Zahid's MIC speech - frightening signals being sent

 

The video clip which came via a WhatsApp chat group on Tuesday was initially met with scepticism. Why would a top politician implicate other leaders by making such accusations?

Could it be one of the many fake videos on social media? Could someone have spliced or edited the clip? With modern technology, anything is a possibility – was this the case?

But when the clip was uploaded on YouTube and when Malaysiakini provided the link with comments, all these possibilities were quickly dismissed.

But Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s insinuation that BN leaders could face criminal trials if their coalition loses the next general election, was more than an indictment.

What are the implications of the statement “If we fail, our fate will be worse than the last election.” Read in totality, it can mean that more crooked leaders could go to jail or the current leaders will end up as nobody on the streets and treated as outcasts. 

This is a cruel and crude admission of sorts of the quality of some leaders. Their integrity was exposed and torn to bits in front of a large audience and recorded for archiving in perpetuity.

Wasn’t this casting aspersions on the entire system – enforcement agencies, the public prosecutors and the judiciary? What the MACC has to say about the names on the list?

Why haven’t those fingered in the speech responded? After all, the visuals show at least three of them. Maybe they remained silent in deference to their leader and saying anything or protesting would have serious consequences including being not fielded in the forthcoming general election.

Zahid certainly did not say it in jest although those who were identified were in chuckles. Meanwhile, the Umno president kept a straight face and wore a serious look.

None in the crowd of about 3,000 MIC members stood up to defend those who were accused. Usually, there will be the minions and the glory seekers who will speak up or challenge such serious allegations on behalf of their leaders.

They too laughed – an acknowledgement that doing wrong is acceptable and is par for the course.

Elegant silence

After Malaysiakini published reactions from two incumbent MPs – Lim Kit Siang and Charles Santiago - one would have expected statements or retorts denying or even condemning Zahid for his remarks.

Perhaps, they preferred elegant silence in order to let the issue go away, or were they in agreement with Zahid that the accusation can only be avoided if their party gets a “dominant victory” at the polls?

Either way, it is a damning impeachment of the state of affairs and the state of mind of leaders who have and will continue to override requirements of the law and throw the statutes out of the window and impose their own interpretations of the law.

So, the thrust of the party’s just-announced manifesto should be surviving and avoiding punishment. The much-touted “stability and prosperity” are utter bunkum. 

Is winning dominantly the way to the secret tunnel which will bring some leaders out of the dark hole where they are now? Is this the route not to be in the predicament of their previous leader now languishing in prison?

Is there no room for morals in our leaders? Isn't there respect for the law? How can they treat the various systems as their own fiefdom? Are law and order being treated with odium and contempt? Are they saying they will be able to manipulate and manoeuvre from the long arm of the law?

Can Zahid’s utterances be treated as an “extra-judicial statement” implying that they are admitting to wrongdoings? We will let the legal eagles debate that but as laypersons, we have been bestowed the right and liberty to read, understand and digest the issue as we deem fit.  

But there is a lingering yet frightening thought. Are giving a licence in the form of this challenge for a “dominant” victory to voters that with political power comes the ability to free wrongdoers? Not a petty criminal who snatched a mobile phone or a mother who stole milk to feed her children, but those who have stolen from the people.

Would they occupy high offices and continue to plunder the wealth of the nation and in the process, law-abiding citizens are denied a better quality of life?

These thoughts should enable you to make your decision before your mark “X” against the candidate and party of your preference for the next five years. - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.