Mahathir in no position to talk about democracy
YOURSAY ‘You have killed democracy when you took over the PMship.’
Dr M: Illegal rally an undemocratic act
Pemerhati:
Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PM Najib Razak should consider themselves lucky that Malaysians are a docile lot compared to the Thais when it comes to protesting against crooked and corrupt BN leaders who hold on to power through rigged and fraudulent elections and through unfair gerrymandering.
In 1957, the differences in constituency electorates were limited to 15 percent above or below the average constituency electorate. But in 1973, the constitution was amended by Umno and the restriction on the size of constituencies was removed and this is one of the main factors that has enabled BN to continue to win the elections unfairly.
BN’s lackey, the Election Commission, has subdivided mainly the rural areas - where BN is likely to win - into smaller areas in order to increase their seats. BN can now win the elections with about 15 percent of the total votes by winning these small seats.
That means BN will remain in power for a long time and even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s great grandchildren will be able to buy RM100 million condos in New York.
Gerard Lourdesamy: Mahathir is confused. It was the other way around. It was the minority 47 percent who voted for BN who may have wanted to celebrate the New Year.
The majority of 53 percent who did not vote BN, went there to protest the price hikes, high costs of living, creeping inflation, stagnant pay, unaffordable houses, etc.
No one prevented the "revellers" from wanting to celebrate the New Year. Similarly, the protesters should have been allowed to protest in peace.
What is illegal about exercising one’s constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression?
Onyourtoes: “You want to do it, do it somewhere else, but don’t go and disturb other people... the minority has rights but don’t do it at the expense of the majority,” Mahathir said.
Now you are talking, but can you remember during election campaigns when opposition ceramah were repeatedly disrupted by parallel rallies held by BN purposely at close proximity with loudspeakers directing at opposition ceramah? Where were you then?
By the way, on New Year’s Eve at Dataran Merdeka, it was the majority exerting their right to protest against the baloney perpetrated by a minority government. It was the minority trying to usurp the right of the majority.
Oh Ya?: Granting citizenship for votes is a treacherous act and this is the act of one man which causes the majority of Sabahans to suffer irreparable damages. Is this democratic? Isn't this illegal? Isn't this sinful?
Why is Mahathir so scare the people would topple the unpopular ruling elites? Scare of spending the rest of his life in prison and all his and his family's ill-gotten wealth being confiscated?
James1067: Mahathir, the majority have been crying out since 2008 but they are ignored, threatened and even some landed in jails.
They are told to pay for the mismanagement and wastage of the leaders. They have been told to pay for the lopsided deals given to independent power producers (IPPs) and highway concessionaires. These businesses that are given to cronies and connected friends.
They are chased from their lands in exchange for no compensation or a meager amounts as those connected cronies resell these lots at huge profits. Their lands are flooded so that some politicians can build dams which are in oversupply.
Their lands are opened to foreigners in exchange for votes which result in them fighting for their bread and butter and at times their lives, and many more miseries brought on them by the leaders.
Mahathir, they have tried every avenue to voice out their grievances but it has fallen on deaf ears. Now is the time to listen to them if there is any sincerity in your heart.
Rakyat-in-grief: Mahathir, you have no right to talk about democracy because you have killed democracy in Malaysia from the time you took over the premiership.
You have been a dictator for 22 long years during which time all the god virtues and values have eroded from this land.
Quigonbond: Dr M, in any mature democracy, people express themselves based on their capacity.
If they are working, or after working very hard (while the government squander their tax money), they needed a rest on the eve of a new year and did not participate in the protest. Do you discount their disaffection?
How many people does it begin to count before it becomes the majority? All the six million registered voters who voted against BN turning up?
Hibiscus: Public rallies and street protests against authorities are here to stay. The authorities must exhibit understanding and sympathy to the participants. Harsh response to the participants will only invite chaos and give room to violence.
It is safer for all if the police enhance their crowd management skills than to threaten the participants or worst, beat them up. Beating up a participant work against the authorities as it only incite hatred and disdain for them.
Mahathir's thinking and ways are those of the jungle - the thinking and ways of fierce carnivorous animals who prey on those weaker than them.
It is time the authorities ignore his animal-like utterances which only prove he is like an animal, devoid of sympathy and understanding of the people's suffering and anguish.
Antoine Ross Deliones: Nelson Mandela said, "We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom."
Indeed, we want bread and we want freedom.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
YOURSAY ‘You have killed democracy when you took over the PMship.’
Dr M: Illegal rally an undemocratic act
Pemerhati:
Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PM Najib Razak should consider themselves lucky that Malaysians are a docile lot compared to the Thais when it comes to protesting against crooked and corrupt BN leaders who hold on to power through rigged and fraudulent elections and through unfair gerrymandering.
In 1957, the differences in constituency electorates were limited to 15 percent above or below the average constituency electorate. But in 1973, the constitution was amended by Umno and the restriction on the size of constituencies was removed and this is one of the main factors that has enabled BN to continue to win the elections unfairly.
BN’s lackey, the Election Commission, has subdivided mainly the rural areas - where BN is likely to win - into smaller areas in order to increase their seats. BN can now win the elections with about 15 percent of the total votes by winning these small seats.
That means BN will remain in power for a long time and even Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s great grandchildren will be able to buy RM100 million condos in New York.
Gerard Lourdesamy: Mahathir is confused. It was the other way around. It was the minority 47 percent who voted for BN who may have wanted to celebrate the New Year.
The majority of 53 percent who did not vote BN, went there to protest the price hikes, high costs of living, creeping inflation, stagnant pay, unaffordable houses, etc.
No one prevented the "revellers" from wanting to celebrate the New Year. Similarly, the protesters should have been allowed to protest in peace.
What is illegal about exercising one’s constitutional right to freedom of assembly and expression?
Onyourtoes: “You want to do it, do it somewhere else, but don’t go and disturb other people... the minority has rights but don’t do it at the expense of the majority,” Mahathir said.
Now you are talking, but can you remember during election campaigns when opposition ceramah were repeatedly disrupted by parallel rallies held by BN purposely at close proximity with loudspeakers directing at opposition ceramah? Where were you then?
By the way, on New Year’s Eve at Dataran Merdeka, it was the majority exerting their right to protest against the baloney perpetrated by a minority government. It was the minority trying to usurp the right of the majority.
Oh Ya?: Granting citizenship for votes is a treacherous act and this is the act of one man which causes the majority of Sabahans to suffer irreparable damages. Is this democratic? Isn't this illegal? Isn't this sinful?
Why is Mahathir so scare the people would topple the unpopular ruling elites? Scare of spending the rest of his life in prison and all his and his family's ill-gotten wealth being confiscated?
James1067: Mahathir, the majority have been crying out since 2008 but they are ignored, threatened and even some landed in jails.
They are told to pay for the mismanagement and wastage of the leaders. They have been told to pay for the lopsided deals given to independent power producers (IPPs) and highway concessionaires. These businesses that are given to cronies and connected friends.
They are chased from their lands in exchange for no compensation or a meager amounts as those connected cronies resell these lots at huge profits. Their lands are flooded so that some politicians can build dams which are in oversupply.
Their lands are opened to foreigners in exchange for votes which result in them fighting for their bread and butter and at times their lives, and many more miseries brought on them by the leaders.
Mahathir, they have tried every avenue to voice out their grievances but it has fallen on deaf ears. Now is the time to listen to them if there is any sincerity in your heart.
Rakyat-in-grief: Mahathir, you have no right to talk about democracy because you have killed democracy in Malaysia from the time you took over the premiership.
You have been a dictator for 22 long years during which time all the god virtues and values have eroded from this land.
Quigonbond: Dr M, in any mature democracy, people express themselves based on their capacity.
If they are working, or after working very hard (while the government squander their tax money), they needed a rest on the eve of a new year and did not participate in the protest. Do you discount their disaffection?
How many people does it begin to count before it becomes the majority? All the six million registered voters who voted against BN turning up?
Hibiscus: Public rallies and street protests against authorities are here to stay. The authorities must exhibit understanding and sympathy to the participants. Harsh response to the participants will only invite chaos and give room to violence.
It is safer for all if the police enhance their crowd management skills than to threaten the participants or worst, beat them up. Beating up a participant work against the authorities as it only incite hatred and disdain for them.
Mahathir's thinking and ways are those of the jungle - the thinking and ways of fierce carnivorous animals who prey on those weaker than them.
It is time the authorities ignore his animal-like utterances which only prove he is like an animal, devoid of sympathy and understanding of the people's suffering and anguish.
Antoine Ross Deliones: Nelson Mandela said, "We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom."
Indeed, we want bread and we want freedom.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .
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