LETS NOT WORRY, WE ARE STRONG

Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee

ANYONE who followed the last Parliament sitting would have noticed one crucial point – the government’s commitment to honoring the freedom of expression guaranteed under Malaysia’s Federal Constitution.

This was evident when amendments to the Sedition Act now allow for criticisms against Prime Minister YAB DS Najib Razak’s government, albeit keeping a tight lid on religious slurs that have the dangerous potential of tearing down the social fabric of the multi-racial, multi-religious society that we live in.

In the same spirit, I believe it’s perfectly fine for former premier, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to voice his opinion and grievances about the government.

The UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government, in a the desire to ensure transparency and accountability, has allowed for the rakyat including Dr Mahathir to vent their dissatisfaction with the country’s administration.

We are seeing this for the first time in the country’s political history. And this is clearly because YAB DS Najib has nothing to hide and neither is he holding on to the threads of power.

The Prime Minister’s position within UMNO is solid and criticisms made by Dr Mahathir will do nothing to drive a wedge between YAB DS Najib and his supporters.

In the same stride, there is no pressing reason to demand that the Kedah Menteri Besar, Mukhriz Mahathir, shows a very public display of support for Najib.

Mukhriz has already said he will wait for the results of the investigations into 1MDB. As such it is rather naughty for anyone to try and pit him against his father, Dr Mahathir.

Over the last few weeks I have been reading about different people urging Najib to respond to Dr Mahathir’s questions about 1MDB and details pertaining to the death of the Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu and the involvement of former police commando, Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar.

Some have openly condemned Najib for keeping mum. In my opinion, YAB DS Najib’s response is apt as he knows that no amount of malicious allegations will sink his Prime Ministership.

He has also not tried to stop any investigations into the 1MDB case and has promised that any wrongdoing will not go unpunished.

Sometimes we get swayed with emotions. But we really need to ask ourselves as to what we can do besides demanding that UMNO members and leaders throw their support publicly behind YAB DS Najib, for it’s redundant.

UMNO members are staunchly behind the Prime Minister and that’s a fact, however juicy conspiracy theories may otherwise be.

As such what we really need to do now is to continue working with Najib to ensure a sustainable economic growth for the country, national integration through racial unity, decrease in crime rate and a nation that is moving forward with YAB DS Najib’s 1Malaysia policy, which is anchored on his People First principle.

Malaysians can recognize the controversies, which are spun by some spin doctors, to make YAB DS Najib and his government look bad.

We really have nothing to worry.