AFTER 22 YEARS AS AN UMNO PM, PERHAPS IT’S MAHATHIR WHO HAS FORGOTTEN THE GOVT & POLITICS ARE DIFFERENT ARENAS – AND THIS IS WHY PAKATAN’S TOP LEADERSHIP COUNCIL NEEDS TO REIN HIM IN, FOR WITHOUT THEM HE COULD NOT BE THE PAKATAN PM

Children from Tabika Perpaduan HKL clad in costumes made up from the Jalur Gemilang flag chanting “Sayangi Malaysia” during an event in conjuction with Malaysia day recently. RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star. Metro back page / thousand words

THERE is a Malay saying, “Rupa boleh diubah, tabiat dibawa mati”, that roughly translated means it is difficult to change old habits.

We had been wanting to change the government for various reasons for over six decades and did just that last year.

But more than a year later, we ourselves haven’t changed but seem to be worse off instead, thanks to social media. Everyone has a say in everything and the sad part is, many want to impose their views on everyone else, all in the name of right to freedom of expression. It applies not only to ordinary people but also tycoons, associations and parliamentarians.

One businessman recently suggested in his Facebook post that armed forces personnel should replace foreign workers at Felda plantations to address the country’s bloated civil service. They are doing nothing except eating and sleeping, he said.

This fellow may be patriotic, sincere, honourable and a successful entrepreneur but national security and defence is not his forte. Obviously, he is not aware of the provision of security and rescue operations in cases of natural disaster, the issue of information security – one of the most important military issues today – and proper training in anticipation of any intrusion.

Another person made an online posting with an image of the Jalur Gemilang’s white stripes painted black to “express his feelings” on the government’s khat policy. Did he consider other people’s feelings before he posted his message?

Both have since apologised but they should not have done what they did.

A parliamentarian has called for a review in the decision-making process of the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council since there seemed to be too much power in the hands of the Prime Minister. That power needed to be shared equally, he said.

I’m not sure if he understood the difference between the functions of the government and politics.

We should not be focusing on what benefits our race but what benefits our beloved country. We need to work together and respect one another. Being defensive will not work.

And just as a reminder, freedom of expression or human rights and the law are not mutually exclusive.

SALEH MOHAMMED

– ANN