MARCH 14 — Paradox, dark humour, inconsistency and hypocrisy are four words most apt to describe some of the politicians in this country.
I am now convinced even the famous magician David Copperfield would be put to shame at the sleight of hand tricks our politicians are indulging in. The only difference is while Copperfield knows the audience wants to be entertained, the politicians actually believe that most of us are total imbeciles.
I truly believe Malaysia ought to be saved. The cover of my book Rapera, which was published in 2010, says “Mummy, daddy, help save the country – be a Rapera.”
So, yes ...the country needs to be saved but saved from what or who? I must admit it is quite difficult for me to express clearly in one word what the citizens ought to be saved from. If I was to choose a word, I would create the word “indignification.” There is no such word in the dictionary. I conjured it from the word “indignify,” which means “to treat in a humiliating manner; treat without dignity; shame.”
So, I would define indignification as the systematic process of treating others in a humiliating manner and stripping others of their dignity by actions and words. Dignity is very important for every human being, without which he will either be a slave (regardless of how rich or decorated he is) or live in eternal depression or delusion.
Our Federal Constitution recognises the importance of human dignity by according every citizen various civil liberties.
Yes, I agree to save Malaysia, too. I would like Malaysia to be saved from the indignification of the ordinary citizens by politicians over the years. There have been so many acts, words and even past policies that have led to an undignified state of existence for the ordinary citizen today.
For instance, don’t politicians realise how indignifying it is for Malaysian children to be consciously and deliberately classified as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans, Muruts, Dayak, Kadazans and so on according to their ethnic origins officially? Is not preferential treatment not sanctioned by the law based primarily on religion, ethnicity or political “know-who” indignifying?
I have yet to hear any political leader and non-governmental organisations grouping together to say “save Malaysia from indignification by politicians.” Neither have I heard any of them grouping together to say “save Malaysia from racial and religious disintegration.”
All I have heard is some senior leader say “I am Malay first and Malaysian second” when he was supposed to help promote the values of 1Malaysia.
Do we have laws that reduce adults into children who do not have the final say in matters most private? Should such laws, if any, not be reformed? I have yet to hear any politician take up the debate on how religion has been used deviously to control every behaviour and thought of an otherwise adult citizen.
All these relates to living a life with dignity and honour. I believe every citizen wants to live honourably and with dignity.
The people must be allowed to regain their dignity. I have said this many times. This is something that we all have to keep repeating because our dignity is being challenged at all times by all groups of people in this country, especially the politicians. The majority of the ethnic grouping comes from the Malays.
The Malays, therefore, must make an effort to regain their dignity, too, because it is the Malay mind that every opinion-shaper will try to influence and manipulate.
The Malays, being the majority in the country, must take the lead in bringing this country towards a more humane, respectful, sharing, emphatic and prosperous nation. If they do not, then I fear that the laws of nature will take its course which is the regression of a great nation and a life of indignity.
We seem to lack leaders who understand the aspirations, needs and hopes of the common man. These leaders do not understand that we want a safe home for our kids, that we want affordable homes, food, decent employment to live, and basic necessities like free education, free medical services, child and old age care and so on.
Most of the citizens are good, responsible and mature adults who want to be allowed to live without intrusions into their private affairs or private matters of faith. All these can be done but the politicians do not and will not do it as efficiently as can be done. It does not centre power into their hands, hence, it becomes unattractive.
The other reason is simple: They do not and will not face these challenges because they, their children and their cronies live a luxurious life. They cannot empathise with the needs that they themselves do not have.
Since their own privacy cannot be intruded, they see no reason to protect the privacy of the ordinary citizens. Their only concern is to sustain their status and lifestyles.
It becomes doubly sad for me that the so called peculiar movement to “Save Malaysia” is led by someone whom I have tremendous love and respect for. I would have expected him with his stature and boldness to address the fundamentals.
Alas. With respect, they are missing the tree for the forest and is nothing more than another political game to indignify the ordinary citizens.
As I said earlier, even David Copperfield will smile in admiration at this paradoxical and hypocritical magic show. It is dark humour.
* Jahaberdeen is a senior lawyer and founder of Rapera, a movement that encourages thinking and compassionate citizens. He can be reached at [email protected]
** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
