When absolute power creates politicians from Dark Ages – Stephen Then

I KNOW of certain government politicians who have purposely victimised handicapped people for being critical of certain issues and policies. I have also heard about certain political representatives who purposely prevented electricity and water connections to rural folk who supported parties not aligned to the ruling government.

Such vengeful and twisted politicians can be found not just in Sarawak but also in the rest of the country. I worked in the Klang Valley, Terengganu, and Kelantan for six years since I first started as a reporter, and I too have encountered such vengeful politicians in those states.

In my last 25 years as a reporter in Sarawak, I have seen my fair share of these types of politicians. I would have thought that such a barbaric form of political administration belonged to the Dark Ages.

Sadly, we keep on hearing of such oppression, even today.

Last week, Assistant State Minister Datuk Francis Harden allegedly insinuated that community leaders who support the opposition should not be paid by the ruling state government.

Opposition parties Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak Baru (PBDSB) and Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB) subsequently slammed Harden for threatening those community leaders alleged to have supported opposition parties during last month’s 12th state election.

PSB Miri division chief Bruce Chai said if the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government is launching a post-election vendetta, it is a deplorable act.

“Denying the salaries and allowances of someone merely due to political differences is evil, to say the least,” he said.

“Such a form of political oppression should not be tolerated anymore,” he had told The Vibes.

Harden, who is assistant state minister for education, innovation, and talent development, had allegedly told Iban community chiefs at a gathering in Sri Aman town that community leaders who did not support GPS during the recent state election should not get their pay or allowances from the GPS government.

This sort of political revenge is the norm of ruthless dictators from the Dark Ages, not in a modern democratic society.

Now that the GPS has won the state election, the state government should focus on the most important issues at hand.

Chai said the most crucial issues now are how to boost our economy again, revive our businesses and industries, help find employment for those who lost their jobs in the past two years of the Covid-19 crisis, and help families afflicted by Covid-19 infections and deaths.

“GPS leaders must set their sights on these key issues, not continue their political oppression post-state elections,” he said.

Bersih Sarawak chairperson Ann Teo also slammed Harden. She said this culture of political oppression in Sarawak must cease, as in a democratic society, voters have the legal right to choose which political party they want.

“To punish them for exercising their right to choose is definitely an act of oppression,” she said.

Teo said GPS leaders must be reminded that salaries and allowances for the rakyat are from taxpayer money.

“The money from the state coffers do not belong to GPS leaders,” she said. “They have no right to withhold any payments, especially not for political motives.”

PBDSB president Bobby Williams had also criticised Harden for making the threat against the Sri Aman Iban Community Leaders Association last Tuesday.

“Harden said that it is absurd for community chiefs who did not support GPS to still get their monthly pay from the GPS state government,” he said. “This is an act of victimisation by GPS, with political vindictiveness against others.

“After having won big in the state elections using whatever means, GPS is now targeting those who did not support them.

“This smacks of the attitude of politically autocratic rulers with absolute authority. They will not tolerate opposing views that are part of democracy,” he said.

It is tragic if Harden has an insinuated vendetta. It is sad to note that our political arena still has politicians so blinded by absolute power that they become vengeful.

Instead of using their absolute power to do good, they victimise those who oppose them. In a society that adheres to healthy democratic practices, opposing views are the rights of the citizens.

GPS should govern with justice. GPS leaders should not go around launching campaigns of revenge to punish those with opposing views.

Such vengeful politicians belong to the Dark Age. – The Vibes, January 30, 2022