Since Keadilan's briefing on Anwar Ibrahim's medical issue to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign diplomats, I see that the Barisan Nasional parties, led by their president no less, have been condemning the action as unpatriotic and unbecoming of Malaysians.

This reminds me of the Chinese government's hue and cry about foreigners meddling in their internal affairs following the Tiananmen massacre. After 10 long years, that government is still in denial.

Only governments which have something bad to hide, cry foul when their own citizens expose their crimes whether to their countrymen or others. Characteristically, such governments control the news media in their countries.

When you close the doors and windows, your own people will need to find a way to tell others what's happening. And why not? If I am abusing my child, or beating up my wife, and my neighbours come to know about it, should they keep quiet on the grounds that they shouldn't meddle in my internal affairs? And how long are they expected to wait? Until the child is blue-black from beatings? Until the child dies?

What is the nation's leadership talking about? That the country's institutions could be used to get rid of a political rival, that he could be beaten up during police custody, and then denied appropriate medical treatment for his present ailment, and expect loyal citizens to keep quiet about this? Is this what it means to be loyal Malaysians and patriotic citizens: to keep one's mouth shut and say nothing to fellow citizens or others?

It seems to me that the best and most exemplary citizens this government wants are those like the three proverbial monkeys: the ones that see, hear and say no evil.

I sense terrible things happening in my country. To our national institutions, to our enforcement agencies, to our national treasury and resources. The perpetrators are getting away scot-free with serious misdeeds. This is happening because Malaysians like myself are permitting it to happen by remaining docile and quiet.

I am not an Anwar Ibrahim supporter (simply because I don't know the man) nor do I hate Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But no government must ever be allowed to talk so much and do anything it wishes while denying others a chance to give their side of the story.