Recently, US Vice-President Joe Biden twitted his concerns over the state of democracy and judicial independence in Malaysia. He has singled out the use of the Sedition Act and the legal system to stifle legitimate political dissent. I must say the vice-president’s comment was mild and laudable given the events unfolding in our country and the growing ties between the two nations.

Unfortunately, the responses by local politicians to Biden’s twits were totally unexpected. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has urged the United States to shut down its Guantanamo detention centre. Tan Keng Liang, the Gerakan Youth chief, ranted against democracy as if justice could exist without the other. And Lee Hwa Beng, a former state assemblyperson, bemoaned the US’s treatment of the blacks as the counter argument to Biden’s comment.

 

From the Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence, the Civil War, the civil rights movement to the election of its first black president, the United States of America has come a long way. No doubt it has its chequered past, but it is best that we refrain from condemning them in order to defend our indefensible records.  

Despite whatever failings, the United States is still the standard-bearer of democracy and freedom around the world. We could choose to ignore it and adopt our own model at our own peril or we could at least move a little closer to the US’s model. I believe there are enough countries around the world suffering from tyranny, poor governance and dictatorship already.  

How can we ever compare Guantanamo with our own sedition blitz and human rights records? Can you ever imagine what other countries would have done to those terrorists now detained in Guantanamo if they have waged war against them? I think they would have hung them upside-down without a blink. So KJ, please think again why they have Guantanamo.  

Similarly for Tan Keng Liang; if we want justice for all, we must make sure democracy, transparency and a level playing field exist. We can’t have justice, regardless of whether we are perpetrators or victims, if we have selective investigation, selective prosecution and selective hearing. Our best defence is not to accuse others for being less or more democratic than us. Our best defend is our ability to defend our track records. Tan Keng Liang, what are our records like?

As for Lee Hwa Beng, it is best that you get your bearings right. Yes, the blacks were slaves at one time. Today, you may still come across occasional violations of civil rights on the blacks and other minorities. But they have robust due process in place to investigate and punish violators. In fact, I would even venture to say that in the US, the people are no victims. On the contrary, they have too much freedom to ‘abuse’ the system.  

All I ask for is to critically evaluate the comments made by others, particularly from leaders and countries that have proven their worth. Let’s not be hypocritical; when the US president came a calling, we were all excited. Did we get the same feeling when Russia’s Vladimir Putin or China’s Xi Jinping come to our country?