Malaysia practices democracy
Malaysia practices democracy
In The Jakarta Post of March 29, 1995 you published your
translated version of Kompas' editorial which had appeared in the
Bahasa Indonesia daily on March 28, 1995. The translated version
was published under The Jakarta Post's "Other Opinion" column and
given the title: Mahathir reigns until 2020?
It is most unfortunate that the call by Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad, who is also President of the Barisan Nasional
(BN), that the ruling BN government be given a further mandate of
25 years be misconstrued as a call for a mandate for the Prime
Minister himself. The call, made at the BN Convention held in
Kuala Lumpur recently, was, in fact, clear and simple and it is
just incomprehensible how it could be misconstrued as in the
Kompas editorial and reflected in your translated version.
It is common knowledge that Malaysia practices a political
system which is open and democratic and based on the provincial
electorate system. Democracy is the very basis of the system and
its application could be clearly observed in the election of
party as well as provincial and national leaders. Party leaders
are decided and elected by its members, and provincial and
national leaders by the people in their respective
constituencies.
In the said system, the regeneration process for the
leadership of the party as well as the nation is an important
factor which has proceeded as a continuing process. The mechanism
for succession has also been well established. In the said
system, therefore, the idea of "a leader for life" is certainly
not known in Malaysia. Thus, the interpretation made in the
Kompas editorial about the Prime Minister's call is not only
absurd but outrageous! And it is most unfortunate that The
Jakarta Post deemed it fit to publish a translated version.
The system practiced in Malaysia has, in fact, brought
tremendous success to the country not only measured by the level
of its national development, but also by the participation of the
people as a whole, in the process of achieving it and,
consequently, also in enjoying it.
SYED MOHAMMED SYED
BAHARUM
Counsellor (Information)
Embassy of Malaysia
Jakarta
In The Jakarta Post of March 29, 1995 you published your
translated version of Kompas' editorial which had appeared in the
Bahasa Indonesia daily on March 28, 1995. The translated version
was published under The Jakarta Post's "Other Opinion" column and
given the title: Mahathir reigns until 2020?
It is most unfortunate that the call by Prime Minister
Mahathir Mohamad, who is also President of the Barisan Nasional
(BN), that the ruling BN government be given a further mandate of
25 years be misconstrued as a call for a mandate for the Prime
Minister himself. The call, made at the BN Convention held in
Kuala Lumpur recently, was, in fact, clear and simple and it is
just incomprehensible how it could be misconstrued as in the
Kompas editorial and reflected in your translated version.
It is common knowledge that Malaysia practices a political
system which is open and democratic and based on the provincial
electorate system. Democracy is the very basis of the system and
its application could be clearly observed in the election of
party as well as provincial and national leaders. Party leaders
are decided and elected by its members, and provincial and
national leaders by the people in their respective
constituencies.
In the said system, the regeneration process for the
leadership of the party as well as the nation is an important
factor which has proceeded as a continuing process. The mechanism
for succession has also been well established. In the said
system, therefore, the idea of "a leader for life" is certainly
not known in Malaysia. Thus, the interpretation made in the
Kompas editorial about the Prime Minister's call is not only
absurd but outrageous! And it is most unfortunate that The
Jakarta Post deemed it fit to publish a translated version.
The system practiced in Malaysia has, in fact, brought
tremendous success to the country not only measured by the level
of its national development, but also by the participation of the
people as a whole, in the process of achieving it and,
consequently, also in enjoying it.
SYED MOHAMMED SYED
BAHARUM
Counsellor (Information)
Embassy of Malaysia
Jakarta