THE proceedings at the High Courts are conducted mostly in English, as it is a language that many of our senior lawyers and judges, regardless of their race, are accustomed to.

In almost all cases, lawyers would begin their presentation in Bahasa Malaysia and then apply to the judge to continue in English.

Any practising lawyer who still attends court, or even reporters covering the beat, will vouch for this.

“Dengan izin, Yang Arif, saya mohon untuk meneruskan hujah saya dalam Bahasa Inggeris,” is commonly heard in our courts.

The court’s rule on the the choice of language in our houses of justice is clear, which stipulates that “all proceedings (other than the giving of evidence by a witness) in the Federal Court, Court of Appeal, High Court or any subordinate court shall be in the national language.”

Provided that the court may either, in its own motion or on the application of any party to any proceedings, and after considering the interests of justice in those proceedings, order that the proceedings (other than the giving of evidence by a witness) shall be partly in the national language and partly in the English language.

Our officers of the court are known to be practical and flexible in the use of both English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Of course, it is a different situation at the magistrate’s courts, where Bahasa Malaysia is used almost entirely because junior lawyers, many fresh out of university or only a few years in practice, are proficient in it.

Highbrow English, often used by older lawyers, can elude some magistrates. Just ask the lawyers and reporters in attendance, if this seems strange.

So, there is no reason for a controversy or dispute if Attorney General Tommy Thomas sought for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s corruption trial to be conducted in English. This is a non-issue by all counts because the rule is clear.

Thomas, who is acting as public prosecutor, made the request to judge Datuk Zainal Abidin Kamarudin at the Sessions Court last Wednesday after the charges were read out in Bahasa Malaysia.

Najib has been charged at the KL Sessions Court with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of using his position for gratification.

It doesn’t matter that Thomas admitted he has a weak command of Bahasa Malaysia when taking up the post last month to replace Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.

Tan Sri Dr Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, Najib’s lawyer, conducted the proceedings mainly in English, and likewise the judge.

Najib, who has a chance to clear himself of these charges, would likely be more comfortable if English was used during the hearing.

The technical financial terms are going to come thick and fast when the trial begins. In the interest of accuracy and comprehension, most stakeholders would prefer for proceedings to be in English, too.

This storm in a tea cup only transpired when a group of rowdy Najib supporters began chanting “Bahasa Malaysia” when Thomas spoke in English at a media conference at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex. It grew so loud that he had to abandon his media conference.

Cries of “Melayu” and “Hidup Melayu”, a cheer championing Malays, the country’s dominant race, as well as chants for Najib’s release, were reportedly heard.

Apparently, the agitated crowd drowned out the public prosecutor’s voice, forcing him to eventually be escorted away for his safety.

The supporters were on sound ground to voice their grievances, but no brownie points were earned from Malaysians for this exercise. Many of our people found their uncouth behaviour and attempt to stir a hornet’s nest with racial sentiments unacceptable.

True, it is their democratic right to express their unhappiness over Najib’s arrest, which they strongly believe is politically motivated. And caught in the heat of the moment, their display of emotions should be expected. Sadly though, it has degenerated into a side show.

Ironically, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was said to have consoled the gathered faithful – who were seen waving placards with the words “Solidarity Najib Tun Razak” in English and Chinese – in English.

And when the defence fund was launched, it was curiously labelled #freenajib, and not #bebasnajib.

Even Shafee conducts his media conference in English at the court complex.

The main issue here is whether Thomas is competent enough to lead the prosecution in a case against a former prime minister.

For those of us with short memories, in 2001 and 2010, Thomas represented PAS-led Terengganu and Kelantan governments in two separate lawsuits against Petronas over its failure to pay state oil royalty.

Bahasa Malaysia-speaking PAS leaders had no problems with their lawyer speaking entirely in English in the courts to fight their case. The two predominantly Malay states never expected Thomas to converse in Bahasa Malaysia

Weighing in on the debate of national language use, respectable journalist and CEO of Karangkraf Media Group Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub shared on social media; “Bahasa kebangsaan jika digunakan secara tidak lunak untuk memaki hamun, mengutuk, menghina dan menghukumi pihak lain secara tidak adil, seolah-olah kitalah saja yang betul dan sempurna tiada gunanya. Memalukan bangsa dan agama saja.”

This effectively translates to; the national language, if used inappropriately to chastise, criticise, degrade and punish someone unfairly, making it seem like only we are in the right and perfect, does not serve any purpose. This will only be a disgrace to the race and religion.

Of course, most of us agree with Tan Sri Rais Yatim – a consistent advocate of the national language and preservation of Malay culture – that Thomas, along with politicians and leaders, should be speaking more Bahasa Malaysia, rather than English, at official events.

“I would suggest that the leaders in the country show some love for our country by speaking in our national language. If we Malaysians don’t do it, who will?”

Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia member Rais called for all preliminary statements to be delivered in Bahasa Malaysia. Not every word has to be in the language, but at least the general phrases.

This challenge can’t be beyond Thomas since all he needs to do is read off a prepared script for his preamble. Practice makes perfect, after all.

Thomas is 66 years old and the product of the Pasar Road English School and Victoria Institution. He is from the generation of English-medium schools, just like Najib, who is from St John’s Institution.

He studied law at the University of Manchester in 1972 before obtaining his master’s degree in international relations at the London School of Economics in 1975. Much of his career has been in corporate law, making him the ideal choice to handle the charges against Najib.

His career in and around the courts has obviously not allowed him to use much Bahasa Malaysia. Neither has his interaction with the legal fraternity or his circle of friends (presumably of his age, interest, intellect and surely English speaking, if not Anglophile outright).

Having worked at the AG’s Chambers, let’s hope his “rusty Bahasa Malaysia” will now be honed when practising with the predominantly Malay deputy public prosecutors at his office.

Bahasa Malaysia remains the official language, but surely there is nothing wrong with Thomas using English in the serving of justice.

* The writer studied Malay Literature and Islamic History for his Sixth Form examination before enrolling at the Malay Letters Department, as a subject, while studying politics at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Colourful character: Siti’s dyed platinum blonde hair, which she has sported since her 20s, is a loud and vivid statement of her unconventional ways.

LOVE her or hate her, there’s no way anyone can be rid of her opinion – that’s controversial activist lawyer Siti Kasim for you.

Her dyed platinum blonde hair, which she has sported since her 20s, is a loud and vivid statement of her unconventional ways.

No one expects her to speak in a politically correct tone, or in any way nice, since that simply goes against the grain of her beliefs.

What you hear or read about her is what you get, and that’s where most politicians, at their camouflaged best, will never measure up to her.

And let’s not even start about those who need to wear religious cloaks to appear puritanical to convince their followers, or flock, that they are pious.

In Malaysia, where conformity has increasingly gained a stranglehold, dictating the way we dress and the manner in which we speak, she is clearly not a favourite. In fact, she jokes that she is flamed more than praised on social media.

Unsurprisingly, most lawyers, after struggling for years to obtain their degrees, would prefer to make money, join a club, play golf, secure more businesses or wine and dine with their clients.

Not Siti Kasim, though.

Once a month, she goes to “the jungles”, as she puts it, to meet the Orang Asli community, trading fat pay checks for soul-satisfying activist work with little to no remuneration. How many lawyers would do that?

Any way this is looked at, it is still hardship, and most times, she has to sleep on the floor when she carries out such unglamourous work. That’s pure dedication.

She also helps a group of Rohingya refugees manage their rented accommodation at a shop lot in Selayang since they can barely communicate with their landlord.

Siti Kasim speaks up and defends the transgender minority and is ever-ready to pick a fight with religious authorities.

It doesn’t take a genius to deduce that she won’t be on the Raya card list of the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) or any state religious departments.

“Preachers are human beings as well. Who are they? They’re not God. Some of them can’t even read Arabic,” she said in one interview.

Explicitly aware that criticism is par for the course in an increasingly religious Malaysia, she has defended her choice of dressing, and her well-published views on the creeping of Arabisation into Malay culture has gained traction too.

Recently, she found herself arrested, handcuffed and remanded by the police following a complaint by a woman who claimed Siti Kasim had abducted her daughter, a mature 24-year-old, and not some child.

In what has become a much-viewed piece of video footage, Siti Kasim was arrested after police barged into her house and detained the teenager, her client. Selangor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Fadzil Ahmat said the arrest was not due to kidnapping, but merely for obstructing police duties.

Obviously, the actions of the police did not endear the authorities to most Malaysians, except for Siti Kasim’s devout critics, of course.

It would seem the police have their hands full having to deal with so many more pressing issues which require urgent attention, yet that doesn’t seem to be case.

In the New Malaysia, more people like Siti Kasim are needed. With Barisan Nasional’s failure, we need strong voices who dare challenge the new government.

Like any politician, power will eventually seep into the psyche of the new leaders. Authority, assets and adulation have a way of affecting even the most level-headed leader.

With populist backing and endless adoration, often bordering on idolisation, criticism remains a bitter pill to swallow for these people of power.

Ironically, they are also the ones who preach freedom of speech and press.

Siti Kasim is a known detractor of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s, saying, in an interview: “When he got caught, I can tell you I was the happiest person in London. I’m not joking because I think Malaysia was safe at that time. But unfortunately, of course, the people had already been brainwashed by then.

“I blame it on him – he’s the one who brought Islamisation into Malaysia. They mix Arab culture with Islam.”

But Malaysia needs to move on.

I am sure Anwar understands the progressive ideals in the new political environment. What is done is done.

Siti Kasim keeps authorities nervously seated on their thrones and high horses. But Malaysia has changed, and they better be prepared to live with that, or learn to adapt, at least – for their own sake.

These are early days yet for the New Malaysia. Let’s hope that the seeds of a new political culture is sowed, so that every opportunity is given to the new leaders to learn, assimilate and govern in a fresh way.

Some have remained in opposition mode, though, as Deputy Prime Minister Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail has observed. They are still combative in their language and mannerism even though they are already in Putrajaya.

The Barisan Nasional law makers have yet to act and sound like the opposition, presumably caught up with trying to rebuild their respective parties following their defeat, or still attempting to come to terms with the sobering realities.

Instead of exposing scandals involving the government, they find themselves in an unenviable position where the new government is incessantly exposing corruption and mismanagement scandals from their tenure, keeping them on the backfoot.

As for PAS, it’s difficult to expect them to raise any substantial issues, besides those relating to religion.

It is at this juncture that we need a vibrant civil society to triumph – more so, when many well-known NGO leaders have already become MPs in the new government.

Don’t expect them to take a critical position now as there are party rules to adhere to.

There are many misguided Malaysians who like to put liberals like Siti Kasim in bad light, implying liberalism to be a western hedonistic practice.

However, they choose to forget that the Rukunegara, or our national principles, clearly states that we must “ensure a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions.”

More importantly, in our democratic country, we need to be receptive and accept diverse opinions, the foundation on which our multi-racial society was built on.

That’s the only way Malaysia, and Malaysians, will mature politically.

New hope: Family and friends of Pastor Raymond Koh and social activist Amri Che Mat are turning to Tun Dr Mahathir to relook their mysterious disappearance.

NEW government, new expectations and new hope.

First to roll out was the reopening of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu’s murder case. Then, the Cabinet mooted a fresh probe into Teoh Beng Hock’s sinister death.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the Altantuya case has earned re-examination based on the old police report and the one lodged in Dang Wangi by her father Shaaribuu Setev recently. Teoh’s case awaits Attorney-General Tommy Thomas’ consultation for further action.

(Altantuya was murdered and her body blown up with explosives at a secondary jungle between 10pm on Oct 19, 2006, and 1am on Oct 20, 2006. Teoh was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after having his statement recorded on the 14th floor of Selangor’s MACC office.)

Now that these two high-profile cases have received the nod for reinvestigation, it’s timely to relook the mysterious disappearance of Pastor Raymond Koh and social activist Amri Che Mat.

That is what their wives are hoping for in their quest for answers on the disappearance of their husbands more than a year ago.

In desperation, they have turned to reinstalled Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for help, pouring their hearts out in a joint open letter recently.

“Please help us find out what happened to our husbands, who took them and where they are now.

“We want them back with us. We beg for justice. We plead for the truth,” said Susanna Liew and Norhayati Mohd Ariffin.

It’s ridiculous to expect us to accept that the police can’t trace the individuals behind Koh’s expertly executed abduction on Feb 13 last year. Shockingly, the incident was even captured on video in broad daylight.

The CCTV footage, believed to be of the incident, showed at least 15 men and three black SUVs involved in the kidnapping.

In Amri’s case, a witness testified at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) that he saw Amri being abducted by men in four vehicles which looked like pickup trucks, in Kangar, Perlis, on Nov 24, 2016.

Dr Mahathir, understandably, has his hands full trying to throw the book at the culprits who have looted our country to the tune of figures that boggle the minds of average Malaysians.

But he remains committed to pursuing justice and uncovering the truth.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is also digging deep into hidden files which could unearth more dirty details. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is a hive of activity with near daily reports lodged on misappropriation of funds, a common theme these days.

With these more exciting and fresh financial revelations creeping out of the woodwork, there is fear that the cases involving Koh and Amri may find themselves languishing on the backburner of public interest, which will be a travesty should it happen.

But we shouldn’t forget that given the resources available to the police, the families of Koh and Amri are surely entitled to closure. As human beings, we can’t expect them to simply accept the flimsy explanation that the police remain clueless.

After a year, it’s still unclear if Koh and Amri are alive or have met the worst fate imaginable, but as their spouses, Liew and Norhayati must cling on to hope.

I salute the courageous and committed lawyers and campaigners who have continued the search for Koh and Amri, even as they face a wall of silence. It’s obvious that powerful forces were at work in the abduction of both, particularly Koh.

Few can carry out such a detailed and precise covert operation without any form of security training.

It has become more complicated, mysterious even, that names of senior policemen surfaced in the open letter to the Prime Minister.

These are very serious and disturbing allegations, but there’s barely been a peep of a response to the open letter. Neither have there been rebuttals.

Amri’s case received greater interest recently when Norhayati claimed that a policeman told her that Special Branch officers from Bukit Aman were responsible for the kidnapping of her husband, as well as that of Koh.

Apart from the two, the disappearances of Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife, Ruth Sitepu, are being investigated by Suhakam, too. The couple was reported missing in March 2017, although the motive behind their disappearance remains unknown.

Regardless of what Koh and Amri were up to – Koh has been accused of converting Muslims to Christians, and Amri was said to be a practising Syiah – this is Malaysia, it isn’t reasonable that people get abducted in broad daylight.

This isn’t a third-world nation where people in “hoods” bundle politicians or journalists into vans and take them to secret locations for execution. What happened to Koh and Amri sends a chill down the spine.

Their families have begged the Prime Minister to immediately and independently investigate these serious allegations with urgency, transparency and impartiality, especially as those allegedly implicated include high-ranking and powerful police personnel.

They also pleaded to the Attorney General’s Chambers to provide a safe space for whistle-blowers to step forward with information on their husbands’ abductions, like who took them, where they are now and who are involved.

Let’s hope the Prime Minister and newly-appointed Home Minister, Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin, call for a renewed approach in the investigations, one with greater urgency.

Placed in such positions of power, they should be able to intervene and see to it that justice is served.

PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (pic) has announced that Malaysia is renewing, or to be more precise, upgrading the Look East policy he adopted as a foreign policy 30 years ago.

It was unveiled after he came to power in 1981 and now, as the premier for the second time, he has picked up the pieces of his past and repackaged it.

His inclination to Japan then was understandable since the country was the rising star of Asia.

Although Look East included South Korea and Taiwan, it basically meant Japan.

There were sound reasons to why Dr Mahathir wanted Malaysia to emulate some of the East Asian characteristics, both economically and ethically.

I think any Malaysian who has visited Japan can vouch for the people’s work ethic, honesty, orderliness, politeness, punctuality, cleanliness, precision, dedication to excellence, innovation and good manners.

Malaysians in Japan feel safe – they rarely get cheated despite being tourists, which is more than can be said for many countries.

Personally, Japan remains my No. 1 holiday destination. Like Dr Mahathir, I have the highest admiration for the Japanese. They are certainly exemplary, and that is indisputable.

Dr Mahathir has continued to have high regard for the Japanese and history seems to be repeating itself.

His Look East Policy shocked and confused the Malaysian foreign ministry, with many officials viewing it as undefined and vague.

The Ministry being left in the dark about the Prime Minister’s move led to it being unaware of how to implement the policy.

Fast forward to 2018. It’s likely that his new batch of ministers were also caught off guard with the revival of the Look East policy, more so when the Foreign Minister has yet to be installed.

Without doubt, Japan is an important partner to Malaysia because we have more than six decades’ ties with the country.

In 2016, Japan ranked Malaysia as its fourth-largest trading partner with bilateral trade standing at RM120bil.The strong trade and investment relations between the nations are also underpinned by the Malaysia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

The latest Malaysia-Japan collaboration includes the Bukit Bintang City Centre project, which has managed to attract the leading real estate group in the Land of the Rising Sun, Mitsui Fudisan Co Ltd, to invest in what will be the mega project’s RM1.6bil retail mall.

But Dr Mahathir’s choice of his first foreign visit to Japan as PM has raised many eyebrows. Perhaps it was just the coincidental timing of the annual Nikkei Conference, which he attends without fail.

I was told that his office had informed the Chinese Embassy here, as a matter of courtesy, to avoid reading into the matter, given the long, bitter rivalry between the two nations.

Dr Mahathir was also visiting Japan after a series of announcements, calling for the review, if not cancellation or postponement, of several mega Chinese-driven projects in Malaysia.

The method of repayments with China, involving huge amounts of money, has, of course, been called into question and condemned. One critic even described the terms as “strange.”

It’s apparent the situation is delicate now, and we need to tread carefully because we are dealing with a global leader.

Powerful alliance

The PM admitted that his government was “dealing with a very powerful country. As such, matters affecting both parties will require friendly discussions”.

Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin also said that Malaysia will carefully handle business contracts with China made by the previous administration.

In an interview with The Star, Daim admitted that the economic superpower is a friend to Malaysia.

“China is very important to us,” the Council of Eminent Persons spokesman said.

“We enjoy very close relations, but unfortunately, under the previous administration, a lot of China contracts are tainted, difficult to understand and the terms are one-sided,” said Daim.

There is plenty at stake here. The world has also changed, and Malaysia needs to be mindful of its diplomatic move. These are sensitive times, and to the Chinese, the issue of “face” is an important one.

Whether we like it or not, the whole world is looking towards China because this is where the fundamental building blocks of a future global digital economic model is being curated and built.

Japan’s economy, on the other hand, has been in regression over the last two decades, and open data is easily available to prove this point. Just google it.

That aside, China is Malaysia’s largest trading partner in Asean, especially after Malaysia-China bilateral transactions rose as much as 28% to RM139.2bil in 2017’s first half.

The Chinese government has been very positive with bilateral relations with Malaysia over the years, and this great foundation is what we must build on. It doesn’t matter who the Malaysian Prime Minister is now.

With Ali Baba and Tencent coming to Malaysia, SMEs – which comprise more than 95% of Malaysian business entities – exporting to China will be a huge foreign trade opportunity.

Of all the Asean nations, Malaysia has the largest pool of businessmen who speak the relevant Chinese dialects and understand the culture. But it’s not just the Malaysian Chinese businessmen who stand to benefit, but other races too.

Let’s not forget that China will be under steady stewardship for the coming decade since Xi Jinping has strengthened his position as the premier. And with Dr Mahathir rightfully announcing that Malaysia will be a neutral country, this will mean a stable foreign policy which is crucial for the rules of engagement.

The same can’t be said of Japan, though, as it has a history of turbulent domestic politics, with frequent changes in leadership.

Truth be told, China has outperformed Japan. The republic has become a model of socio-economic reform that connects, not only the past with the present, but more importantly, can rewrite the history of human development into our common future.

The One Belt, One Road initiative is the future. It was also reported that China has overtaken Japan in global patent applications filed in 2017 and is closing in on the United States, the long-standing leader, the World Intellectual Property Organization said in a report.

With 48,882 filings, up 13.4% from a year earlier, Chinese entities came closer to their American counterparts, which filed 56,624 applications. Japanese applicants ranked third with 48,208 demands for patents, up 6.6% from a year ago, the report, released Wednesday, revealed. According to the Geneva-based institution, China will likely overtake the US as the world’s largest patent applicant within three years.

“This rapid rise in Chinese use of the international patent system shows that innovators there are increasingly looking outward, seeking to spread their original ideas into new markets as the Chinese economy continues its rapid transformation,” WIPO director-general Francis Gurry said.

The overall filings in 2017 were 243,500, up 4.5% from a year earlier.

Data indicates that China and Japan were key drivers of the surge in applications.

“This is part of a larger shift in the geography of innovation, with half of all international patent applications now originating in East Asia,” Gurry reportedly said.

Two Chinese firms topped the list, led by Huawei Technologies Co with 4,024 patent applications and ZTE Corp with 2,965 submissions. Intel Corp of the United States is placed third with 2,637 filings, followed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp with 2,521.

China has also declared its ambition to equal the US in its AI capability by 2020 and to be number one in the world by 2030.

If there is a single country to take a cue from, then it can only be China. Look at its growth since 1957, 1967, 1987, 1997 and 2017, and see the strides it has made in the shortest time. Remember, China was once poor and backwards. Many Malaysian Chinese used to send money back to their families in China, especially in 1950s and 1960s, and even 1970s. But look where the country is now.

Malaysia is in pole position to take advantage since our neighbour Singapore has always been perceived to be too US-centric. It will be a waste if we let politics get in the way, as no one can dispute that China now plays a respected and vital role.

Anyone can tell that China will reshape the new world order. It is the new Middle Kingdom and is the country to look to.

And Dr Mahathir should pick up on this because at the end of his trip to Japan, the press bombarded him with the predictable and nagging question – when will he be visiting China?

FINALLY, long-suffering Malaysians will be spared the agony of knowing what to do with ministers and dignitaries when they are invited to events.

That includes what to give these VIPs as gifts, which is a very Malaysian way of thanking guests. However, there is a common fate that befalls these cenderamata – they all end up quietly gathering dust. Just visit the various ministries and government departments, and you will find them inconspicuously displayed in some cabinet.

The better ones obviously find home in the minister’s room, but you will be lucky to spot the one you presented (to the VIP) at the waiting room.

Most of them are stored in what is viewed as the memento cemetery, because the VIP and his officials rarely know what to do with these items of appreciation. I guess, they will wait for their successors to inherit them and do as they please, which more often than not means trashing them.

Last week, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad issued a directive warning ministers to not accept gifts under a new policy installed by the Pakatan Harapan government.

The Prime Minister said the Government is planning to impose this no-gift policy on ministers, and right down to their political secretaries. It was also reported that currently, this regulation only covers civil servants, which is surprising.

He suggested that “there are gifts, they should only be limited to flowers, food and fruits.”

It’s a good start but again, it’s a wonder what these VIPs, who attend an average of four events a night, are going to do with all this food, fruits and flowers. If those mementoes aren’t bad enough, one wonders about these time sensitive gifts, and even their practicality.

“You cannot receive anything else. The giver and the receiver will be in the wrong,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference after chairing the first Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption meeting here Friday.

With the setting up of the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission (GIACC), several existing agencies will be placed under its purview.

These include the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), Public Complaints Bureau (BPA), and the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC).

There was another piece of cheerful news – Transport Minister Anthony Loke told his staff to begin events on time and instructed them to proceed were he to be late, to avoid keeping guests waiting.

“I want to advise those inviting me for events that there will be no more ‘waiting time’ for the minister,” he said when launching the Yamaha 20th Raya Balik Kampung Roads Safety Campaign a couple of days ago.

Loke said that he would make it on time if he is invited to events, as he dislikes people kicking their heels waiting for him.

Hopefully Loke will continue walking the talk, especially when his schedule gets tighter.

Malaysians also hope other ministers will emulate him, so that he’s not the Lone Ranger in time management stakes.

Earlier, he also issued instructions for his staff to stop welcoming or accompanying him to ministry events.

He said the protocol was a waste of time, which could be put to better use by staff members.

We hope Dr Mahathir makes this SOP as government officials should be working and not accompanying these ministers or greeting them, which invariably inflates their egos and encourages delusions of grandeur.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, or worse, like a whiny old man, can we make it a rule to end those senseless salutations of addressing every VIP, Tan Sri and Puan Sri, Datuk Seri and Datin Seri, Datuk Datuk and Datin Datin?

We have become a laughing stock because Malaysia is probably the country with the most number of titled persons.

We have lost track of the number of Datuks in our midst. A couple of states are so notorious in giving out such awards, that there is a sneaky suspicion they are easily bought. All of this, of course, puts the royal houses in disrepute.

Last year, our country set a record of sorts – a notorious gang of 60 hardened criminals, including four low-level politicians with the titles of Datuk and Datuk Seri, were netted in a series of crime-busting swoops.

Gang 360 Devan, involved in murder, drug-peddling, luxury car theft and hijacking, has to be the gang with the most number of titled leaders.

Then, there was also the leader of the notorious Gang 24 – a Datuk Seri – who was among 22 men picked up in another spate of arrests. In 2017, a gang leader known as Datuk M or Datuk Muda, was shot dead by his bodyguard while they were cruising along the Penang Bridge. The Datuk was a detainee at the Simpang Renggam centre.

A day later, a video went viral showing a heavily tattooed man being violently beaten up by a group of men believed to be gangsters, at the late Datuk’s funeral.

In many African countries, they have dispensed with such long salutations, and the speakers simply start their speeches or remarks, with the standard “Ladies and gentlemen, all the rules of decorum have been observed” or “honourable delegates, distinguished ladies and gentlemen.”

The Africans have surely carried out their protocols better than us, instead of our total lack of sensitivity of placing the “tuan tuan dan puan puan” last, simply because they are not titled. This habit seems out of place.

If a New Malaysia has been born, surely a new culture needs developing first. Our newly-minted ministers not having titles conferred by the respective Rulers is a good start, though.

Former Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and his father, Lim Kit Siang, have admirably retreated from the limelight of superfluous titles. Likewise, state executive councillors in Penang.

Our former deputy prime minister, the late Tun Ghafar Baba, was just plain Encik, until the day he retired from office.

In Tunku Abdul Rahman’s first Cabinet after we achieved independence, only five of 15 ministers were Datuks. The finance minister at the time, Tan Siew Sin, only held the title of Justice of Peace – which is recognised in Commonwealth countries.

Penang’s first Chief Minister, the late Wong Pow Nee, had no title until his retirement, after which he was made Tan Sri. Another was the late Gerakan president Dr Lim Chong Eu, who only became Tun upon leaving office.

We hope that our Rulers will not spoil these Mentris Besar, Chief Ministers and Ministers with any awards or titles. They can politely turn them down should they wish to, and we also hope that from now on, the King and his brother Rulers will keep their honours list concise.

By now, the message from Malaysians is loud and clear – the people decide, not the elected representatives.

Total disgrace: Many restaurants extend their food preparation and washing up areas to the rear of their premises which is unhygienic and unlawful. The workers washing their food trays in a pothole filled with putrid, gutter-infused rain water last week must be one of the worst cases of hygiene-flouting in recent memory.

MALAYSIANS know how to enjoy their food but, but the trouble is, we never really pay attention to hygiene standards at eateries.

Many of us are guilty of being extremely tolerant, so long as we like the food served, even if it’s the product of a dirty restaurant.

We turn a blind eye on how the food is prepared – we don’t mind the filthy greasy floor or that we sit next to the drain, or even near the toilet. And let’s not even get started on the conditions of the restrooms in some of these coffee shops.

Of course, it’s a wonder how health officers and council staff continue to allow such premises to operate.

Is this down to the lack of manpower, inspectors incompetent at their jobs, or (as we often conclude), corrupt officers at work? Or is the classic bureaucratic excuse at play: no official complaints were filed?

The video clip of workers washing food trays in a pothole filled with putrid, gutter-infused rain water last week, must be one of the worst cases of hygiene-flouting in recent memory.

It’s a total disgrace for Raj’s Banana Leaf restaurant chain to blame this outrageous oversight of basic hygiene laws on their workers, supposedly new, and presumably foreign.

The Star Metro has long been highlighting the problems of cockroaches, rats and filth, which have continuously infiltrated food outlets in the city, despite Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) shutting down such places to ensure cleanliness is adhered to.

DBKL Health and Environment Department director Dr Hayati Abdullah was quoted saying that there is little the local authority can do to stubborn operators who don’t fear facing the axe.

Since throwing the book at them involves a lengthy process, she has urged consumers not to patronise dirty outlets, which hopefully puts a dent in their business.

These eateries know that they would only be shuttered for a finite period, and paying fines is nothing more than a slap on the wrist for these errant restaurant owners.

Perhaps it’s time that DBKL puts up a micro site where it lists down the names of restaurants that have been booked and suspended. A wall of shame of sorts should impact these stubborn owners to shuffle their feet and do what’s right.

If DBKL can’t do it, it will only be a matter of time before netizens become vigilantes and hang these dirty eateries out to dry themselves.

Dr Hayati also echoed those sentiments, saying that the “majority of people continue to eat at unlicensed and dirty eateries.”

She revealed that their inspectors conduct daily checks, with major inspections done once a week.

DBKL aspired to introduce longer punishment periods, but with businesses served with notices refusing to shut up shop, enforcement remains an uphill climb.

“We have limited resources and cannot keep tabs on every restaurant every day. We have a schedule to follow,” she explained, highlighting the plight.

Restaurants found with pests and bad food handling methods, she said, would be forced to cease operations until they meet the required standards, while those with minor offences, like dirty floors, would be compounded.

Dr Hayati said all actions were in accordance with the 1979 Food Handling By-law, 1985 Food Establishment By-law, and the Food Act 1983.

However, the problem isn’t merely confined to the capital, but spread throughout Malaysia. Anyone who has travelled to Britain, Japan, Australia or Hong Kong, can vouch for the high standards of hygiene restaurant owners there maintain because of strict laws and requirements imposed to retain their licenses.

It isn’t just about kitchens and eating areas, but toilets, too. It’s safe to say that nearly all coffee shops don’t come with toilet rolls in their washrooms. And I always wonder what tourists think when we brag about Malaysia being a food paradise.

And at many roadside stalls, toilet rolls are serviceable substitutes for good ol’ serviettes, where customers are expected to wipe their hands and cutlery with them. Obviously, these stall owners can’t distinguish between the use of both disposable towels, or worse, don’t see the importance in their differing applications.

Our back lanes are also poorly maintained. Try walking along them around SS2 in Petaling Jaya, especially the commercial areas where many restaurants do brisk business. They are gross, and one wonders whether these alleyways are cleaned at all.

Many of these restaurants, unfortunately, extend their food preparation areas to the rear of their premises, which is, of course, unlawful.

My senses were violated recently when I saw a famous roasted duck stall in Damansara Uptown placing its ducks to be dried along the back lane. And we all know many chicken rice stall owners are guilty of such practices.

And as certain as the sunrise, two weeks from now, this issue of dirty eateries will be consigned to the back lanes of our memories, too, unfortunately.

It will be business as usual for the stake holders as the good times roll once more. The question is, why do we allow these eateries to continue operating like this?

It must now be made mandatory for all restaurants to place a conspicuous sign for customers to glean details to file complaints via their mobile phones – along with a picture or video – through the appropriate channels. The time to act is now.

Controversial: The BTN has been accused of promoting racism, bigotry, disunity and intolerance in the name of instilling patriotism through its activities, like this in the National Transformation Training Programme.

IF there’s one government agency which needs a complete overhaul by the new federal government, it must be the notorious National Civics Bureau, better known to Malaysians as Biro Tatanegara.

Over RM1.1bil of taxpayers’ money has been outrageously spent to promote racism, bigotry, disunity and intolerance in the name of instilling patriotism.

The BTN was set up in the 1970s as a Youth Research Unit under the Youth Ministry. But by the 1980s, the obscure agency had evolved into the BTN we know, and placed under the Prime Minister’s office.

Its objective is to nurture the spirit of patriotism among Malaysians, and train them into future leaders who are “well-rounded intellectually, emotionally and spiritually” to support national development efforts.

This monstrous machine was wellfed, not just during the Najib administration, but during the reign of the Mahathir administration as well. And certainly, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, too, used it as a political tool.

But that’s in the past. Malaysia has rebirthed. And as the perfect paradox, only Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as the new prime minister, can set things right again.

Anwar would surely support any move to review, if not, bury the BTN, because he ended up the bogeyman in its lectures in later years while he was in the political wilderness.

The BTN has been fraught by controversy for over three decades, with allegations of racism and political propaganda mainstays.

It is inconceivable that good taxpayers’ resources are poured into such an organisation, which many participants have said, blatantly drums up race and hate politics.

BTN’s brickbats come from either side of the political divide, yet the uproar seems to have fallen on deaf ears, presumably shackled by the lack of political will, or worse, tacit political support from the top.

In 1999, PKR leader Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad claimed that the BTN camp he attended was “racial and political in nature,” with trainers impressing on attendees that Malays required affirmative action. It even criticised PAS as “deviationist.”

Another party leader, Amirudin Shari, said “participants are indoctrinated with propaganda about ketuanan Melayu” or Malay dominance.

Another alumnus alleged she was told “the Malays were the most supreme race in the world, we were God’s chosen few, that the others were insignificant. We were warned about certain elements in our society and abroad, determined to undermine Malay excellence.”

In 2009, then minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz ticked off BTN, squashing excuses raised in a Parliament debate that allegations of racist teachings might have come from mere “minor slip-ups” by BTN lecturers.

“Don’t think that people outside do not know about the syllabus based on patriotism for Malays. They know what the syllabus is all about, so who are we to say that it did not happen? You want to lie? You make people laugh.

“I mean, there are people who attended the courses who came out very angry. There were many instances of the use of words like Ketuanan Melayu. It is ridiculous. Do they want to say that Malaysia belongs only to the Malays and the government is only a Malay government? Should only the Malays be given the spirit of patriotism? Other races are not patriotic about their country?”

As Dr Mahathir settles in and combs through the list of government agencies, this is surely one Malaysians would want scrutinised as part of the process of trimming the fat.

In a piece in Malaysiakini, the writer aptly said, “the BTN is an anathema to the need to nurture critical and creative thinking among Malaysians.”

While it began as a youth research unit in 1974, under the Youth Ministry, it was reinvented as the BTN in the PM’s Department under Dr Mahathir.

BTN was run by many supporters of Anwar, himself a regular speaker at these courses, though he would come to regret the things he said then.

It has turned into an ethnic hate machine, as one writer put it, and has metamorphosed into an out of control monster.

Surely, Dr Mahathir wouldn’t have imagined what it has become. Even if he allowed it to evolve into a political tool to indoctrinate civil servants and scholarship holders, especially Malays, it is time for him to sort this out.

BTN may have been set up with the noble intention of “nurturing the spirit of patriotism and commitment to excellence among Malaysians, and train leaders and future leaders to support the nation’s development efforts”.

But that’s not what has happened. It has, instead, from all accounts, attempted to instil hate and prejudice among Malaysians, aspiring to produce leaders and future leaders with a jaundiced view.

Malaysians would remember that in September 2010, BTN deputy director Hamim Husin was reported for referring to the Chinese as “si mata sepet” (the slit-eyed) and Indians as “si botol” (the drinkers) during a Puteri Umno closed-door function.

Despite the outcry and media revelations, BTN was allowed to continue as it is, and with huge allocations streamed into these indoctrination camps.

According to Lim Kit Siang, the budgets for BTN multiplied tenfold in the 1990s (RM200mil) compared to the 1980s (RM20mil), and continued to increase. It more than doubled to over RM550mil in the first decade of the 21st century. From 2010 to 2015, the allocation for BTN totalled some RM365mil.

Now that the DAP is part of the government, it should be able to push for the right course of action, given its consistently strong stand against the organisation.

This is the most opportune time to can BTN. Malaysians believe the new federal government won’t be angling to allocate more funds to keep this monster alive.

A new government, a new political culture, and for Malaysians, a much more modest working practice by our national leaders – these are among the things that need to take shape.

However, no one expects our ministers to travel economy class, take selfies as branding exercises during their first days in office, like most do, and then sidle into business class when public scrutiny has worn off.

There isn’t anything wrong or extravagant with travelling business class, especially for long-haul flights. It’s ridiculous to begrudge them for travelling in comfort.

Surely, we expect our leaders to have sufficient rest, coupled with some privacy when they travel, so they can focus on their work when they arrive at their destinations, especially for international engagements.

But we must impress upon our newly-minted leaders to put a stop to the malaise of moving around in an entourage.

Ministers shouldn’t expect to have a battalion of ministry officials, party leaders, supporters and hangers-on awaiting them at airport arrival halls. This is nothing more than a display of self-importance and entitlement.

It’s also time our long-suffering diplomats in foreign missions are freed from the drudgery of playing tourist guides and chauffeurs to our Malaysian big shots and their wives.

It makes no sense for them to be waking up in the early hours and heading to Heathrow to wait for ministers to arrive. Pay for your own transport if you are not on official duties, please.

We must surely have better ways to while our time away than register our presence with these Yang Berhormat Mentri. Yet, this has frequently happened in the past.

Most of us know the humble ones, such as Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed and Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. Mustapha is known for his simple, frugal and austere ways. He takes the ERL from KL Sentral to KLIA alone without fuss, and also patiently awaits his turn, like every ordinary Malaysian, at clinics or hospitals, without expecting preferential treatment.

When he makes his weekly visits to his constituency in Jeli, Kelantan, he cycles to the mosque near his home, an abode as average as those of other villagers. And when Mustapha visits Kota Baru, he stays at a modest hotel.

The other exemplary statesman is late Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat, who lived in a simple wooden house with the family, minus the trappings of power preferred by some politicians.

In London, it isn’t out of the ordinary to see the Prime Minister or Cabinet ministers taking the Tube. It’s also well known how former London Mayor Boris Johnson would hop on his bicycle to events without fanfare and often arriving unannounced.

Of course, the cool weather helps, but the point is, they have no airs and don’t expect to be driven with outrider escort.

Privileges like these were only accorded to the Prime Minister and his deputy here, but of late, even high-ranking officials were enjoying these services of prestige.

It’s not like we expect them to lead spartan lifestyles, like that of Gandhi’s, but the days of wasted resources and extravagance should come to an end.

I have even seen deputy ministers and their aides boarding a plane before everyone else, on a routine 45-minute Firefly flight from Penang to Subang.

The aircraft doesn’t even come kitted with business class, and these VIPS have booked the best seats anyway, yet, there is a jostle for first dibs. These leaders seem oblivious to their disrespectful attitude, which isn’t lost on other passengers who find such cushy service in poor taste.

Malaysians hope the new government will summon a new political culture where informality can be the hallmark of our elected representatives to endear themselves to the people.

Can we also make our events attended by VVIPs short and simple? Do we really need to splurge on performances, which seem to be standard practice now?

And is the organiser responsible for providing a room for idle chatter, to enable the VVIP to then make a grand entrance into the hall?

Google reveals a holding room to be a space located in a licensed facility for the storage or holding of human bodies, prior to being disposed.

Well, that’s one interesting meaning, surely. Another definition is that it is a place for candidates sitting for an examination to wait in before the test begins.

For hospitals, the holding room is where final preparations are made before a patient is wheeled into the operating theatre. Here is where he gets to meet the surgeon, the anaesthetist and other members of the surgical team.

In Malaysia, however, the holding room is where the VIP – who is the guest of honour for an event – spends barely 20 minutes before revealing himself in grand style.

As I wrote in a piece before, the holding room, naturally, must be paid by the organisers despite it being under-utilised. There have also been instances when the VIP had no need for the holding room because he was late, or simply had no inclination for such formalities. The time has come for Malaysian politicians to encourage organisers of such events to dispense with this profligate practice.

I’ve had the opportunity to see first hand how British Prime Minister David Cameron dismissed with such protocol by walking straight into the hall and making his presence unceremonious.

A couple of years back, I attended the launch of a sales gallery for a housing project in a suburb in Sydney. The Malaysian developer and his staff eagerly awaited the mayor’s arrival in an official car, but instead, he surprised everyone by walking to the event.

In Singapore, Cabinet ministers are not judged by the column inches they hog in the media, but by their performance. Their informal style, rid of the obligatory entourage, is common knowledge.

Let’s do away with protocol and focus more on the work at hand and the people’s needs. It’s time to end these “syok sendiri” (self -indulgence) routines. By and large, Malaysians are tired of the protocol for politicians.

Placing such elitist barriers doesn’t help them one bit because it gives the impression that they are special and must be treated so. The rakyat loathe this, and more so when these politicians constantly declare themselves the people’s representatives.

Ultimately, our politicians must decide if they wish to serve the rakyat or have the rakyat serve them.

It may be a Malaysian quirk to display hospitality and appreciation by presenting a gift or memento – as we call them here – at such events. But the fate of these items alternates between ending up collecting dust and being disposed of.

There is a dire need to relinquish other over-blown and over-hyped protocols, and instead, choose a way of attendance with greater humility.

And can we get straight to the point when speeches are made, without having to address every honorific such as Tan Sri, Puan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datin Seri, Datuk and Datin, and instead, settle on the ordinary mortals?

These time-consuming salutations, which are seemingly feudalistic of the speaker for having to address every important person present, need to be canned.

Naturally, overnight changes aren’t expected, despite growing anticipation and expectation. The new government will require a grace period to settle in, and certainly, the new ministers will need room to manoeuvre into their new posts.

They should expect to become government leaders and speak accordingly, and not as the opposition’s voice. Criticism is par for the course in this career choice, so preparation is key for them, especially where press freedom is touted, yet flouted. But everyone deserves a fair chance.

The Barisan leaders will also need time to adjust to their role as opposition figures. It is a position they surely don’t fancy, but they will need to hone their combative skills for future challenges.

A new Malaysia is dawning, and along with it needs to exist a change in the way we do things. Let’s keep the good and discard the bad. No doubt it’s a daunting task, but let’s at least try.

Shock win: Pakatan Harapan defied the odds to win the 14th general election and now is the time for the new government to deliver on its promises. — Reuters

THE country’s general election just ended, the victors in jubilant mood and the losers still shell-shocked by the trouncing. The message from Malaysians, cutting across all races, has not merely been clear, but deafening, too.

For the first time in the nation’s history, the people voted single-mindedly. Race and religion, aces up the Barisan Nasional’s sleeve in previous polls, were no longer attractive propositions to the electorate.

The gerrymandering, malapportionment and delineation exercise, which were said to have benefited Barisan, failed to fire in the end.

The majority of Malaysians – including most rural voters – wanted change, and they got their wish.

It was not a Malay tsunami, but a Malaysian typhoon, which decimated most in its wake as it swept across the country. For once, the Chinese were not blamed. No one can ask, “Apa lagi Cina mau?” because the massive defeat of the Barisan couldn’t have happened without the bulk of Malay and Muslim voters pushing for this historic change.

As political analysts painstakingly comb through the statistics of each constituency, it’s likely that rural voters joined other Malaysians in voicing their dissatisfaction.

The only difference was that, while urbanites were louder and visible at rallies, these modest folk kept their decisions to themselves, and it was the silence of this majority which finally turned the wind and waves into a cataclysmic storm.

The euphoria that greeted the collapse of the Barisan government clearly reflected the pent up frustrations, if not, anger and disenchantment, of most Malaysians.

The unbridled joy, the celebrations, the gloating, the taunting, and even the call for heads to roll, are commonplace in any post-elections scenario.

In a general election, there has to be a winner and loser, the winner always the nation and its people. Despite emotions being explosive during campaigning, we can hold our heads high because the general election concluded peacefully.

It was a watershed moment the world watched closely, and we proved to everyone that Malaysia isn’t a half-baked democracy.

Democracy works just as well in Malaysia, and that has been proven through a 60-year-old government, with all its might and unlimited resources, being sent tumbling down.

Malaysians fully exercised their democratic rights, and did so with unwavering commitment as they waited patiently for hours, just to mark their choices on ballot papers.

More importantly, the loser – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak – conceded defeat, and then extended his congratulations to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Most of Barisan’s top brass were quick to relay their readiness to congratulate the winners, although it must have been a bitter pill to swallow. The rule of law was respected and upheld, and that’s precisely what a nation, aspiring to be a developed country, should be about. Those are the standards we have to live up to.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin apologised to his supporters for the disappointing outcome, saying, “I am sorry we let you down. To those who did not (vote for us), I respect your decision. “

He was quick to call for an orderly and smooth transfer of power as rumours swirled on social media with results trickling in, a monumental night when Malaysians learnt Barisan lost.

Democracy put its shoulder to the wheel for 11 momentous days. Despite the furious finger-pointing, distrust and accusations of a rigged elections, we managed to reach the end of a roller-coaster ride in which we commanded the respect and appreciation of world leaders.

Now is the time for the new government to deliver on its promises. As the new Prime Minister has said – there is much work to be done.

Ahead of the fasting month, it is perhaps time to calm down and reflect. It is time for reconciliation, healing and bringing the nation together. This is what democratic values should spell out, especially since Malaysia has witnessed enough politicking.

The electorate’s voice for a system in dire need of a reboot is loud and clear, and given their undying desire for change, the people of Malaysia will support the new government to make things better for us all. We may have different allegiances, but we all share a common destiny and wish – to make Malaysia better.

Dr Mahathir has started the government well with his announcement of top Cabinet positions. The appointment of Lim Guan Eng as Finance Minister shows that race is no longer an issue for key jobs. The composition of the council of elders includes many eminent personalities, Robert Kuok a prime example.

Credit must be given where due, and Malaysians hope that meritocracy will now be the basis of all appointments, including that of government-linked companies. Let this be a new beginning, and new way of administration, which Malaysians want to see.

Congratulations to Dr Mahathir and the Pakatan Harapan federal government for their success in winning the general elections, and may the best plans be laid for Malaysians and our country, so we can all benefit as one people.

Not worth losing sleep over: It is better to turn to family and friends, who are more likely to help immediately, instead of politicians who only turn up to see us once every five years.

THERE’S something toxic about politics in Malaysia that can throw logic and good grace out the window, as exemplified by the current heated general election campaign.

The point of having a general election in a democracy is to allow the people to exercise their rights in choosing their leaders from a pool of political parties.

So, if rural voters, especially those in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak, with their own needs and concerns, wish to stick to the ruling Barisan Nasional, that doesn’t mean they are “easily bought over” or that “they are dumb.”

But that’s the kind of condescending attitude that many of us in big cities hear in dialogues about politics in these two states, which, put together, are larger than the entire peninsula.

It would be foolish to think that Sabahans and Sarawakians aren’t aware of this. In fact, they detest such displays of contempt and self-importance.

It doesn’t help that many of us are barely clued in to our fellow Malaysians, nor do we know the location of their villages in the sprawling landscape of the two states. Adding insult to injury, we are even dismissive of their political choices.

But worse things have been said about those who choose to campaign for the component parties of the Barisan Nasional, particularly the MCA, Gerakan and MIC.

The candidates and campaigners of these parties must have an unending well of patience and are thick-skinned enough to tolerate these harshest of insults hurled at them, especially those made in Chinese. There seems to be an overdrive of hatred, especially in social media.

To be called a “running dog” would be very mild by now, as some of the opposition supporters seem to be blinded by irrational sentiments.

Some of them are so sure of the outcome of the elections that they are already celebrating. They cannot fathom that there are many Chinese who believe it is much more realistic to work with Umno than to indulge in suicidal wishful thinking of overthrowing the party.

Some over-enthusiastic opposition leaders have openly talked about locking up national leaders and top civil servants, and of course, in the process, named a few Cabinet members, all before the start of polling even.

It seems to be forgotten that in a democracy, everyone is free to choose and express their political choices, and no one should be made to suffer verbally, or bullied, simply because their political allegiance is different.

If they opt to join the MCA or Gerakan, it is their democratic right, and they should not be humiliated for it.

Likewise, if a Malay chooses to support the DAP, it doesn’t mean he has betrayed Islam or the Malay community. But that’s what the Malay members of the Chinese-dominated party will tell you, because generally, that’s what has been indoctrinated in their community.

The DAP has been demonised for so long that the few Malays who joined the party must have endured intense pressure from family and friends.

Perhaps things have improved since former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who led the attacks against DAP in his day, has now made peace with the party. However, by and large, the suspicion, and even hatred, have lingered.

But that’s the danger when religion and politics get entangled – politicians end up masquerading as theologians and evoke God’s name to pursue their political ambitions.

If you travel to Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, you will see billboards put up by PAS, suggesting that your pathway to heaven involves supporting PAS. Even their members have donned T-shirts suggesting that.

So, in these conservative villages, the pressure must be enormous for anyone who doesn’t subscribe to such political ideologies in the name of religion. For many, picking Umno over PAS can sometimes be a daunting decision.

It must be worse for Nik Omar – the son of the late PAS leader Datuk Seri Nik Aziz Nik Mat – who chose to contest under the Amanah banner. He is close to being ostracised by his loved ones and the people who saw him grow up in the PAS family. Try explaining the concept of democracy and the freedom of choice to the people.

In the PAS stronghold, the brickbats must have been worse for those who signed up with Amanah. They are probably no longer invited to private functions in these rural setups.

Given the backdrop of heightening political frenzy, the faithful, who visit places of worship, dread having to hear religious sermons degenerate into political talks, with some religious leaders blatantly canvassing for the political parties of their choice at the pulpit.

Most people go to places of worship because they want to spend time being close God, and for certain, not to be near politicians.

They want to seek solace for themselves and loved ones. They want to pray for the needy and sick, and for a peaceful nation. But they certainly don’t want a prayer skewed towards a party where the entire congregation is made to listen, with the pulpit monopolising their attention.

Civility seems to be a rare commodity now, with intolerance – due to differing political allegiances – escalating. This is unfortunate because politics in Malaysia has not matured enough, and for sure, few of us can manage a discourse on the merits and demerits of politics in a rational manner.

Instead of pointing out which parts of your arguments may be flawed, or if there could be better options, many prefer to engage in mudslinging when they are disagreed with. Many are just reluctant to be persuasive, preferring to be angry, instead.

Let us remind ourselves that in time of need, it is better to turn to family and friends, who are more likely to help immediately, instead of politicians who only turn up to see us every five years. Don’t lose sleep over politicians – they know the game and can take care of themselves.