Berani dalam Benar: Bully - The 'new' narrative!

As the nation anxiously awaited for the much needed "reformasi" to become real, another "reality" sprang out of the blues! It is unprecedented, unexpected, and most of all, unwelcomed! Some described it as "evil," "extreme," "criminal," and even as "gangsterism," but still nothing comes close. It is actually "uncivilised," despite the brazen use of a similar acronym almost non-stop. Instead, the diametrical opposite emerged spontaneously.  

Nothing can be more uncivilised than an attack to silent someone from speaking, and exercising his/her democratic rights. What is more, constructive ones against the current conventional herd mentality! This tantamount to a form of bullying often directed to students, regardless, mostly in the physical sense. "You touch; you go" seems to be one of the favourites. Many applauded it, missing the point that bullying can take different forms of harassment, untouched, not confined to any particular population, making the vulnerable as scapegoats. The non-physical form is no less harmful (if not more so) in the cyberworld, the so-called (anti-)social media in particular. Many are traumatised, some have gone suicidal, a worldwide phenomenon that is not grinding to a halt anytime soon! This is because included are the (mis)use of leftover colonial rules, processes, procedures and laws to achieve a more widespread impact through the culture of fear and (micro)aggression right across the community - national or otherwise. It can even ignite several contradictions that stretched some 12 years ago in a similar public outrage over the death of a Form 4 student, after the Kota Bharu coroner’s court ruled in June 2016 that he was murdered by an unidentified person. There could be more!  

Thanks to the latest outrage involving the demise of a Form 1 student which quickly sparked a collective  demand for "reformasi" against inherent systematic habits and practices that is akin to bullying as a state apparatus by the power that be. More compelling, what was ardently frowned upon at one time, suddenly turned around to be not only sustained, but celebrated too in a dominant way. Among the many, the Internal Security Act (ISA) - a vicious colonial idea - is a classic example that serves as an embarrassment for a nation touted as “civilised”! After all, it has been amply shown to be a draconian instrument of bully, used indiscriminately, for almost 70 years since independence, just so to retain power at whatever cost. That is bullying par excellence, involving former "reformasi" (or is it “reform-basi”) diehards! 

To make it worse, both types of bullies - the physical and the non-physical - have been executed in sync, with perfect harmony. Not necessarily limited to one target, but multiple, involving closed ones for a heightened impact. We have seen this in movies, but more recently in real life Malaysia too. A record of sort has just been created in the run towards Merdeka! Why? How?

To be sure, AI – that “intelligent” machine - was consulted so as to avoid being prejudiced in any way given the highly charged aura enveloping the country. Here is what AI has to say - nothing shockingly new. For example, it claimed that the Malaysian political culture is more hierarchical or patronage-based, where loyalty and internal party dynamics often outweigh public accountability. Oftentimes blindly. 

Resignation is not always seen as a necessary consequence of failure or scandal. In fact, to be ignored shamelessly. Hence, while institutions like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC/SPRM) exist, their perceived independence and effectiveness can vary depending on the political climate, which may affect how accountability is understood and enforced. Although, this has been pointed out several times, but to no avail. 

To top it all, unlike what is experienced in most democratic countries, where independent media and active civil society organisations play a major role in holding leaders accountable, Malaysia looks like a nanny state. Public opinion can be manipulated by insecure leadership to attain legitimacy. This deprives the public to exert pressure in the face legal, political, or economic constraints. And threats to effectively reduces the likelihood of leaders feeling compelled to apologise or step down. Whereas, in many democracies, they took responsibility and even resign over slight moral failures or loss of public trust, although no laws were broken. All these reinforces the perception that Malaysian politics are indeed far from being civilised no matter how much sloganeering is done.  

The emerging wave of #Justice for Zara is too glaring, involving tens of thousands and counting, to be put down by the usual crass bullying tactics! We have not yet considered the role of thuggery that has now availed itself as though to close the gap where the leadership has failed to take the bull by the horn, or long before the bull bolted. In any case, the damages are very visible, leaving a good chance for mob-like governance framed by a bully to move in sooner or later. Ultimately, as the nation gears up to celebrate the 68th independence in the next few days, the vital question is: Independence from what? Not a bully culture most likely! If so, be ready to struggle for the next Merdaka ahead for a totally bully-free "civilised" sovereignty as decreed by the King of late! Salam Malaysia Merdeka!