MARCH 2 — In Kuching, over three-layer tea and laksa Sarawak...
Alfred: Did you catch the prime minister at Medan Niaga Satok last Saturday?
Malik: Oh, he was there? No, I didn’t.
Alfred: In a Facebook post later he promised to do more to help Sarawak progress and to keep what he called “extremist elements” out in order to maintain the harmony here.
Malik: Haha, now that last one is a little amusing.
Alfred: Why?
Malik: For one thing, the controversial ISMA people already have a Sarawak branch.
Alfred: What? Really? Weren’t they barred from the state?
Malik: Yes, the organisation is on the state Immigration Department’s blacklist. But that won’t stop locals from joining. In fact the Sarawak branch has its own website and Facebook page now.
Alfred: If I recall correctly the ISMA president’s sedition trial was postponed twice already, wasn’t it? Last I heard it’s waiting for the Federal Court’s decision on Dr Azmi Sharom’s challenge on whether the Sedition Act 1948 is constitutional.
Malik: That’s right. Meantime on March 3 there is a case management hearing for the ISMA president’s trial. But to be fair, ISMA isn’t all bad.
Alfred: Come on, how can you say that?
Malik: Well the controversy is mostly from the racist things said by a few at the top. From what I hear most people are involved for a spiritual purpose. To learn more about religion, to become better people.
Alfred: I disagree. If the top is skewed then the rest is at risk also. A fish rots from the head after all.
Malik: Kinda like the Islamic State, kan?
Alfred: Yes. Maybe all these jihadists have good religious intentions deep down, I don’t know. But they’re being used by people who hide behind religion.
Malik: That I agree with. Anyway the prime minister should probably look closer to home if he wants to promote harmony.
Alfred: Haha. Of course. Take Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s boycott call, for example.
Malik: Now, now, that matter is closed isn’t it.
Alfred: Granted. The man eventually apologised. But before we came to that, the prime minister’s office actually defended his remarks singling out Chinese traders for rising prices.
Malik: Oh yes, another funny thing. The statement said Datuk Seri Ismail was referring to all traders, not just the Chinese.
Alfred: And soon after the prime minister’s office defending the minister’s remarks, news surfaced that the Cabinet demanded an explanation. Like, did the Cabinet just take an opposite stance to the prime minister?
Malik: I think the bigger question is why the prime minister’s office even defended the remark. Clearly it shouldn’t be. But anyway the minister ate humble pie and apologised.
Alfred: At least the response from his office on the boycot call was relatively quick, I’ll grant him that.
Malik: Yeah. But I would hope for more action. Did you catch the Sarawak chief minister on TV1 last week?
Alfred: Yes. He was telling Putrajaya to be fair and responsible towards the Chinese among other things.
Malik: That he was. Remember he gave RM3 million to Chinese independent schools in the state last year? They didn’t even ask for it.
Alfred: That’s Adenan. What struck me was a moment when the interviewer was announcing a break and Adenan interjected saying they will discuss timber issues after the break.
Malik: Hahaha yes! I loved that, conveying the impression of a leader who’s not afraid to talk about difficult subjects.
Alfred: And he even condemned corruption in the civil service insofar as the timber industry is concerned. The prime minister should probably take a leaf out of Adenan’s book.
Malik: And Azmin’s. When he cancelled Kidex I was seeing online commenters commending him left, right and centre. Some even proclaimed him a future prime minister.
Alfred: Showing leadership and all eh. Well, most people have short memories.
Malik: That’s the truth. Every now and then we talk about the same issues over and over. But really most of them aren’t new problems at all.
Alfred: Alas. How I wish for the walk to match the talk sometimes.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
