.jpg)
By Mihar Dias October 2024
Tun Mahathir’s columns in October (below) paint a stark, ironic picture of Malaysia's political environment under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, criticising the government's control over public and parliamentary discourse.
His commentary on "the peace of the graveyard" critiques the way "stability" is enforced, drawing attention to Anwar’s administration's heavy-handed use of gag orders and suppression laws like the 3R framework (Race, Religion, and Royalty) and undefined "hate speech" restrictions.
This form of “peace,” as Mahathir highlights, is maintained not by consensus but by silencing criticism, even extending to MPs who risk suspension or losing funding if they step out of line. The columns imply that Anwar’s government is using the same authoritarian tools that it once denounced, complicating its promises of reform.
The implications for Anwar’s administration are significant:
1. Erosion of Reformist Image: Mahathir’s critiques undermine Anwar’s image as a reformist, drawing a parallel between his administration’s methods and those of authoritarian regimes, such as North Korea, for suppressing dissent. Anwar risks alienating those who believed in his promise of progressive governance.
2. Strained Public Trust: By pointing out inconsistencies—such as how investigations and legal charges may be "dropped" for allies—Mahathir suggests that Anwar's government is manipulating the law for political gain. This could lead to public cynicism about whether the government genuinely values justice or is selectively enforcing laws.
3. Suppression of Parliamentary Debate: Mahathir’s warning about “peace” sustained by silencing MPs spotlights a potential hollowing out of Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy. By using MOUs that control MP funding based on speech content, the government appears to weaken Parliament’s role as a check on executive power, a core democratic tenet.
4. Impact on Anwar’s Legacy: Mahathir’s columns suggest Anwar may be compromising his legacy by adopting suppressive tactics. While “stability” may be preserved short-term, this approach could eventually lead to backlash and weaken Anwar’s standing as a leader committed to transparency and accountability.
In the bigger picture, Mahathir’s commentary positions Anwar at a crossroads: he can either reinforce control and risk being seen as anti-democratic or embrace reform with more tolerance for dissent, even at the cost of short-term "stability."
If Anwar’s government fails to shift course, it may achieve the “peace” Mahathir describes—but at the cost of eroding democratic norms and public faith in the government’s integrity.
1. The Prime Minister has advised the people not to disturb the peace and stability of the country.
2. It is good advise. But the stability of the country is because people are not allowed to speak. You cannot speak on the 3R. You cannot say anything against the Government. Even if you suffer the pain of governmental oppression, you must not complain.
3. The 3R suppresses ordinary people. Now the opposition members of Parliament are being pushed to sign an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) in which you undertake not to make hate speeches. If you sign then Government will give you funds that members of Parliament are entitled to. Except that it is the Government which decide whether your speech is hateful or not.
4. The member may say something quite innocent but the Government may consider it a hate speech. And you will be punished probably by suspension from Parliament. So after signing the MOU you cannot say anything except to praise the Government.
5. So the privilege to speak freely in Parliament by the member is no longer free.
6. Even now the speaker can suspend a member for six months because he insisted on a supporter of Israel getting a big share in MAHB. The mouth of our representative in Parliament is now shut.
7. So the country is experiencing political stability. It is due to the Government gagging everyone.
8. Should you continue to speak up and criticise. The Communications Minister subtly promises to send a police patrol car to your house.
9. But that is not enough. If you take legal action against the Prime Minister things may happen to you coincidentally.
10. You may be found to have committed some crime. You may be charged under SOSMA. If drugs are involved, no bail and possible death sentence.
11. Or your children may be required to declare their assets over the past 100 years. Failing to do so may mean imprisonment and the rotan.
12. On the other hand if you are being tried for some breaches of the law, in order to stabilise the country the charges may be dropped and you may be appointed the Deputy Prime Minister.
13. Also investigation against you would be stopped if you are supportive of the Prime Minister.
14. Investigation will also be dropped if you are punched in the face or have acid burn half your body if they were done on the instruction of those above the law.
15. So, you see why the country is stable and peaceful. It is the peace of the graveyard.
16. But the social media is noisy. It should be made legal for the social media to be licenced so that they make less noise. Then the peace and stability would be even greater, just like in North Korea.
17. Foreign media is a nuisance. They should be sued. Call them for questioning. And do nothing. Especially when they report the truth which local media are not allowed.
DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
2 OKTOBER 2024
𝗛𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗖𝗛
1. We are not allowed to speak about the 3Rs (Race, Religion, and Royalty). We are also not permitted to talk about the sale of HeiTech Padu shares.
2. Now, we are not allowed to make hate speech. The problem is, what exactly is considered hate speech? There is no definition.
3. The government will be the one interpreting speech. Even if the speech avoids hatred, the government can still interpret it as hateful. To avoid the government’s interpretation, just don’t speak. Stay silent.
4. In reality, everyone’s mouth has been shut. Whether they are academics or members of Parliament, they are not exempt from being accused of violating the 3Rs and being hateful.
5. We can’t even speak about the Constitution, as it also mentions certain races and their rights.
6. Finally, the Speaker can suspend members of Parliament. The suspended member isn’t even allowed to sit with observers or officials in the chamber.
7. The freedom of Parliament members to speak has effectively ended.
8. This is the promised Reform.
DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
October 25, 2024
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.
