Yoursay: A low blow for Iksim to go after UM prof

Stop probing UM prof immediately over article on radicalism, says SIS

Hang Babeuf: The attack by the Malaysia Islamic Strategic Research Institute (Iksim) is not just against academic freedom. It is not just an attack on law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi as a university professor.

It is an attack on him as a human being, on his rights as an ordinary citizen. On rights that are to be held and enjoyed without abridgement or intimidation by all citizens.

It is an assault on freedom of speech itself, on the freedom of speech and free expression generally of all citizens. On Malaysian citizenship itself.

So it is time, and more, for this Iksim unit and the cabal that runs it – appropriating the powers of the state to intimidate and defame citizens who hold perfectly reasonable opinions – to be put out of business. Forever.

It is time for the prime minister to get rid of these state-uniformed vigilantes of a wannabe thought-police inspectorate who operate from within the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim), from within the Prime Minister’s Office.

They are, in ministerial terms, his responsibility.

Varuna: Having had the privilege to read a number of Professor Shad’s articles in the mainstream press for some years now, one could only think of him as a level-headed and decent academic who kept religiously to an intellectually academic tradition/rationale in his presentations.

It was not possible to fault him for any personal bias, or for that matter, any deliberate intent on his part to single out for deliberate blame any groups or individuals.

It is sad and disconcerting that he is in the midst of a probe regarding an op-ed published in a national newspaper.

Hopefully, the academy that he works for will do its level best to protect and promote his contribution to its intellectual assets.

Ranjit Singh Malhi: Professor Shad is a rare gem. He is a brilliant academician who speaks his mind based on facts and justification.

I have read the article in question and find nothing that is tantamount to breaching the peace. Every right-thinking Malaysian will stand by you, sir.

Welcoming racists and bigots into Harapan

Cogito Ergo Sum: In describing Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the “wiliest Malay political operative this country has had”, Malaysiakini columnist S Thayaparan has encapsulated the biggest fear that BN must be having: that Mahathir will outfox them at the very last and turn the tide for Harapan.

We do not know if Mahathir has any hidden agenda should Harapan win, but at this moment, a pragmatic politician would throw in his lot with Mahathir.

The main thing is to get new blood to turn this country around and take it back to the original designs that this nation’s forefathers had envisaged.

But what a Hobson’s choice that we as a people have painted ourselves into. Damned we do, damned if we don’t. Well said, Commodore.

Existential Turd: Malaysia is a runaway train on track to failed state status. The opposition’s remedy is to only change the train conductor, instead of changing track.

In fact, the frontrunner for the post of conductor from the opposition pack is the former conductor who put us on the wrong track in the first place. At best, we will reach the destination at a slower speed, but the same destination nevertheless.

DAP is only good as long as it stays in the opposition. Once it comes to power, as a component of the Harapan pack, it will be just another MCA.

DAP is almost a victim of its own success. It just does not know how to play a different role. Do not expect those in power to give you more than you demand.

Anonyxyz: DAP has been consistent on its objection to racism all along. It may have made the wrong move to empower PAS but it has demonstrated its stand by not collaborating when PAS introduced its hudud policy and by pushing PAS out of Pakatan Rakyat.

If Harapan is to win and oust BN which is now the main priority, surely it will not stay there if racists and bigots take over.

That, today, is DAP’s kingmaker role, not to become prime minister or control the country but to play the crucial role of protecting minorities rights.

All the minorities should place their trust in DAP. There is no other alternative, as MCA and MIC have been transformed into political eunuchs.

Fairplayer: If Mahathir is genuinely sorry about the current state of affairs in Malaysia, of which he was almost wholly responsible for, he will have to prove he can be trusted to reverse and rectify all the damage done through his unwise use of race and religion during his 22 years as prime minister.

My only fear of him returning to power is the possibility of him flip-flopping and playing Harapan out.

David Dass: Any just system must look after the poor whatever their race or religion. And this will also include the Malays.

It will also be a great loss for our nation if the most brilliant of our young are denied access to higher education and to civil service appointments because of their race or religion.

Many have left and many will leave. Other nations are only too happy to receive them. There must be clarity in the manifesto of the opposition as to these issues.

Mahathir was, unfortunately, the person responsible for the system that created the extremely polarised nation that we now have.

Hopefully he now realises that we must restore some balance. Some fairness. Some justice.

Just a Malaysian: Thayaparan, you have missed one very key deciding factor.

The rural masses, urban poor and lower middle-class are suffering. We can evaluate as much we want on differing political philosophies.

But the reality is that when you have to survive, when your children cannot get a job, when government aid dries up – you want change.

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