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Gov't aims to sow fear with 'shhhedition' blitz

COMMENT Politics of fear was instrumental during the ironclad rein of Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It was an era where the opposition were viewed by the general public with caution and associating with them, it was dreaded, could court trouble vis-a-vis the Special Branch lurking around the corner.

 

People were even afraid to discuss politics over the telephone, worried that the line could be tapped and when such conversations took place at coffee shops, the tone was hushed with citizens often looking over their shoulders, just in case.

 

Though it curtailed freedoms, the tactic served Mahathir and his legion of apple polishers well, keeping them in power for 22 years.

 

But things have changed since. After Mahathir stepped down, the democratic space opened up and the voices of dissent started to grow louder.

 

There was no turning back, or so we thought.

 

After apologising for past errors - to which he was a silent accomplice during his long stint in the Mahathir cabinet - Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak vowed to set things right with his transformation agenda.

 

Throwing caution to the wind, he hoped to win accolades and support for his courageous endeavours, such as repealing the Internal Security Act (ISA), but this failed to materialise into votes in the last general election.

 

He had performed even worse than his predecessor and when the Umno sharks bared their razor-sharp teeth, he was forced to back pedal with haste.

 

Now, it seems that Najib is taking a leaf out of Mahathir's playbook "Dictatorship for Dummies" with the current Sedition Act swoop, perhaps having resigned to the fact that this is the best way to avoid a shark feeding frenzy.

 

How can he repeal the Act as promised when Mahathir and Umno divisions demand that it be maintained, even strengthened?

 

After all, this is realpolitik and the actors would do whatever is necessary to secure and consolidate their positions. Lest, we delude ourselves with the notion that messiahs exist among this lot.                                                                       

 

So it appears that the politics of fear has been resurrected.

 

Sedition goalposts keep shifting                   

 

And judging by the statement of former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah yesterday, it appears to be working.

 

Saifuddin had chaired a discussion on charting the future direction of Malaysia, but took pains to request the media not to report the issues raised, as some of them could be deemed sensitive.

 

"We are unfortunately living in a country where we still have the Sedition Act, and sometimes people tend to misinterpret.

 

"I know journalists will report based on what you hear and what you see, but readers may not understand it, and then suddenly some people get into trouble for what he or she said with good intentions," said the ex-Umno lawmaker.

 

The Sedition Act gained notoriety because it is perceived to be used on a selective basis, where some are hauled up for the slightest of transgressions, while others let off the hook despite violating all the sections in the draconian legislation.

 

A case in example would be Mahathir's recent scathing indictment on the Malay race. Even Perkasa, a movement that would be expected to cough up blood over such derogatory and disparaging remarks, chose to look at the issue from a paternal vantage point.

 

In this context, another former Umno minister, Zaid Ibrahim, penned a poignant article calling on the authorities to spell out what constituted as insults to the four sacred areas, namely the Malay language, Islam, Malay rulers and Malay special position.

 

As it stands, there is no indication where the sedition goalposts are since they keep shifting and in some cases, like when Mahathir or Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi launch one of their tirades, there appears to be no goalposts nor referee.

 

In the absence of clear guidelines, Zaid went to the extent of claiming that Apartheid once practiced in South Africa is better than the system in Malaysia.

 

Anger has mounted over the seditious use of the sedition law. But the burning question is, would fear rebuild Mahathir's Great Wall of Silence, which has been reduced to rubble over the last two general elections?

 

For Malaysia's sake, let us hope not.

           


 

RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

 

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