I guess the only time most people think about injustice is when it happens to them.
– Charles Bukowski
The Victims of Injustice Cannot Entertain Sympathy (V-O-I-C-E-S) either because they are looking inward, or endorsing moral corruption. Every five years or so, they should dread the general elections.
The major marginalised voices in Malaysia go unheard because the wailing, screaming, shoving and kicking are virtually dormant since Reformasi, HINDRAF and Bersih raised the bar although for a spell.
The forgotten victims of injustice must be compared to containing thunder and lightning in a bottle. Legislation genuflecting to guaranteed rights in a constitutional matrix would sustain a healthy democracy. Dream on.
Regime changes after May 2018 are like an unreliable parachute. Victims of injustice unable to drain the swamp constitute a national crisis when enumerated rights in the supreme law of the land are mocked.
“All too often, when we see injustices, both great and small, we think, that’s terrible, but we do nothing. We say nothing. We let other people fight their own battles. We remain silent because silence is easier. Qui tacet consentire videtur is Latin for ‘Silence gives consent’. When we say nothing, when we do nothing, we are consenting to these trespasses against us,” warned Roxane Gay.
The celebratory voices of Article 8 (Equality) Federal Constitution are literally carved in stone. It’s a celebrated fact that imported labour into Malaya made significantly powerful economic contributions to this nation. Why remain silent?
The generational victims of injustice don’t know how to amicably demand their inalienable rights promised in the supreme law of the land. They probably need training on how to win by attrition.
Political leadership is uncertain. The recently announced Budget offered a paltry pittance to some Malaysian communities. Affirmative action policies have undermined and insulted Article 8 of the supreme law of the land.
Sadly, people who matter live under a cloud of potential reprisals that prevent and discourage further relationship with a corrupt society. But section 3 of the Sedition Act is seldom invoked by the defenders.
There is insufficient dialogue with PMX and the Cabinet. Elected politicians cannot offer solutions and remedies except for empty answers and shallow excuses. The victims of injustice must take serious steps to initiate exchange of views
How then can this be achieved? Surely PMX and his Cabinet are frightfully aware of the anomalies of affirmative action that affect other communities. Do something. You have all the tools and resources at your disposal.
Unequal, inequitable, unjust, unconscionable and unfair allocation of funds to other causes and policies is unconstitutional and illegal. The victims of injustice must strive to become victors enjoying justice.
Funds that PMX and Cabinet dish out to one major community is from the public purse. And that includes all communities. When economic opportunities are limited, curtailed and controlled for marginalised communities, funds allocations should become a democratic duty of the law-givers and law-enforcers.
Article 153 Federal Constitution requires the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) to be responsible for the “legitimate interests of other communities”. When did the victims of injustice make a beeline to Istana Negara?
Elected officials can do nothing. The voting public does nothing, too, but take to blogs and podcasts. It could the reason why government lacks an appetite for change, challenge and reform.
PMX should conduct regular open-house or town-house meetings every month to hear the people first-hand. That’s the mark of a healthy democracy. But our leaders seem to be milking a wealthy democracy.
Table-thumpers in Parliament do nothing for the victims of injustice. PMX and Cabinet must raise the bar when it comes to serving the deserving. We are still not out of the woods in this scenario.
“A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option –for peace cannot exist where justice is not served,” reminded John Lewis.
Power remains unchecked to the extent that enforceable laws stay impotent, Justice is reserved for the “just us” group of elitists. Meanwhile, holy days and holidays make a feeble attempt to showcase a hypocritically happy and harmonious society.
Awakened and alert victims of injustice have no qualms with affirmative action policies since 1957. But why stifle meritocracy when students from other communities show promise?
Article 8 (Equality) Federal Constitution has been made to look like a major prevarication. Doesn’t PMX and his Cabinet realise that there are severe sanctions for breaking, breaching and violating the supreme law of the land?
But, do we have a Malaysian piece of legislation that guarantees punishment for disobeying the supreme law of the land? The last time this writer checked, there is none, unless it is classified under the OSA 1972.
The Constitutional Disobedience Act is long overdue. Someone better remind PMX and his Cabinet that with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, they are not powerless to do the right thing.
The Federal Constitution has become another casualty to be categorised as a victim of injustice. Protecting, preserving and policing it smacks of utopia, if not a pipedream.
“A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option –for peace cannot exist where justice is not served,” observed John Lewis.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
