By J. D. Lovrenciear
The numerous invitations to the BN leader to debate with the
opposition coalition pact leader, Anwar Ibrahim, has been turned down by Najib. It seems that according to BN and its leaders, it is not
Malaysian culture to have healthy debates on principles, political philosophies
and above all on political and governance matters that are close to the hearts
of all Malaysians and especially the voting citizenry.
The entire world promotes and believes in public debates as
a way forward to political maturity and social development. It is a civilized approach
to understanding viewpoints. It is an accepted standard in winning support for
our thoughts and intentions. Debates are deemed as necessary enlightenment for
humanity.
And even here in our schools and universities, we are
nurtured, trained and encouraged to participate in debates as a healthy means
to enrich our minds and arrive at enlightened pathways on issues and concerns
that matter most to society. But when it comes to politics in Malaysia our leaders throw
healthy debates down into the sewer.
Well if political debates are not a Malaysian culture, then
what is, pray tell the nation Najib! Is producing a profuse series of porn videos our Malaysian
culture in the run up to a general election? Or is splashing red paint and
burning cars or encroaching and disrupting political ceramahs our way?
Maybe our political culture is running down each other’s
opponents with all kinds of threats and allegations. Maybe our political
culture is one of fist fights, hurling primitive molotov cocktails, and burning
effigies as well as doing a butt-dance in front of the homes of globally
recognized and respected individuals. So Najib and his team must be right to state that debates
are not a Malaysian culture.
How on earth can our leaders proclaim that healthy public debates
are not our Malaysian culture and yet claim and preach transformation? How on
earth can we even reach the doorways of a developed world standard when our
leaders are already downgrading our national image and status quo by telling
the world that it is not a Malaysian culture to participate in sound, healthy
political debates before the voting public?
For how long more must Malaysians be made to look stupid,
immature and incapable in the eyes of the global community of fast-forwarding
nations?
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