Have National Referendums On Sensitive Issues – The Voice Of the Majority Is Most Supreme

In Malaysia the prime minister is not chosen based on the national referendum or consensus, but by a lesser political set-up, the general elections where parties with the most number of seats in parliament are given the choice of naming the person to be the prime minister of the country.

by Mansor Bin Putih (Malaysia-Today)

There are many issues in Malaysia which are considered to be sensitive; they are those that deal with race, religion and education.

Unfortunately, many of those who take part in the debates on these issues have all neglected that their views may not represent the voice of the majority.

And any political party or coalition of parties may not have the ultimate say in making the decisions on these issues.

Everybody has valid reasons for not supporting the use of Bahasa Melayu as the medium of instruction for science and mathematics, and so on.

These views are mostly blinkered by one's biases. Most non-Malays will insist in using English, while many Malays will opt for Bahasa Melayu.

Even the description of Bahasa Malaysia which was agreed by the cabinet did not go down well with many Malays. And this was one of the reasons why the Malays had not voted or Umno or Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last general elections.

The non-Malay political analysts, however, did not think this issue to be a major one, like Islam Hadhari which was also the formost reason why many Malays and Muslims rejected Umno and BN in the same elections.

And as such no non-Malay political analyst worth his salt has ever mentioned these two factors.

Many think that the Hindraf issue was what had made the voters to go against the popular grain. But did the Malays and Muslims also supported this particular issue? I doubt it. They probably did not like it that the government or authorities had failed to demolish more illegal structures of all types.

The reason why I am writing this essay is to bring out the issue of the NATIONAL REFERENDUM.

Is this something strange to democracts and liberals? In other countries it is not. But in Malaysia, even the most liberal or liberals and the most democrat of democrats has not said anything about it. Why?

We all know that the ultimate way to find out if any issue, especially those sensitive ones could be decided upon more democratically and liberally is by having a NATIONAL REFERENDUM on them.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, no one has ever offered such a proposal. Why?

The reason being, in such an exercise, the voice of the majority will prevail. And in the issues of Bahasa Melayu versus Bahasa Malaysia;

using of Bahasa Melayu for science and mathematics, etc, etc, will all be determined by the majority who in the case of Malaysia, are the Malays and Muslims.

If this is conducted, then we can know what the majority in Malaysia wants, and not just what the minority has been insisting all this while.

In any TRUE DEMOCARACY, the voice of the majority must be respected. This is despite the fact that there is going to be unfairness. This is DEMOCRACY. And if all Democracy-loving Malaysians believe in such a system or set-up, then they should surrender to the will of the majority who must be allowed to voice their opinions and choice using such a system.

Having an open debate on such issues, especially the sensitive ones cannot bring ultimate benefits to the people and country. It is ANARCHY AT WORK. And there are some individuals amongst the UNSEEN PUBLIC and the more vocal ones who are in the PUBLIC VIEW have been demanding that everybody else and the whole country listen to them.

Is this democracy? This is anarchy. They can voice their views on anything, including on the sensitive issues, but they cannot insist on having their way all the time. The decision rests not on how loud and clever one is on such issues, but must be made by the general consensus of everybody in the country.

And the best way to find out what the whole country wants is for the government to conduct a NATIONAL REFERENDUM so that we can get their common decision, in a NATIONAL CONSENSUS.

Are the so-called liberals of all strips and from all races in Malaysia, particularly Kit Siang, Karpal Singh and the others who blog as a way of life accept the VOICE OF THE MAJORITY that can only be determined in a NATIONAL REFERENDUM?

If they cannot do that, then they are NOT REAL DEMOCRATS or REAL LIBERALS. They are anarchists who do not believe in the VOICE OF THE MAJORITY.

Let's hear more of the NATIONAL REFERENDUM and NATIONAL CONSENSUS. This is the only way that we have to find a just solution and decision on any issue.

In Malaysia the prime minister is not chosen based on the national referendum or consensus, but by a lesser political set-up, the general elections where parties with the most number of seats in parliament are given the choice of naming the person to be the prime minister of the country.

In America, they allow the whole country to make such a choice by voting in their presidents. Therefore, the president in America is chosen by a NATIONA REFERENDUM OR CONSENSUS and not by his party, although the presidential candidates from the two major political parties, the Democratic and Republican parties find their own candidates for the post.

But ultimately, it is the American voters who pick who to be their president when even members or supporters of these two parties are allowed to choose any of the two candidates of their choice.

Yes, in Malaysia we have to talk more and more about the NATIONAL REFERENDUM and NATIONAL CONSENSUS as this is the best way for any issue, however sensitive can be decided, that will be accepted by the majority.

The views of those who write in the blogs and newspapers do not reflect the WILL AND DEMANDS OF THE MAJORITY.

Most of the majority do not voice their views on a host of things, including the sensitive ones; they keep to themselves. So we do not know what they feel. Many of them are uneducated and do not speak a word of English and who do not care for this language, since they have yet to be taken out of their cocoon in the villages.

Unfortunately, in Malaysia, it is this large group of people who are in the majority; and it is they - who are mostly the Malays - who are the REAL LEADERS OF THE LAND. And it is they whose views on Bahasa Melayu and the other issues we have to seek. Unfortunately, they also decide what is good for the country.

But sadly, they have all been neglected and have been left to their own device, while their land is slowly being taken away by the wealthy businessmen to expand their personal empires.

Let's talk more and more of the NATIONAL REFERENDUM and NATIONAL CONSENSUS and give back the VOICE OF THE MAJORITY back to the majority and let the minority who are mostly vocal and loud and too narcisistic, to continue to have their word in the blogs and newspapers.