Nowadays, it can be pretty challenging (few friends said pretty "fishing") to write, speak or utter words on topics or issues of interest, especially if you happen not to be with the mainstream.
Why?
Simply because "surrounding" them is the mighty Sedition Act 1948, still widely used although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib has pledged to repeal. LINK
The popular opinion is that it's use is geared more towards Malaysian opposition or anyone identified to have link with the opposition than members of the ruling party or anybody in association with them.
Among opposition leaders and activist charged under Sedition Act are Adam adli, Haris Hashim, MP for Batu Tian Chua, Tamrin Gafar (ex-Umno MP and former Mara Chairman), Badrul Hisham Shahrin and several more.
However, the authority would claim it subjective to conclude if there is absolute truth to that or is there any truth that Sedition Act is now meant to "deal" with the opposition.
The authority would use the case of a controversial Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) president Abdullah Zaik who is charged under the Act over his "Chinese trespassers" remark. It's a public knowledge that Isma is an NGO seen aligned to the ruling party.
However, some quarters claimed that popular opinion is strengthened with several seditious utterances and remarks by members of the ruling party or anyone (exclusive Abdullah Zaik) known to be in association with them escaped probe and prosecution under the Act.
The late Karpal Singh would have been a DAP heavyweight and member of parliament (MP) "thrown-out" of parliament if only the road accident he had didn't take his life. With or without custodial sentence, the RM 4, 000 fine imposed suffice to disqualify senior lawyer and DAP national chairman Karpal as MP. Karpal Singh fined RM4,000 for sedition.
Another DAP party veteran and MP Lim Kit Siang has wrote on his blog that the authority is now after his scalp and that he would be probed under the Sedition Act for his seditious statement. Kit Siang Blog
Thus, I am of the opinion that it is vital for a "small-timer" like me to observe every line and boundary. It takes those with real courage to dare every bit of the Sedition Act challenges.
Actually speaking, I am not entirely "for" and "against" the Sedition Act. "For" if the use of Sedition Act is in-line with it's original objectives, such as to deal with treason or those threatening national security. "Against" if the use is politically motivated. In other words, using it as a weapon to stifle dissent or act against those who openly and aggressively opposing the mainstream.
I like to always believe that in order for democracy to flourish in this land, the use of what many classified as draconian laws must be confined to those posing a real threat to national security.
It must not be used as a "blanket-cover" to "scare" people from questioning or talking on issues of national interest.
Backtracking the 13th general election (GE13), I remembered well Tun Mahathir's (former premier) speech in Selangor in his effort to help Barisan Nasional wrest the state from incumbent government, Pakatan Rakyat (PR), but Mahathir is not at all perturbed and continued discharging hard criticisms and allegations including calling Lim Kit Siang a racist. "Detain Me, Drag Me To Court.." Tun Mahathir
Many could also easily recall seditious utterances and statements from several pressure group and NGO leaders. LINK
I am not a counselor, but I wish to share my 20-cent opinion about conflicts.
The general attitude of many Malaysians is, they are more enthusiastic to spot/find the faults of others, at times to the extent of ignoring or even denying their good deeds.
It is only common to have conflicts, be it at homes, offices, organisations and more so, political parties.
A little conflict, if left unattended would evolve into a bigger conflict which always lead to crisis. Thus, it is only appropriate to manage conflict at the stage of it's birth. To tackle conflicts that have reached a critical stage could be a real challenge, but when that has become the most exigent problems, solution still need to be found and more often than not, leaving serious consequential complications.
In handling a conflict, it's fundamental to ascertain the mistakes and work towards resolving it collectively rather than pin-pointing who made the mistakes and continuously blaming them. Forget not, "nobody is perfect" thus, it's only natural for everyone to have made mistakes. Irresponsible attitude must first be annihilated.
Should mistakes are made, admit it!. Should both sides have made the mistakes leading to the conflict, it is important of them to acknowledge the mistakes - only then could conflict potentially be resolved.
If one side is reluctant to admit and accept responsibility, efforts or initiatives by the other side should not stop. When one side is blamed, it's better to refrain from counter-blaming the other. Yes, perhaps, one side should capitulate, but that not necessarily mean they are in the wrong and conceded or lost.
Maturity, respect, listening & understanding are vital ingredients to be observed in their actions and only they themselves could control their own actions.
When one side showcase positive attitude in their approach, there could be two positive effects. Firstly, it could prevent conflicts getting out of control. Secondly, the positive attitude that one side has shown might be "copied" by the other.
In the event one side refuses to admit their mistakes, stop!. Do not continue. Give the other side some time. Perhaps, the other side is pressured and not convinced or ready to admit their mistakes.
When circumstance gets better, repeat the initiative. The one side must indicate that they are not finding faults of the other, but more to collectively resolve the problems arising from the mistakes.
It is also important to stop pushing on each other's differences. In a common circumstances, conflicts are rooted from differences, but an act to exaggerate differences would spark confrontation of opinion, bickering and crisis. Such an attitude is not conducive towards getting a conflict resolved.
Remember, though both side may have differences, the fact that they are all in one "big ship" remain and surely, there are lot more which they have something in common and compatible to each other.
The main thing towards bringing back unity and harmony, is by being apologetic, one side seeking apology and the other forgiving.
However, as I have mentioned, initiative or effort must be done at the earliest stage of the conflict itself in order to achieved the desired result.
For reason(s) only best known to them (the conflicting sides), I strongly believed People's Justice Party (PKR), particularly it's top leadership, has not seriously addressed the current conflicts at it's initial stage. It looks that it has grown into a complicated crisis that may need interference of it's other alliance parties in People's Pact (PR), especially pertaining to the controversial chief minister (MB) post of Selangor and it's incumbent MB, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
As I have said, my main concern is still with the PR and how much damage PKR has done to PR in Selangor. It's a public knowledge that not a single party in PR could stand alone to form a state government, let alone the federal government. While it is fundamental of PKR, PAS and DAP to ensure their houses are in order, it is equally important to ensure their inter-party relations, collaborations and understanding among others, remain at a convincing level.
What we can see now is that, instead of using the round table and closed door, the conflicting sides conviniently using the media to indicate and justify their differences. In the social media, supporters are divided with some confused with what is happening.
Divisions and splits only weaken the party and/or pact, if left unchecked, it could retard party and/or pact's image and at the same time, severing people's confidence.
If I can start getting "pissed-off" with what is happening in PKR, believe me, there would be others too.
Perhaps, the three (3) votes I have (family & I) could not create any impact in Segambut constituency where PR won with a convincing majority, but it could make a difference in my own hometown of Kuala Selangor, where PAS incumbent MP was defeated by BN's candidate with slim majority in GE13. I am already contemplating of getting my polling station transferred from Segambut to Kuala Selangor.
Since 1998, I have embedded great expectation and high hope to see PR becoming the next alternative government of Malaysia, but should scenario like in Selangor cannot be avoided, I fear, my expectation and hope would turn into a day-dream.
To all Muslim readers, kindly accept my wishes of Happy Eid Mubarak, Maaf Zahir dan Batin.
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