DEMOCRACY is not about toppling the government. If that is the definition, then Malaysia would have learned all the wrong lessons from the French Revolution of 1789.
In the aftermath of the “Storm of the Bastille” that removed the Sun King of France and his mistress Marie Antoinette, both of whom emptied the coffers of the French Empire with their lavish spending, there was one attempt after the other to keep toppling the government of the day. This was known as the Jacobin Terror.
Even Robberspire was one of the original French revolutionaries. To kill opponents as quickly as possible, the guillotine was used as the fastest method of ending lives – literally – of all other democratic revolutionaries in the original French Revolution. An eye for an eye does make the world go blind. In this case, it was the French.
To divert the people’s attention from perennial turbulence in France, came Napoleon Bonaparte, who assumed the role of an emperor by attacking the surrounding empires in order to externalise all the internal aggression and endless madness in France. Yet, let it be said, too, the French regretted their anti-Monarchical action. Yet, as Napoleon Bonaparte declared himself the emperor, the French followed his lead to attack others on the creed of “liberte, fraternite and egalite”. The result of attacking others: Britain, Austria, the Hungarian Empire and Russia united against these French advances after a blood bath that ended only in the Congress of Vienna 1815.
That is where Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang wants Malaysia to be. In chaos. An insidious black psyop to rouse his defeated troops in PAS and his ally Bersatu. Through such phantasm of violence, Hadi will impose an ultra-strict interpretation of so-called Hudud to suggest that only his version of Islam can create order; when in fact, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is indeed fostering a strong unity government that has no dereliction of public duties to all people.
Opposing and toppling the government of the day for the sake of pulling the rugs from under the legs of each democratically elected leader that formed the unity government at the advice of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah on November 24, 2022, is one of the heinous tricks of Hadi.
Sections 124B to 124N of the Penal Code is a legitimate piece of legislation to be used in arresting those who seek to sabotage and overthrow a democratically elected government led by Anwar and members of the unity government.
Malaysia’s Penal Code was amended in 2012 to introduce new Sections 124B to 124N. These 13 new sections deal with “activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy” (nine sections) and “sabotage and espionage” (four sections).
Of course, the unity government won’t resort to such draconian measures. Anwar’s government is still safely ensconced within a parliamentary democracy where anti-hopping laws are further reinforced by the memorandum of understanding between Pakatan Harapan, Barisan National, GPS in Sarawak, GRS and Warisan in Sabah.
The combination of all their votes is two-thirds of the majority, or 148 seats, in Parliament. A number that can convince foreign direct investors and domestic investors already in Malaysia to increase their investment in Malaysia.
The deputy finance minister has assured all Malaysians and people of all stripes and gender working in the country that the economy will register a modest growth of 4.5% in 2023.
However, should Hadi’s antics still continue unabated, then any further diabolical attempts to topple the government must be seen as a criminal interpretation of what democracy means.
A true democracy is one where the incumbent must willingly hold a free and fair election to allow the people to speak up. The king, the Conference of Rulers and the people of Malaysia are in favour of the unity government.
Yet, in the twisted mind of Hadi, he has affirmed that “there is nothing wrong with the opposition always attempting to topple the government”.
Such a statement is dangerous and highly destructive for three reasons.
First and foremost, it goes against the will of the people. It also risks gaslighting one group of Malays to fight against the other. Remember Amanat Hadi. It challenges the wisdom of Islam that speaks badly of always trying to bring calumny (fitnah) and chaos against established authority. The great scholar Ibn Tammiyah, Hadi and many Salafists, once affirmed that triggering a systemic state of chaos is a curse. A government must always be secure to prevent a Hobbesian state of permanent war.
Second, it upends the ideology of conservatism. Edmund Burke, who had witnessed the worst of the French Revolution, had persistently argued against overthrowing a government just because of the frivolous desire to do so. Burke’s brand of conservatism was about resisting the inner temptation to overthrow the government of the day. Hadi should know better. When something is broken, it ought to be preserved first.
Third, Hadi and thousands of his cult-like members in PAS are now no longer focused on their parliamentary duties. Rather, they are obsessed with the game of kneecapping Malaysia.
Given the un-statesman-like behaviour of Hadi, the key lies in stripping him of all his titles.
Therefore, his Tan Sri-ship must be withdrawn, and those who support the views of Hadi must be subject to an immediate investigation, where the Royal Malaysian Police does have the right to frisk and seize any discordant and disturbing materials.
From that point on, if Hadi still persists in this outlandish behaviour, he is committing a blatant lèse-majesté of His Highness and the Conference of Malay Rulers, and by extension, all institutions that bore their royal imprint. Sembah derhaka it is! – The Vibes, March 8, 2023
Datuk Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff is the president and chief executive officer of Emir Research, a think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research
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