The open solicitation for students’ support for Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor during a recent Hari Raya open house celebration is dishonorable and deplorable.
During the Hari Raya open house celebration organized by the Kedah State Government on April 23, with the support of Gamis and Persatuan Mahasiswa Darulaman (Persada), a representative, who is believed to be the event’s emcee, prompted the students to repeat the following line: “We, the students of Kedah, will defend and pledge our support to the Kedah Menteri Besar.”
When Sanusi and the Kedah state government utilized an official event for political gain, particularly as the state elections are approaching, they eroded the political rights of students to make choices, insulted students’ intelligence, and trampled on their dignity. Therefore, Sanusi, the Kedah state government, and PAS should admit that they are wrong and apologize to the students publicly instead of making untenable denial.
With years of education, students possess independent thinking and critical thinking skills and can distinguish right from wrong. Therefore, they have the right and are capable of voting for leaders based on various objective factors, such as the current political landscape, economic and social development, and so on.
However, Sanusi’s arrogant and condescending attitude towards the students proved that the Perikatan Nasional (PN) and PAS only regarded the youth and students as gullible voters instead of committed to promoting genuine policies for youth empowerment, advancement, and development.
Sanusi and some PN leaders recently criticized Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim relentlessly for holding Hari Raya open house events in six states, claiming that there was a hidden political agenda behind the series of events. Ironically, it has been proven that Sanusi and the PAS used the Hari Raya open house event organized by the state government for political mileage by demanding the loyalty of many innocent students.
Taking advantage of a state government’s event to solicit allegiance from students blatantly insulted students’ intellect, trampled on their dignity, and eroded their basic rights to participate in politics and to choose the leaders and the government. As such, Sanusi and the PN leaders should be ashamed of themselves and stop launching unwarranted and baseless verbal attacks against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for holding Hari Raya open house to celebrate the festive season with the rakyat in different states.