YOURSAY | ‘Whatever his meaning, his initial advice to navy personnel is timely.’
Navy chief condemns spin, tweets 'hebatkan negaraku' similar to BN slogan
Vijay47: Once again, we are treated to the usual Umno response to a purported unfavourable development, colouring it as "spinning, or with a secret agenda".
This week, it is Perak BN chief Zambry Abd Kadir’s turn to don the robes of the court jester, now that caretaker communications and multimedia minister Salleh Said Keruak seems to have taken a Sabah-tical.
What is the spin concerning Navy chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin’s statement - was he misquoted, is the entire piece a figment of someone’s imagination, is it fake news?
Ahmad Kamarulzaman has not denied what he said, he now merely asks that it be not politicised, whatever that means.
To Umno, his dispassionate nonpartisan advice to his staff was a slap in the face, accustomed as they are to cloying urgings to “support the government” that have lately been refined to an art by the Customs director-general and the head of the Civil Aviation Department.
No doubt, the phone lines would have been aflame the whole day trying futilely to lay accusations on Ahmad Kamarulzaman.
Maybe Bugis pirates believe they can take on the Malaysian Navy. Look lively, me hearties, unleash a broadside on the knaves.
Ravinder: "Vote wisely" does not have a fixed meaning. When BN people say it, of course they would mean "Vote BN." When the opposition says it, it would mean "Vote opposition."
When a navy chief says it, it could mean either, or if he had political leanings, then it would be a veiled message to vote in a particular way, i.e. either not to rock the ship, or to sink the ship.
So let his personnel decide, as they would know whether their chief has any political leanings and how to read his message in that context.
Hopeful123: The naval chief is indeed correct to say "vote wisely". Nothing wrong about that. How people want to interpret his words is up to them.
What will be Zambry's reaction if the tweet says that the naval chief meant that we must vote for BN? Is Zambry going to say that the naval chief's words are being manipulated?
Newday: Zambry, the Navy chief is just giving sound advice to his personnel. We can interpret the message any way we want. Do you understand the word “interpret”, Zambry?
Just because something is interpreted a certain way does not make it manipulation or fake news, it is just interpretation.
What I interpret one way, you may interpret another way. It does not make either interpretation invalid or fake. It is a simple right to a personal opinion.
Anonymous Malaysia2018: Let the sea officers vote freely. Let the soldiers vote freely. Let the air officers vote freely. Let the Felda settlers vote freely.
Freedom to vote, whoever that person is, is the best advice. Why is Zambry running scared? Is it wrong to tell all the armed forces personnel to vote as they wish?
Wira: Whatever his meaning, Ahmad Kamarulzaman’s initial advice to navy personnel is timely. Don't fall for lies. Your vote is secret.
I'm sure he will ensure that his officers carry out his command.
Vote for party of your choice - IGP tells personnel
Kim Quek: At a time when all public servants have been feeling the pressure and subtle threat to vote only for BN, inspector-general of police (IGP) Mohamad Fuzi Harun’s statement is timely and proper and speaks well of the integrity of the man himself.
All police personnel must now be doubly re-assured that they have full liberty to vote for whom they choose and that all votes are secret.
The next important issue is the integrity of the voting process. No hindrance should be put up against the proper supervision by candidates’ agents of the entire voting process.
Early votes must be counted at the end of early vote polling at 5pm on May 5. Candidates must insist on this.
Counting the early votes only at the end of polling day on May 9 would not be acceptable, as it is near impossible to ensure to the satisfaction of all parties that the ballot boxes would not be tampered with over the next 96 hours.
Trueglitter: It signals a new dawn for our nation and its people when Fuzi rises to the occasion of the nation’s call by advising his police personnel to cast their ballots for the party of their choice and assuring them that their votes would be secret.
It augurs well for the integrity of our nation and its people when the IGP takes the unprecedented and professional step to reassure his personnel that their votes will be secret.
Such a positive measure undertaken by the IGP to enhance the police force’s image will be immensely productive and rewarding as it will unambiguously serve to convey the perception that the force is distinctly unbiased and not beholden to the powers-that-be, particularly in the coming election.
The professional responsibility of the police personnel does not only entail the protection of the law and safeguarding the citizens, but also the fulfilling of their obligation to exercise their judicious and individual democratic right to vote for the political party of their choice.
The once highly-regarded Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) was held in high esteem by all the citizens of the land and invariably the pride of the nation.
Evidently, the new dawn will soon arrive for the nation and its people when the police personnel will emerge in droves to vote judiciously and in assured secrecy for the betterment of our nation and families.
David Dass: Yes, a good statement. A simple reassertion of the democratic right of everyone to cast his or her vote freely and in secret.
This is surprising, to say the least, given so many other contrary statements in the recent past. And this coming after the statement of the chief of the navy.
Clever Voter: This is unprecedented, and unexpected. Something amazing is happening with the establishment, starting with the navy and the police, and soon others will follow.
Hopefully a peaceful outcome takes place, whoever wins. People must come first.
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