An introduction to the FAC

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING MALAYSIA TODAY

The biggest challenge facing the people of Malaysia today is the creation of a just and democratic country. (Click here for The Heritage Foundation Report - Backgrounder)

MALAYSIA'S POLITICAL CRISIS

We have in Malaysia, today, a government that concentrates power in the hands of the Executive - a single individual in particular - thus crippling our system of checks and balances. When power becomes so concentrated and personalised:

The interests of those in power become paramount - the interests of the people are ignored;

Those in power determine everything, including what is supposedly the interests of the people;

The people are paralysed and human rights violations become rampant;

Those in power do not respect nor consider the differing views of others - instead they are vilified, including with fabricated accusations;

Blind loyalty to the leadership is expected, even when the leadership is wrong;

The principles and practice of public accountability are ignored and, in the process, institutions are undermined.

Oppression, Corruption, Cronyism and Nepotism

This is why OPPRESSION, CORRUPTION, CRONYISM and NEPOTISM have grown over these past few years. And this is what Anwar Ibrahim was most outspoken against, resulting in his eventual fall from grace.

To conceal these sins, those in power have had to manipulate and lie to the people. Slander and persecution of political opponents has become the norm among those in power and has become more blatant in the current political crisis.

The Economic Crisis

Due to the reluctance to implement real political and economic reforms, Malaysia is still unable to meet the full challenge of globalisation. Yet the future of the country depends upon its competitiveness and capacity to penetrate the global market. A system of corporate governance within a transparent regulatory framework free from political interference on behalf of vested interests is urgently needed to create a resilient economy. Furthermore, the government uses development to blackmail and "buy" the people in the General Elections.

Human Rights Abuses

The government has violated the basic principles and rights guaranteed under the Malaysian Constitution. Laws such as the Internal Security Act, the Sedition Act, the Printing and Publications Act, the Universities and University Colleges Act, the Police Act, and others, deny the people the basic right of expression, peaceful assembly and association.

These basic rights are allowed or disallowed on the whims of those in power. Even the right of the people to turn to the Courts for redress is thwarted. Police discipline has deteriorated significantly as a result of this abuse of power by the country's top leadership. This has resulted in abuses, including police violence towards ordinary citizens. Such abuses reflect the gangsterism of the top leadership, who has no respect for the basic human rights guaranteed to us under the Constitution of Malaysia.

The Moral Crisis

The concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few leaders has resulted in such arrogance that they are capable of shamelessly doing anything to maintain their hold on power. The level of morality of the national leadership has deteriorated alarmingly. The younger generation is disillusioned and can no longer respect the leaders.

A Crisis of Integrity

The integrity of a number of public institutions such as Parliament, the Judiciary, the civil service, police and the media have been undermined as all have had to submit to the whims of certain leaders. This has badly affected the wellbeing of the people. Only a change towards a just, clean, efficient, trustworthy administration can restore administrative and institutional integrity and the confidence and unity of the people.

The Government's Campaign of Lies and Fear

The people have become increasingly conscious of the defects in the governments policy and the shortcomings of the political leadership. Dissent is more and more openly expressed. In response, the government has attempted to frighten the people by threatening that such dissent will result in racial conflict. The government threatens that chaos will result should their strong position be questioned.

The government has mobilised the mainstream mass media, which is completely under their control, and has used it to vilify the dissent, spreading lies and fear. Their sole aim is to cause fear and disunity. The government hopes that their campaigns of lies and fear mongering will prevent the people from coming together to ask for a change towards a just and democratic nation.

To deflect popular discontent, the government attempts to manipulate racial sentiments. They foster mutual suspicion between the different racial groups and create antagonisms between one group and another. The government highlights racial strife in other countries where the situation is utterly different and of no relevance to Malaysia. The government skillfully plays this mischievous game of divide-and-rule amongst the many races that is so delicately balanced.

The political leadership also slanders the opposition parties as agents of foreign powers and interests. The government tries to scapegoat foreign powers for their own failure in managing the country's economy.

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