Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan has said that companies which sponsor and support the Bersih “illegal rally” will be blacklisted from receiving government contracts and the government is also looking at blacklisting law firms who have contracts with government-linked companies, who support Bersih.
Abdul Rahman’s remarks show that despite his understanding of the true concept of democracy, he is prepared to subscribe to primitive democracy where fairness is absent.
He is an intelligent man but why has he made such undemocratic, extreme and unacceptable remarks which also reflect his primitive mentality?
Suffice to say that Abdul Rahman is prepared to practice politics of vengeance and retaliation for the purpose of preserving Umno’s political interest.
I wish to remind him that right thinking Malaysians will not accept politics of vengeance and it will be wise for him to learn from history—the Melaka experience.
In 2000, the Malacca state government then helmed by Datuk Ali Rastam had blacklisted over 20 local contractors there for supporting the opposition during the 1999 general election.
The state government had also taken action to end the services of 21 state panel doctors and close its fixed deposit accounts at two banks, whose employees were said to be pro-opposition.
But did these Malays who became victims of Ali Rastam’s politics of vengeance became frightened and switched their support to BN or Umno? The answer is no.
Look at what has happened to Ali Rastam? He was defeated in the Umno traditional stronghold of Bukit Katil in the 2013 general election and is today trying stay alive in politics by even becoming an appointed Senator!
Ali Rastam had then also called on federal agencies and privatised federal bodies to stop their business dealings with opposition supporters.
However, his call did not receive any support from the federal government.
I therefore wonder if Abdul Rahman’s remarks have been endorsed by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.
Politics of vengeance must have no place in a democracy and I call on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to repudiate Abdul Rahman’s unacceptable remarks.