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Mihar Dias (C) Copyright March 2023
A controversial event that features Tun Mahathir is renamed “Malays Celebrating Ramadan” from the original “Malay Proclamation”.
We feel that this title change may sound less threatening to the currrent administration whom Tun Mahathir alleged must have been behind the cancellation of the event earlier.
As a result of the cancellation, the organiser, Sekretariat Tanah Air that describes itself as a group of Malay volunteers fighting to save the country’s ethnic majority from being subjugated by a minority, told Malay Mail that the event is moved to Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Selayang after it was shut out from a hotel in Kuala Lumpur earlier.
In any case prior to the cancellation PMX, issued a stern warning to parties that he said were using race and religion to promote strife, saying his government will “not tolerate in the slightest bit” any form of racial instigation and will “continue to uphold the Federal Constitution” as he pledged to lead a government that is inclusive. He made the remark after the Opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional and some elements in the majority Malay-Muslim community is alleged to be fanning the flames.
In response, Tun Mahathir himself accused PMX's administration of being a dictatorship and oppressive after the cancellation of the event which purportedly targeted government critics and opposition lawmakers.
Tun Mahathir later highlighted the alleged hypocrisy of the current government headed by Anwar who had previously protested against the Barisan Nasional (BN) led government’s policies and actions. He emphasized that the Malays have lost power under the current administration’s “multiracial” approach claiming that “The Malays, founders of this country, can’t even gather under this new government, a dictatorship,” he said, adding that people’s right to gather and criticise the government is being suppressed.
Tun Mahathir also expressed his confusion as to why the event was cancelled because attendees were law-abiding citizens who were trying to voice their concerns over matters affecting Malays. Furthermore, he lashed out at the administration for showing increasing intolerance towards free speech and attacking critics. He also accused PMX of orchestrating a sudden cancellation of the Malay solidarity event, although he said he had no proof but was confident that the cancellation wouldn’t have occurred without PMX's instruction.
In addition, Tun Mahathir also highlighted the filtered media, stating that any negative information about the government is not allowed to be broadcast. He also claimed that the government’s portrayal of Malaysia as a multiracial country denies the special rights of the Malays, the country’s original inhabitants.
On the other hand, Former minister and current ambassador to the US, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Tun Mahathir should be charged under the Sedition Act over his criticism that the government was shutting down critics.
Nazri said, "During his (Tun Mahathir's) time (as PM), anyone who wanted to organise a rally to criticise the government would be deemed as going against the government... (detractors) would be arrested under the Internal Security Act. If you do not believe me, ask (Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia president) Datuk Ibrahim Ali."
Incidentally, Tun Mahathir recently joined a party headed by Ibrahim Ali who had been detained under the Internal Security Act twice. Further, Nazri alleged that during Dr Mahathir's 22-year administration, racial gatherings were prohibited.
However, Tun Mahathir said during his tenure as the fourth Prime Minister, he did not stop Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the PMX from holding his weekly demonstrations.
"But now that he is the Prime Minister, he does not allow Malays to even discuss the problems that they face". (TRP)
Nazri said he was surprised by Tun Mahathir's recent concern for the Malays as he was critical of the community when he was prime minister.
"Now that he is no longer in power, he wants to show that he cares for the Malays. But Malays do not believe him anymore." (NST)
One of the main criticism against Tun Mahathir as PM is the "Operation Lalang" where police conducted a massive nationwide arrests of political activists.
Many accused Tun Mahathir of misusing his power during his time by deploying the ISA against his opponents to silence critics with Operation Lalang being a major milestone of his so called draconian action. But Tun M has denied this claiming it was purely an independent action taken by the police without his interference.
"Ops Lalang happened when I was Prime Minister. I did not order it. Tun Hanif (former IGP) has already clarified that it was the decision made by the police. A Prime Minister has to listen to the police. They are responsible for the security of the nation. Their opinions and advice cannot be simply brushed aside,” he said.
In any case, you see, what superficially started out as a forum about proclamation of Malay 'rights' organised by Sekretariat Tanah Air has resulted in Anwar putting security services on alert for possible trouble.
Besides, voices are also demanding that Tun Mahathir be detained under Sedition Act for criticising PMX while some netizens are pushing for him to be investigated for allegedly "stealing" state funds and enriching his family menbers.
Meanwhile, in the last few days, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that there is no need to take action against Tun Mahathir under the Sedition Act over his criticism of the government. However, he said he will leave it to the police to take the appropriate action if necessary.
We sympathise with Tun Mahathir for trying to speak out but he seems to be a threat to Anwar just the way the earlier perceived the latter during his own administration.
At one time Anwar accused Tun Mahathir of being a dictator. Now it has come full circle where the latter accuses his successor for behaving similarly when in the position of PMX.
What karma! There was a time when Anwar took to the streets while Tun Mahathir was sitting in the PM's chair. Now it's Anwar's turn to sit in the same seat watching Tun Mahathir being out in the streets moving from one venue to the next to hold his own version of protest indoors as owners of premises pulled out afraid of being complicit.
What an incredible reversal of roles!
A marvelous story of "What you can do I can do better!" that Hollywood script writers couldn't have imagined themselves.
Consider yourself lucky for being able to see this reversal of roles unfolding before your own eyes.
Enjoy the show. It isn't over yet.
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