Don't be left behind anymore, join us for change - Wan Azizah tells Hindus

T
he Deepavali celebration is filled and celebrated with “lights” to remember and honor the triumph of Good over Evil. Hence the ‘agal vilakku’ lights are arranged. We are very fortunate to be able to celebrate this festival together with the Hindus in Malaysia.

It is undeniable that the Hindu civilization has contributed vastly to the civilization in the Archipelago. The greatest achievement is, upon the arrival of Islam, these two civilizations could get along very well without tensions and difficulties.

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.

EC tells Ambiga: Don't come to us, we are powerless - ask BN!

So, the cat is out of the bag. Finally, the Election Commission has admitted it has to shadow the BN government's wishes although Prime Minister Najib Razak insists that the EC is independent.

“The EC is not an enforcement agency; it is only a management body for elections. The best we can do is to propose relevant laws to the Attorney-General’s Chambers. But ultimately it is the government of the day, which obtained majority votes, which has the final say," EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar.

"If the government decides that voting age is 21 years old, whatever proposal we send to the A-G’s Chambers can never go to Parliament."