Of double speak and broken promises

DEC 14 — I consider a leader only as good as the promises he keeps. And by far, our current prime minister is not up to that gold standard. If anything, the current actions show that he is perhaps flip flopping in order to survive an election.

The first salvo came with the arrests of 13 suspected Islamists in Tawau under the Internal Security Act. This law is to be repealed and replaced with two new acts of law to counter terrorism, according to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech on Malaysia Day this year.

In fact, it was also pledged that everyone would have their day in court and even that the new acts would not allow arrests based on political differences.

Insofar as viewing and reading the news about these 13 individuals, they have yet to receive any form of legal representation nor has there been any explanation about what these Islamists were going to do.

For all we know, it could have been another hostage takeover and kidnapping in Sipadan. As someone who personally wants the ISA amended, I am affronted by the simple fact that this action was contrary to what I was expecting from the Royal Malaysian Police.

I would have thought that since this law would be repealed soon, a moratorium against its use should be implemented while waiting for the two new Bills to be read in Parliament and voted into law.

Guess that did not appeal to the police or the home minister.

The second instance of an empty promise came when our prime minister decided that it was time to also let the public voice out their opinions in the form of protests and gatherings, which, as Najib put it, “were in line with global standards.”

If this were the case, then I suggest we look at two nations: Egypt and the United States of America. Both are countries where there are protests taking place nationwide.

While Egypt is seeing people killed and wounded, never is there a mention of a law that imposes an RM20,000 fine on persons taking part.

As for the US and the ongoing “Occupy” movement, again, there is never a mention of the government having the ability to fine the protesters RM20,000 each. In fact, the only mention of monetary losses being brought to court comes from the private sector industries who claim to have lost revenue due to the protests.

And I don’t even see those having a chance in court. In fact, the recent act of the police pepper spraying protesters has caused these officers to be placed on mandatory leave since it was considered “police brutality.”

I personally do not see street protests as being necessary had the government and their agencies not ignored the signs leading to massive protests like Bersih, GMI or even the anti-PPSMI rallies. The truth is, our government and those linked to it were too slow.

There was too much red tape, too much misinformation and, by far, too many efforts by the government and the authorities to pressure the public into bending to their will instead of negotiating a middle ground. And even when they wanted to negotiate a middle ground, it was the government’s actions of disreputable double speak that got them into trouble.

And now, case in point, Prime Minister Najib will once again have to face the pressure cooker prepared for him by his cousin, current Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. This was the same thing that happened time after time — during the cow head protest in my home town of Shah Alam, during Bersih 2.0 and, now, with these ISA arrests in Sabah.

With all that in mind, I think it is time our prime minister considers this: Is your cousin truly helping you, or just screwing things up too close to an election?

I am personally asking the prime minister to perhaps consider looking for a replacement for the home minister’s post, because with the current pledges and actions taking place in that ministry, it truly looks far too much like it is headless.

And with the scrutiny now being placed on the authorities with cases of police brutality and even murder, it is perhaps a valid point for him to consider a person who can rein them in.

* The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist.