Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) condemns crackdown on dissenting voices

8 May 2009

The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) condemns the arrests of Wong Chin Huat, Mohamad Sabu, three activists who attempted to deliver a cake the PM’s Office in commemoration of the 31st birthday of Altantuya Shaariibuu and this morning arbitrary arrests of over 50 citizens in Perak. These arrests have to END NOW as they are undemocratic and uncalled for on the part of the Malaysian Royal Police and the government.

In March 2009, Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak succeeded Abdullah Badawi as the Prime Minister of the nation and leader of the party. He has promised to make big changes in the ruling party of United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) but increasingly his model of democracy is being challenged. 
The Malaysian Royal Police and the government has time and again have prevented the public from displaying their feelings over the unconsitutional Perak takeover and the Altantuya issue. During the last three by-elections which ended on 7 April, political parties were barred from bringing up a number of controversial issues during their electoral campaigns. These included the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu and the decision made by the Perak Monarchy. During the Kuala Terengganu by-election, five members from a political party Youth wing were arrested for putting up pictures of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The citizens of Malaysia have been fighting for their rights - whether it is for the conservation of the forest, or the landless labourers or for their civil liberty rights. Those who are arrested are fighting for the enforcement of basic rights – their right to speak and to have an opinion. The ne government under Dato' Sri Najib must realise that they are in fact fighting for the enforcement of the fundamental rights and directives principles enshrined in our Constitution. The question that they need to answer is: do they need to engage in such arbitrary arrests? Is this the way to enforce constitutional rights of citizens?
 
History is repeating itself. Whenever there are dissenting voices and disaggreements with government policies and actions, banning is used, arrests are made, and draconian laws are used to justify the need to suppression dissension. This is indeed a dangerous trend as it only manifest how the state moves towards becoming more and more authoritarian, closing democratic space for all democratic activities. Political problems cannot be solved through repression. People's aspirations cannot be crushed by state violence. That is the lesson we can learn from history from the time of the national emergency till today. And, we must learn from our own history.
 
These suppressive actions violate Malaysian human rights puts into serious question the sincerity of the new government led by prime minister, YAB Dato' Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, to work towards democratic reforms. Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly are the fundamental rights of a human being and are guaranteed under our Federal Constitution. Until and unless these people and all ISA detainees are released, the Prime Minister's concept of "1Malaysia" will remain as an empty speech.
 
Therefore, we urge the police and the government to release immediately all those arrested as this will reflect the government's commitment to freedom of speech and respect for differing views. The political crisis in Perak ahs to be resolved by the people of Perak. We urge the government and the Sultan of Perak to dissolve the Perak State Assembly immediately to let the people elect their own state government.