A delusional democracy
MasterwordsmithPublished: May 15, 2009 4:00 PM | Updated: May 15, 2009 4:02 PM
Let's take a look at some issues.
1. The ruling Perak government obtained its majority from two assembly men and one assembly woman. The latter, a former clerk, walked out of her party claiming ill-treatment even though her party made her Perak deputy speaker when there were many other qualified candidates compared to her. What does this tell us about the quality of her leadership, depth of character and morals?
Perakians elected a government democratically but now, the three turncoats in the Perak state assembly have caused havoc hand-in-hand with the ruling government and they expect to run the state without the mandate from the electorate, making a mockery of the democratic principle of free elections.
Some people choose to live in denial. If the Perakians wanted BN, they would have been the elected government with a convincing majority but it is very clear that the rakyat on March 8, 2008 sent Barisan a clear message that they want a change in the government.
Tragically, Barisan disregarded the wishes of the people of Perak by taking over their state assembly in such a disgusting and disgraceful manner. Standing between majority-won elections and government power must be elected representatives who write, oversee and implement laws.
\
But when you can no longer trust the elected representatives, what happens to democracy? It becomes an oxymoron.
2. What did we see on Black Thursday? A comic circus-like spectacle where Perak Speaker V Sivakumar was forcibly dragged out by the police and staff of the recalcitrant state assembly secretary. It is now news all over the world.
The State Secretary Abdul Rahman Hasim had ordered the sergeant-at-arms and the assembly secretary to ignore the rightful Speaker Sivakumar's directives in the assembly. Instead, many people were aghast when they saw how Sivakumar was forcibly removed from his chair during the assembly and carted away.
This can be interpreted as a coup, an outrageous rape of democracy by forces who are bent on using brute force and thuggery to achieve their selfish ambitions and to deny the rakyat their legitimate voice in free and fair polls. What they showed was their lack of morals, conscience, values, principles and an outward show of disrespect for justice, fairness and democracy.
In sharp contrast, we also saw how the Pakatan assembly persons valiantly defended democracy and tried to protect the strong and courageous Speaker Sivakumar who faced danger and bodily harm. We were all helpless, either in front of our computers or television screens.
3. According to parliamentary conventions observed by most Commonwealth countries, the grounds of the legislature provides a sovereign refuge from which government administration agencies such as the police cannot invade, unless upon invitation by the speaker.
This convention stems from the time-honored doctrine of separation of powers between the three branches of government.
The house has its own sergeant-at-arms to enforce the apeaker's decision and that of the whole house, policing itself without the interference of the police. However, on that Black Thursday, many of us saw how unidentified goons, speculated to be police personnel, carted away the speaker in an outrageous depiction of the death parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.
Who can explain why the police were there? Who gave the orders?
4. There are a number of unanswered questions which will probably be specimens in the twilight zone.
a. Why were the seven suspended excos and the three ‘BN friendly' assembly persons not pulled out of the house when the speaker ordered so? In short, why didn't the sergeant-at-arms listen to Speaker Sivakumar? Is he then not doing his job and why was this act of disobedience validated by the evil forces at work?
b. Why did they practise discrimination in the way of allowing one person who is not even an elected representative to enter the assembly and later on to become the speaker?
c. Will action be taken against the state legal officer, the state assembly secretary, the sergeant-at-arms and the faceless person who turned off the speaker's microphone in the Dewan, all of whom went on their merry way to play their villainous roles in this absurd naked power grab which resulted in a free for all ?
d. Why were House Standing Orders ignored?
e. Why was the town transformed into a war zone while ordinary people and legislators were arrested and handcuffed so enthusiastically while other snatch thieves and criminals are still at large?
f. Many are concerned as to why some quarters have taken matters into their own hands even though the courts have yet to make their decisions on the following:
So what happened on Black Thursday? In simple terms, it was a live telecast of the assault on and thereafter the murder and burial of democracy where innocent legislators were arrested, citizens treated like morons and rightful elected representatives mocked at by vile and guileless characters whose demented faces and wicked faces smacked of villains from a Grade B movie.
Where are we? We have arrived at a delusional democracy. Delusional because overwhelmingly, many of us cannot admit the painful truth that our so-called democracy no longer works for the good of most citizens.
Instead, through corruption and dishonesty, our representative democracy has morphed into a plutocracy that serves the wealthy, the power elites and corporate masters that control the political system and through that, the economic system. Some deceive themselves into thinking that things will get better, but will it?
So much delusional thinking is destroying democracy in our country especially when representative government fails, thanks to a certain breed of politicians who mostly serve corporate and/or other special interests.
The problem is exacerbated when some accept it, make excuses for it and thereafter accept it or get numb to it and live with it without lifting a finger to make a difference to the nation they call their own. Then the time has come for more direct democracy opportunities and a return to real democratic practices. Say goodbye to governance by fear.
Stand up and be counted. Stop hiding behind your door or window or computer or television screen. Stop complaining on the phone or online or criticising those who do or don't. Don't just listen to your friends discussing about it and then give your comment based on secondary sources of information without feeling the heart of the matter.
Don't be as delusional like the intellectually-challenged leaders who are ruled by legal tender and not by conscience. Step forward, be involved in NGO or political activities or in your own way.
Raise awareness and encourage young people to register, to vote, to be critical thinkers who are politically savvy and who can make that difference to our country before it is too late.
Don't sit back and watch in lethal passivity. We have seen what has happened and it is time to do something positive for our country. It is your choice.
1. The ruling Perak government obtained its majority from two assembly men and one assembly woman. The latter, a former clerk, walked out of her party claiming ill-treatment even though her party made her Perak deputy speaker when there were many other qualified candidates compared to her. What does this tell us about the quality of her leadership, depth of character and morals?
Perakians elected a government democratically but now, the three turncoats in the Perak state assembly have caused havoc hand-in-hand with the ruling government and they expect to run the state without the mandate from the electorate, making a mockery of the democratic principle of free elections.
Some people choose to live in denial. If the Perakians wanted BN, they would have been the elected government with a convincing majority but it is very clear that the rakyat on March 8, 2008 sent Barisan a clear message that they want a change in the government.
Tragically, Barisan disregarded the wishes of the people of Perak by taking over their state assembly in such a disgusting and disgraceful manner. Standing between majority-won elections and government power must be elected representatives who write, oversee and implement laws.
\
But when you can no longer trust the elected representatives, what happens to democracy? It becomes an oxymoron.
2. What did we see on Black Thursday? A comic circus-like spectacle where Perak Speaker V Sivakumar was forcibly dragged out by the police and staff of the recalcitrant state assembly secretary. It is now news all over the world.
The State Secretary Abdul Rahman Hasim had ordered the sergeant-at-arms and the assembly secretary to ignore the rightful Speaker Sivakumar's directives in the assembly. Instead, many people were aghast when they saw how Sivakumar was forcibly removed from his chair during the assembly and carted away.
This can be interpreted as a coup, an outrageous rape of democracy by forces who are bent on using brute force and thuggery to achieve their selfish ambitions and to deny the rakyat their legitimate voice in free and fair polls. What they showed was their lack of morals, conscience, values, principles and an outward show of disrespect for justice, fairness and democracy.
In sharp contrast, we also saw how the Pakatan assembly persons valiantly defended democracy and tried to protect the strong and courageous Speaker Sivakumar who faced danger and bodily harm. We were all helpless, either in front of our computers or television screens.
3. According to parliamentary conventions observed by most Commonwealth countries, the grounds of the legislature provides a sovereign refuge from which government administration agencies such as the police cannot invade, unless upon invitation by the speaker.
This convention stems from the time-honored doctrine of separation of powers between the three branches of government.
The house has its own sergeant-at-arms to enforce the apeaker's decision and that of the whole house, policing itself without the interference of the police. However, on that Black Thursday, many of us saw how unidentified goons, speculated to be police personnel, carted away the speaker in an outrageous depiction of the death parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.
Who can explain why the police were there? Who gave the orders?
4. There are a number of unanswered questions which will probably be specimens in the twilight zone.
a. Why were the seven suspended excos and the three ‘BN friendly' assembly persons not pulled out of the house when the speaker ordered so? In short, why didn't the sergeant-at-arms listen to Speaker Sivakumar? Is he then not doing his job and why was this act of disobedience validated by the evil forces at work?
b. Why did they practise discrimination in the way of allowing one person who is not even an elected representative to enter the assembly and later on to become the speaker?
c. Will action be taken against the state legal officer, the state assembly secretary, the sergeant-at-arms and the faceless person who turned off the speaker's microphone in the Dewan, all of whom went on their merry way to play their villainous roles in this absurd naked power grab which resulted in a free for all ?
d. Why were House Standing Orders ignored?
e. Why was the town transformed into a war zone while ordinary people and legislators were arrested and handcuffed so enthusiastically while other snatch thieves and criminals are still at large?
f. Many are concerned as to why some quarters have taken matters into their own hands even though the courts have yet to make their decisions on the following:
- Whether the resignation of the three ‘frogs' was legitimate If it is ruled as being not legitimate, then BN would not have the majority
- Who is the official menteri besar of Perak?
- Whether two of the ‘frogs' are found guilty or not guilty of corruption If they are found guilty, there could be two more by-elections and that means BN would not have the majority.
- What then is the implication of the ruling government's action is bulldozing their way through to wrest control of the Perak state government even though things are still very fluid?
- Will action be taken against one of the frogs who purportedly tore a ringgit note and held what looked like a pepper spray to threaten another assembly person?
So what happened on Black Thursday? In simple terms, it was a live telecast of the assault on and thereafter the murder and burial of democracy where innocent legislators were arrested, citizens treated like morons and rightful elected representatives mocked at by vile and guileless characters whose demented faces and wicked faces smacked of villains from a Grade B movie.
Where are we? We have arrived at a delusional democracy. Delusional because overwhelmingly, many of us cannot admit the painful truth that our so-called democracy no longer works for the good of most citizens.
Instead, through corruption and dishonesty, our representative democracy has morphed into a plutocracy that serves the wealthy, the power elites and corporate masters that control the political system and through that, the economic system. Some deceive themselves into thinking that things will get better, but will it?
So much delusional thinking is destroying democracy in our country especially when representative government fails, thanks to a certain breed of politicians who mostly serve corporate and/or other special interests.
The problem is exacerbated when some accept it, make excuses for it and thereafter accept it or get numb to it and live with it without lifting a finger to make a difference to the nation they call their own. Then the time has come for more direct democracy opportunities and a return to real democratic practices. Say goodbye to governance by fear.
Stand up and be counted. Stop hiding behind your door or window or computer or television screen. Stop complaining on the phone or online or criticising those who do or don't. Don't just listen to your friends discussing about it and then give your comment based on secondary sources of information without feeling the heart of the matter.
Don't be as delusional like the intellectually-challenged leaders who are ruled by legal tender and not by conscience. Step forward, be involved in NGO or political activities or in your own way.
Raise awareness and encourage young people to register, to vote, to be critical thinkers who are politically savvy and who can make that difference to our country before it is too late.
Don't sit back and watch in lethal passivity. We have seen what has happened and it is time to do something positive for our country. It is your choice.
View Comments0