If only he walks the talk — Dr Hsu Dar Ren

Our prime minister gave a very “good” speech in the UN. Good in the sense that what was expounded in the speech is correct and morally right.

He said, “We must, and I repeat, we must urgently reclaim the centre and the moral high ground that has been usurped from us. We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other. And we must give this effort utmost priority for time is not on our side.” He also urged the US President Barack Obama to “galvanise the moderates, bring in NGOs and social movements so that more people would see the importance of taking a moderate stance.”

This is indeed what is needed in the whole world. This is indeed what is needed in Malaysia. My question to the PM is this: Why is this — the essence of his speech — not practised in our own country? He, as the PM, has the power to walk the talk, to do what he preaches overseas. Why aren’t those uttering extremist words dealt with using existing laws? The incidents of the two principals and the words of some civil servants (like the one in BTN) are certainly extreme, no one can deny that. Why isn’t any action being taken against these people? When he urges Obama to galvanise the moderates and bring in the NGOs, did he not realise that he has not reined in the NGO group called Perkasa? Did he not realise that the perception is that, by keeping quiet and refraining from attacking this group, Perkasa is an outsourced extremist group from the Big Brother? His speech is certainly good.

If Obama does what our PM advises, America and the world would be a better place, no doubt about it. But our PM must put his own house in order first before offering such “good” advice to others. Otherwise, there is only one word in English language to describe the whole situation — hypocrisy! There is still time to prove that he is not a hypocrite, by coming home and taking charge and dealing with these extremists according to the advice he gave others in UN. Will he walk the talk?