Malaysia practices democracy<\/p>\n
In The Jakarta Post of March 29, 1995 you published your
\ntranslated version of Kompas' editorial which had appeared in the
\nBahasa Indonesia daily on March 28, 1995. The translated version
\nwas published under The Jakarta Post's \"Other Opinion\" column and
\ngiven the title: Mahathir reigns until 2020?<\/p>\n
It is most unfortunate that the call by Prime Minister
\nMahathir Mohamad, who is also President of the Barisan Nasional
\n(BN), that the ruling BN government be given a further mandate of
\n25 years be misconstrued as a call for a mandate for the Prime
\nMinister himself. The call, made at the BN Convention held in
\nKuala Lumpur recently, was, in fact, clear and simple and it is
\njust incomprehensible how it could be misconstrued as in the
\nKompas editorial and reflected in your translated version.<\/p>\n
It is common knowledge that Malaysia practices a political
\nsystem which is open and democratic and based on the provincial
\nelectorate system. Democracy is the very basis of the system and
\nits application could be clearly observed in the election of
\nparty as well as provincial and national leaders. Party leaders
\nare decided and elected by its members, and provincial and
\nnational leaders by the people in their respective
\nconstituencies.<\/p>\n
In the said system, the regeneration process for the
\nleadership of the party as well as the nation is an important
\nfactor which has proceeded as a continuing process. The mechanism
\nfor succession has also been well established. In the said
\nsystem, therefore, the idea of \"a leader for life\" is certainly
\nnot known in Malaysia. Thus, the interpretation made in the
\nKompas editorial about the Prime Minister's call is not only
\nabsurd but outrageous! And it is most unfortunate that The
\nJakarta Post deemed it fit to publish a translated version.<\/p>\n
The system practiced in Malaysia has, in fact, brought
\ntremendous success to the country not only measured by the level
\nof its national development, but also by the participation of the
\npeople as a whole, in the process of achieving it and,
\nconsequently, also in enjoying it.<\/p>\n
SYED MOHAMMED SYED<\/p>\n
BAHARUM<\/p>\n
Counsellor (Information)<\/p>\n
Embassy of Malaysia<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-practices-democracy-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }