Rhetoric versus substance

So what’s with all these comments below? We are all fighting the same battle. We are all screaming for change. But while you scream for change, I am telling you what changes we should be pressing for. And we press both the current government plus those who want to offer themselves as the alternative to the current government.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

We say ABU (anything but Umno or asal bukan Umno).

We say we want change.

We say we need reforms.

We say: just repealing the ISA is not good enough -- we want to see more.

We say: kick out Barisan Nasional and replace it with a new government.

We say this, and we say that, and we say the other.

But what are we really saying? The devil is in the details. So where are the details?

That, we do not say!

We know what we currently have is not good enough. We want something new. We want something different. We want something better.

But what is that we currently have which is not good or not good enough? What is it that we are looking for? What new things do we want? What do we want discarded and replaced? And what do we want to replace it with?

That, we do not say!

So I say it. I say what is wrong with what we currently have. I say what should be discarded and replaced. I say what it should be replaced with. And I said it my article called ‘Can we look at this instead, a Bill of Rights?’ and my earlier article called ‘The cloak hides the man’.

Below are just some of the comments to my article 'Can we look at this instead, a Bill of Rights?'. And the comments are still rhetoric without substance or details.

We went through the same thing here in the UK recently. We said that more than a decade of Labour is enough. We no longer trust Labour and its policies, which are bankrupting the nation. Let us go for change. Let us vote in a new government.

So we voted out Labour. Then we got a new government: a coalition between the Conservatives and Lib Dem.

But we did not get the change we desired. They never delivered what they promised. In some instances, things actually got worse rather than better. Now we are talking about voting Labour back in come the next election. And in the few by-elections since, like in my hometown Manchester recently, we actually voted for the Labour candidate.

That is because we just wanted ABL (anything but Labour or asal bukan Labour). But we did not talk about what is wrong with Labour, only that we don’t want Labour anymore because they were bankrupting the nation. Now we find that the new government cannot do any better than Labour could.

And that is what we will experience in Malaysia if we are not careful.

Anything but Umno. Asal bukan Umno. As long as not Umno, never mind whether we actually do see change with the new government.

No, this is not just about kicking out the current government and replacing it with a new government. This is about ensuring that we see change. And we need to know what changes we are talking about. And whoever wants to form the government, post-13th GE, will need to know what we have in mind.

And that is why I proposed the Bill of Rights.

So, some of what we propose may need an amendment to the Constitution. So, some of what we propose may need the introduction of new laws -- which the Constitution may actually provide for without any amendments required. So, some of what we propose may need the abolishing of existing laws.

So what? So be it!

Whatever it may be, FFF. No, I am not swearing. FFF means Form Follows Function. We shape the Constitution and our laws according to the function we wish for it to perform. And what we want it to perform is to satisfy our Bill of Rights.

So what’s with all these comments below? We are all fighting the same battle. We are all screaming for change. But while you scream for change, I am telling you what changes we should be pressing for. And we press both the current government plus those who want to offer themselves as the alternative to the current government.

We do not want, like in the UK, to kick out Labour and get a new government that can’t seem to do better than Labour, and now talk about voting Labour back in come the next election. (By the way, I am a Lib Dem member, the party that is now the government).

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RPK, don't get so touchy lah. I don't speak for the others but the reason why I say it can't be done is because a Bill of Rights will contravene what the Malaysian Constitution dictates. To introduce such a Bill into law, we must first look at amending the Malaysian Constitution and that will be extremely difficult, not impossible but improbable at this juncture of time. Why not take it one step at a time and start to push for an amendment of the Constitution first? -- Hakim Joe

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Dear Pete, don't have the heart to burst your balloon of hope but I think if we adopt your enthusiasm we will be very disappointed.

Let me out it like this:

B4 the baby can walk you are teaching him how to run.

Of course we must encourage the baby when he trying to walk.

Problem is it may not be a baby but a snake in baby clothes and how to teach a snake to walk?

A snake just crawl and slither, but just can't walk.

Or how to teach a crab to walk straight?

Sorry I am too pessimistic because we have been short-changed for far too long and I think you are jumping the gun, though it is definitely a good suggestion and good ideals to strive for.

(Or maybe you live so long overseas you are breathing in more democratic and unpolluted air that helps your optimism.)

I will just do my best and vote for change which will hopefully come with the above package. -- Always Fair

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Come on RPK, please read through my comments here:

What makes u think I don't agree with the Bill of Rights?

Yes, I agree with it wholeheartedly and believe it to be great!!

Yes, please tell us how it's going to be implemented!! -- educationist

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There is no bill of rights under Ameno administration! Only one that i knew from hey days is I do as i like and please! Ameno's favourite law all time being used whenever they like and please! So no point of talking of bills of rights under ameno rule! -- Pegasus

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As I see it, you can have all the best legislation in the world with noble intentions but as long as there is complacency, corruption and abuse of power among politician there will not be change. To change the attitude of politicians the people must be prepared to vote out corrupt and abusive elected officials. So, to bring about speedy change, people must vote out the BN government. Please do not get carried away by BN's promises of legislative reform. Reform will only come when voters reform themselves. -- Raja Chulan

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I am 100% sure Najib will not accede to RPK's proposals. To do so he has to dismantle the institutionalised ethnic discriminating policies (NEP) so that all rakyats have equal rights.

Islam also forbids muslims from renouncing their faith in favour of other religious beliefs. So where's the freedom of religion, belief and opinion?

I think RPK is asking or expecting too much of Najib. -- Hanuman