A brave new Bolehland was supposed to have dawned when the people finally voted out the previous toxic dUMNo regime after some 60 long donkey years.
Before, you risked being arrested for criticising the Pm even if your criticism was justified. Or for just releasing yellow balloons at an event attended by the Pm. Or making a clown caricature of the PM. Bolehlanders had hoped that that would be a thing of the past with the new Pakatan government in power.
But it seems that that is still a distant dream for those hopeful of change.
Why should anyone be considered beyond reproach and criticism - even if he is the Pm? After all, Bolehland is supposed to be a democratic country.
In fact, for all the power he wields, the Pm should be the one who should welcome criticism as a further form of check and balance for, as everyone knows, there is this saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Bolehlanders don't want that to happen again.
Arresting someone on a police report for criticising the Pm, whether the criticism is justified or not, should be a thing of the past.
Criticism of public figures is part and parcel of a citizen's right in a democratic nation.
If the Pm feels aggrieved by any criticism, he can always respond to it and debunk it. Or not. If he feels that any criticism amounts to defaming him, he can always sue the culprit in a court of law. That should be as it should be.
Not the state stepping in to arrest each time a person is said to have criticised or insulted the Pm. For that could well lead to a police state eventually.
I hope I am wrong but isn't is time for change.
Leaders should learn to accept criticisms against them in good faith even if they feel the criticisms against them are not justified. After all, they can always respond to the criticisms if they feel aggrieved.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment