APRIL 2 — A new style of governance is being increasingly played out in Malaysia. One of fear and intimidation.

The thought that the new governance style is being sanctioned by our Executive is frightening in itself. But what is even more so is if this new governance is permeating our system because of a rudderless government structure.

Either way, the end result is a system that is intolerant and repressive.

The style is simple enough.

Citizens are not allowed to have any views critical of the opinion or actions of the governing executive, judiciary or legislature. Any expression of discomfort on the state of affairs of the country is to be dealt with immediately by investigation for sedition.

The objective? Cull independent thinking and build a nation of compliant citizens, who are too fearful to question anything that the government does.

I contend that Government ought never to be feared, especially a government which has been voted in under a democratic electorate system. Our politicians and certain members of the government machinery seem however to have conveniently forgotten that Government is meant to serve. The humility of public office and service in Malaysia has been increasingly subsumed by the arrogance of power.

Essentially such arrogance has translated into the Government informing us, that we, as a community of Malaysian citizens have no right to question and if we continue to exert our rights to question then the response from the Government shall be to inject more fear into the system.

Never mind that rule by fear is not only reprehensible, it is unconstitutional. Or that it demeans the very core of our rights as a community of citizens of Malaysia. After all, Government knows best.

We must ensure that fear and intimidation do not stop us from being Malaysians. There is just too much to lose if we keep on the sidelines and watch silently on the ever increasing trampling of our basic rights and the curtailing of critical thought. We as a nation need to hear more opinions and be less afraid to express them.

I don’t want fear to govern our Malaysia.

* This is the view of the individual and does not necessarily represent the opinion of the Malay Mail Online.