Dr M, human rights are protected in Islam, too

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YOURSAY 'Of course, relative to Burma, China, North Korea, Cuba and Zimbabwe, our record is far better but do we want to be in their league?'

'Opposition using human rights for their benefit'

David Dass: Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be more specific about the things he says.

Surely he is not saying that we are not concerned about human rights. Surely he is not saying that we should ignore our own constitution and the rights of our own people or the rights of people who come to Malaysia to work?

Of course, we object to Guantanamo. We object to everything that we consider wrong and a breach of human rights.

If we justify unlawful detention without trial on the grounds of national security, how do we object to detention without trial by the US government or any other government? We cannot preach something and do something else.

We are also not saying that we are indifferent to national security. Laws required for national security should be discussed and debated in Parliament.

Ideally, anyone accused of a crime should be charged in an open court. No one should be detained without being charged under a specific law in open court.

Blind Freddo: Exactly what are the human rights issues that are unique to Malaysia? Mahathir is talking about red herrings to divert attention from the real issues.

Who gives a damn about same-sex marriages and the treatment of a few suspected terrorists when you and your fellow fanatics are suppressing the human rights of the whole country.

You are a typically manipulative Muslim who thinks he can say anything and people will believe you.

There is a nasty smell hanging over Malaysia, it's the smell of fear, only this time it's Umno that's afraid. They are afraid that Malaysians will rise up against their stinking governance.

And in true fashion, they are deploying the only weapons they know how to use - sowing hate, fear and division.

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: Why make comparisons only with the US, which I agree has a questionable human rights record, and not countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, etc?

Human rights are not relative. Even in Islam, human rights are protected. Mahathir will always make comparisons with the worst.

Of course, relative to Burma, China, North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Sudan, etc, our record is far better but do we want to be in their league?

Both the government and opposition benefit from good governance, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Even developing countries like India, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey place great emphasis on human rights. Has this diminished their economic capabilities and political stability?

Mahathir will remain an autocrat till the day he dies. He was an ‘elected' dictator and purveyor of privileges and patronage.

Geronimo: Mahathir, you cannot cherry pick on the execution of human rights. It is either you believe in it or you don't.

So now that we know that you don't believe in human rights issues (which I am not totally surprised), none will be accorded to you once Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya.

Ruben: Mahathir, when it comes to talking about protection of human rights, you are the amongst the least qualified to talk about it.

You suppressed the freedom of the people, you suppressed the freedom of institutions like the judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the police, etc.

The authority and the role of the monarchy were reduced to being mere figureheads And you destroyed the very fabric of national unity by polarising the rakyat using race and religion.

49boybum: This was a very shrewd diversion. Topics related to human rights and character assassination are the hallmark diversion to rile up readers so as to divert the attention of the citizens and cover up the major plundering being carried out systematically by his cronies and those in power.

The real issue that the rakyat as a whole will have to face is to set right the unbridled corruption and plundering of the nation's wealth by BN and company.

The Auditor-General's Report is just a tip of the iceberg. If this watered-down report is so mind-boggling, the actual situation will shatter all honest taxpaying citizens of this country.

My beloved fellow Malaysians, please do not get diverted by these paltry issues. The real issue is to rid all corruption that is deeply rooted in our beloved country.

Until the likes of this type of utterly self-centred individuals are removed, we will never ever create a better future for our children. Indeed, we have no right to burden the future generation with such gross abuses.

Cabinet involvement in AG's report due to Mahathir

Abasir: What Mahathir did is akin to the internal audit of a corporation sending the audit report to the CEO and his management team before tabling it at the Board Audit Committee to which it reports.

1M: I have no objection to Article 40(1A) in the constitution that stipulates that the Agong must act in accordance with the advice of the cabinet.. In fact, I support it.

But I agree with what Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) law professor Aziz Bari said: "We have an executive who could not care less about checks and balances and a monarchy that is unsure of its role."

This is the real problem of our country.

Baiyuensheng: I support that the power of the monarchy be curtailed. Power rests on the people and the government that the people elected.

If the government of the day deviates and abuses its power, people should vote them out. We cannot rely on the monarchy, and I do not like the idea that these people should run our lives.

In this sense, I support what Mahathir did. The abuse by the monarchy then was horrendous and even they are now not above the law, there are still abuses. Just ask around.

Anak Bangsa Malaysia: Bravo, Aziz Bari. Your suggestion that the attorney-general be appointed outside of the civil service is a good one. Better still, is that we need to change the government.

I am not saying the new government would be good, but at least there is hope.

If there are to be any changes, people like yourself should be consulted so that the spirit and the sanctity of the Malaysian constitution will be upheld by all peace-loving people.

1M: "Auditor-General Ambrin Buang said showing the report to the cabinet before the Agong has been standard practice since 1982, soon after Mahathir became prime minister."

When Mahathir first became PM in 1981, he came out with the slogan ‘Bersih, Cekap, Amanah'.

As a young man then, I was so naive to believe in him. But of course, he couldn't hide for too long - his fox tail was too long to be kept inside his trousers.

 


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