Dr Mahathir and street demonstrations – Puthan Perumal

On April 29, 2014, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this in his blog under the title ‘Street Demonstrations’:

"14. Democracy upholds the rights of the minority. They must be protected. Therefore they are allowed to show their disappointment at losing in a variety of democratic ways. In parliament, they may stage walkouts when unable to block government action. They may carry out active campaigning through the media and rallies to discredit the government. Now they can make use of the alternative media to cause disaffection for the Government.

15. When sometimes they may resort to strikes and demonstrations.

16. All these are still permissible in a democracy. But now the strikes and street demonstrations have become so huge and prolonged as to paralyse the whole country.

17. In a non-democratic totalitarian state such massive demonstrations may be justified as there is no other way to change governments. But now even when elections can determine changes in governments, the losers in democratic elections have resorted to these disruptive acts.

20. So far Malaysia has been spared the instability due to massive prolonged street demonstrations. But the signs are already there. Obviously there are Malaysians who would like to bring down the elected government through demonstrations.

25. Malaysians have not responded to the call. Maybe they will in the future and Malaysia would join the ranks of unstable countries incapable of being governed and much less being developed."

On August 10, 2015, it was reported that during his speech at the 11th Malaysia Festival of the Mind, Dr Mahathir claimed that citizens in other countries would have protested had their governments performed like Putrajaya.

“Malaysians, I’m happy to say, are very tolerant people, in fact too tolerant. In other countries there would now be demonstrations asking for someone to step down.”

As a Malaysian, I have very high regard for the wisdom of Dr Mahathir and I take his words very seriously.

So, unless I have interpreted his words wrongly, my understanding is this. And in no way have I intended to take his words out of context if it appears to have come out so.

It’s just that his writings and words are ‘speaking’ to me and this is what I ‘hear’.

1. If in my mind I am living in a non-democratic totalitarian state, then as far as I am  concerned, it is justified for me, and like-minded citizens, to have street demonstrations as a way to change a government. 

But as we all know, Malaysia if a fully democratic state and we all have a say in the choosing of our leaders and government.

2. If I were a citizen in another country that had a government that acted in the way and manner of the Putrajaya government’s handling of the country, I would have protested by way of a street demonstration.

But as we all know, Putrajaya’s handling of the economy and financial-related  is top-notch best of its kind. I would give a 3.96 out of 4.0.

3. As a Malaysian I am too tolerant with the government of Putrajaya. Well, I am a Buddhist.

4. Citizens in other countries,  would have taken to the streets asking for someone to step down, if they were in my shoes in Malaysia faced with the Putrajaya government.

But as we all know, our government works on the convention of collective responsibility. They know when to step down when it is time.

And when one goes, they all go hand in hand. There is no such thing as asking someone to step down.

So, now ask yourself. 

Do you think that you are living in a non-democratic totalitarian state?

If yes, then it would appear that you are justified to change your government by way of street demonstrations, doesn’t it?

Of course, this ‘thought’ so to speak is subjective.

You might think that you are living in a non-democratic totalitarian state whereas your neighbour might think he is living in a pure democratic everyone-has-a-say state.

No one is right or wrong here.

It’s a matter of perception from experience and deductions drawn based on the actions and policies of the government.

Anyways, please do not think for a moment that I am encouraging you in any way to change government by street demonstrations because I have no intention of breaching the provisions of the Sedition Act or Pota or any other written or unwritten law that deal with peace and harmony. – March 12, 2016.

* In loving memory of the late Varinder Singh Pritam Singh (March 23, 1976 - June 24, 2015)

* Puthan Perumal is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.