I am my own man

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I have read postings in Malaysia Today’s blog that said something to the effect the Chinese will never forget the May 13 tragedy and, one day, they will seek revenge. I would choose to ignore such postings, basically because they are posted by anonymous readers. If the reader had the guts to identify himself or herself and post under his or her name, then it would be worthwhile engaging them in debate. For all you know, it could have been a Malay who posted the message with intent to provoke a response, certainly with insincere and devious motives. Or it could have even been an agent provocateur — and I do not need to explain who they are and why they would want to do such a thing. Their motives should be clear enough without the need of any explanation from me.

Most of those behind the May 13 incident have long since died, save for maybe one or two who are no longer significant and are counting the days when they will meet their Maker. Why take revenge on the present generation Malays who are not guilty of the crime and who also look at May 13 as one very dark day in Malaysian history? Must the sons pay for the sins of the father?

Anyway, even if the poster is really a Chinese and he or she means what he or she says, it is still the voice of one lone Chinese and still not worth wasting time humouring him or her with a response. But if the poster had said, I am so-and-so and I am the central committee member of such-and-such an organisation, then we can regard this as an ‘official stand’, at least as far as that organisation is concerned.

And this is the focus of my piece today: Do you speak for yourself or for your organisation or community? If you speak for yourself then you are certainly free to express your opinion, though I may not agree with what you say. This is the spirit of freedom of expression. But if you speak on behalf of your organisation, are you authorised to do so? And if you are, then your organisation must be held accountable for what you say.

And, when I speak, I speak for myself and not for any organisation or community. I am, as they say, my own man. And you had better get used to it for, God willing, you are going to have me around and you will be hearing my voice for some time to come.

On Saturday, a couple of Parti Keadilan Rakyat leaders told me they felt I was doing the party a great disservice through some of my articles and postings in Malaysia Today that may position the party in a negative light. I pointed out I do not see why this should be so, even if my articles or comments may run contra to the official party stand.

Well, that is the public perception, they explained. I am seen as a Parti Keadilan Rakyat member, so whatever I say and write will be perceived as the party view.

Is this fair? I am not a party leader. I do not hold any position or function in the party. Should I be muzzled just because I am a party member? I have already resigned as the editor of Seruan Keadilan, the official party organ, to ensure that whatever I say and write in Malaysia Today will not jeopardise the party. Should I now also resign as a party member as well to be able to speak freely?

If Malaysia Today and my role as the editor of this website in any way affect the party, then the party can request my resignation and I would be quite prepared to reduce myself to an NGI (non-governmental individual), not associated to any organisation, just like Hishamuddin Rais. And if the party does not want to request my resignation in case it is viewed as undemocratic and disrespectful of free speech, then I will spare the party the agony of my membership and resign on my own accord. I will wait to see what ‘signals’ I receive before I make my move and, if over this next one week, I get the feeling I am an embarrassment to the party, then I am gone. Bye-bye Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

But then, to be fair, this was the view of some of the party leaders. It was not the official view of the party. And I should not hold the party accountable for the views or comments of some of its leaders who may be speaking in their personal capacity and not as official representatives of the party. Just as I should be allowed the freedom to express myself, so should the party leaders be allowed this same luxury. Anyone is free to express their opinion. And just as whatever I say should not be credited to the party, the same goes for whatever its leaders say — unless they open their statement by saying the party has discussed this matter and the party is of the view…etc., etc…

Take as an example my comments on the interfaith commission that the Islamic Party of Malaysia (PAS) opposed late last week. I felt PAS was committing political suicide and I clearly said so. Instead of trying to win the hearts and minds of the non-Muslims they are instead alienating them even further. And the damage may already be beyond repair so no amount of damage control may save the day.

Some PAS activists were of course not too happy with my comments and felt that Parti Keadilan Rakyat too is committing political suicide by rubbing PAS the wrong way.

Helloooo…did I not just say my views are mine and not that of the party’s?

Furthermore, how do they know Parti Keadilan Rakyat is committing political suicide by ‘not respecting’ PAS’ stand? Could it not maybe be the other way around instead? If Parti Keadilan Rakyat keeps quiet and not say anything, then it could be seen as agreeing with PAS? Maybe ‘taking a stand’ would be seen as Parti Keadilan Rakyat distancing itself from PAS. And this may be better rather than worse for the party.

Anyway, that is the party’s problem, not mine. The party has to seriously consider the pros and cons of its relationship with PAS and whether it would be better off or worse off if it went solo like the Democratic Action Party.

The trouble with the opposition, whenever any opposition member says something, they view this as the party stand and destructive to the future of the party. They cannot seem to understand that unless you clearly state you represent the party then your views are your views and not the party’s.

With regards to the interfaith commission issue, the two PAS leaders who stated their objections to it were quoted as officers of the party. Once you make a statement and you are quoted as deputy youth leader, central committee member, and so on, then you are viewed as speaking on behalf of the party. And they did not declare that they are speaking in their individual capacities and not as officers of the party. Therefore, whatever they say would be interpreted as the party’s view and that they speak on behalf of the party.

Take Shahrir Samad as an example. He makes statements contrary to Umno’s official view but he says them nevertheless in spite of the many key positions he holds in the party and government. Should Shahrir not shut up lest he jeopardises Umno or be seen as speaking on behalf of Umno? In fact, the Umno-owned newspaper even branded him a traitor and he is taking legal action against them for this.

How come there seems to be more freedom of expression in Umno, the party being accused of not respecting freedom of expression, while the opposition, that is accusing the government of being dictatorial, is less tolerant of freedom of expression?

One of the reasons the opposition did very badly in the last general election is because it did not want to face reality. The top leadership felt it knows better and it resented criticism from the bottom. And it paid severely for this arrogance.

Read my lips. Malaysia Today is not a party website. It is not an Anwar Ibrahim website. It is not an Islamic website. It is not a Malay rights and privileges website. It is a website meant to wake Malaysians from their deep slumber and make them realise that all is not well in this nation of ours. And the opposition too had better awake from its coma before it goes into rigor mortis.

And please, before you start shouting “Reformasi! Transparency! Freedom!” and all that sloganeering, just make sure your party first of all practices all this. Reformasi or reformation is required in the opposition as much as it is required in the government.

On another subject, you may have noticed that Kirdatun no longer writes for Malaysia Today. Well, that is a shame actually. I managed to persuade her to stay on once before when she decided to ‘retire’. Unfortunately, I was not successful the second time around.

I say ‘unfortunately’ for two reasons. First is because it shows how intolerant the opposition, in particular the Anwarists, are to criticism. The argument used in the objection to her articles is that Kirdatun writes under a pseudonym and not her real name. But do all those anti-government writers write under their own names as well? They too write under pseudonyms and the webmasters of the various websites too are anonymous. Why is it those who criticise the government can remain anonymous while those who criticise the opposition are not allowed to do the same?

Secondly, Kirdatun is not anti-Anwar Ibrahim. She in fact loves Anwar, to a fault. I sometimes wonder whether she, just like Ummi Hafilda Ali, harbours a ‘secret love’ for Anwar. Anyway, what Kirdatun did was not criticise Anwar or the other opposition leaders, in particular in Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Of course it appears like she is criticising them. What she is actualy doing is repeating what the public is saying about Anwar and all the others.

Anwar and Parti Keadilan Rakyat suffer from a credibility problem. All is not as honky dory as what they may think. People are talking but no one is clarifying or rebutting this negative perception. So Kirdatun writes as if it is she who is talking just to alert everyone that this is what is being said by all and sundry. Then it is up to those concerned to correct the perception and set the record straight.

Anyway, that is all water under the bridge now. Kirdatun has gone and we shall no longer receive any feedback as to what the public thinks of Anwar and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. We just hope Anwar and Parti Keadilan Rakyat are wise enough to feel the pulse of the nation and do the needful. If not, then the next general election is going to be a repeat of the last one. And Anwar will continue in the manner of the king and his new clothes, fully naked but imagining himself regally dressed.