Selasa, Mei 08, 2012

DON’T COMPARE US TO WESTERN DEMOCRACIES – SPEAKER

Don’t compare us to western democracies – Speaker

TUARAN May 8, 2012: Malaysia is a relatively new democracy and could not be compared to other more developed western democracies in relation to media transparency, according to the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

He said to make any direct comparison to advanced countries like the United States and the United Kingdom would be unfair, as the country still is at a lower maturity level and trying to chart its future.

Although it is a fact that Malaysia has yet to attain the essential level and still far from the ideal democracy expounded by the West, to simply adopt a ‘copy and paste’ method without taking into account the different and unique factors faced by the country would not work, he said.

“Their systems have existed for hundreds of years, so why compare when the playing field is not even,” Pandikar Amin asked when commenting on the transparency of the Malaysian media in the reporting of the recent array of political events in the country.

“But we must be wary that while the United States may lead as a proponent of human rights, do not forget where slavery originated or came from.

“That is why I said the ‘copy and paste’ approach is not right as it will only bring more harm than good,” he said to reporters at the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) Sabah campus yesterday.

Earlier, Pandikar Amin presented a premier talk to civil servants entitled ‘Managing Leadership Conflict: From the View of the Speaker of Dewan Rakyat’.

Pandikar Amin said while the country had always been pressured or asked to follow the cue by the westerners, it was ironical that during the economic crisis of 1997, when the economic crisis gripped the US, the issue of transparency was never brought up.

He gave another instance, when the country was bombarded due to the existence of the Internal Security Act (ISA) which has since been repealed, but then the US had adopted a very aggresive stance after the September 11 incident as they grow suspicious of every visiting civilian and are known to be hard when handling certain cases.

Pandikar Amin said the Broadcasting Department should strive for respect by internal self-regulation and assessment in presenting information and reports.

He admitted the country is still a long way away from achieving a public service that is non-partisan in politics as politicial leaders still have the tendency to controlling who should be the head of a certain department or agency to suit their policies or interests.

“I cannot blame government officers for taking sides, because what happens now is when the minister changes, not only the policies change, but the government officers as well.

“For instance, someone (after taking over from his predecessor) may say ‘I don’t want this district officer because he is not my supporter, I want him replaced’. This happens.

“So, it has to start with the politicians themselves. If we can do this, then we need not fear about civil servants being partisans and biased, because their positions are secured regardless who the leaders are,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on members of parliament (MPs) or assemblymen alleged to have been involved in the recent Bersih 3.0 rally, Pandikar Amin said the country practises parliamentary democracy and any individual is free to express themselves.

However, he said that there are limits, and an individual’s right in democracy ceases when he or she tramples upon the rights of others.

“For example, it may not be wrong to hold demonstrations, but when it affects businesses and properties or vehicles are destroyed in the name of the people’s rights, that situation is exerted upon others,” he said.

On a separate issue, Pandikar Amin was asked whether he has any intention to contest in the coming elections when his term as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat expires, he responded by saying that he would take things one day at a time.

“In politics, you must know what is teamwork. We do not determine if we will contest or not, the one who decides is our leadership.

“What I’ve proven is that I’m loyal to the party, I’m loyal to the nation and for any responsibility given to me, I shoulder it,” he said, adding that he would be all right with any decision made.

by Murib Morpi

37 ulasan:

  1. I believe we will be able to see a better democratic spirit among the people in the near future.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Bukan mudah untuk Malaysia mencapai negara 100% demokrasi.

      Padam
  2. demokrasi pun ada hadnya juga, ia perlu mengikut cara yang betul.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. kadangkala ada pihak yang hanya mengambil kesempatan saja.

      Padam
    2. Some really cross the line and the fight for democracy is has lost its purpose.

      Padam
    3. Ikut cara yang betul, bukan ikut perasaan.

      Padam
    4. Kadang2 bukan mereka buang ini semua untuk kepentingan diri sendri sahaja.

      Padam
    5. setiap tindakan yang dibuat haruslah tidak menyusahkan orang lain.

      Padam
  3. Lebih baik kita ikut sistem demokrasi yang sudah digariskan dalam negara kita.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Fighting for democracy does not necessary have to be done through demonstrations.

      Padam
    2. Betul tu, ada cara lain lagi untuk menunjukknya.

      Padam
  4. The Bersih Rally recently shows that the people are more aware of their rights and willing to stand up for it.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. Agree, the people know what is happening and they are now standing for rights and fair.

      Padam
  5. Berpada2 lh..jangan sampai menyusahkan orang lain.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. ya..jangan sampai melakukan tindakan yang menyusahkan orang lain.

      Padam
  6. For example, it may not be wrong to hold demonstrations, but when it affects businesses and properties or vehicles are destroyed in the name of the people’s rights, that situation is exerted upon others,”

    sokong dengan kata2 beliau.jangan Sampai menyusahkan orang lain demi kepentingan peribadi sendiri.

    BalasPadam
  7. Rakyat juga faham sebab kenapa Perhimpunan Bersih dijalankan?

    BalasPadam
  8. Perhimpunan yang mengancam ketenteraman harus diabaikan.

    BalasPadam
    Balasan
    1. ya..apa-apa pekara yang boleh mengancam ketenteraman awam harus dijauhi.

      Padam
  9. Tujuan Bersih adalah positif, cuma ada golongan yang mengambil kesempatan untuk memenuhi keperluan sendiri.

    BalasPadam
  10. sebarang pekara yang boleh mengancam perpaduan harus dijauhi.

    BalasPadam
  11. kita harus bijak menilai dan tidak melakukan pekara yang menjejaskan ketenteraman awam.

    BalasPadam
  12. Semua orang ada hak bersuara tapi perlulah ada had dan tahapnya. Kita mahukan keamanan itu dikekalkan walau apa pun perkara yang diingini.

    BalasPadam
  13. Pakatan juga tidak mengamalkan demokrasi.. jika Pakatan mengamalkan demokrasi, mereka tidak akan mengambil apa2 tindakan terhadap Hassan Ali dan juga Tunku Aziz hanya kerana pendirian dan kenyataan mereka bertentangan dengan kemahuan parti..

    BalasPadam
  14. The politics of Malaysia takes place in the framework of a federal representative democratic constitutional monarchy, in which the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is head of state and the Prime Minister of Malaysia is the head of government.

    BalasPadam
  15. Executive power is exercised by the federal government and the 13 state governments.

    BalasPadam
  16. Federal legislative power is vested in the federal parliament and the 13 state assemblies.

    BalasPadam
  17. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature, though the executive maintains a certain level of influence in the appointment of judges to the courts.

    BalasPadam
  18. The Constitution of Malaysia is codified and the system of government is based on the Westminster system.

    BalasPadam
  19. The hierarchy of authority in Malaysia, in accordance to the Federal Constitution, has stipulated the three branches (administrative components) of the Malaysian government as consisting of the, Executive, Judiciary and Legislative branch. Whereas, the Parliament consists of the Dewan Negara (Upper House / House of Senate) and Dewan Rakyat (Lower House / House of Representatives).

    BalasPadam
  20. Malaysia has a multi-party system since the first direct election of the Federal Legislative Council of Malaya in 1955 on a first-past-the-post basis.

    BalasPadam
  21. The ruling party since then has always been the Alliance Party (Malay: Parti Perikatan) coalition and subsequently from 1973 onwards, its successor the Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition.

    BalasPadam
  22. The Barisan Nasional coalition currently consists of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) and 11 other political parties.

    BalasPadam
  23. Although Malaysian politics has been relatively stable, critics allege that "the government, ruling party, and administration...are intertwined with few countervailing forces."

    BalasPadam
  24. However, since 8 March 2008 General Election, media's coverage on country's politics has been noticeably increased, making the politics more transparent to the citizens.

    BalasPadam
  25. The political process in Malaysia has generally been described as taking the form of "consociationalism" whereby "communal interests are resolved in the framework of a grand coalition" "Malaysia: Developmental State Challenged".

    BalasPadam
  26. In Government and Politics in Southeast Asia' The executive branch has tended to dominate political activity, with the Prime Minister's office being in a position to preside "over an extensive and ever growing array of powers to take action against individuals or organizations," and "facilitate business opportunities".

    BalasPadam