Deny BN a 2/3rd majority is more than a democratic choice - it is also a moral obligation

The wind of change that has swept through Malaysia’s political landscape for the past one week is, I conjecture, primarily due to economics. Bread-and-butter issues (rice-and-curry if you contextualize) that have daily implications on the life of an average Malaysian.

Malaysians of all races, including the Malays, feel slighted by the NEP, a post-May 13 economic policy that has grown increasingly irrelevant given the structural change in Malaysian society and has only benefited the elite few.

Thousands, and ten of thousands, who thronged the padang, roadsides, and halls of the opposition ceramah, even under the rain, is perhaps an evidence of this dissatisfaction. Their votes for this general elections are an opportunity for them as democratic agents to choose an alternative, better package deal.

But there is more than meets the eye. There is an element sorely missing from the BN Manifesto 2008, but present in all opposition manifestos, that renders our votes for this general elections as more than democratic choices. And that is, the absence of any mention whatsoever of the abolishment of oppressive and restrictive laws namely the ISA, OSA, PPPA and UUCA.

In fact, there are evidences of the contrary. Chew Mei Fun in her much criticized response to the host of questions posed to her by Malaysiakini, said, “I think the ISA somehow on some occasions does work like what happened in America. Before that they didn't have ISA and after the 9/11 (attacks), they now have their own. That's why this all depends and (it's) very subjective.” This, I believe, is a trickled-down view from the top leaders of BN.

Interestingly, Rafidah Aziz recently quipped, “There is no place for American style debate in this country.” Err… so is the USA an example to follow or not?

A ridiculous, but not entirely implausible (especially after the Namewee fiasco) example; let’s just say that your daughter is arrested because she prefers Guang Liang’s Tong Hua to Siti Nurhaliza’s Bukan Cinta Biasa. As a caring and responsible parent, what is your moral obligation in this case?

Unless you are Michael Scofield, you wouldn’t want to attempt any ‘prison break’ that’s for sure. So the wiser and more far-sighted solution is to campaign against this unjust law that allows detention based on aesthetic differences.

In the same vein, what is our moral obligation, as people with conscience, when we know of fellow Malaysians who have been arrested under the ISA simply because they sang a different tune from the powers that be? The Prime Minister has reported that there are 74 ISA detainees in Kamunting as at August 2007.

Again, we are no Michael Scofield but we are philanthropic citizens who extend our notion of care and justice to our fellow human beings who are being oppressed by unjust laws based on ideological differences. So the wiser and more far-sighted solution is to campaign for this law to be repealed lest Martin Niemoller’s tragic tale befalls us.

Of course, this has been a continuous struggle all these while. Abolish ISA Movement, with its 83 member organizations, has been in the forefront of this campaign since 2001. Yet, the powers that be refuse to budge, and understandably so, as the ISA, and all the other oppressive and restrictive laws, are tools to keep them in power.

Come 8 March 2008, ordinary rakyat of Malaysia have an opportunity to curtail this absolute power that continues to sanction oppressive laws, and to provide the opposition the balance-of-power needed to repeal these laws. And if the balloting box is the only means to free our fellow oppressed Malaysians, then to deny BN a 2/3rd majority is no longer just a democratic choice, but also a moral obligation on all voters.

So rakyat Malaysia, vote wisely and vote for change! You wouldn’t want to vote for someone who wrongly imprisoned your father just because he promised to feed your children, would you?