By Kaki Bedal
Let’s not be surprised or even angry by the action of 90 current and former Asean Parliamentarians in asking the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to rescind the emergency declaration.
Reportedly, they’re from Thailand, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Singapore who did the asking in a signed statement.
We can always approach this in an unemotional manner but also by being stoic and strong in our principle that the emergency is warranted.
We can also inform those Parliamentarians that such an action has lessened the risks of internal chaos in facing the Covid-19 pandemic while also reducing our number one enemy of the day – politicking.
Nobody is perfect, especially in these days of increasing economic challenges due to the pandemic.
It’s not that those Parliamentarians don’t know it, but their statement has repercussions too and this is what concerns us in Malaysia.
They are participating in making the perception that Malaysia is not safe, not free and most importantly lending to the opposition bashing mindset about the nation not being an attractive investment destination.
Since our independence, apart from the May 13 riots and reformasi protests, the country remain a calm oasis, something the Indonesian, Myanmar, Thailand, Philippines and Timor-Leste Parliamentarians can appreciate as disturbances and much more serious conflict erupted in their countries, much worse than here.
Perhaps, they can look up the Myanmar situation after this more closely.
It’s a no-brainer, I think.
Furthermore, a more serious statement should be issued on Myanmar.
This is the question – what is more serious?
Between a coup by the military just after the elections followed by detention of scores of pro-democracy supporters including a Nobel Peace Prize winner or the emergency to reduce risks to a nation’s health.
They can answer it easily.
There are also issues in the other countries too.
Thailand politics and Philippines too are not exempt from uncertainties from time to time.
Singapore? They are not perfect too. The less said about the island republic is better, for now.
The other most important point – we are doing it for our own wellbeing. We are not saying others should do what we do.
To summarize, the Asean Parliamentarians are spitting in the wind.
The emergency is for the good of Malaysia and just a temporary measure deemed appropriate not by a military led government.
Maybe, the easiest way to explain why the Parliamentarians did what they do is this – this is the time to make a statement against Malaysia because the continue to be peaceful despite facing the pandemic that impacted on many aspects of the country.
They might not have bad intention against Malaysia but the statement does not augur well in terms of Asean relations. – BACALAHMALAYSIA,MY
- The writer is an experienced analyst and media practitioner of nearly 30 years in the industry.
