Politics has always been used to justify actions which are deemed to be necessary and expedient.  The moral chasm notwithstanding,  the mere mention of the word ‘politics’ seems to be enough to pacify the doubters. After all, we are entering into a domain in which morality and ethics have no place, so they say.  

These are the things that we have to do,  morals be damned, so they say. For instance, they chose  to tar Zaid Ibrahim for his alleged lese majesty against the Sultan of Selangor. The fact that Zaid Ibrahim was simply restating the correct constitutional position of the Malay Rulers did not register in the minds of the protesters. What was most important to them was that the Malay Rulers' prestige had to be protected at all cost.  

While that might be noble, one cannot help but wonder at the absence of these Laksamana Hang Tuah wannabes when the Malaysian Syarie Lawyers's Association protested against the decision of the Pahang Sultan in substituting Kartika's punishment with community service.  

Even more controversial was the deafening silence of Perkasa and its president, Ibrahim Ali  when the Sultan of Kelantan himself had to resort to the courts to procure his freedom in his own state. Why lah this inconsistency? ‘Politics lah’ is the easy answer. And with this answer, we are supposed to nod our heads sagely, and move on.

Expediency has always been touted as the justification to this morally questionable issue. That  since the most perfect solution is non-existent, we have no choice but to pursue the imperfect yet workable solution. We often forget that our actions have far reaching consequences, especially in destroying other people's lives.  

Yet, from the looks of it, many people seem to have no qualms in sacrificing their honour and dignity. How many of you have actually looked the other/opposite way when someone is abused or a person is oppressed, thinking that it is just a ‘political matter’? When confronted with such a situation, how many of you felt that the best way is to be ‘safe’ and just  do nothing? How many of you have decided not to stand by idly  and actually took steps in fighting such oppression and  injustice?

The usual excuse that often accompanies the ‘politics lah’ excuse is  the ‘it has nothing to do with me’ excuse. Hence we often find many who choose to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear, preferring to distance themselves from the injustice, hoping that they would be rewarded from the misfortune of others, or at least their rice bowl (periuk nasi) would be protected.

We often hear of cases in which truth is either hidden or distorted during an exercise to unearth the details of past injustice, nicely aided and abetted by these ‘honest but practical’ folk who think that such a course of action is the best way to stay out of trouble. It is therefore not surprising that the cycle of injustice is often perpetuated by these sycophants and  so-called non-partisans. When it happens, truth and human dignity are the  among the  biggest casualties, but rather than seeing it as a tragedy, it is called ‘collateral damage’.

During the aftermath of the Second World War, a favourite defence that was used by the collaborators was that ‘I had to follow orders, I had no choice’ excuse. From the War Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg and Tokyo that tried the German and Japan military personnel for crimes against humanity, down to the Military Courts of British Malaya that tried the locals for collaboration with the Japanese kempeitai, this defence was used in unison.  

It was probably hoped that the judicial tribunals would at least take note of the alleged powerlessness of the individuals against the might of injustice and hence would excuse such individuals from criminal liability. It was wishful thinking. All the judicial tribunals made no difference between the belligerent samseng and the so-called ‘innocent’ collaborators. All of them were condemned to death.  

The dignity of mankind demands that one should not take part in any unjust actions. In the face of adversity, neutrality is not an option. The plea of ‘being ordered/forced’ fell on deaf ears .

As such, one should not either knowingly or unknowingly lend a hand in the commission of an unjust act, nor should one aid in its further perpetuation. Start with the basics. Tell the truth.  Make sure that there is no attempt to cover up any part of the truth. Small wonder that in courts, the witness is compelled to take the oath that he would ‘... tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth’.  

Next, take steps to correct past injustices. Any unwillingness to ‘rock the boat’ for fear of disrupting the status quo would make you as guilty as the original oppressors.  On the other hand, one should not think of any incentives in ‘doing the right thing’. Whether it would make you a better person, or whether it would gain you respect from your peers, that should not be a determining factor.  

‘Honour’ is not a commodity.  If every person realises the power  and responsibility  that he possesses in depriving the oxygen off injustice and oppression , the world would probably be a happier place to live in.