Pak Lah's lapses - the pandora's box of freedom

“There has been a lack of leadership to bring divisive forces under control, which emboldened religious extremists”
Lim Kit Siang on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (18/12/08)


Worsening race relations are not manifesting themselves on the ground. The rhetoric we hear from communal leaders are divisive, yes, but of influence, no. Freedom of information has allowed people to obtain all they need to make informed decisions. Take a good, hard look around you, and you'll see race relations are the same as they always have been. There have been weakening ties, but at the same time we can see strengthening; the Makkal Sakti cry has been adopted by all races, Islam is no longer a purely Malay issue, human rights no longer the rallying call of the rich and English-speaking.

I don't think we can bring divisive forces under control and still maintain freedom of expression. There is no control over free speech. Pak Lah allowed for more discourse, ultimately leading to his own downfall; but we cannot chastise him for this.