Forward and backward
By Soong Phui JeeOpenness and liberalisation is the only way to achieve the vision of turning the country into a high-income economy. However, the recent political development is disappointing.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak conveyed the message of political transformation, openness and liberalisation when he announced the repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA) and other outdated laws on the eve of Malaysia Day. However, everything is going back to the square one only a week later.
Politicians are now accusing each other for triggering the Islamic state controversy. Both the BN and Pakatan Rakyat coalitions hope the controversy would bring an infighting to their rival.
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad challenged Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat to implement the hudud law in the state with an intention to stir up conflicts in PAS.
As for Nik Aziz, his response to the implementation of hudud law was based on the stand to defend Islam and fight for the support from conservative voters, while exposing the "weak" religious stand of Umno.
MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek thanked Nik Aziz for reminding the people of the failure of the Pakatan Rakyat in reaching a consensus on the subject. In fact, he was thanking Nik Aziz for creating an opportunity for the MCA to weaken the prestige of the DAP. It has also taken the opportunity to express its stand of "resolutely defending the secular status of the country".
Like a tug of war, the ruling and alternative coalitions are trying their best to beat their rival. For example, when PAS has forgotten about its welfare state commitment, walking towards conservative religion and hit the Pakatan Rakyat, the BN takes the opportunity to pull the rope, hoping to make the Pakatan Rakyat fall. It is in fact a zero-sum game that brings no benefit to national unity.
The hudud law issue is purely a political issue. However, the language used could easily provoke conservative and extreme sentiments or even worse, intensify religious fanaticism and hinder religious coexistence.
Why did they raise the issue when the country is in the pursuit of economic transformation and talents while the people have forgotten about the implementation of hudud law? It runs counter to reforms and liberalisation.
The second issue is the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) prohibition against the Undilah video clip. It has contravened the government's earlier commitment to review media censorship.
The reason given was because the video clip has yet to be approved for airing by the Film Censorship Board.
Najib has made an announcement to review the 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act and publications will no longer need to renew their printing licences annually. It is a move to expand the media's freedom and expression space but the MCMC has undermined the efforts, as well as the people's confidence.
The MCMC is overstrict, showing us its lack of confidence. It is also a reminiscent of the issue of The Economist It is a pity that their thinking has remained unchanged even after experiencing various disputes.
The change of thinking plays an important role in succeeding the government, political and economic transformation plans. Politicians must force themselves to improve and change, or everything would remain an empty talk.
If the repeal of the ISA is 100 steps forward, we have now retreated 50 steps. Hopefully, there will be no more retreat in the future.
