What Malaysia
is facing today is unprecedented – an event that has never happened in Malaysia
before, where the highest executive power is facing with ‘trust deficit’ and
has conducted actions that raised concerns amongst local and international
communities.
TDM who was the PM of Malaysia for
22 years is standing up to save the nation which is now facing with critical
situation under the weak premiership of NAJIB. In addition, NAJIB as Advisor of
1MDB, a strategic investment company formed under the Ministry of Finance; is
entangled with scandals and probably engaged in financial graft. NAJIB actions
and involvement is regarded as undermining the reputation of Malaysia’s
financial institutions, for example 1MDB which was allegedly breaking
foreign-exchange rules, has led the Central Bank [Bank Negara] to propose criminal
prosecutions against 1MDB (Wright, 2015 ). On top of that, NAJIB
has also taken questionable actions by removing the DPM, the AG and involved in
termination of officers in the Task Force set up to conduct enquiry into 1MDB. The act
to terminate the AG is in fact against Malaysia Constitution. Article 145, Clause (6), stated that the Attorney General shall hold office during the pleasure
of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and may at any time resign his office and, unless
he is a member of the Cabinet, shall receive such remuneration as the Yang
di-Pertuan Agong may determine (Malaysia, 2011). Thus, the termination of AG by the PM is unconstitutional because it
was not within his jurisdiction.
TDM did not
offend any of the clauses against the Sedition Act 1948, since his
concern is with regards to the wrong doing of NAJIB, who is holding the
highest executive power in Malaysia as well as against 1MDB, a company - not YDPA
or the Government of Malaysia. In all his writings, he did not at all raised hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection
against YDPA or the Government of Malaysia. As a responsible citizen who loves
his country and has decades of experienced in governing the country, what TDM is doing is not about overthrowing a government but about
positioning Malaysia back into what she was before, as a great nation.!
In addition to the above, as a citizen of
Malaysia TDM is doing his rights on Freedom of Speech as stipulated in the
Constitution of Malaysia Article 10 Clause 1, and within Clauses (2), (3) and (4) which stated that every citizen
has the right to freedom of speech and expression; subject to any restriction
imposed by any law relating to the security of the Federation. (Malaysia, 2011) Clearly, TDM did not
affect and risk the security of Malaysia when he writes and voices his
dissatisfaction of the weaknesses and wrongdoings of NAJIB.
Notwithstanding,
TDM is exposing NAJIB that has abused his position and democracy in the country
by threatening and taking actions against people who exposed his wrongdoings. To
emphasis this point, his speech on June 1 2015 is considered as threatening the Cabinet Ministers by giving an
ultimatum to support him [of his wrongdoings]; or they resign from the
Government.
Under TDM
premiership, Malaysia boasts one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant economies, as
result of decades of industrial growth and political stability. Sadly today,
Malaysia suffers the lowest economic growth in Southeast Asia.
With the
plunging currency rate, shrinking foreign direct investment [FDI] into the
country, weakening of Malaysia’s future economic prosperity, coupled with
uncertainty of political future; I agree with TDM to call for NAJIB to step
down. Indeed, Malaysia needs a new Prime Minister.
