Democracy-the Missing Piece in the Search for Common Ground

dari Changkat Ning



PRESS STATEMENT

12 January 2009

Democracy-the Missing Piece in the Search for Common Ground

The recent U.N. Resolution called for an immediate ceasefire of the Gaza-Palestine conflict and unimpeded provision and distribution of aid to Gaza, as well as measures to halt arms smuggling and open the borders. Yet, the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza-Palestine continue to escalate at an unprecedented rate, raising alarm of a greater regional conflict and threat to world peace.
The cruelty inflicted by the Zionists of Israel on civilians must be stopped immediately. However, ending the violence seems a near-impossible task when a compromise can hardly be reached by the warring parties. This is a conflict that bears a historical baggage which dates back centuries and although it is a land and territorial dispute, what matters are issues which remain to be a complex hybrid of religion and human rights. To say that it must be resolved “with care” is an understatement.
In response, almost all nations in the world have taken the position that this war must end and the conflict resolved. In mounting pressure, we have witnessed a surge of protest, anti-war vigils, press reports in the electronic and print media and even trade boycotts of U.S. and Israel products globally, particularly in the Muslim world. Malaysians have admirably answered the call for help by sending our own medical relief team and the public has been tremendously generous in the effort to despatch aid.

Restoration of Democracy

However, I am deeply concerned that we have also neglected other means of resolving this conflict which has time and time again threatened world peace. It is not the first time that we have despatched aid or exerted international pressure through the U.N. What we have done thus far, is timely and must be applauded. Yet, let us not dismiss the need to also embark on other equally meaningful of resolving this conflict and that is calling for the restoration of democracy in the Middle East.
It is clear that Israel and the U.S. have not recognized Hamas, despite it being democratically elected by the Palestinians. It is not helpful either that democracy as a principle has not thrived nor gained any strong footing in the Middle-East. We must recognize that this conflict affects the Middle East deeply and its relations with the other countries. The rejection of democracy and legitimate democratic practices only fuels disrespect and distrust on the political and legal systems of the region, when in fact these systems and their leaders must be depended on in order to facilitate genuine efforts to chart a road map to peace in the region. Albeit difficult, we must be honest and make no apologies in advocating democracy not just in Palestine but in the Middle East as a whole, in order to properly uphold the rule of law in the region.

What we have witnessed thus far, are reactive measures being taken once the conflict had began. We must learn our lesson as this conflict is hardly new, the efforts taken, clearly expected. In the face of such predictability, it is only proper that proactive measures be equally devised and not be marginalized in favour of reactive and temporal measures. Press reports evoking emotions do not result in proper understanding of the conflict. The media have an equally compelling role to play by educating the public of the long history of the conflict, how it began and the divergent views that exist on the issue. The average Malaysian in the kampong must be educated to know what the issue is truly about and how it affects us in particular. This issue in fact reflects what Malaysians have generally clamoured for, that is a genuine understanding of differences in order to facilitate a peaceful resolution to a conflict.

Respecting differences, upholding democratic principles
It is probably the Southeast Asian experience of handling multi-culturalism, religious diversity and the adoption of the principle of unity in diversity (bhinneka tungga ika), which ought to be shown as an example to resolve a conflict fraught with sensitive issues. As an important member of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), Malaysia must play and exemplary role to other Islamic nations who have equally stated their stand in condemning the indiscriminate killing of civilians in Gaza-Palestine.

Yet, the Malaysian government disregarded democracy by practicing double standards and not honouring the freedom of speech and assembly enshrined in the Federal Constitution, which further erodes our credibility to play an effective role in the issue. As evidenced recently, we have witnessed a clear case of hypocrisy in the manner in which this issue has been handled and highlighted. Opposition Members of Parliament are condemned and arrested, whilst Government Parliamentarians are praised and put on the pedestal when in fact both sides share a common intention and shout a common slogan. Time is running short. We must rise above our differences and not let political interest stand in the way- of searching for a common ground and of advocating world peace.

YUSMADI YUSOFF,MP
Chairman of Strategy and International Affairs
Youth Wing of Parti KeAdilan Rakyat
Youth Chief of AMK PKR Penang