Strong-arm tactics no way to deal with dissent

YOURSAY ‘When the rule of law is replaced by the tyranny of law, it is the duty of loyal citizens to take back the nation's soul.'

Are Zahid and IGP Khalid insecure bullies?

Uncle Tim: If the home minister is reading this article as well as the comments from Malaysiakini readers, he should pause and ponder.

The people - ordinary citizens, professionals like me, politicians, both opposition and government backbenchers, even some of your fellow ministers - are saying something important.

What are they saying? They are saying that force - strong-arm tactics, arrests, intimidation and threats - is not the way to handle protests or dissent.

The big boss running the cabinet, the founder of 1Malaysia, must soothe the opposition, with genuine reassurance that all electoral issues will be addressed fairly and swiftly.

The opposition does not constitute a dozen people but 89 elected representatives. Yes, there may be a silent majority for you, but there is now a large vocal majority speaking up for what is right and certainly what is good for the country.

Please do not bring on another Operation Lallang.

Malaysiawatch4.blogspot: When the rule of law is replaced by the tyranny of law, it is the solemn duty of loyal citizens to take back control of the nation's soul.

Lover Boy: Nice observations by writer Nathaniel Tan but let the inspector-general of police (IGP) and home minister bear this in mind that their salary are paid by taxpayers and the people are the boss.

Peaceful assembly is the right of the rakyat and you have no right to tell me what I can do or what I cannot do. Once upon a time we listened with respect to our leaders and the police, now it is no longer the case.

Rahman: Any country would like to have a strong and a no-nonsense police force. That is what Malaysia should have. Why does Nathaniel Tan wish for a lembik police force? So that he can make them run around in circles?

The days of messing around with the law are over. Now the law rules. Whoever disagrees can go to other places where he can bribe law enforcers and play a game of hide and seek with the law.

MalaysianTsunami: Rahman said, "Whoever disagrees can go to other places where he can bribe law enforcers and play a game of hide and seek with the law."

We need not go anywhere, we are there already. Malaysians, be truthful to ourselves, how many of us had never asked for a "Boleh tolongkah?" from a police offficer before? I have, many times.

When the person at the top preaches "You help me, I help you", don't expect the police (and ourselves) to be any different. Let's put an end to this corrupt culture as it is cancerous to the Malaysian society. Stand up and be counted.

Kosongcafe: Allowing peaceful assemblies is not being 'lembik' but being democratic and fair. The extraordinary numbers in opposition rallies should have been a reminder to BN that the majority (popular votes as proof) of people do not support them.

If police had been fair all these years, then by all means ensure strict compliance, but not by practising double standards.

Factnot fiction: Minister, your duty is to protect Malaysians, all Malaysians, whether they voted for you or not because whether they like it or not, you are their minister.

I see no harm in candlelight vigils. Stop the police from saying they cannot stand such vigils, unless these gatherings endanger the public. The police are there to protect them, whether they can stand it or not.

Psy: My colleague's house in Nilai was broken into last month and she had a ‘parang' pointed at her neck. My friend's house in Klang was broken into this week. I suppose this can be tolerated by the home minister, but not peaceful rallies.

Anonymous_3f89: Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad had a vision for Malaysia to be a developed nation by 2020. Unfortunately his vision was so superficial and he was building modern structures without the required civilised foundation - he was dressing up a nation without an enriched personality and a humane soul.

The leaders of the country are still emphasising on the most basic of needs, such as money and security needs, and haven't moved into the more advance need of self-actualisation, without which there will be no self-pride to truly believe that one belongs to a proud, civilised and modern nation of Malaysia.

Yes, we can build fantastic buildings and the tallest buildings with the oil monies that we have been bestowed, but can we build a nation of people who are equally fantastic and tall?

The way and method of brutes as employed by the home minister and IGP seems more a backward move to the jungles than a move forward towards civilisation.

Anon.ymous: Astute observation, Tan. How can the rakyat possibly believe in PM Najib Razak's idea of 'transformation' when the same people (albeit via a convenient exchange of portfolios) are heading the ministries responsible for the enforcement of law and order in the country?

In all probability, the previous IGP's tenure was not extended beyond the normal age of retirement for civil servants because his conscience caught up with him and he could no longer play along with the authorities.

He probably refused to obey their orders to crack the whip on popular dissent, which included the detention of opposition leaders and civil activists. In comes the new IGP, who's more than willing to obey his master's every beck and call.

Harapanbaru: Oh, Nat, you are far too polite with these abominable scoundrels. They are the ones who belong behind bars for the rest of their lives, if necessary, to protect Malaysia from the Umno ‘samseng' misrule.

Pahatian: The bottom line is that Malaysia does not have capable and viable leaders from the present crop of Umnoputras or Umno-inclined people who can act professionally and justifiably.

They more often than not acted under orders or with backing from their masters who are out to seek reprisal for their dismay performance in the last GE.

Toonarmy: After GE14, both of you will have a new home. It's called ‘penjara'. Are we provoking you yet? - Malaysiakini