October 26, 2o12
One Man’s Political Insecurity : 1987 Operation Lalang
by Lim Kit Siang@http://www.malaysiakini.com
MP SPEAKS Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of Operation Lalang which brought about the darkest days for democracy and human rights in the nation’s history.
There was not only the arrest of 106 Malaysians, including opposition leaders – 16 of whom were from the DAP, including MPs and state assemblypersons – trade unionists, social activists, academics, environmentalists, Chinese educationists and religious workers.
There was also the wholesale attacks on press freedom with the closure of three newspapers, the merciless attacks on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law resulting in the sacking of the Lord President and two Supreme Court judges and the series of undemocratic legislation which caused a tectonic shift in the Malaysian political landscape, subordinating the legislative and judicial branches to the executive or to be more exact to the fiat of one person, the Prime Minister of the day.
The Government Transformation Programme of Prime Minister Najib Razak has promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy of the world”, but after more than 42 months of his premiership, Malaysia falls far short of the conditions to be a “normal democracy” let alone the “world’s best democracy”.
This is illustrated by the refusal by the prime minister and the ruling UMNO-BN coalition to make a public commitment that they would fully accept the verdict of the voters in the 13th general election and would peacefully and smoothly transfer federal power to Pakatan Rakyat if this is the verdict of the Malaysian electorate in the ballot box.
It is clear that a change of government at the national level, for the first time in 55 years, is needed to undo all the ravages and adverse effects of the 25-year Operation Lalang on democracy, human rights and the national institutions – whether it be the restoration of a truly independent judiciary and a just rule of law; the unshackling of executive usurpation of powers of Parliament and the judiciary.
Or whether it be the flourishing of a free and responsible media and the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, expression and information; proper checks and balance mechanisms to end corruption and abuses of power; and the restoration to all national institutions their impartiality, independence and professionalism.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Operation Lalang, let all Malaysians reaffirm their resolve to undo all the ravages of the Operation Lalang catastrophe in 1987, by a united effort to strengthen democracy, human rights and national institutions so that there could be no recurrence of a Operation Lalang in future by voting solidly for a national change of government in the coming general election.
“The Government Transformation Programme of Prime Minister Najib Razak has promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy of the world” …” LKS
Mr Prime Minister,
You raise the bar too high for yourself. You may want to lower it by a few notches. Just take those few steps open to you towards making Malaysia into a working democracy and then work to ensure your successor continue to do the same. Since this would mean seeing yourself removed from power, nobody is expecting you to do it.
It is a game of chess you choose to play and since you open with a King’s gambit, Kit Siang is no novice and he knows the pitfalls of such a weak opening and here he is seen to exploit the weakness of your opening.
No Operation Lalang or the likes of it will ever be able to take place in Malaysia ever again. Now the Internet rules and the people can be well informed almost immediately of any news and events unlike the dark era of prior to the eighties. Even with the government hogging the MSM, the people presently get more news & stories from the Internet sources instantaneously.
________________
Never be too sure.–Din Merican