By Zairil Khir Johari, MP for Bukit Bendera
Najib should stop creating bogeymen to cover-up his own human rights abuses
The government’s desperate campaign to demonise the “other” has now taken a twisted turn, with Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak’s recent statement that Islam is “being tested aggressively by an ideology which can be termed as ‘human rights-ism’.”
Najib made this preposterous remark while launching the National Quran Recital Competition in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday night. Explaining further, he said that “human rights-ism” was like a new “religion” based on “humanism and secularism as well as liberalism.” He then goes on to warn that it is “retrograde” and that it rejects the values of religion and etiquette.
Consistent search for bogeymen
Never had I ever imagined that the values of human rights, which are essentially justice, equality and freedom, could be a threat to Islam. In fact, most Islamic scholars would argue that these are the very values that make up the foundations of the religion.
However, while the complete lack of logic in the Prime Minister’s statement completely baffles the mind, it is sadly consistent with the government’s tried and tested strategy of creating fictitious threats to ensure the Malay community remains under siege.
In recent times, it has been the Christians, then the Chinese, and now human rights activism, which have become the bogeymen to the Malays. This proposition then justifies continued rule by Umno, the race’s self-declared “protector” against these so-called threats.
Siapa makan cili, dia yang terasa pedas
The fact is that there is nothing to fear if there is nothing to hide. As the Malay adage goes, siapa makan cili, dia yang terasa pedas (whoever eats the chilli will feel the spice). In other words, only repressive regimes have reason to fear human rights because they violate them.
Clearly, Najib’s irrational attack against human rights is an admission that the BN government has, throughout decades, suppressed ordinary Malaysians through the use of oppressive laws and policies that have denied basic human rights such as freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and expression and even their right to free and fair elections.
Najib’s own track record has also been muddy. In 2012, he promised on “live” television that he would repeal the Sedition Act, a draconian piece of legislation that has been abused to oppress political opposition. Yet two years on, the law is not only still in effect, it is still being used by the government against its political opponents, most recently against the late Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP Chairman Karpal Singh and now against DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and PKR’s Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.
Besides the Sedition Act, Malaysia also practices detention without trial, a fate that many opposition leaders have suffered throughout the years. Although the infamous Internal Security Act (ISA) has been repealed, its controversial provisions allowing preventive detention have been retained through the introduction of two new laws – the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act and the Prevention of Crime Act.
Another human rights problem that has constantly dogged the government is its dismal record on deaths in custody. Only five months into the year, already eight deaths have been reported. If the rate continues, it will soon surpass last year’s tally of 13 custodial deaths.
As a leader, Najib should not shirk his responsibilities by simply dismissing human rights as a Western demon that threatens Islam. This attempt to create a bogeymen in order to cover up his government’s gross abuse of human rights is laughable when the whole world knows the truth.
