Zahid's call to Malaysians unhappy with GE13 to leave: Is this Najib's stand too?

Home Minister Dato Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is reported to have said Malaysians who are unhappy with the country's political system should leave the country, stressing that loyal citizens should respect the rule of law.

First, let me tell the Home Minister in no uncertain terms that there are many Malaysians who are unhappy with the country's political system. That does not mean they are not loyal or that they do not respect the rule of law.

Second, let me tell him that most of them including me, refuse to back down and to leave this country. We choose to stay back and fight for political reform, for what is right. We are Malaysian and it is our duty to push for reforms where needed.

The call for free and fair elections is one that all Malaysians are entitled to make as of right. We have a right to demand that the political system here meets with fairness. We have every right to express detest over electoral fraud and concerns over how it is despite winning the majority of political support, there is still no opportunity to rule.

These are legitimate concerns which raise legitimate demands. No one has a right to ask Malaysians who demand justice and fairness, who stand up for what they believe is right, to leave the country.

Official stand

Having said that, I now call upon Prime Minister Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak to state if this is the official position taken by his government.

Najib recently declared that he would be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians. He has also boasted in the past that he wished to see Malaysia become the worlds greatest democracy. He has led Malaysians to believe that his administration will be different and transformational, under the 1 Malaysia concept.

So how does this call now for Malaysians to leave the country demonstrate honesty on part of Najib and BN to change?

Najib must respond. Does he support the stand of the Home Minister? If he does, then he should abandon the 1 Malaysia concept altogether as not only has he failed to understand that all citizens have a right to demand free and fair elections but more importantly that his government must find ways to address the concerns of the rakyat and not instead ask them to leave if they are unhappy with the countrys political system.

He should also accept that such a threat represents total weakness on part of his government to deal with matters of utmost concern to the people such as the need for free and fair elections.

If Najib does not support the view of his Home Minister, then he should demonstrate courage by saying so. This is an opportunity for him to show that he is in control. Najib should then reprimand, if not remove, the Home Minister forthwith as clearly this statement has struck against the very core of what Najib has promised to do in order to bring Malaysians together in his effort to secure national reconciliation.

Gobind Singh is the MP for Puchong