Why PM Cameron may want to reconsider his visit to Malaysia

JULY 28 ― In a few days’ time, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David Cameron will be swinging by Malaysia for a working visit. During the trade mission in the region which will also cover Indonesia, Mr Cameron is expected to lend support and offer technical assistance to Malaysia to address the developing and ongoing regional threat posed by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

Reportedly, he is looking forward to discussing bilateral support, methods and means to disrupt recruitment and deployment of foreign fighters and improving counter-terrorism intelligence.

Mr Cameron has also expressed his intent to learn from Malaysian and Indonesian examples and best practices in tackling increasing radicalisation, the spread of IS’s extremist ideology as well as encouraging tolerance and moderation.

The thing is, I am not so sure that it is a good idea for him to come to Malaysia right now. Perhaps, Mr Cameron should consider not making a stop in Malaysia this time around.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the trust of the people in this government is eroding by the day as more information regarding the corruption, avarice, and lack of accountability as well as the sheer scale and breadth of the monies involved in the 1MDB scandal, are beginning to be better known and publicly available (it is said that nobody actually knows the whole A-Z of the 1MDB story, including the alleged suspects).

Regardless of which side of the fence a person is on (or straddling it) regarding the scandal, one thing you can be sure of: The Barisan Nasional coalition government is struggling desperately to deal with the ongoing revelations and its consequences and ramifications.

Unfortunately, at this point of time, Mr Cameron’s presence will have the unintended and maligned effect of boosting the position of those involved by being perceived to be ignoring the corruption scandal which allegedly reached the highest levels of government as well as the suspected abuses of power related to it.

Understandably regardless of who is in power, the business of governments continue and it is essential to do trade and discuss issues of importance and significance with those in positions of authority, especially on the threat of extremist ideologies. It’s realpolitik after all.

However, consider this.

This is a government whose officials have frequently publically sneered at the concept and at the need to uphold human rights (despite being a former member of the United Nations Human Rights, a sitting non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and having a National Human Rights Commission).

In the first half of 2015, the Malaysian government has liberally utilised the Sedition Act of 1948 to detain and charge critics, journalists, academics, activists, and opposition politicians who fell afoul of what the authorities vaguely consider as “seditious.” Whatever that means.

This is the same government that has time and again relented and failed to address rising conservatism and intolerant religious dogma within the country and prefers to maintain an “elegant silence” whenever controversies or debates are related to religion.

It brags setting up and showcasing platforms promoting the concept of “moderation” and tolerance at the international and global levels, yet barely practises them with its own citizens instead preferring to allow racism, religious intolerance and discrimination to begin to mushroom and solidify institutionally to gain communal populist support. This has also led to the radicalisation of individuals and allegedly added on recruits for ISIL as well as other militant groups in the region.

Though Malaysian authorities are successfully arresting those heading out to Syria and Iraq to fight, it is akin to dealing with the symptoms at the same time as being equally responsible for incubating the disease.

This is a government that has also violated its own promises and charter to “ensure no Internet censorship” (refer to 1996 Multimedia Super Corridor Malaysia 10 Point Bill of Guarantees) and has curtailed freedom of the press numerous times.

The recent suspension of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily and the blocking of access to the Sarawak Report website in relation to the 1MDB scandal, are themselves in contradiction with the words of the Malaysian prime minister who back in 2009 promised a new way forward in policy and politics with a “vibrant, free and informed media” which “allows people to hold public officials accountable” and that it would not be fearful of doing so. So much for that.

Those promising sunny Canaan days are now gone. Through its actions inflicted upon the media over recent years and especially within the context of the 1MDB affair, this government appears intent on continuing in not honouring those promises. It also appears that it wants to ensure its survival to remain in power at all costs. Especially now.

It is especially telling that despite the perceived loss of billions of taxpayers’ money, nobody of responsibility and consequence has resigned.

The Malaysian people are increasingly disillusioned, frustrated and angry with this administration, especially when the media are being threatened and suppressed in a perceived effort to control access to information regarding this scandal.

Are these the hallmarks of a modern, moderate and progressive administration that the UK wants to do business with?

This is not to say that the Mr Cameron should only visit when the Malaysian skies are clear and blue, scandal- and trouble-free, as well as when there is rendang and lemang on the table. But this is the environment that he will be flying into, however briefly.

*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.