Change our perception of protests and demonstrations

Malaysia began its journey as an independent nation through protests and demonstrations organised by our founding fathers against the colonial masters.

It was democratic and peaceful, but the message the entire country sent to the British was powerful. They were not happy and tried as much as they could to suppress the dissent.

But of course, as we all know, they were unsuccessful and in August 1957, the British were forced to let go of our nation.

Unfortunately, the perception of this sacred democratic act today has been relegated to something negative, uncivilised and barbaric.

Those who partake in protests and demonstrations are labelled as hooligans and troublemakers, intent on destroying the daily lives of the rakyat.

Ironically, the same party that organised the protests and demonstrations to free our glorious nation are now stifling that same democratic element.

Is it just because now, these activities are mainly done to protest and demonstrate against them? So have the tides turned that they are now forced to suppress dissent?

Shouldn’t they embrace the tradition that brought us to independence instead of totally erasing it from their memories? Isn’t that a form of ungratefulness?

So many of the great nations in the world have attained independence and progressed due to the democratic process of protests and demonstrations.

India is one country that did just that against their colonial masters, the British, as well. And today, they carry on with that tradition and are the largest democracy in world.

Indonesia, our immediate neighbours, gained independence through a bloody war with their colonial masters, the Dutch, and went through a few decades of authoritarian tyranny.

But they got through all of this through – yes, you guessed it – protests and demonstrations! Indonesian youth couldn’t stand it any longer and they took to the streets.

And Indonesia has now become the biggest democracy in Southeast Asia and one of the biggest in the world.

They recently elected their first commoner president (Joko Widodo) after a very long time in a very internationally-publicised election

And of course, there is the United States of America, which has made democracy its calling card ever since achieving independence from its colonial master, the British, in 1776.

Yes, I can hear the boos and the hisses when we talk about the United States and democracy, mainly due to their foreign policy. But like it or not, domestically they are very democratic.

Within their own country and with their own people, they take pride in defending the essential core of democracy that led them to become the nation they are today.

Yes, in any democratic country, the authorities will always take action to clamp down on any form of dissent. But the action taken is what differentiates them from the rest.

You don’t slap protesters and demonstrators with criminal charges or throw them into prison. You don’t beat, punch or kick them when all they do is shout slogans, sing and march.

So we Malaysians should remember what brought us to where we are in the first place. We are a unique nation because we achieved our independence peacefully and without bloodshed.

And that proves that we are mature enough to handle democracy and we need to shake off the negative perceptions that we have against it. – January 23, 2015.

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