and public service in those who seek political office.

“Power is duty, not a prize,” he said, alluding to the current state of the mind of leaders.