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