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Moderation needs more than writing joint letters

Today, I read another letter by a group of 40 prominent Malaysians (G40) expressing their concerns over the lack of adherence to the foundational principles forming Malaysia and the skewed interpretation of our nation’s constitution.

Before this, a group of 25 eminent Malaysians (G25), many of them former senior government officials, started the process with their joint letter calling for moderation and the need to respect the spirit and intent of our constitution. I remember a group of former St John’s Institution old boys have also written a letter expressing support for moderation. 

Most of us want moderation but it seems so elusive and unattainable.  Most of us want our constitution respected but fictitious and skewed interpretations have become more prevalent in recent time.  

Many of us are genuinely concerned with the “state” of our nation.  But is writing joint letters by selected individuals sufficient? Please don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to belittle the effort. I am asking for more effective measures beyond writing joint letters.  

When citizens assembled and marched peacefully for freedom, did we see prominent and eminent citizens participating? Well, maybe they think it is too “political” for them. They love to be nonpartisan, so to speak.  

But skewed interpretation of constitution and the boldness of certain bureaucrats to do things based on their own whims and fancies are political in nature. Prominent and eminent people in positions before they retired must have allowed the perversions to creep in over time.  

I believe many of the things not right today did not happen overnight. They crept in because prominent citizens and people given authority and positions did not exercise their influence even though they knew the country has taken a wrong direction.

I have a hypothesis - when we are capable of doing something, we hesitated because we have bigger concerns like our positions, income and comfort to worry about; when we are out of position or when we have retired, suddenly we want to do more for the good of the society.     

Many of the writers of these letters were once influential and prominent people in the public service, academia, judiciary and other organisations. Have they ever asked why their successors in many of these prominent positions are not doing or expressing the same concerns as these letter writers are doing now?  

Their successors have allowed fiascos and perversions to happen right below their noses. They not only did not protest, in fact, they tacitly condoned it. I guess they will someday say the same things and express the same concerns like the letter writers after they have retired.    

If we want moderation and good sense to prevail, I guess people at all levels must play their roles. But I also believe that there are some among us who are more influential and prominent than others. Unless they jealously and fervently guard their rights and the rights of the common folk, I am afraid the agenda will be decided by the fanatical and the desperate ones.

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