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The lust for power sustained through the ISA

by P Ramakrishnan
Aliran
27 October 2012

Twenty five years ago, Malaysia witnessed what one person could do to sustain his lust for power. His unabated lust for power unleashed the worst traits in the Barisan Nasional to imprison 106 innocent Malaysians to keep the BN in power.

The man behind this dark episode in our history was none other than Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

On 27 October 1987 the rule of law was discarded, natural justice was ignored, the role of the judiciary was overridden, parliamentary democracy was sidelined so that he could cling on to power at all costs and by all means.

As Prime Minister, Home Minister and Justice Minister, Mahathir rode roughshod so that his position would remain safe and sound and that there would be no one to challenge him.

Today, more than ever, we must remember this shameful part of our history and wonder whether this will be repeated when the results of the 13th general election are announced.

The BN is on a very weak wicket and the possibility of a change in government is very imminent and staring in the face of the BN. Will the sixth Prime Minister emulate the shameful conduct of Mahathir in order to cling on to power by all means?

When one is addicted to power it is difficult to give it up in the name of democracy. This is the problem with the BN.
As long as Najib refuses to solemnly pledge that there will be a peaceful transfer of power should the Opposition secure a win following the 13th General Election, Malaysians should remain vigilant and ensure that the victory of the Opposition will be by a wide margin. As long as the margin of victory is respectable, there is hope that democracy will prevail.

But if the victory is by a very narrow, flimsy margin, then we must expect the worst to happen.

On this day, it is important for Malaysians to recall that dark episode in our history and pledge to ensure that we will never allow a repeat of that day of infamy. Democracy must never be derailed again.

Let’s remember that only a change in government will prevent this from happening.

7 Replies to “The lust for power sustained through the ISA”

  2. Our constitution has been amended some 700 times since independence and today it looks more like a worthless piece of paper. All these took place when that Apanama came out with his ‘Mamak’ Dilemma and the country has been on reverse gear since. Today, the true ‘Malay Dilemma’ has become real and soon we will have the Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and the likes that have been flooding our country staking their claims as ‘Malays’ and given the rights to decide the future of this country!

  4. Everything evil about Mahathir has exposed and he stays thick skinned as ever..feeling no shame at all.
    This man in not only crazy for power.
    He was wicket.. malicious and cruel…and the trademark has never changed.
    And how will Najib be compared to him?
    Najib is more dangerous as he only only steal like Mahathir but supports murderers…for one he is suspected to have a hand it in.
    If Najib is defeated…he is 27 years younger than Mahathir and cannot afford to be punished.
    You can say Najib has a wounded tiger personality right now.

  5. If BN is so determined to cling on to power. It should take a lesson from neighboring Myanmar. In 1990, a parliamentary election was held in Myanmar, and the party with which Suu Kyi was now affiliated—the National League for Democracy—won more than 80 percent of the parliamentary seats. The election results were predictably ignored by the junta. The consequences were sanctions on the Myanmar government by world powers and international isolation of the junta.

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