I am Disappointed with you KeADILan
Iskandar DzulkarnainI was very dissappointed with the statement of KeADILan party Chief, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, that was made public recently, in the follow up to controversy surrounding Suqiu�s appeals. The statement, I assert, does not reflect the aspirations of Malaysian people who wants to see justice again given prominence in our country.
How could KeADILan still believe in the special provisions, as provided for in the constitution, that unfairly discriminates a certain group of citizens?
All these while we have been calling for reforms in the name of good governance, civil society and the respect for the rights of human persons. But now, we hear that the unfair racial discrimination will continue unabated. Just saying that BA is far different from BN is not sufficient � it is a denigration of ourselves, even. The racist parties of BN are not in any way a benchmark for us.
Pray tell: could there be justice if we were unfairly discriminate among human persons? If we still believed in such things like the equality of rights and dignity of human persons, we have to learn to see all Malaysians as equals. Even if we were to institute special measures that may discriminate between Malaysian citizens, it must be based on fair grounds � be it need, circumstances, injustices rendered in the past, etc. [See International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, Article 1(4)]
But I wonder how is the present distinction � between bumiputra and non-bumiputra � in any sense fair? Have not the events that had happened in the past two years taught us anything at all? This is sad � very sad. If we still have not learned such fundamentals that might serve as the common tie that may bind all Malaysians, I am not sure when we ever would.
As far as development goes, Malaysia is far more advanced than many other developing countries; but sadly, if we were to consider mental development in isolation, then I suppose we are still one of those undeveloped countries that are wallowing in primitivism. Which, I believe, was evidenced by the statement made by our Chief, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. If such statements were the reflection of the thought of those who are supposedly in the side of justice, what can we say about those regressive elements who are now ruling the country?
Malaysia is slowly proceeding towards a constitutional moment; what we need is right thinking people formulating policies that may bring about greater justice, openness and the participation of the common man. At this juncture, KeADILan�s stand with respect to special provisions is utterly disgraceful � particularly because we claim that we are on the side of justice! Of course, the leadership may churn out excuses about how unready the Malay population are for a �radical� departure; but it must be prepared to call a spade a spade, and recognize that all those excuses are nothing more than tactical, and that we have not diverted from our strategic concern. If that were the case, then it should educate its members why unfair racial discrimination is dishonourable and despicable � criminal even, if we were to consider international instruments [see Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, Art 9(1)]. Have we done any such thing, i.e., educating the
UMNO has its radical arm � UMNO-Youth (and GPMS, too, I suppose). Where is ours? If our Chief�s calls were nothing more than tactical, then why aren�t there any radical calls for justice from other sections of the party to appease those of us who want to create a Malaysia that serves as a model for good governance?
Please, KeADILan � please rethink your position.
19 December, 2000
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