Statement- Stop Warning and Threatening Mr PM |
MEDIA STATEMENT BY PARTI RAKYAT MALAYSIA (PRM)
STOP ISSUING WARNINGS AND THREATS MR PM
Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM Malaysian Peoples Party) is utterly disgusted
with the warnings and threats issued by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr
Mahathir Mohamad, vis-à-vis the Gerik arms heist and the role of A-Maunah,
as reported by the media today. We would like to emphasise that anybody,
including political leaders, has the right to express their views on this
matter. There is nothing wrong criticising the government for its handling
or mishandling of the matter, or even to demand the government to step down,
so long as it is done lawfully.
In a way, the government must be quite happy that it has gained political
mileage from events that have been happening over the past one week. It has
gained more praise from the neo-colonial media of the West for its
relative efficiency in subduing a hopeless attempt by a group of so-called
fundamentalists out to set up an Islamic state. At the same time, Dr
Mahathir can also be more sure of greater popularity among a section of the
people, majority of whom are non-Malays, who are concerned, quite rightly
so, about stability and any form of extremism, particularly those identified
as the Islamic type.
In the past, it has been Mahathir himself who has been constantly showing
disrespect of the law, committing contempt of court, and not displaying any
common decency, by accusing people of being criminals, rioters and
sodomists, even before they are found guilty by the court. Yes, even the
court whose credibility has now been undermined by all kinds of action by
the Prime Minister. What moral ground does Mahathir have to warn and
threaten people the way he does?
The government has become increasingly more undemocratic, unjust and
repressive. The space for public dissent and free expression upheld by the
Constitution is increasingly being closed. We only wish to say that if this
goes on further without check, then the Prime Minister and the likes of him
will only be encouraging political manifestions that he abhors, for
instance, illegal instead of legal, extra-parliamentary instead of
parliamentary, forms of struggle. Mahathir and the government have only
themselves to blame for whatever is happening now. Let not the accusing
finger point to others only.
Dr Syed Husin Ali
11th July 2000
|