Reaffirming Dr. Mahathir's democratic rights

Allow me to reiterate my very consistent stand on the democratic rights of ex-PM Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

I think, whatever he said or did in the past as Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, Dr.Mahathir Mohamad is still entitled to his democratic rights to free speech, association, assembly and lobby for policy changes

One, like Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang, may say that because Dr. Mahathir once denied our democratic rights, he has therefore lost his rights now. I think that is a conceptual as well as practical error in the understanding of modern democracy and human rights.

This error, if not rebutted, would only lead to the creation or consolidation of a new 'bipartisan' alliance of autocrats (leaders of the current Administration + New Straits Times + Kit Siang's DAP) in the name of suppressing or eliminating the old one.

It does not lead to a qualitative or paradigmatic breakthrough in the political process like in 1987-1990 when Kit Siang held a strategically more flexible and pragmatic view on the effect-based (never mind the intention) role of another ex-PM, namely Tunku Abdul Rahman who, in his reign from 1957-1970, detained without trial more Malayans/Malaysians, including Kit Siang himself, than Dr.Mahathir Mohamad.

If knowledgeable in history or more honest, one could even argue that in some aspects, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad did perform better than the Tunku as a Malayan/Malaysian patriot and nationalist. At least, Dr. Mahathir has been consistently opposing to any stationing and operations of foreign troops on our sovereign land while the Tunku signed the 1957 Anglo-Malayan/Malaysian Defence Agreement (AMDA) which allowed hundreds of foreign troops to be stationed and operated in Malaya/Malaysia and also, to be transferred via Singapore for combat operations in Indochina in 1960s. Also, while the Tunku supported the US bombing of North Vietnam in 1965, Dr.Mahathir opposed it.

True, to many of us, including myself, Dr.Mahathir also committed some serious mistakes and errors in human rights, economic management as well as the conduct of foreign policy, but, he is still entitled to defend his positions, ideas and legacies publicly for us to make our own judgement on a case-by-case basis.

He therefore should not be gagged by laws, media manipulation, psywar attacks or through moral pressures. On the contrary, Dr. Mahathir should be encouraged to express his views and feelings as honestly as possible.

Of course, I would personally urge Dr.Mahathir Mohamad not to make too many enemies on all fronts on personalised, trivial or remeh-temeh issues. Concentrate on the Big Picture and make more friends and even ex-enemies to agree with your Big Ideas. Admitting some errors and effecting some reconciliations voluntarily would also enhance moral credibility.

Both supporters and critics of Dr.Mahathir Mohamad are, of course, welcome to agree or disagree with my above-stated opinion.

'Liberal' Dr M reminded of autocratic past
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/49850