That’s Why They Call Him ‘False Democrat’

By admin-s On Dec 1, 2014

Najib has the cheek to say, “We believe that our friends from BN’s component parties will also agree with our decision.” Would they have much choice after the bomb has been dropped?

Kee Thuan Chye

Najib Razak showed himself to be a most untrustworthy prime minister when he announced last Wednesday that the Sedition Act would remain. He broke the promise he had made in 2012 to repeal the archaic law, promulgated by the British imperialists in 1948, and replace it with the National Harmony Act.

That he chose to make the announcement during his policy speech at the annual Umno general assembly – in a safe cocoon among party members and like-minded chums – shows the weak stuff he is made of. He naturally received a standing ovation for it because retaining the Act is the wish of the conservatives of his besieged and threatened party, but had he done it in Parliament or before an audience of all races and different persuasions, he would have most likely been heckled instead.

His action also confirms his vulnerability as president of Umno and his desperation in preserving his position. In light of snide attacks against his leadership by proxies of powers within the party who are unhappy with him, leading to speculation that his days at the top could be ended with an internal coup, and criticism of his brainchild 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) by no less than former premier Mahathir Mohamad apparently to destabilise him, he had to appease his critics and agitators by giving them something that they want that would help consolidate the party’s hold on power.

That precious asset, in the absence of the already repealed Internal Security Act (ISA) which was effective in silencing dissenting voices, would be the Sedition Act. And keeping it would minimise the exposure of truths that would be damaging to the party.

Najib thus cut a pathetic figure trying to show he still had mettle when he made the announcement with bravado and aplomb, like a circus ringmaster announcing a new act to a gallery of zealots. He came across not at all like a statesman in control of his realm but like a jaguh kampung on the defensive striving to score points. For his own survival.

Watch the video of his announcement and you will see what I mean. And then compare it to the video of his declaration in 2012 that the Act would be replaced, when he spoke with sobriety and a tad of dignity, more becoming of the nation’s chief executive. But then again, the pose he struck on that occasion could have been one of a bogus reformer. For even then, we had known from his flip-flopping habit that he could say one thing today and do the opposite another time.

So his latest turnaround comes as no surprise, really. We could see it coming months ago from the escalating noise arising from claims about the institutions of Malay power and sovereignty being under threat and therefore needing protection by the Sedition Act, claims made by extremist Malay NGOs, right-wing Umno members, Mahathir himself and even Umno’s Cabinet ministers.

But this turnaround is certainly Najib’s worst. “Despicable” would be too light a word to describe it. Because added to the injury caused by the breaking of his promise is his disclosure that not only would the Sedition Act be retained, it would also incorporate at least two new elements.

These would be special provisions to safeguard the sanctity of Islam, as well as other religions, and to take action against anyone who tries to incite Sabah and Sarawak to secede.

With religion coming under the purview of the Act as well, one would be prompted to invoke that famous quote of Dorothy Parker’s: “What fresh hell is this?” The phrase “sanctity of Islam”, in particular, could carry quite a load, although – to be facetious about it – I cannot help but think of the ‘Save Ibrahim Ali’ campaign! But on a serious note, with religion included in the Act, imagine if you will the endless ominous possibilities of religious politicisation. Already, there are too many sacred cows to uphold; why do we want to further constrict our democratic space? Why expand unnecessarily the definition of “sedition” when in a true democracy, it should be a word kept in a locker?

In fact, things should be removed from the Sedition Act, chief of which would be the clause which states that it is seditious “to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any Ruler or against any Government”. The British colonisers wrote that in to protect themselves; it should be irrelevant now. Today, it goes against the principles of a democracy, which allows for governments to be criticised and challenged. Only an oppressive government would charge its critics with sedition.

Najib assures us that the Act will be implemented fairly and not harm the innocent. First of all, can we still trust whatever he says? But more significantly, going by how the Act has been abused this past year – against Opposition politicians and civil society activists, even for just calling Umno “celaka” (Malay for “damn”), it doesn’t look like the Government will be fair or impartial, or that the innocent will not be charged.

Furthermore, Najib avowedly arrived at the decision of retaining the Act without consulting Umno’s partners in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. He caught them off-guard with his announcement. That is not only sneaky, it also shows disrespect to the other political parties. It is telling them that they have no say although they are supposedly part of the Government, that Umno calls all the shots, take it or leave it.

Najib’s action also tells us that had he consulted them, he might have met with resistance. In fact, Health Minister S. Subramaniam reinforced Najib’s high-handedness when he told the media that the prime minister did not even discuss the matter with the Cabinet. How democratic a prime minister is that?

And yet Najib has the cheek to say, “We believe that our friends from BN’s component parties will also agree with our decision.” Would they have much choice after the bomb has been dropped?