DECEMBER 23 — Writing my column sometimes feels like donning the garb of a superhero; unfortunately the hero I mean would be named Captain Obvious.
It's disturbing going through social media feeds and seeing the lavish, unabashed hero worship for leaders of the elected and “born into it” variety.
At heart I am very much left-leaning, with a socialist bent though I would never join a political party unless I plan to run for office (which would happen when Ridhuan Tee moves to the moon). So pardon me if I am irked by this subservience towards leaders and this ingrained notion that we must “respect” or humble ourselves at the feet of elected officials.
And then there is the hero worship given to, among others, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin, cleverly glossing over their past transgressions.
Each past administration has played its part in laying a foundation for the next one and unfortunately with each one, the sanctity of the Constitution is eroded and the power of the prime minister increases, much like the cost of moving around in this country.
By local standards, I am very much biadap (ill-mannered) for even suggesting that respect must be earned and not bestowed upon automatically upon receiving a position or reaching a certain age.
That is the reality. Respect must be worked for, because that is its inherent nature. Anyone obsessed with being disrespected is obviously someone with a fragile ego and likely undeserving of respect in the first place.
If someone tried to “disrespect” me, I frankly would not give a damn. I don't feel entitled to respect, though that is not the same thing as expecting the average human being to be civil towards me by oh, not harassing or assaulting me.
Harassing or assaulting someone isn't “disrespecting” ― it's basically going against the average person's right not to be molested or harmed.
I don't need “respect.” I need to be protected from assailants, from the erosion of my rights and from my government if it seeks to impart on me either harm or the taking of my rights.
The law's function is not to preserve power but to check the abuse of power and yet right as I am writing this, a law has come into function that allows for great harm and injustice.
It saddens me to say this but it wouldn't exist if we hadn't acquiesced so easily. If we hadn't believed that if we kept our heads down, if we didn't complain, if we were united behind our government, we would be safe.
Absolute power has always corrupted absolutely. Unfettered power is dangerous and could never be justified for any reason ― the ends never justify the means.
How much longer are we going to put up with our freedom to think, to speak and to assemble being legislated to the hilt? Must we all experience tyranny before we recognise what it is?
I am tired.
So tired of the annual circus where political parties buy favours, of elections where the lines are constantly being redrawn, of making saints of flawed men with narrow vision and a selfish grip on power.
Feel free to disagree with my opinion, feel free not to respect it. Soon it might be the only thing you're free to do in the public sphere.
*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
