SOME of us have been summoned to give our statement at the Dang Wangi police headquarters. Police have been instructed to investigate into our participation in an “illegal” assembly last Monday.
What you saw this morning is more than just several MPs being investigated or opposition lawmakers facing a possible criminal offence charge.
What you saw is Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy dying. They are killing our democracy.
The people’s constitutional right to a representative government is being disregarded, dismantled and chopped off piece by piece.
First, the Sheraton Move perpetrators betrayed the people’s mandate, when an unelected prime minister and government pushed aside an elected administration.
Second, the constitutional requirement that the prime minister must enjoy the support of the majority of MPs has been frustrated. He and the Dewan Rakyat speaker have refused to comply with constitutional conventions by blocking motions of no confidence to test the prime minister’s support.
Third, a representative government has been rendered totally nugatory. The Covid-19 pandemic – a public health crisis that has nothing to do with security – is being used as an excuse to suspend the constitution and Parliament. This is done to enable a government lacking legitimacy to cling on to power.
Fourth, the role of the constitutional monarchy has been diminished and trivialised. The cabinet disobeyed and ignored the orders of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who directed for a vote to annul the emergency and its ordinances be done in Parliament. This was not done. Instead, the cabinet said the emergency and its ordinances have been revoked – this is untrue and has misled Parliament.
Fifth, MPs were blocked and obstructed from going to Parliament.
Lastly, enforcement agencies, government servants and institutions, and police, who are supposed to be politically neutral, are being abused and misused to intimidate, investigate and charge opposition lawmakers for these perpetrators’ political ends.
We, and other MPs under investigation, were merely carrying out our duty and responsibility in accordance with the solemn oath we had made – to preserve, protect and defend the constitution. But for this government, this is a criminal offence.
The current administration has failed – that is the reality. With more than one million people infected, 10,389 dead, businesses closing down, thousands without jobs, many without food, Malaysia cannot allow this incompetent government to continue until September 6.
Cabinet members must step down now. They cannot stay, not for one more day.
All politicians and political parties, and the people must defend our parliamentary democracy. Malaysians must rise to stop this illegitimate and unelected government from destroying our democracy, our nation and lives. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
William Leong is Selayang MP
