Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said democracy must never translate into tyrannical rule by the majority, the "despotism of the majority" that even famous defenders of this form of government had feared it could become.

anwar receive democracy award 211209 Speaking at a ceremony in Shah Alam today where he was invested with the Democracy Award for 2008 by the International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC), Anwar said despotism of the majority occurred when governments abuse power and develop dictatorial tendencies on account of numerical strength in legislatures.

In other words, the PKR de facto leader was recommending that voters should not give a two-thirds parliamentary majority to any coalition or party.

"This concentration of power inevitably leads to the abuse of legislative powers," he theorised.

Past recipients of this IAPC award were Zimbabwe's fighter for democratic rights Morgan Tsvangerai and Martin Lee of Hong Kong.

IAPC is based in Washington and has over 100 members from North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

In inveighing against the despotism that blinkered rule by the majority could lead to, Anwar ( left ) clearly had the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional in his crosshairs.

"The Umno-led ruling coalition, having since the nation's independence controlled the Federal Parliament with a two-thirds majority, remains unrepentant in their arrogant display of power," he said.

"Intolerant of criticism, dissent or anything seen as a stumbling block to their vested interests, they ride rough shod over the aspirations of the people by bull-dozing through oppressive laws and the Federal budget," enumerated Anwar.

Manners and morals

Citing Thomas Jefferson's warning that democracy was "mob rule" when 51 percent of people take away the rights of 49 percent of an electorate, Anwar said this would not happen if people understood democracy as a concept that influenced the manners and morals of citizens.

pakatan convention 191209 anwar talk He said this happened whenever "men and women who for truth and honor's sake stand fast and suffer long," quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson on what made a people great.

Anwar said for democracy to flourish, institutions that guarded its integrity like an independent judiciary, a professional police force and graft-combating agency, and an opposition that holds the powers that be to account, were vital as props.

He said in contrast to the BN government, the Pakatan Rakyat governments in four states have shown that they are willing and able to adhere to democratic norms.

He hailed the PR convention last Saturday and its Common Policy Framework as "unrivalled in its articulation of the coalition's commitment to constitutional provisions and a reform agenda."