‘Interfering’ and
raising awareness for a cause can on many occasions, be misconstrued by the
public and put into a negative light by many. However, standing up for a just
cause as a human being should not be wrong, rather it is a basic human right.
Just yesterday, Nick Xenophon, an independent
Senator for South Australia, was deported to his home country from Malaysia due
to certain ‘higher ranked’ people being unhappy with him. That begs the
question as to why such a move was taken by the Malaysian Government. For
starters, a number have said that he is a supporter of the opposition coalition
in Malaysia and that Xenophon is trying to meddle in the affairs of the
Malaysian Government.
Let me get it straight and clear.
Showing support for a party and/or a coalition does not mean the same as
showing support for the cause they are championing for. That has to be laid out
and said, loud and clear. Xenophon would not be stupid to support a party,
considering he is also an elected official in Australia. However, the issue he
is supporting is the same as the opposition’s call for ‘Free and Fair’
elections. Now, to get deported for saying that having a clean electoral system
in one’s country is the right way and definitely the only way to move forward,
that means that something is definitely not right in the Malaysian system.
The Election Commission of Malaysia
has said that its system isn’t perfect, so why then is the Government so afraid
of someone who is pointing out that there should be reforms in the electoral system
of Malaysia? Has it got something to hide? If you have nothing to hide, then
you should have nothing to fear!
Nick Xenophon has been discriminated
and even defamed, culminating in him lodging a suit against Malaysian
newspapers for claiming that he is against Muslims and Islam, an allegation he
has totally denied. Why go to an extent of defaming someone from another country
when all they are doing is pointing out that our system isn’t up to scratch and
something has to be done?
It is inappropriate for Malaysia to
behave in the way they have, deporting Xenophon without any rhyme or reason and
treating him as an enemy of the state, when as a matter of fact, Malaysia is
trying to foster healthy diplomatic relations with neighbouring countries. The
action of those who called the shots in Xenophon’s deportation is extremely
unbecoming for a nation which claims to be a democratic country, wherein this
totally shows that we are run by a dictatorship!
I am sure that this will have a
domino-effect whereby Malaysia will be looked at as a country which will not be
a go-to point in terms of investment. We have opened our gates to refugees,
given identity cards and citizenships to foreigners in broad daylight as shown
in the ludicrous findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry in Sabah. Then, we
resort to deporting people who, for once, seem to have a point and stand up for
justice and fairness? There is only one direction this country is heading to.
Unless…………..there is change.
Jay
Jay Denis
Student Activist
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