BN must abandon ‘culture of fear’

BN has to buckle up and portray a better, kinder and more democratic image of itself by roping in its street fighters.

COMMENT

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has insisted that Malaysia should not become a “westernised” democracy and that freedoms should be limited in order to respect the communal barriers in Malaysia.

This limitation on freedom, however, has been the very basis of the 55-year rule of the Barisan National.

The recent spate of changes in Malaysia’s laws did not enlarge the freedoms that are needed for a real democracy to function. Instead, the BN regime replaced the old laws with new ones that gave the BN government more or less the same powers to “bully” its opponents.

A significant trend in the anti-opposition campaign by the BN is the daily dose of poison TV and press on PKR. From Anwar Ibrahim to Nurul Izzah or Rafizi Ramli, the top members of PKR are not given a minute of relief.

As a result of these actions, the ruling coalition is seen as imposing its views as well as its power on its political opponents; hoping for an unfair fight during the upcoming general election. This is reminiscent of the “reformasi” days when a culture of fear was imposed on the public in general.

On the onset of the clampdown on the reform movement in Kuala Lumpur, appeared the first version of the “Culture of Fear” which narrated the dangers the public faced in seeking the truth on the events in the country.

At that time, with Anwar in jail and the Sodomy I case at its height, there was a gag on local journalists and the dark forces were hunting down the online citizens in a clear attempt at clamping down on the freedom the Internet offered.

In today’s version of events, it appears the BN had hopes that with Anwar and Azmin Ali as well as the Bersih top leaders “disabled” with the court cases against them, the BN will whisk into an outright victory in the overly delayed election. Was the BN hoping for an easy fight in which it can win and maintain its grip on power with unfair means?

Such unfair practices are undemocratic but it appears that the BN does not want to relinquish on its unfair and undemocratic practices, 55 years on.

It is also correct to state that the BN is attempting to distort the image of its opponents with the many negative statements against PKR, Bersih and the peaceful demonstrators, portraying them as the devil and enemies of the state.

Opposition seen as ‘victims’

While it is normal for a ruling coalition to adopt a negative attitude towards its opponents, the very fact that it portrays the opposition as the party that will bankrupt the nation is unbelievable. The opposition has proven itself with its massively great performances in the states it controls.

Most of these states are producing positive economic results, even garnering surpluses whereas under the BN they were in the deficit.

Is it not possible that the harsh policies and tactics used by successive BN regimes throughout the years is hurting BN more than Pakatan Rakyat?

It is clear that such policies and tactics have led the country to the state of chaos in which it is now.

The ghosts from the past are now haunting the BN to the extent that it is panicking in making further mistakes. Browsing through news items since 2008, it is also clear that the BN has made so many mistakes that it is not going to stop now on the eve of the crucial polls.

This is not only damaging to BN but also damning to its many supporters and diehards.

The prosecuting of the Bersih movement, for example, and targeting the two top leaders of PKR is yet another mistake that will haunt BN. Attacking Anwar on nonsensical matters shows how “democratic” BN is. Will this act as a stigma on the face of BN candidates?

Will such policies not lead the people to act against BN itself by choosing for the same opponents BN has magnified as the pain and at times “traitors” to the nation?

In reality, despite the bad mouthing and the evil painting of its opponents as seen in the BN- controlled mainstream media, there is no doubt that a majority of the voting population is aware of what they have to do in the next polls.

The Malaysian authorities are seen as a bully while the actions of their supporters in opposition rallies and speeches are seen as the true image of the current regime.

It is not a kind image at all with the stone throwing, road blocks and nail-littered roads where the Anwar convoy were heading not so long ago.

Stop harassing the opposition

To some people, such drastic measures against the opposition portrays BN’s image as one of a rough but desperate regime. It also tells the people that BN, though it is saying the contrary, despises the freedom of its opponents.

This to the extent that it is even preventing a legitimate opposition from campaigning without hassle.

Were these being done with the hope that the people will be frightened to attend opposition rallies?

That is possible. Then again, such tactics can have a boomerang effect on BN. Instead of forcing the people to see Pakatan as a danger to the nation – as is claimed by BN – it portrays the opposition as a victim.

In essence, the people see the opposition as the one group that is attempting to defend the rights of the people and are being victimised by the regime in place.

BN has to buckle up and portray a better, kinder and more democratic image of itself by roping in its street fighters.

It also has to stop harassing the opposition in a bid to frighten the people who want to listen to both sides of the political divide.

That way, BN will gain more credibility towards the fence-sitters, amongst others, whose votes will be crucial in the upcoming election.

Ali Cordoba writes extensively on local politics.