Has civil society betrayed the rakyat?

Our civil society leaders have fallen into the trap of political power play. Their obsession with Najib Razak is clouding their judgement and decision-making ability.

FMT LETTERS

By Shakira Iskandar

What encouraged the likes of activists Ambiga Sreenevasan and Maria Chin Abdullah to join forces with former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad? Foolish idealism? Obsession with driving out Prime Minister Najib Razak from office?

Perhaps. But one thing is sure – they have had to eat their own words and their reputation has been tainted.

Civil society has always been the “third force” in our society, providing a check and balance that ensures our politicians and businesses toe the line.

This third force, however, was weakened the moment civil society’s leaders joined forces with the likes of Mahathir and former Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

No one is questioning their fight against Najib. They have a right to voice out their concerns and opinion. But I do want to question their method in doing so.

As a citizen, I am utterly disappointed that our civil society leaders have fallen into the trap of political power play. Their obsession with Najib is clouding their judgement and decision-making ability. They have chosen instead to put aside their principles and work with the devil.

For the greater good? I don’t think so.

Mahathir held onto power for 22 years with an iron fist, angering (most notably) civil society along the way. He has weakened and undermined our judiciary. He clamped down on our freedom of speech by intimidating dissenters via our laws and institutions that were tainted with corruption under his rule.

Who can forget Ops Lalang and the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA)? Or the 1988 judiciary crisis when the Chief Justice (then known as the Lord President of the Supreme Court) was dismissed without justification due to political interference engineered by the then prime minister?

Certainly not civil society. These are the very cases they had fought against in the past.

Muhyiddin and former Selangor Menteri Besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib are some of Mahathir’s counterparts who had also been part of the top leadership of the same corrupt system, with a fair share of their own corruption scandals.

Yet today, the leaders of civil society are standing by the very people they condemned. Together, announcing and giving their seal of approval for the Citizens’ Declaration.

The very man whom they called “Mahazalim”, “Firaun”, whom they accused of destroying the institutions of our nation, is now leading their charge.

Ambiga and friends may say that the end justifies the means but in this instance, their actions speak louder than ever. It shouts betrayal and screams hypocrisy.

Shakira Iskandar is an FMT reader.