Aliran Media Statement
Malaysians Ready for Public Rallies
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Public rallies would provide much-needed space for political parties and candidates |
Aliran views with deep concern the various official reactions to the Election Commission's call for a lifting of the ban on public rallies. The response from government officials - from the Prime Minister downwards - indicates reluctance, if not downright opposition, to the idea.
To suggest, as Dr Mahathir did, that the approval for public rallies be left entirely to the police - and not the Election Commission - is to make further mockery of the Commission's independence. It also reinforces the suspicion - going by experience - that the police would be partial in their decisions.
It is true that the existence of public rallies isn't the only gauge of democracy. Democracy also involves other elements such as the people's participation in decision-making process, public accountability by the government, and freedom of expression and the media, among other things. Nonetheless, public rallies are still a vital part of the democratic process. Parties should have a right to communicate with the citizens and citizens should have a right to be aware of the various parties' platforms.
National security should not be used as a convenient pretext to impose unnecessary restrictions on public rallies. Apart from the presence of the police, there are enough laws in the land to ensure the security of the Malaysian citizens. How is it that the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional can have massive rallies without a squeak from the police about national security?
Furthermore, public rallies in a country like Malaysia would provide much-needed space for political parties and candidates who do not even have little access to the mainstream media. Without such access, they have difficulty in publicising their respective policies and programmes among the public.
Public rallies are also a necessary platform where candidates can be put to the test in terms of their oratory skills, intellectual alertness, and rapport with the ordinary people.
We call upon the Malaysian government not to belittle this important aspect of democracy. Malaysian citizens have come a long way; they are mature and more than ready for public rallies - even during elections!
Aliran Executive Committe
23 September 2003
This statement was sent to the local media including The Star, New Straits Times, and The Sun.
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