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Tuesday, June 9, 2015

DELIBERATE BID TO HUMILIATE DR M AT NAJIB NO-SHOW? Why didn't IGP disperse the crowd after cancellation announcement

DELIBERATE BID TO HUMILIATE DR M AT NAJIB NO-SHOW? Why didn't IGP disperse the crowd after cancellation announcemen
IT has been said before and is worth a re-mention. Journalism is not a polite trade. It sometimes asks difficult questions that people would rather not answer and it cannot always restrict itself. There are times when we have to keep on harping on the same issue to get to the truth or the bottom of some issue.
On March 17, 2007, I sat with a coterie of journalists who had been invited to cover the launch of the World Youth Cup for which the government had paid RM17 million as "franchise" fee. It was money down the drain as Malaysians subsequently learnt.
On the top table were the then sports minister, Datuk Azalina Othman, and a host of other personalities. It was question time. The "homework" had been done and the questions flowed – one after another – like counter-punches to the replies. It became difficult and embarrassing.
Then some strange things happened – one PR "consultant" gestured to another to take the microphone away from me. Then, Azalina dropped the clanger (it went something like this): "If you are not happy with what we are doing, then you should be a politician and stand for elections."
It was a not-so-fitting climax to the whole exercise. In short, it was meant to be: "No more talking, shut your face up and sit down."
These events came to mind on Friday when former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was given the same treatment and barred from speaking at a forum incongruously titled as "Nothing2Hide".
The prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, was supposed to address members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to answer all questions on the controversial 1MDB.
The organisers had also invited Mahathir. SukaGuam chairman was quoted as saying: "This is an open forum. If Mahathir comes, we will welcome him. I will invite him if he is yet to receive the invitation."
So, Mahathir turns up but not Najib because Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar decided to cancel the event for "safety and security reasons, as well as to preserve harmony". But if indeed there was a threat as claimed, why didn't the police close the doors at the very beginning – after the announcement – and ask the crowd to disperse?
It cannot be disputed that the IGP has vast powers. But after having allowed the 90-year-old former prime minister to speak and then rushing on stage to prevent him from continuing, is a travesty of respect for an elder statesman who had led this country for 22 long years.
Switching off the microphone and the video recordings is the ultimate insult to a man, who at one time as home affairs minister was in charge of the police force.
From news reports, Mahathir had been in the VIP holding room and the least any decent and courteous police officer could have done was to talk to him about their concerns. Instead, they chose to publicly humiliate, demean and disgrace him. He is no "threat to security"; and as Mahathir himself declared: "I am just an ordinary man, I don't carry arms. I can't do anything or harm anyone. Why should anyone be afraid of me, you are not afraid of me?"
After all, he never took part or addressed an illegal assembly on the streets and led a crowd on a march to the palace. He took to the stage on the urging of the crowd who wanted to hear his take or words of wisdom for the whole country.
The phobia over Chin Peng and even his ashes is understandable, but what has the former prime minister done to receive this dubious accolade?
This is certainly un-Malaysian and this is undoubtedly a dark day in our history when a man of his stature is denied his say on affairs and matters that will affect the future of the country.
You can disagree with his views but at least give the man his time to say his two cents' worth. But to unceremoniously go on stage to prevent him from talking is utmost contempt for freedom of speech and expression which is enshrined in our constitution.
Such an action would be justified if he was recruiting jihadists for Islamic State or some other terrorist set-up. But to prevent someone from speaking on the affairs of the state is certainly unacceptable.
It will only be appropriate to suggest to those in power that such actions not be repeated. On the contrary, our leaders – past and present – must be accorded all the opportunity to communicate with all the people of Malaysia. - Sundaily

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