Is everyone a nobody now? – T.K. Chua

The former deputy prime minister and current Umno deputy president is now a nobody. In fact, it is worse than that but it is better for me not to mention it.

The former menteri besar of Kedah is also a nobody. The former prime minister who served for 22 years too is a nobody. Now, former Umno Wanita chief and senior Cabinet minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, is also a nobody. It would appear this is what Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz is implying.

But who and what exactly is "a nobody" – a person not holding an important position in government? What would this definition lead us to? Was Nazri saying if we have no positions in government, we have no right to pass comments of public interest or to criticise the leaders or government of the day?

If we are educated, knowledgeable and experienced, but hold no government positions, are we a nobody? Can we not make use of our education, knowledge and experience to highlight malfeasance and pass judgment on how our leaders should behave or how this country should be governed?

The right to criticise is not confined to those who are educated. All citizens, regardless of their education levels and social/economic backgrounds, have the right to criticise when they see things not right in their midst. Morality and the ability to discern right from wrong are not the monopoly of the educated, the privileged or the elitist class.

So this is what I want to remind Nazri. First, it is not for him to determine who is a nobody and who is a somebody. Don’t underestimate the faculty of ordinary people and don’t belittle former colleagues who are no longer in government. He should remember how he got up there in the first place.

Second, it is not for him to decide whether or not comments and criticisms levelled against certain leaders or the government will make any difference. Don’t keep saying we can bark all we want. Someday it may be too late for him to listen to the barking.

Nazri should look at the contents and the substance of the criticism. It is unbecoming to belittle others by resorting to "nobody" or other demeaning arguments. I too could argue that many ministers are nobody, faculty-wise I mean.

* T.K. Chua reads The Malaysian Insider.