Najib’s Silence on Zahid Signals Trouble for Malaysians

 

Some may opine that silence does not signal agreement but the majority of the public are thinking to the contrary, that he indeed has given the ‘green light’ for his Home Minister to just carry on doing what he has done. Interestingly, not a word has been uttered with regards to his One Malaysia rhetoric. 

 

 

“If we get evidence, we shoot them first,” he was quoted as saying. They were then threatened that if any of it was reported, their news portals might face a situation of having to shut down. Dato’ Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a Member of Parliament, a man put in charge of one of the most key ministries in the country. And what will happen after this? I think you know, there is no need for explanation when it comes to this.

 

The Home Affairs Minister has crossed that proverbial line many a time but has he been held accountable? I don’t recall him being investigated for his brash statements at all.

 

To say that “we shoot them first” is absolutely preposterous, and coming from a Minister! Many countries try to observe the rule of law, putting it above everything else so that it acts (via the judicial system), as a check and balance for any society, governing its citizens and keeping all in check. He has however, clearly undermined it.

 

What Zahid has done is undermine the judiciary in Malaysia, very clearly so. Allowing the police to bypass the courts and act as disciplinarians to society shows that we might be at a crossroad here, where the legal system is not given the chance to do its duty. Even for his self-proclaimed law, the now infamous Prevention of Crime Act, the Minister said that “even if there is not enough evidence, we can detain them for 2 years,” which vividly validates my point. He wants a free rein to act according to his whim and fancy.

 

Now, more fuel has been added to this ever-growing fire where he proudly claimed that it is not standard procedure for warning shots to be fired. The Standard Operating Procedure observed by our police force is slightly vague as not many are aware of it. However, there certainly has to be a set of procedure, or Rules of Engagement which they are bound to follow, and not being gung-ho when apprehending criminals.

 

As agents of law, that is their duty actually, apprehend criminals and not take them out. I thought we all believed in the notion that one is ‘innocent until proven guilty’ but do you see any shadow of that here?

 

The cherry on Zahid Hamidi’s cake of amazing statements is when he nonchalantly challenged to be sued for sedition. As a matter of fact, his utterances are irrefutably seditious in nature, by even segregating races as a means of getting support for the party elections which is blowing a lot of steam but losing substance.

 

All of these do not bode well for his Premier. PM Najib has not been seen to refute or be dissimilar with Zahid’s newfound brashness. Some may opine that silence does not signal agreement but the majority of the public are thinking to the contrary, that he indeed has given the ‘green light’ for his Home Minister to just carry on doing what he has done. Interestingly, not a word has been uttered with regards to his One Malaysia rhetoric.

 

The Prime Minister speaks of transformation and maybe it is. Powers that be are allowed to act on their own accord and not be subjected to ministerial responsibility. We have gone up a notch or two after GE13, with the race card at the forefront of UMNO’s agenda. Silence is golden, as the old adage goes, but ignorance can be detrimental. Malaysia’s Prime Minister is trying hard to get back confidence from the people.

 

He can start immediately, right here, right now. Get tough on the Home Minister, and he should rightfully be dismissed. This has to be a benchmark that more of this sort of unacceptable behaviour will not go unopposed.

 

Najib should act now, but I know he will not. Or maybe the only way that change can come is from the ordinary people, they might be able to do something extraordinary. The clock is ticking. Hope Najib clicks into gear.