‘New’ video: UMNO-BN must abandon guttter politics

 

I refer to the latest despicable attempt to implicate Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a new ‘hotel video’. This contemptible act carries all the hallmarks of UMNO-BN’s conspiratorial, underhand and slanderous approach to national politics.

This type of sex-fixated smear politics was initiated by UMNO-BN during the Mahathir administration, when massive state resources were used to fabricate incredible sex-related charges and allegations against then Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Innocent individuals like Dr.Munawar Anees were arrested and tortured under the dreaded Internal Security Act, and forced to falsely implicate Anwar Ibrahim. 

 

Continuing in this distasteful tradition, UMNO-BN now tries to hide its economic mismanagement, abuse of power and corrupt practices by conniving at fabricated sex videos. These videos are released periodically by a sleazy website which is aligned to UMNO and heaps vile abuse on the opposition. 

 

During the earlier ‘Datuk T’ sex video fiasco, it was shocking to see the synchronised way in which public statements were being issued by the ‘Datuk T trio, top Umno leaders and the police force leadership. It was nothing less than a carefully concerted effort to destroy the political career of Anwar Ibrahim and halt Pakatan Rakyat’s march to Putrajaya. 

 

It is surely no coincidence that this new video comes at a time when Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his government are desperately trying to defend the recently tabled Budget 2012. The government’s budget proposal has been convincingly exposed as dangerously weak and based on wildly optimistic growth projections.

 

The budget does nothing to address longstanding imbalances and distortions in the economy, and one-off handouts are irresponsibly promised in order to create a feel-good factor in the run-up to the 13th general election. Respected analysts and economists have slammed it, and the public is extremely disappointed. The government should withdraw and drastically amend their budget proposal, and not seek to distract the rakyat by condoning and conniving at the dissemination of more fabricated sex-videos.