Pot calling the kettle black
Dr Zambry may have been correct in saying that the DAP actions at the convention last Sunday, were extreme. But it is no less extreme than the stomping and burning of the posters of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Mirror
The Perak Mentri Besar, the Wanita Umno Chief and the Information, Communications Minister have initiated a chorus criticising several DAP leaders for their ill-mannered actions of stepping on posters of three Barisan Nasional-friendly independent assemblypersons.
Yet, if I recall correctly, the Barisan Nasional’s own government in the form of the Chair in the Dewan Rakyat and its other ministers, find it quite impossible to contain the reprehensible actions of BN’s own Tajuddin Rahman, the MP for Pasir Salak throughout last year.
May I remind readers, that as a woman, I was flabbergasted when the Ministry of Women’s Affairs let him off lightly. This bad-boy of parliament uttered derogatory comments, made sexist innuendos, swore at other MPs and never ceased to be rude, while the house was sitting. And amazingly, he escaped censure everytime! No apology necessary. No punishment needed.
Nevertheless, Dr Zambry may have been correct in saying that the DAP actions at the convention last Sunday, were extreme. But it is no less extreme than the stomping and burning of the posters of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Was it the action of just a villager or was that committed with instigation from some anti-DAP politicians.
How he equates the actions with not understanding and respecting democracy baffles me. As far as I can see, they were exercising their democratic right to protest i.e. public participation.
But then, no one has been able to explain how, in the state of Perak, the results of free and fair elections as well as the abuse of power has resulted in a change of the outcome of the elections, via ‘creative’ methods.
I also fail to see how the Information Minister considers the actions of the DAP politicians to be disrespectful of individual rights and democracy. After all, it is the same level of respect displayed by the BN youth leaders and their supporters in Penang in their ‘fiery’ protest.
Do not insult law-abiding Malays
Utusan Malaysia in its editorial said that the actions of the DAP politicians ‘had not happened in the history of Malaysian politics’. I would like to remind the paper that neither has the Dewan Rakyat seen the likes of a politician like Tajuddin who has disgraced parliament with sexist comments, abusive language, indiscipline and an unwillingness to apologise.
But I reserve my best for last. The Utusan Malaysia editorial quotes “DAP leaders should be reminded not to test the patience of the Malays. The act of stepping and leaping across the pictures of Malays is very rude. They have challenged the dignity of Malay leaders.”
Please do not insult decent, law-abiding Malays and treat us with contempt and ridicule. We are not as simple as you make out.
These three politicians lacked moral fibre, went about their daily lives without a conscience and through their corruptible actions have broken Perak and held its citizens to ransom, and thrown its governance into disrepute.
That, in my eyes, is by far the more contemptible and despicable action rather than a mere symbolic gesture of stepping over their pictures.
It is the pride, dignity and integrity of the normal Malay, nay I correct myself, the normal Malaysian, which is being challenged here.
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Ipoh, a chemist and pollution-control scientist by training, with a passion for people and the outdoors, and a strong sense of equality and justice.
