Dear Sir/Madam,
I read with a heavy tinge of trepidation of the act by a mob of 30 who unceremoniously stormed into the Penang State Legislative Assembly on May 21, 2014 with the sole aim of reprimanding an elected representative who allegedly uttered words of ignominy against a political party.
This must be the most reckless and dastardly act that any Malaysian could ever undertake.
The state legislature is the epitome of our beloved nation's democracy – this is where the flow of rights of the masses effuses from. It is also the site where honourable men and women are supposed to dissect and debate policies and procedures being enacted for the betterment of the rakyat. The sanctity of this hallowed premise is such that whatever is spoken within it is, by and large, protected from legal challenges.
Indeed, the sacrosanct nature of the place is such that one must even be properly attired to enter its space.
All these being so, it dismays me to read of and watch a group of Malaysians physically damaging the gates leading to the legislature followed by an unkempt group entering the hall and haranguing the Speaker.
How could they enter such a place so easily? Why was no action taken against them upon the authorities noticing that they were illegally gathered outside the gates? Why was that group of 30 permitted to simply leave the building sans being apprehended for breaking the law?
The late Tun Sufian, one of Malaysia's great sons and a past Lord President, lamented that he felt ashamed of being a Malaysian upon hearing of the removal from office of Tun Salleh Abas, another iconic Malaysian who was also a previous Lord President. I, a simple Malaysian who truly loves my country, today feel similarly disenchanted and shamed due to the uncouth actions that took place at the Penang State Legislative Assembly!
The buck must stop here, if Malaysia is to continue surviving as a model of multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-party DEMOCRACY.
Enough of face given to those who continue to harangue fellow Malaysians due to their different ethnicity and/or religion. Enough of looking askance by authorities when blatant seditious words are uttered in public. Enough of checking the political affiliation of a harbinger of ill will and wickedness before deciding whether actions need be taken against the perpetrator!
The buck must stop here, today, for if it is not, then we all have ourselves to blame should this fair nation of ours crumble into insanity and chaos!
Let the rule of law prevail unto ALL, not selectively!
May Allah have mercy on Malaysia! – May 22, 2014.
* Abdul Aziz Abdullah reads The Malaysian Insider.
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