Malaysia

Introducing, consolidating, and maintaining democracy is not an easy task. Like all the good things in life, democracy faces many challenges. But they can all be overcome. Very importantly, we can learn from the experiences of others who have emerged from lawless dictatorship and tyranny to constitutional democracy.

The 2008 elections left us with the opportunity to strengthen liberal democratic institutions in our country. In particular, we now have a golden opportunity to reinforce the institution of parliament, to strengthen the practise of federalism, and to allow internal democracy to flourish within political parties, particularly in UMNO. Despite all the criticisms towards him, the "side-effect" of his premiership style is good for liberal democracy in our country. The irony is, it may have been done unintentionally.

It may be true that political parties select their candidates, but it is the voters who decide which individual gets to represent them, and as such the first duty of the MP is to represent the constituents, not the party. If parliamentarians feel that they can better serve their constituents by dissociating with their party or by joining another one, they are free to do so; and indeed a previous attempt to prevent party-hopping was judged unconstitutional in 1992.

It is easy to succumb to hyperbole after what might initially seem to be seismic shifts. But I do not hesitate to add my falsetto to the growing chorus declaring a political tsunami.

The first thing to do is to congratulate all new and returning members of the Dewan Rakyat and state assemblies. Every one of them should now be fully aware that what the rakyat giveth, they can taketh away. Over the next few days there will be page upon page dwelling on what went so dreadfully wrong, or screen upon screen dwelling upon what went so fantastically right. There will be ink splashed on how BN will adjust with the drubbing of the MCA and MIC, and there will be pixels dancing to how the DAP, PKR and PAS will form a long-term working relationship with one another.

The Malaysia Think Tank has published a new pamphlet "Press Freedom in Malaysia". The main author is Datuk Azman Ujang, General Manager of Bernama and Chairman of Malaysia Press Institute.

In Britain, the Muslim minority is demanding that they are treated as equals. Things are not much different for ethnic minorities in Malaysia. Just like minority Muslims in Britain, the minority non-Muslims in Malaysia too are asking to be treated as equals.

Although Islam is a blessing to mankind, many Muslims (not all), and some Muslim groups (not all) are simply a disaster to mankind. They seek to impose their beliefs on others. They want to coerce others into living the way of life that they define as acceptable. Even within the Muslim communities - and note that I am saying Muslim communities in the plural because I do not believe there is only one interpretation of Islam - they say you must follow their interpretation because they know best what Islam is.

In short, we have living amongst us, Muslims who believe in coercion and imposition, not just coercing non-Muslims into living lives the way they say, but also coercing Muslims into subscribing to their version of Islam.

Imagine a system where parents can decide to send their children to any school of their choice. If teachers in school X mistreat the pupils, parents can take their children to another school with more committed and talented teachers. If a school repeatedly do badly in UPSR or PMR, parents can move their children to a better performing school. Wouldn’t that be much better?

In Malaysia, non-Muslims are not allowed to preach religion to Muslims. Non-Muslims, like Christian missionaries, for example, who try to proselytize risk prosecution.

But it is difficult to categorically say that it is illegal for Muslims to convert. There are many cases where Muslims wanted to register their conversion to another religion but were prevented from doing so for various technical reasons.