Harapan being bullied by extreme forces

ADUN SPEAKS | I don’t understand why PH has to make a series of retreats to appease certain segments of racial and religious forces in the last 11 months or so.

It is not just evident in the campaigning in the recent by-elections, but more so in the PH government abandoning the ICERD, the Rome Statute and its failue to reform the matriculation admission system.

In these three instances, the government failed to provide a clear political direction to the people.

Although these are different issues, the PH government was more interested in appeasing sections of society prone to extreme racial and religious persuasions.

Why abandon the majority who supported the promised reforms under the present government?

Rather than refuting the extreme racial arguments of those who opposed ICERD, the Rome Statute or the continuation of the lopsided matriculation system, the government caved in to their exaggerated parochial discourse.

PH is not subjected to the problem of crossovers; it has a comfortable simple majority. We have a strong and stern Prime Minister who is known for his no nonsense attitude.

If there is a confrontation, the rakyat will support the prime minister.

In the last general election, PH did the unthinkable. While earlier coalitions failed to unseat BN, PH performed a “miracle”.

Bersatu may be the weakest link in the PH coalition, but crossovers from Umno has strengthened the party somewhat, although a two-third parliamentary majority remains elusive.

It is well and fine not to expect PH to deliver its election promises within a year or two.

Of course, matters have been resolved, but many other pledges remain to be addressed or resolved. Time is a critical factor and PH must be mindful of the expectations of the rakyat.

In the meantime, while internal matters are being sorted out, the coalition could at least convince its supporters of its schedule of things to be implemented. By being silent, PH may find things not in its favour.

What bugs PH supporters is the fact that a small segment of the opposition seems to have much impact in derailing the important decisions of the PH.

When it comes to taking a stand on important matters, PH it not motivated by progressive considerations, but what others think and whether they will politicise the matter to the point that it might lose support.

I don’t understand why PH could capitulate on ICERD when it had made a commitment to support it.

How can the convention alter the status and constitutional provisions in regard to protection of the Bumiputera community?

Just because PAS and Umno went to town with their opposition, PH was rattled and abandoned ratifying the convention.

PH abandoned its larger societal concerns by giving in to narrow, parochial interests all in the name of preservation of the coalition.

I am not sure whether this is the kind of preservation we need at the expense of the promises made to deliver a reformed Malaysia.

Just because some sections of the royalty were misinformed about the effects of the adoption of the Rome Statute by a few half-baked academics, the PH government caved in without even questioning their narrow analysis. 

This government was democratically elected to bring about changes for the betterment of the people. Another major disaster!

The matriculation admission system, based on a lopsided racial quota of 90:10, was a product of the racial system instituted by Umno-BN for a number of decades.

Rather than reforming this unjust system, PH decided to continue with the old racist formula, merely increasing the intake of students.

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P RAMASAMY is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also deputy chief minister (II) for Penang. - Mkini