Govt Can’t Behave Like Opposition

Ku Ali, NST

LAST week, while campaigning in the Rantau by-election, a minister allegedly called on voters to vote only for “their own”.

He thought by speaking in his vernacular tongue, he could escape scrutiny.

Malaysians find his speech offensive and I believe this is what caused Pakatan Harapan to lose the seat.

The minister tried to justify his statement by claiming that he was misunderstood. It is believed that he threatened legal action against those who criticised him.

Yang Berhormat, you have the right to make statements, and we, the people, have the right to interpret them based on what you said. You cannot control and dictate our thoughts. This is Malaysia Baru.

Members of the government, please stop sabotaging the government. Your actions and words erode the confidence and support of the people. Mistakes are made, and instead of accepting your flaws and taking responsibility, you make confusing statements to justify values that do not belong in Malaysia Baru.

Malaysians are tired of making excuses for you. You have been in the government for 11 months, yet there is nothing to show for it.

You continue to play the old tune of communal politics. We don’t understand why you harp on racial sentiments since Malaysians rejected racial politics in the last general election. Your insistence on playing the race card proved disastrous in the Cameron Highlands parliamentary seat by-election.

We have fought long and hard for freedom of speech. Don’t stifle it.

The deputy education minister’s statements on academicians who advised the Conference of Rulers on the Rome Statute threaten the freedom of intellectual discourse.

We should not jump to conclusions based on an executive summary. The full paper should be scrutinised. If it is without merit, ignore it. If it has merits, consider it. Or even better, debate it with evidence, point by point.

Public censure of these academicians is not worthy of Malaysia Baru.

If those with dubious degrees can be appointed senators and lead ministries, and given space to voice their opinions in Parliament and the media, why can’t these academicians be allowed their voices too?

If you want freedom of speech, you must defend it for everyone. Not pretend to want it, yet deny it when it is inconvenient.

How can we claim to be progressive when intellectuals are silenced?

Leaders in the government, we would like to remind you that when you took the oath of office, you also took the oath of secrecy.

Part of that oath of secrecy is that you must not let slip any information that may jeopardise the security of the nation.

The foreign minister’s statement on an alleged “deep state” is unacceptable. If there is indeed one, deal with it — silently.

You should not discuss it in public, exposing this information to be picked up by foreign intelligence, who may use it to threaten our nation’s security. That is irresponsible.

Perhaps it is time the government be wise about the company it keeps.

Personalities who are divisive and cause problems to the coalition must not be allowed to lead ministries.

Identify your members who are a liability and discard them. If you insist on retaining problematic politicians, Malaysians will judge you.

We want the government to succeed, but the leaders need to buck up and act like a government. You cannot behave like an opposition.

If you insist on this mediocre trajectory, we, the people, can’t help you. As citizens, our duty is to elect the best government for Malaysia. So do your best.