Is Malaysia truly free?

Tamil Selvan Ramis

Malaysia – Sabah and Sarawak included – was independent at birth! And, it has been independent for the past 50 years. Or is it, really?

It is important to remember that Malaysia was never colonised, Malaya was. Sabah and Sarawak which tend to be conveniently ignored when we talk about Malaysia, was not part of our country until 1963.

Thus, should we be surprised when our Sabahan and Sarawakian friends do not get as excited on Aug 31 every year?

Malaysia – Sabah and Sarawak included – was independent at birth! And, it has been independent for the past 50 years. Or is it, really?

Malaysia may not be in the clutches of imperialists but is it free from the self-serving leaders?

Is Malaysia truly free from the politicians who lost the popular vote but still won the election by a considerable parliamentary margin?

Is it really free from the Election Commission (EC) which behaves as if it has the supreme power over the nation’s democratic system?

Is it free from the authority that continues to turn a deaf ear to the public call for the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconducts Commission (IPCMC)?

Or, is Malaysia actually free from laws like the Sedition Act and the Peaceful Assembly Act which unfairly deprives the people of the freedom to voice their desires for the nation?

Unity in diversity

The Communication and Multimedia Ministry said this year’s theme – My Sovereign Malaysia: My Native Land – was chosen to “remind the people of the importance of uniting to defend the nation and creating awareness of the need for love and affection for the nation.”

Would the ministry and the Cabinet at large realise that unity will not happen merely by watching fireworks and armed forces’ aerial fly-by demonstration?

Please do not tell us that after more than 100 days in power, the Merdeka Day celebration is the best the Cabinet can think of to fulfill its national reconciliation promise.

Would the police and their masters understand that unfairly treating someone on the basis of age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, class, differential ability, religious view or political affiliation may result in the people losing their love for the country?

We know from experience that certain politicians have no genuine intention of uniting the people or creating awareness among the people on the importance of devotion for the nation. All they care about is securing their political career at the expense of the Rakyat’s well-being!

Nevertheless, we are not going to continue supporting any corrupted, greedy, power-abusing, human rights-denying, sexist, racist, homophobic, bigoted, divisive, inhumane, barbaric, unintelligent, unempathetic, nepotistic, autocratic, fear-inducing political party in Malaysia.

We have also long found alternative ways to unite the people and foster love for the nation.

We know the five-day Bersih People’s Tribunal on GE13, which will begin on Sept 18, is to look into the allegations of irregularities and fraud during the general election. This event is anticipated to bring the majority of Malaysians together.

In the event the EC proceeds with its planned delineation of parliamentary and state constituency boundaries before the electoral rolls are cleaned, we will witness another rally of unity in the nation.

In essence, the Cabinet’s “vision” of “uniting to defend the nation and creating awareness of love and affection for the nation” which was once considered impossible is in fact, becoming a reality in Malaysia.

However, the vision is being realised not by the superficial celebrations organised by the current administrators using the taxpayers’ hard-earned money but by the very movements that are seen as threats to the national security or perhaps, the political survival of the self-serving leaders of Malaysia.