Both NST and The Star (nothing on Malaysiakini yet) proudly frontpage that paragon of liberal thought, Raja Nazrin Shah apparently denouncing the recent peaceful rallies – clearly referencing Hindraf and Bersih.
Might have come as a shock to some.
Raja Nazrin has said a number of profoundly moral (if not profoundly original) things in recent months.
The popularity of his statements remind me of how quiet the voice of moderation is in Malaysia. When someone of any stature (and is deemed politically correct by those controlling the media) says the right things, no matter how mild, instant celebrity status is achieved.
Nothing really wrong with that; but I can’t quite agree with the interpretations that seem to inform Raja Nazrin’s latest points though. He seems to emphasise that law and order must be above all.
I once got summoned for making an illegal U-turn. I really hated having to face the cops, then drag my sorry behind to the station and fork out all the cash to pay my fine.
I actually hated the waste of time and money enough to become very conservative when it comes to driving. Ask anyone who’s been in my car – I almost never break road rules.
But that doesn’t mean we as citizens must follow all laws blindly.
Ponder this. If colonialism in Asia and apartheid in both America and South Africa still existed today, would Gandhi, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela be heroes, or criminals threatening law and order?
During their struggle, the injustices that they fought were all perfectly legal and within the ambit of the law. Did being legal make them right?
It is in fact illegal to have more than five people gathered together in Malaysia without a permit. Does that make it right to arbitrarily deny permits and thus abrogate freedoms of assembly as enshrined in the Constitution?
And does it allow for the brutal use of tear gas, water cannons and batons on unarmed citizens? (Perhaps we can have the good Raja’s views on this?)
The ISA is a perfectly legal entity. Does that make it right to detain citizens without trial for years on end and thus open the door to beatings and torture such as ISA detainee Malek Hussin faced?
Some of my schoolmates used to really hate how I seemed to take my prefect details a bit too seriously. I don’t believe in cutting corners.
But just as we must hold fast to all just laws, we cannot give way to laws that clearly perpetrate injustice.
We must never forget: there is no lasting law and order without true justice and equality.
It has been said many times around the blogosphere, but if peaceful demonstrations are not our culture, why was it acceptable for Umno to demonstrate against the Malayan Union way back when? Or for the son-in-law to monkey around when Condoleeza Rice visited at the invitation of the father-in-law?
If they were protesting injustices, then I support their right to assemble.
I cannot possibly buy any ridiculous argument stating that these are “foreign cultures.” A culture of standing up to injustice is universal.
I have often faced the dilemma of whether as an aspiring law abiding citizen, I would take part in things that are clearly, in technical terms, illegal. Obviously, we can’t have everyone going around interpreting law and justice for themselves.
But sometimes the fault lines are far too clear. Sometimes the dilemma is not really a dilemma at all, if we think clearly, and with our hearts.
*
My colleague opined that Raja Nazrin is merely trying to balance his act, so that he isn’t seen as too anti-government, and/or so that the rest of what he says is taken more seriously – playing politics, as it were. Maybe, maybe not.
Either way, I think that in this case, the ends do not justify the means.
I can understand that if one were to read only the mainstream media, one could be forgiven for thinking that violence does indeed threaten to engulf Malaysia.
But see beyond the lies and look deeper for the truth. Find the pictures, read Malaysiakini, read the eyewitness accounts.
Then consider again, whether it is hollow law and order that is being threatened, or enduring justice for all.
Dear Nat,
If you ask me what I think of his speech at the opening of the 160th Perak Malay Customs and Islamic Religious Council, I would say that His Royal Highness, Raja Nazrin is drawing himself into the political crossfire.
On the face of it, he sounds reasonable that “we must opt for the correct and right path in efforts to achieve our noble intentions” (NST November 30, 2007). If that is same message is intended for the Prime Minister, the government and the UMNO-BN kleptocracy, then it is kudos for His Royal Highness.
But in the context of what happened on November 10 and the Hindraf rally last week, his speech cannot be taken in other way than that he condone the use of repressive force against the Malaysian people.
The basic problem(s) is that this government which is elected by the people no longer listens to our concerns, nor does is it seriously to deal with them. They are the first violators of our constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of assembly and other fundamental rights as guaranteed by our Constitution.
This Government ought to be challenged in court . But unfortunately, our courts do not enjoy our trust; so to get a fair hearing will be a monumental effort. This is very serious and yet nothing has been done to really fix the judicial problem. Even the appointment of a Royal Commission by the Agong is stuck at the Cabinet.
Why is the Government so arrogant? Does it think that it can continue to use its repressive powers to control and rule by fear and do that with impunity? Remember Tianamen Square, China in the 1980s and 1968 Student Protest in Paris, France?
Our forebears went to the streets in peace and with the best of good intentions to protest the Malayan Union and protect the status and dignity of our Rulers against the British colonial government. Taking to the street was their action of last resort. To its credit, the then colonial government listened to the people, backed down and abandoned the Malayan Union.
As BERSIH has shown, Malaysians are very responsible people; they respect the law and want justice. If the government listens and takes action, we can be sure that there will be no need to take the streets.
As for the “culture of violence”, please ask the FRU and the Royal Malaysian Police who fired tear gas cannisters and used water cannons against the Malaysian people. Ask the Prime Minister why he had to challenge the Berish participants during his closing speech at the UMNO General Assembly?
I had more expected from His Royal Highness. But on this occasion, I am disappointed.
Hi Nat,
Please please please move it in your blog and send it to whomsoever you think can get more response for this thing that i am posting here.
Blog : The People’s Parliament: People, we got rid of Fairuz. Now get rid of Rashid
Many thanks.
I just read the NST story on Raja Nazrin (at least, the one published on their website), and I really can’t see how you could call it criticism of the rally. I suppose the NST spin may give it that appearance, but all direct quotations from him seem to suggest that, if anything, he’s intentionally avoided touching on the rally. He makes a point to draw a distinction between violence and non-violence, and his call for dialogue, if anything, would probably be on the side of peaceful assembly. He qualifies his statement on the rule of law by limiting his remarks to legal breaches made “to the extent that the legal process collapses”.
Of course, Raja Nazrin isn’t an idiot, so he knows his comments would be spun this way. A number of hypotheses here:
1. He really thinks peaceful assembly is a bad idea – not all that surprising. People who uplift people like his father, Sultan Azlan Shah, as potential saviours should note that despite his obvious legal talent, Sultan Azlan Shah made dozens of legal decisions which came down against the rights of Malaysians – he was part of the 2-judge majority which declared that we are still under a state of emergency, which gives the executive wide-ranging powers.
2. Or maybe he doesn’t think so and is engaging in reverse psychology simply because he thinks we’re letting the rulers be our crutch for reform. Viewed in this light, his comments could allude to the unconstitutionality of demanding the Agong act counter to the PM’s advice, or could simply be a ploy to nudge people towards looking to themselves, as opposed to the rulers, for change.
3. Or maybe he’s not as immune to political pressure as we might think, and was forced to say things he doesn’t believe by certain people.
In any case, a rather interesting turn of events, and a definite reminder that to rely on the royals for reform is complete stupidity. It’s of dubious legality (at best), and philosophically undemocratic.
Pls read Zaharin’s Bila anak raja terlampau pandai
We must understand that the Malaysian rulers identify themselves as Raja-Raja Melayu. This is Tanah Melayu. We must accept that.
Perhaps we all should not jump to any conclusion first. We are relying on the quotes published in those hopeless dailies to make our judgment! A wiser thing is to get hold of the complete speech text and read from there. Anyone?
Nat, unless someone posts up the full text of Raja Muda Perak’s speech, I don’t think any of us can say much about it. All that’s left is spin, spin and more spin. It’s the sort of spin that can damage efforts to involve the royalty in the plight of the people, sure, but as with all things momentous in modern nation, it’s always boiled down to the people. Nothing changes, in that regard.
I wrote a long spiel but decided to cut it short. His opinion on whether the law should be obeyed or not will depend on not whether he thinks like a legal positivist or a natural law theorist, but on whether he thinks there’s a defect in the administration of justice. He doesn’t say, at least from what I gather from reports of his speech.
In the meantime, I will practice civil disobedience where and when I can until he can guarantee that the legal process is free from the government’s abuse. Until then, he’s saying absolutely nothing at all.
Dear Fred,
It is nice to be able to read the whole Tuanku Raja Nazrin’s speech. But the reality is that the NST is among the first to have it. The editors have the first pick of the cherry. So, who is really doing the spin? It is the government and its media stooges.
It is not going to make much difference now since the NST has done the job of using Raja Nazrin’s speech for the UMNO-BN’s political purposes. The NST has piggy backed on his reputation and academic standing. The handsome Perak Prince is now seen as pro-”Asian values”(of the Badawi strain) and anti-democracy, which I know he is not.
It would have been wonderful if our smart Oxford-Harvard trained Raja Nazrin had avoided comments on the recent demonstrations, which were made “illegal” by the Police refusing to grant permits. He has enough problems with the Perak religious establishment to last his life time.
His message to these bigots should be blunt and direct– that they should keep up with the times, to be seekers of knowledge (ilm), to have compassion (ehsan) and to be just (adil).
In stead of being bull-headed and Nazri- Zam like, the Badawi government should listen to the concerns of the Malaysian public, and act. Talk and sleeping on the job are cheap and potentially damaging. One would expect Prime Minister Badawi to know that this is hazardous to his political health. Unfortunately, his head is buried in the sand like the proverbial ostrich.
Malaysians are concerned about the rising crime rate, high cost of living, corruption and abuse of power by politicians and the cronies, and public officials, job security and the economy. Fix these or else, the UMNO-BN will lose significant voter support–except those who can be bought with a few sticks of satay, a nice bus ride to the polling booth, and some “wang ehsan”–in the coming elections.
Frankly, we need fresh faces, new ideas, and new and dynamic leadership. Let us stop the rot in the Judiciary, the Elections Commission, and elsewhere. Let restore our pride (not arrogance) and dignity. Freedom and justice for all.
This is without question Tanah Melayu, the Raja-Raja Melayu belong here and in our own way, we are actually proud of our monarchy’s existence.
But how many of our ruling party’s members (UMNO) are really ‘anak’ Tanah Melayu.
Only the elite malays here enjoy everything. Thousands are ‘invisible’ millionaires who do not pay tax. I think a panel should be set out to find out who the real taxpayers are who fund the country’s development projects and pay the civil servants salary.
Wondered why the government doesn’t take in other races to work in their civil services. The cat will be out of the bag maybe? There is a lot of injustice being done under the guise of ‘bumiputra rights’. Let an independent panel from the British Government look into this. Look into the malaysian citizen’s rights and not bumiputra rights.
It is the Malays fault. From those days they day they misplace their trust in the wrong people. Look at the UMNO party they have been hijacked by people who claims to be champion of Malays but only been Malay for one or two generation. How do expect NEP to achieve its objective?
Actually, we should remind our Malay brothers the truth that they being used by their own people claiming their champion.
nat: If that’s the analysis, I would say it’s the fault of Malaysians, not Malays.
There is full text of Raja Nazrin’s speech in this week TheEdge. I tend to agree with you on the plausible wisdom of an absolute obedience. A nobleman can only conceptualise common Malaysians’ pain and malaise. Real pain is psychological and physiological more emotional and deeper than imagination. Conceptual affinity is only as real as wiping the tear from your swelled eyes at the end of an emotional drama; walking away thinking you have understood and could help by just talking about it. Any nobleman will look good after giving political right speeches. But if it is only talking…then it is still another talking and nothing will come out of it. Do we really need a knight in shining armour to ride into the rescue when we have today internet connectivity? I rather have a few more of Nat.
Erich Fromm:
“One must remember that man’s history, according to Jewish and Greek myths, begins with an act of disobedience. Disobedience is the first free act. Mankind has continued to develop itself through acts of disobedience; our intellectual development is also dependent on the ability to show disobedience”
Just want you to know I believe there was a report about the speech in one of the mainstream printed papers and I sent feedback. I can’t find the original feedback, so writing from memory.
I said I had been troubled by this: Constitution proved for fee speech, free expression, free assembly and another clause that said any law or regulation which goes against the spirit of the Constitution is invalid. I had the opportunity to ask Tun Salleh Abas and he said “dicey”. Pressed further, he referred to a clause which I was not sharp enough to record. Asked for opinion: “the police have the right to regulate but not to prevent”. Someone from the paper responded and said they will try their best to get the answer.
No matter what they say, here’s my 2-sen…
Time to Walk The Talk,
time to stop the blame,
time to stop the rot,
time to rebuild the nation.
For our future and our children’s future
for We are all ONE.
When One is harmed, all are harmed.
When One is helped, all are healed.
Time to show we care
Time to literally Walk the Talk
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia!
Time to stand up and be counted.
“How?,” you may ask.
“I just small fry (ikan bilis) lah”, in frustration you add.
Bravely you declare…
“Never mind the water cannons,
it’s monsoon season anyway!”
But on second thoughts, you cry…
“Tear gas I scared; I get beaten up how?”
“I still have parents depending on me!”
“Gotta think of my children!”;
“Gotta put food on the table!”
OK, OK, i hear you.
Here’s something you CAN DO…
Wear a yellow T-shirt every Saturday
Your entire family members too
Show your solidarity.
“Saya Anak Malaysia”; “Malaysia Truly Asia”
Demonstrated and expressed by you and me
The simple folks on the street.
In the park, shopping mall or wet market
When you see another in yellow
Don’t be shy; smile, nod your head,
Bersalam, our Malaysian custom
– by placing your palms to your chest
or just one palm, Salam means peace.
Wear a yellow T-shirt every Saturday
Till our nation is back on its feet.
Pat Lu
Pahlawan Volunteer
http://www.pahlawan.com.my
P.S. Feel free to circulate, publish on your blog or post at other forums you participate in.
BTW, read Demolish Statues, Destroy Crosses in Mission Schools said UMNO MP at Malaysians Say The Darndest Things!
Why DPM worry. He got plenty money. Mebbe he instigated violent police reaction to scuttle Khairy`s plans to be next PM.
DPM could be trying to undermine Bodowee.
Time to reclaim our own sovereignty as conscious individuals and stop running to figures of authority for help whenever we get spooked by our own shadow selves! Most existing royal families on this planet are either descended from usurpers – or come from degenerate bloodlines. Once in a while, a fella like Raja Nazrin presents himself in a dignified and intelligent manner, and that’s laudable – but ask yourself if he’s likely to chat at a teh tarik stall with you. Some firmly believe in the irresistible power of staying aloof – that’s why even pop celebrities make themselves inaccessible to maintain their aura of greatness. It’s essentially hype, folks, sorry to disappoint you. Locate your own greatness and leadership qualities and be humble about it.