Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of Operation Lalang which brought about the darkest days for democracy and human rights in the nation’s history.
There was not only the arrest of 106 Malaysians, including opposition leaders – 16 of whom were from the DAP, including MPs and State Assemblymen – trade unionists, social activists, environmentalists, Chinese educationists and religious workers, there was also the wholesale attacks on press freedom with the closure of three newspapers, the merciless attacks on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law resulting in the sacking of the Lord President and two Supreme Court judges and the series of undemocratic legislation which caused a tectonic shift in the Malaysian political landscape, subordinating the legislative and judicial branches to the Executive or to be more exact to the fiat of one person, the Prime Minister of the day.
The Government Transformation Programme of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has promised to make Malaysia “the best democracy of the world”, but after more than 42 months of his premiership, Malaysia falls far short of the conditions to be a “normal democracy” let alone the “world’s best democracy”, as illustrated by the refusal by the Prime Minister and the ruling UMNO/BN coalition to make a public commitment that they would fully accept the verdict of the voters in the 13th General Election and would peacefully and smoothly transfer Federal power to Pakatan Rakyat if this is the verdict of the Malaysian electorate in the ballot box.
It is clear that a change of government at the national level, for the first time in 55 years, is needed to undo all the ravages and adverse effects of the 25-year Operation Lalang on democracy, human rights and the national institutions – whether it be the restoration of a truly independent judiciary and a just rule of law; the unshackling of Executive usurpation of powers of Parliament and the Judiciary; the flourishing of a free and responsible media and the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, expression and information; proper check-and-balance mechanisms to end corruption and abuses of power; and the restoration to all national institutions their impartiality, independence and professionalism.
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Operation Lalang, let all Malaysians reaffirm their resolve to undo all the ravages of the Operation Lalang catastrophe in 1987 by a united effort to strengthen democracy, human rights and national institutions so that there could be no recurrence of a Operation Lalang in future by voting solidly for a national change of government in the coming general election.
Their refusal may mean they’ll defend Putrajaya using what ever means available…The rakyat must be prepared to ensure that this doesn’t happen. The rakyat must be ready to defend their gov’t of choice come GE13.
///The definition of whether GLCs are considered part of Malay equity could have implications on affirmative action programmes for Malays as many Umno leaders maintain that Malay equity stands at only about 20 per cent today which is below the target of 30 per cent set in the New Economic Policy NEP If GLCs which comprise a large chunk of the economy and also make up a significant number of the benchmark FBM KLCI index components were at one time considered to be Malay equity it is possible that the 30 per cent target was exceeded in the past.///–Mahathir, MalaysianInsider
GLCs are limited companies, and hence the equity ownership can be classifiable by race, based on the ethnic proportion in the population. GLCs equity are included in the denominator, and hence it ought to be included in the numerator for the different races. Mahathir said that had GLC been included in the computation, the 30% share would have been attained. The issue is not how GLC should be classified, it is whether the government would honour its promise based on proper computation of statistics.
It is clear that if GLCs are properly accounted for Malays’ share in equity capital, the 30% had long been achieved. NEP should have ended the moment that target had been achieved.
It is because the government refuses to declare the NEP objective had been achieved that it chooses to play around with semantic making GLCs a different category of fish.
Yeah, restoration of “normal democracy” in this country is long overdue. GE13 is the golden opportunity to vote for a national change of government to UNDO all the ravages of the Operation Lalang catastrophe.
Najib promise to make Malaysia…the best democratic country in the world are his usual hollow promises…plenty to count.
After 4 years…who does not know Najib.
He is the most talked about…PM amongst all PMs.
He is not a PM at all….but an appointed PM by his party…not elected by the People.
And so….what is he really is???….with TWO false titles…Tun & PM….and that can only be in Malaysia.
CHANGE d UmnoB/BN gomen like changing a dirty stinking underwear, throw it away, YUK
No doubt Ops Lallang was probably the start of the tipping point that led to a lot of abuses. But the list of abuses are so long and so many others so much worst, Malaysian, the over-practical side of them just means they are more concern with getting the systems right and practical injustices corrected first rather than actual achieving elegant ideals and solutions..
Honestly, if I were you, I would link Ops Lallang with Geneva gold and Mahathir having to account for both because Geneva gold problem begin with Ops Lallang…
YB Lim,
Many years ago when you and your wife came to Brisbane to give us a talk, I told you my dream of Malaysia being headed by DSAI and Mr LGE his DPM. You looked at me and asked why don’t we make it happen.
Sir, it is happening. It sure is happening!
Italy’s Berlusconi sentenced to jail for tax fraud
http://themalaysianinsider.com/world/article/italys-berlusconi-sentenced-to-jail-for-tax-fraud/
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Ex-PM in developed country is sentenced to jail. Will it ever happen to Dr M in Malaysia?
There is a reason why we did not notice jib’s best democracy at all. You see jib moved too quickly. In fact far too quickly for most people to notice. In a split second he transformed the nation from democracy to world’s best democracy and now, world’s lagi best democracy.
JJ1B
RR1C!
Hoi boh liao, dirty stinking underwear can be washed. It isnt too bad actually because we have washing machines and all sorts of powerful detergents. But umno is one whole cattle of different problem. Umno cant be cleaned. And worse than that, umno does not want to be BERSIH. So dont chuck away your dirty underwear. Wash it instead. Save some money. Times are hard contrary to umno’s claim. And speaking of umno, oh just bury it come GE13. No second thoughts.
Grossly incompetent and incapable to govern but at the same time do not want to be governed.
Get rid of it before it is too late.
Whilst “change of government is needed to undo all the adverse effects of 25-year Operation Lalang on democracy, human rights and national institutions” it is ironically the prospect of such a “change of government” that will more likely cause a launch of the next Operation Lalang! If the first Operation Lalang, cracking down on opposition and dissidents, were motivated by an intention to make them bogeyman to consolidate power of the then administration against rival contenders, what more the prospect of a loss of federal power to contenders in the Opposition who have evinced no amnesty offer for mis-governance or abuse of power??? After all that is needed for such an operation is an orchestrated incident or threat thereof for a pretext to crack down in name of public order. That is not difficult at all, Internet or no Internet! All that is required is guts, and the will to do it. That’s all.
Isn’t there going to be some sort of commemorative event to remember this sad chapter in our nation’s history ?
Invite Mahathir to give a talk. He said he was helpless as PM and that the police was the culprit who wanted the crackdown as they ‘had the guns’ or something like that.
GE 13 is the golden opportunity to change the government and it is also the best opportunity to get rid of the mother of all evils,that mamak devil which orchestrated the ‘Operasi Lalang’ 25 years ago today.
25 years has passed on the Operation Lalang mooted by Mahathir.
Nothng has changed…nothing will under his Umno b…be it Najib or anyone as PM.
Fear factors and provoking for trouble is part of Umno B game plan.
What we are seeing now…is that Najib is out of ideas…after telling so many lies.
His “best democratic country” comment is childish ..idiotic by the biggest hypocritical thieve…from Umno B.
The devil has, of course, admitted he did this!
Now, we know who are the fallen angels and who is Lucifer who still prowls the earth, breathing sulfur and fire.
O NO, d dirty stinking underwear called UmnoB/BN is NOT WORTH rewashing n keeping, even at dis hard time: JUST say BYE2 2 it n BURY it, ABU