Archive for August 19th, 2008

Gutter politics

It is indeed utterly disgusting that local politics has degenerated to an all-time low, judging from the antics of followers or supporters of certain political parties during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign period.

In particular, supporters of BN were seen to have actually acted out in public the very act of sodomy, obviously in reference to the alleged sodomy that implicates PKR candidate Anwar Ibrahim and his ex-aide Saiful. See here for pix.

Are we to believe that there aren’t important and vital issues that need to be highlighted and discussed during the campaign? Issues that really matter to the rakyat, and the future of this country? What about the economy, unemployment, inflation, globalisation, crime rate, education, social justice, racism, etc? Don’t they matter?

Political leaders who profess to cherish clean and ethical political campaigns should condemn this kind of rude behaviour in their midst, an act that is reprehensible.

As an aside, one wonders whether the moral guardians, especially those who are quick to assail people deemed to have committed ’immoral activities’, would also condemn such unruly and unethical behaviour.

Interfaith dialogue beckons the government?

Malaysia places importance on efforts ‘to build and promote interfaith relations, and dialogue and understanding between different religions and cultures’, said Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim.

This comment came from the Malaysian government as a response to the planned Anti-Islamisation Congress by the Pro Koln group to be held in Cologne, Germany next month.

Rais said the Malaysian government condemned strongly the holding of this congress.

While one can appreciate the government’s apprehension and unhappiness about the congress, one however wonders whether Rais was misquoted by the media concerned.

This is because a week ago the Malaysian government, in response to the controversial Bar Council forum on ‘Conversion to Islam’, appeared not to be in favour of an interfaith dialogue.

Put another way, there seems to be a disconnect between the sentiment expressed a week ago and the one reported yesterday by Bernama.