As the year draws to a close, one couldn’t help but wonder of what is in stock for this much embattled nation. Judging by what has unfolded in the political scenario of late, one shudders how this multitude of events may eventually resolve itself. Will we be better off or perhaps worse off?

But before we answer that question, we need to ask: Are we the target group of our own political advocacy? It looks like we are. We relish it with such passion and devour it with such vigor. So what is wrong with that? Well, if only we could understand that politics, in the final analysis, is about numbers. One person, one vote - no matter how enlightened or illiterate we are. Democracy is sort of blind in this sense.

Worse still, in a ‘spectator democracy’, it is the ‘silent majority’ that has time and again reinstated non-performing inept government, albeit through the regime’s unscrupulous and sinister means of ‘manufacturing consent’ via their absolute media control.

Yes, you and I, are the converted few. The minority in the entire citizenry, that has rendered about 36% of the popular votes to the opposition in the last General Election (GE). Incidentally it translated disproportionately in the outmoded ‘first-past-the-post’ system, to only 19 seats in Parliament, or a mere 8% of the 219 parliamentary seats. Doubtless, we must increase this support base and reach out to broader constituencies.

True enough, 2007 has witnessed intriguing cascade of events that couldn’t be interpreted, except in the positive ways. The plethora of critical yet entertaining writings by many a blogger in the blogospheres and at times investigative journalism of Internet-based papers the likes of Malaysiakini, Malaysia Today and Harakahdaily, may now be safely regarded as the ‘new emerging media’ for the next GE.

There is certainly no denying the fact that the march of democratisation is on its ascendancy. In a rare exhibit of open dissent, the month of November alone witnessed two mammoth gatherings of bona-fide dissenters. Bersih pressing for urgent electoral reforms before the next GE and Hindraf, expressing grouses for the alleged marginalisation and discrimination of their ethnic community.

These two events were historically preceded by the unprecedented ‘Walk for Justice’ by a deluge of disgruntled lawyers of the Bar Council on Sept 26. Unequivocally demanding for the establishment of a royal commission to probe the rot in the judiciary, sparked ostensibly by the expose of the now infamous Lingamgate video tape allegedly involving a lawyer who have ‘graduated’ to ‘judge fixing’ after years of perfecting the ‘practice’ of ‘judge shopping’. The speech of the newly appointed chief justice spoke volumes of a judiciary in dire straits.

At the worst times of our history, where every critical institution of the state is severely compromised, it is most heartening to see the spontaneous exhibit of patriotism by citizens of this nation.

This truly reflects the embodiment of the quotable quote of Edward Abbey, an uncompromising environmentalist (1927-1989) who cogently said, “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government”. The threats of being detained, criminalised and locked into oblivion without recourse to an open trial and defence by the draconian ISA, posed little inhibition to the gallant show of patriotism on the part of these genuine dissenters.

Incidentally, the dichotomy of ‘public order versus freedom of assembly’ expounded by none other than the premier, is fundamentally flawed much as it is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Federal Constitution.

If all the so-called ‘street-rioters’ of Bersih, Hindraf and the Bar Council mind you, could be ‘rubbished’ as individuals out to do mischief and smack of political motives, what do they have to say about the dissenting voice of the former chief justice, Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah. How about the former attorney-general, Abu Talib Othman and his entire commissioners, who now repeated Suhakam calls for the repeal of the Section 27 of the Police Act whereby police permits are needed before organisers are allowed to hold a political rally.

Or perhaps should I also include of the recent opinion of Perak crown prince Dr Raja Nazrin Shah when he asserted that “the desire to maintain public order should not be used as an excuse for never allowing peaceful assemblies”.

The two towering personalities of the judiciary now openly defy the wrongdoings of the government. True to what was once preached by Voltaire, “When the government is wrong, it is dangerous to be right”. These salient individuals have now come out to categorically challenge the wrongdoings of the government. As the legal fraternity aptly opined, “When injustices become law, resistance is a duty”.

Visibly disappointed, Dzaiddin, who was the chairman of the Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police, said the proposed Special Complaints Commission (SCC) now being formed by an act of parliament, was "something entirely different from what we recommended”. The government, “in its wisdom, did not accept the core recommendation of an independent oversight body … a complete departure" from their 125 recommendations submitted in January 2006.

"It was supposed to receive and investigate complaints of misconduct by the police and to prevent, detect and investigate corruption and other serious misconduct. It was also supposed to propose measures to the minister of internal security to improve police integrity, reduce misconduct and increase public confidence in the police.".

"There appears to be no mention of corruption in the SCC Act," he said. Incidentally Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, a former president of Transparency International Malaysia and having served on the royal commission, visibly agitated by the ‘mutated and perverted’ bill and called it a mockery and an insult to the Parliament, the rakyat and himself.

We must not be in denial

While all these events are very positive and consoling to the democratisation efforts of all the well-wishers of genuine democracy, may we be reminded that there exist the ‘silent majority’, in whose name and interest, the premier has acted in ‘good faith’ to secure national stability, security and peace - whatever that terms mean to anyone now.

They constituted 64% of the electorates that have given this government the disproportionate 92% of the seats in Parliament in the last GE. With that support, this ruling regime has committed gross excesses with impunity, not the least in the way they bulldozed literally everything in the bicameral legislative assemblies.

We may ‘rubbish’ and call it an absolute absurdity that 74% of Malaysians who said the elections are free and fair, while 88% of Malaysians polled were satisfied with the state of democracy in the country, according to a Gallup International survey. But that’s their findings. We must not be in denial. These are the ‘silent majority’ that should be now the targets of our democratic campaign. Call them what you may, it doesn’t change anything in the least.

Electorates should vote based on informed decision. Access to information is so critical and cardinal to democracy. Voters’ access to information must not be stifled much as candidates need to have a fair and equitable access to media to enable them to communicate their policies and conviction to a wider cross section of the electorates.

A truly free and fair press in a democracy informs the public, holds leaders accountable, engenders integrity, stifles corruption and amply provides a forum to debate on issues of local, national or global concerns by both the government and their critiques or detractors. This, to me, is the key to a vibrant functional democracy.

However when voters and the rakyat are continuous victims of a massive programme of misinformation, what hope do you have to change perceptions, much less mindset and values? This brings me back to the core issue.

Watching our media, inevitably reminds us of Paul Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda. Goebbels was accurately called Hitler’s PR man. His wartime diaries, now published in paperback, make fascinating reading. The Nazis, mind you, came to power legally and upheld the notion of ‘legality’ throughout their regime.

Even before the war, Goebbels articulated the principles by which the Nazi party would control the government and obtain the ‘consent of the people’ to their programmes.

Here are some excerpts. “A big lie is as believable as a small one, just declare something long enough in an environment where alternative views are not heard and it becomes true by belief. Tell people what they want to hear; give them simple solutions to complex problems, enemies on whom they can blame their discontents, promises to satisfy their narrow aspirations, spectacles and ceremonies to stir the emotions and suppress critical thinking, manufactured news and contrived reports that support the party line.” That really does sound very familiar.

To claim as some do that we are a democracy because we have regular national elections is dishonestly charming and naïve. Little wonder why the ‘silent majority’ gave a resounding positive response to the Gallup survey, being blissfully oblivious, ignorant and hence remorseless, subsequent to being victims of decades of misinformation.

There is much more to democracy than the holding of elections. What is important is for us to ask, "What happens in between elections?" And even more important is for us to ask ourselves, “Who do you think the majority of Malaysians are listening to right now and why?”

The onus is on all well-wishers of democracy, the genuine dissenters, the truly patriotic; be they partisan parties and non-partisan civil society, former elites of the military, police, judiciary, academics and bureaucrats, to now join the chorus for genuine change and reform. Let their voice be heard by all. Barring the diehards Umno/BN supporters, the ‘silent majority’ are all still amenable to change, provided we are able to reach out, be heard and be understood.

If the government thinks these dissenters have a compulsive penchant for the street, then they are awfully wrong. They are only there, and insist on being there, solely for the reason that they are denied a better place - that is, the mainstream media. They are certainly no rogues and scoundrels. They are His Majesty’s loyal opposition!

Perchance the ‘silent majority’ may hear and take heed.

Dr DZULKIFLI AHMAD, a member of Bersih steering committee, is director of PAS Research Centre.