Ignore the scaremongering and let’s move forward
For the ruling politicians to describe these voters as being easily “duped” and “taken for a ride” – or basically plain stupid – for exercising their democratic rights is not going to earn them any respect.
Azam Aris, fz.com
THE nation is supposed to be in reconciliation mode. But the political scaremongering that is supposed to ease after the most competitive general election in the nation’s history has in fact reached a crescendo.
Rather than having a healthy discourse, what has dominated the post general election scene is the politics of race and hate. I am confident that the majority of Malaysians will move on and treat these pronouncements as mere polemics.
What is sad, however, is that some personalities who have jumped on the bandwagon of racial and political scaremongering include those who are supposed to be in the more “responsible” group.
One does not mind if such statements come from the usual suspects – Malay right-wing groups like Perkasa and race-based non-governmental organisations.
But it is disheartening to note that elderly statesmen, ministers, professionals – including a judge and educationists – who are supposed to be the nation’s voice of reason, questioning the loyalty of voters. They talk about betraying the Malays, suggest vernacular schools be closed down and insist the future of Islam and Malays are under threat. Some have even tried to initiate a boycott of businessmen deemed to be supporters of the opposition.
Worst still is asking those who are not fully in agreement with the government of the day to leave the country. And not forgetting – unbelievable in this age of the Internet – the allegation that the opposition are puppets of foreign powers.
Where is the reconciliation process as proposed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak? Are these groups, including members of Umno and ministers, not heeding the call?
One expects Pakatan Rakyat, which lost the general election, to continue harping on the unfairness of the election process and to go on with their protest – including using the courts – but they have also proposed a national unity convention to address the situation.
As the winner, Umno-led Barisan Nasional should be magnanimous and lead the reconciliation efforts. It should build bridges and not dismantle them. It should not be on the offensive and find fault with the 52.3% voters who did not support them.
Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/ignore-scaremongering-and-lets-move-forward#ixzz2U5AoxzKW
