Teach children the principles of democracy

A school syllabus on democracy will teach children good governance and democratic rights, says a social activist.

GEORGE TOWN: Our schools don’t do a good job of preparing students on how to practice democracy and social activist BK Ong feels that the best way to do this is to have a school syllabus on democracy.

He said this would be a progressive educational step to nurture Malaysians from young on their rights and responsibilities to the country.

Teach us to fish, don't give us the fish

John Malott, a former US ambassador to Malaysia, in his article Malaysia’s Political Awakening: A Call for US Leadership has brought to the attention of law-makers in America, the plight of democracy in Malaysia. It is a call for the US leadership to pay more attention and be more vocal during a time when Prime Minister Najib Razak's government seems to be reneging on democratic practises.

In an interview with Malaysia Chronicle, Malott had explained what he meant by "US leadership" and stressed that US concerns did not lie in who formed the government of Malaysia but about the continuation of and support for democracy in the Southeast Asian nation.

"I called for US leadership. By that I mean, we need to be more visible and vocal in expressing our concerns about developments in Malaysia. We need to be more supportive – moral support and encouragement - of those members of civil society in Malaysia who want Malaysia to become a true democracy and have the same freedom that we and others have. We should support the call for electoral reform. It is not up to America who forms the government in Malaysia. But we should be concerned whether the playing field is level," Malott had said.