Comment on Kalimullah's opinion in the NST

Umno’s chief propagandist, Kalimullah Hassan had a field day publishing his opinion in his controlled paper, the NST, headlined ‘Reform yes,but not through violence in the streets’ which covers two and a half page in The New Sunday Times.

I find his headline objectionable for the simple reason that it was not true that there was violence except those instances caused by the police.

He highlighted ‘It does seem strange that Anwar, who headed two of the most controversial election campaigns in Malaysian history in the last 15 years, would be the one asking for electoral reforms.’

Though he is well entitled to his opinions, I feel it would only be fair to publish opinions from those with alternative opinions but it is next to impossible to expect such goodwill from a crony of the present leadership. Anwar happened to be the most suitable leader in the current situation and the rally was not initiated by him. It was by Bersih, a coalition of opposition parties and NGOs. While he belittled some relatively unknown NGOs, this can be said of those who claimed to have suffered losses in business, who to my mind, are nothing more than people out for publicity and winning favours from the powers that be.

He also highlighted ‘And the current government despite its flaws has repeatedly talked and sought improvements in the delivery systems, in strengthening institutions and in ensuring it is fair to all.’ Here again, it is his opinion with the benefit of the control of mainstream newspaper and having the last say as though it was the gospel truth. There are countless well-documented cases of corruption and leakages in the delivery systems in the online websites like Malaysiakini and Malaysia Today which do not see any light of day and which the government can simply dismiss as lies.

A good example of how the government would try to avoid taking action is the Lingam video. If not for the ingenuity of Anwar with incontrovertible evidence, the matter could have been swept under the carpet. Just imagine an obvious video recording had to go through a panel of 3, followed by a panel of 3 ministers with legal background and then a full cabinet before a decision could be made to have a Royal Commission of Inquiry!

The lies propagated by the newspapers were incredible. For example, the number of people who took to the streets was taken as 4,000 yet the number of police on duty was also 4,000, which meant a one-to-one supervision. The many pictures and even videos showed otherwise. Bearing in mind, the people disregarded the PM ’s as well as IGP’s warnings by turning out in such huge numbers, and I am sure the number would have been phenomenal if the government had given its blessings.

“Has the Barisan Nasional government ensured fairness in conducting elections? Ironically, despite flaws, fair elections have been proven in the defeats the BN suffered in the polls.” This line of reasoning can easily be countered by the argument that if there had been fair elections, the opposition would have won more seats. Winning 90% of parliamentary seats with just 64% was not something to shout about on fairness.

As to the allegation that DAP seems to have followed the style of PAP in having the son succeeding the father and ‘what happens when DAP wins an election through the electoral process that it wants reformed?’,

I could have said that ‘we shall cross the bridge when we come to it’ but he had been untruthful simply because there is no way DAP can ever form the government in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, the rally was about election reforms to ensure fair elections. Would DAP support it if the party was not prepared to face a level playing field where any further success would make its own policies come under greater scrutiny?

In any case, Umno’s leaders had shown that extremist views while being Youth chief would have to be moderated once he aspires to go any further in the party hierarchy to gain acceptance from the other races. Being anchor party where the President also becomes Prime Minister, it is only natural that it is answerable to the people and the main objection here is the unfair practices in the general elections.

Would Kalimullah like to succeed in a dynasty where there is no possibility of taking over the government but every possibility that Kamunting beckons if the PM evokes the ISA? Anybody can form a party and establish a dynasty and nobody would bother unless the party is also the one where the PM is chosen. It is a whole world of difference.

It is a totally different scenario where succession means becoming the all-powerful PM of Malaysia, which the famous son-in-law aspires to. What did his parachuting into Umno Youth suggest? Even his crony can make tons of money and he is already laughing all the way to the bank. With that kind of money it is not good enough to just pay for the beggar’s food and drinks in a restaurant, but should offer to provide shelter as well for all the needy in the country.