01/12: Will Malaysia crackdown on its dissidents?

By TAY TIAN YAN
Sin Chew Daily

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has threatened to use the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) and the police has arrested Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leaders. It seems like the authorities have made up their minds to repress until the end. Would it work? Is there a better solution?

Dr Toh Kin Woon from the Gerakan Party, which is a component of the ruling National Front coalition, has expressed his views clearly in an article entitled “I do not agree with the country’s leaders.” He said the country’s leaders have criticised the mass protest but no one has actually tried to understand the Indians' discontent and disappointment that made them take to the streets in the first place.

Similarly, the “Walk for Justice” by Malaysian Bar Council and the “BERSIH March (the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections)” were disrupted by the government and police.

If the government does not face to the issues of poverty, justice and fair elections and look for solutions, this will only fuel public disaffection. The problems will not go away no matter how hard the government tries to supress them.

The greatest threat to a nation's peace and stability is the failure of the government to properly handle public resentment. People saluted Dr Toh for his forthright voice even though he is part of the National Front coalition.

Dr Toh does not care much about his own career and he would not keep quiet if it is time for him to speak up. Are the younger generation leaders who are trying to seek reform from within the system laughing behind him for not understanding of time?

Probably, they would rather close their eyes, cover their ears and pretend that nothing has happened.

However, they can't play save when the problems involve them.