If Ambiga is a threat, then so is Najib’s 1Malaysia

Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan needs no introduction. She is a prominent lawyer, former Malaysian Bar president, former Bersih 2.0 co-chair, human rights advocate – the list goes on.

She is also patron of the people’s movement to advance peace and unity, Negara-Ku.

Just days ago, Ambiga was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 4th Euromoney Legal Media Group Asia Women in Business Law Awards 2014 in Hong Kong.

She is also a recipient of the 2009 Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. In 2011, she was awarded an honorary doctorate in law by her alma mater University of Exeter.

Despite this track record, she has many times been labelled a “threat” to the country.

In the past, when she was Bersih 2.0 co-chair, she received death threats. Not only that, back in 2012, a group of army veterans performed “butt exercises” in front of her home and a “burger protest” was launched against her by some traders whom claimed they were upset over their loss of income as a result of the Bersih 3.0 rally.

Labelling her a “threat” and barring her from other states such as Sabah doesn’t make sense. Her denial for entry into Sabah was due to her involvement with the Negara-Ku road show scheduled in Sabah this 25 November.

The Negara-Ku movement was initiated as a response to right-wing groups such as Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) and Perkasa, which have constantly come up with provocative remarks that centre on race and religion.

Awang Selamat in his column “Agenda Ambiga?” in Utusan Malaysia warned that the movement with Ambiga as patron was a potential threat “by attracting extremism”, while Isma president Abdullah Zaik Abd Rahman said the movement was against Islam and the rights of the Malays.

How do you define a threat, really?

I personally fail to see how Ambiga’s activism is in any way a threat to national security.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own view. But now it seems like we are saying that someone who tries to promote a more harmonious country is a “threat”.

Then how about those religious and racial fanatics?

What is so wrong about a people’s movement that calls for unity in this multiracial and multi-faith society? The idea in fact goes hand in hand with our prime minister’s 1Malaysia campaign because 1Malaysia’s goal is to preserve and enhance unity in our diversity.

The prime minister goes around town to convince fellow Malaysians that his 1Malaysia rhetoric is aimed at forging national integration through racial unity.

Strangely, activists in Malaysia fighting for the same cause seem to be constantly slapped with restrictions while trying to carry out their intention.

At this time, national laureate Pak Samad has raised a most pertinent question: “How are Malays under threat? How can religion (Islam) and Malays be threatened when those in power have been Malay for over five decades?”

As rightly highlighted by DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, if Malays and Islam are under threat then it is not just the concern of Malays and Muslims, but of all Malaysians because all Malaysians should look beyond race and religion. 

If we pride ourselves as a civilised moderate country as we always do, especially in international arena, then surely there should not be any issue for us to allow personalities like Ambiga or movements like Negara-Ku to carry on what they are doing.

So now, who are the real threats to our beloved Malaysia? – November 17, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.