Selangor PAS Youth deputy chief Hanafi Zulkapli recently threatened to hold a mega rally if DAP elected representatives Lim Guan Eng, Nga Kor Ming and Chew Chong Sin did not apologise for their alleged insensitive statements.
Some Malaysians consider their statements hurtful. That cannot be denied.
But while we defend your right to assemble and voice your opinion, we caution you to be a bit wiser about your demands. By all means, express your disagreements and thoughts. Freedom of expression is needed in a healthy democracy. It helps the government understand the will of the people.
But don’t demand an apology. A forced apology has no value at all. If they had wanted to apologise, they would have done so, without needing anyone to tell them. If they do not want to apologise, we should respect their decision to make their stand clear.
Moreover, when they do apologise, will that be enough for you? Will, that make everything fine again? Think of these questions the next time you feel the urge to force a reluctant apology from anyone.
Why do we allow our leaders (both government and opposition) to misbehave and then simply apologise? Why are we too generous with them? Why do we tolerate substandard leadership? It is time Malaysians be less forgiving and demand higher standards from our leaders. The rut that we are experiencing is a direct result of our “tak apa” attitude.
Some were corrupt, yet we forgive. Some practised nepotism, yet we forgive. Some misrepresented themselves with fake degrees, yet we forgive. Some incited unnecessary hatred, yet we still forgive.
We deserve the leaders we have. But we can change this if we really want to. In a true democracy, an informed choice is very important. We are, in fact, tasked with choosing leaders that should ideally embody our values and hopes. This is not an easy task for the rakyat, as many of those who desire power wear multiple masks to suit the occasion.
However, once in a while, they feel comfortable enough and reveal their true selves. When they do, we should get the best out of it, and let them reveal as much as possible.
In a world full of confusion and hypocrisy, honesty is a luxury. It is a rare treat when politicians decide to reveal their true nature. When that happens, they should not be forced to apologise and create more confusion.
Instead, we should just let them ramble on. Sit back, observe and take notes. It will help us make an informed decision when we need to.
To YB Bagan, YB Teluk Intan and YB Mengkibol, there is no need to apologise, if you don’t feel like it. Thank you for being honest with us. We need such frankness to understand where you stand on issues. It will definitely help Malaysians make an informed decision when we vote.
Kamil Amir is an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Source : Free Malaysia Today by Kamil Amir
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