Mustapa misses the point

(Malaysian Mirror) VARIOUS phrases, taken at random, from the Tourism Malaysia site make attractive reading. The words “free to practice his own faith, Islam in Malaysia is tolerant, gentle mannerism of the Malays, diligent Chinese, fearsome Ibans” complement what we see in everyday life.

Left to our own devices, all the races do get on. That is until politicians obstruct us and scupper all the goodwill and harmony created, by making various issues political.

When International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed asked Malaysian restaurateurs in Holland to improve Malaysia’s image, he should have directed that request to his Cabinet colleagues. It might also be judicious to extend that charge to all politicians in Malaysia.

Suspicious deaths of people in custody, caning of women, ban on the word ‘Allah’, torched churches, boars heads in mosques, journalists desecrating the Catholic church, Penan rapes, trumped up charges of opposition politicians, are some of the more serious issues.

And quite rightly, the Dutch government was alarmed, as in all of these, justice was denied.

In truly democratic societies, people are allowed to openly discuss issues that concern them. But Malaysians do not have the luxury of freedom of expression or intelligent discourse.

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