Cabinet fears Middle East unrest but refuses to reform

Malaysia may be different from Egypt and Libya but Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his ministers men refuse to acknowledge that they rule by oppression.

Despite their glib protestations that Malaysia is a united and democratic country, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his Cabinet concealed fears that the Middle East unrest will spread to our shores.

Earlier this month, Najib denied claims that there were parallels between Egypt and Malaysia. A few days ago, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim told Malaysians to ignore opposition propaganda to hold protests like those in Arab countries. Soon after, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that upheavals in the Middle East would not happen in Malaysia.

All these ministers claim that Malaysia was united, democratic and that its government listened to its people.

They are wrong!

Najib said, “Firstly, we cannot equate what is happening in Egypt with Malaysia because things are very different in the two countries.”

Then he stressed that the crucial difference between the two countries was that BN practised “People First” policies.

Najib is in denial for there are many similarities between the two countries. The Egyptians were fed up with the repressive rule of Hosni Mubarak. The reasons for their dissatisfaction were mainly financial. They were angry with life in the autocratic police state, of poor living conditions, economic stagnation, unemployment, corruption and abuses by the police.

Their elections were far from fair, just like ours. We have vote-rigging and vote buying, but our government ignores our complaints.

Malaysian ministers who allegedly commit serious crimes like assault, murder and rape, go unpunished. When they are implicated in corruption and when millions are siphoned out of the country, nothing happens.

Politicians who are corrupt and have previously been charged with dabbling in money politics are nominated to head important organisations. Chief ministers who amass a fortune at the expense of his own people, are free from prosecution.

These are not “People First” policies; they are the reverse; they are “politicians first” policies.

Speading misinformation

As for Rais, he is spreading misinformation and accusing the opposition of instigating street protests.

The truth is that the opposition has not asked the people to go to the streets. Both Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat have asked Barisan Nasional (BN) to initiate reforms but BN has refused to listen. Najib rejected the invitation to a public debate with Anwar.

Poor Rais. He cannot see beyond the end of his nose. History is being made in Egypt but Rais’s best effort is to compare the different political systems and say that we ought not to emulate the Egyptians.

He said, “In those countries (which are facing popular uprisings), they do not have a solid constitution like us and do not have free elections to choose their leaders.”

We do have a constitution which is conveniently and frequently abused by Umno to serve itself. It is Umno which uses the constitution to protect its own interests. Moreover, BN places obstacles for other parties and like the Egyptians, vote-rigging is commonplace here.

Rais has failed to accept that events in Tunisia and Egypt were started by the young, principally unemployed students hungry for change.

Muhyiddin tried to tell us that the uprising in the Middle Eeast and North Africa would never arise here.

He said, “I’m sad that there are disgruntled voices attempting to link the political developments in the Middle East with the political situation in this country.

“Politics in our country is totally different from the politics in several countries in the Middle East because our government is chosen by the people in a democratic and competitive general election.”

Muhyiddin is wrong. There are various discrepancies in our voting, and vote-rigging and vote-buying are common. The army and security forces are used to manipulate voting numbers. Intimidation and threats to marginalised communities are common. Are these democratic practices of a government supposedly chosen by the people?

Rampant corruption

All of these men refuse to acknowledge that they rule by oppression. The media is rigidly controlled by the use of the Printing Presses and Publications Act which will soon include censorship of online publications.

The abuses of power are common and the people are afraid of speaking out because of our repressive laws. The police are guilty of brutality. There is rampant corruption committed by members of the ruling elite and their families and friends.

Public figures who commit crimes escape prosecution. Corrupt practices are not seriously tackled. Delicate issues of race, religion or native landrights are sidelined. Billions of ringgits have been siphoned out of the country when these could have been used to improve the lives of its citizens.

Will Najib and his administration embrace reforms or would they rather reform was thrust onto them?

Last night, foreign media claimed that Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, threatened to unleash mob rule as he pledged to “cleanse Libya house by house” until he crushed the insurrection seeking to sweep him from power.

Najib had noted that the Libyans and those in the Middle East were giving “… a clear sign of their demand for change and reform…” and that “…governments will have to take heed of that…”

He said, “The constitutional and political reforms that would be effective should be able to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of people, particularly the young people”.

Perhaps Najib’s most damning and ludicrous statement was when he said that Gaddafi should not use violence against the protesters.

Najib telling Gaddafi not to resort to violence is like the pot calling the kettle black.

At the 61st Umno general assmebly in October, Najib told the delegates, “Come what may, Putrajaya must be defended” and amidst shouts of hysteria he dared them, “Are we willing to hand our beloved Malaysia to the traitor of race and country?”

His most despicable statement was however, “Even if our bodies are crushed and our lives lost, brothers and sisters, whatever happens, we must defend Putrajaya.”

Peaceful protests in Malaysia are not spared the wrath of Najib and his policemen. Water cannons, chemical-laced sprays, police batons, tear gas, arrests, physical intimidation and assaults against protesters are the norm.

What a shameless hypocrite Najib is.

Mariam Mokhtar is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist. - FMT