Something is rotten in Malaysia

Something has gone terribly wrong in Malaysia.

It is either that, or we have the worst timing in the world.

But it is hard to shake off the former impression when you consider the shocking, even surreal turn of events over the last couple of weeks.

Indeed, things in our country seem to have gone from bad to worse after the various revelations regarding the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue and the publication of allegations of mysterious “donations” to bank accounts linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The prime minister’s failure thus far to sue the various media outlets which aired the allegations against him, particularly The Wall Street Journal, have done nothing to stem public cynicism and suspicion.

Indeed, the decision to suspend The Edge and issue an arrest warrant for the Sarawak Report’s Clare Rewcastle-Brown has only heightened perceptions that the government is choosing to deflect rather than answer the difficult questions.

How else could one explain the decision to prevent MPs Tony Pua and Rafizi Ramli from travelling abroad?

The same goes for the decision to drop Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and other critics of the 1MDB from the Cabinet, as well as the elevation of several members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which was investigating the troubled company.

Ditto the sudden removal of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and the arrest of several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials as well as others by the police.

In fact, two MACC directors who were investigating the RM2.6 billion transfer were also moved to the Prime Minister's Department without prior notice.

And all this while, the most serious questions about 1MDB plus the fund transfers have not been answered.

As I said earlier, Malaysia either has the worst timing in the world, or something has gone terribly wrong.

This goes far beyond partisan politics.

It is not about who is prime minister or who gets to form the government.

I – and I imagine all right-thinking Malaysians – oppose any attempts to change our government not in accordance with the constitution and the law of land.

But we cannot sit still while our public institutions and the faith of the people in these crucial bodies are eroded, seemingly in the name of political expediency.

We cannot remain silent while whistleblowers, whether in the media, groups, government or Cabinet are intimidated or deprived of their positions and livelihoods.

No Malaysian – whatever their political allegiance – can countenance to what has happened.

Rest assured that PKR and our allies in DAP, GHB and civil society will continue to seek – through constitutional and legal means – the truth behind the issues that have riven our country as well as to protect the interests of all Malaysians.

Nevertheless, the past few weeks have also showed us that, beyond parliamentary politics, our country is in deep need of systematic reform on all fronts.

There must be a change in how our political parties are financed. This has been a long-term goal of PKR and we will continue to seek comprehensive reform acceptable to all parties as well as civil society in this matter.

We must make sure that the ambiguities surrounding the removal of the former attorney-general and the transfer of MACC directors do not ever occur again. Indeed, our prosecutorial services must be completely independent and free from political considerations. We must support the public servants at our institutions who do their work without fear or favour.

Moreover, the way our government-linked companies (GLCs) are governed must change. Greater accountability and transparency is needed at all levels.

Again, these are things that all Malaysians who are interested in good governance can get behind.

All Malaysians who love their country should support the Bersih 4.0 rally that will be held later this month.

This includes members of PAS and Umno who are concerned with the direction of the country.

We must send a clear and unambiguous message that Malaysia cannot go on as it has.

I believe – in good faith – that the gathering is legal as per the Federal Constitution as well as the judgement of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad vs PP.

I appeal to Najib and the government to allow for the gathering to take place in a peaceful and conducive manner.

I also call on Najib to end the controversial arrests and media clamp-downs, as well as to allow for a truly independent and thorough investigation into the various controversies that surround him.

It is still not too late to heal our deeply-divided country.

As for the rest of us, the time for neutrality is over.

Malaysians must make it clear to our leaders that we want the truth; that we expect and deserve better than what we have had to put up with. – August 12, 2015. 

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