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Amid signs of progress, is Malaysian society in fact regressing?

While both the Minister and Deputy Minister of Education have clarified that students (including Muslim students) are not compelled to wear headscarfs (thus respecting one’s right of choice), the Inspector-General of Police is reported to have issued a directive that all policewomen will have to wear a tudung at official functions, said to be for the sake of uniformity, and, according to one report, also in recruitment and training centres. This is a regressive move.

If uniformity can be offered as a complete justification for compulsion and added deprivation of choice, then the same could be applied to the situations in schools, universities and other areas of life; in which event, instead of celebrating our richness in variety (which Malaysia openly and proudly does), we might as well be advocating singularity.

Having such a directive, even if accompanied by an assurance that its breach will not result in disciplinary action, or a qualification that it does not apply to non-Muslim officers, constitutes an unfair and unhelpful pressure being brought upon police personnel to comply all the same.

We urge that this directive be withdrawn altogether.

The present government has been commended, including by the Bar Council, for allowing greater space and a more healthy environment for the expression of views, including those on more intricate subjects such as race and religion, hence facilitating a slowly maturing society.

Such progress must not be halted, or worse still reversed, by the threat of punishment or sanction (wielding sedition or other outdated laws) on persons who are merely expressing their opinions, regardless of their learning or qualification, or the quality or appeal of their argument, or the subject matter they choose to address. Any opinion found wanting in substance can surely be countered by reasoned argument rather than penal threats.

Freedom of expression promotes better understanding in the long run. With better understanding comes mutual respect, acceptance and true harmony. Curbing such freedom will not prevent or remove misunderstanding and prejudice. On the contrary, it will entrench prejudices and cultivate hatred, and force these negative sentiments to go subterranean, gradually worsening in a state of suppressed silence.

We urge that the trend towards greater freedom be continued.

The present administration has shown that it is prepared to investigate and admit shortcoming in the system, and not to sweep problems under the carpet. A heartening example is the Prime Minister’s commitment to set up an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). This commitment has the strong support of the Malaysian Bar and the Malaysian public in general. Its implementation will prove to be the most significant measure in the nation’s effort to restore the credibility of the police force, and in turn maintain that of the government’s.

As the Police Commission has poignantly pointed out, there is an urgent need for a change in mindset. The lingering resistance, on the part of the police and some politicians, to the formation of the IPCMC shows the resistance to change, and the lack of improvement in mindset. This makes the implementation of the recommendations of the Police Commission all the more compelling and pressing.

Change is never easy. Change causes discomfort. We urge the Government to implement the changes that the vast majority of Malaysians know in their hearts must take place, so that the despair in their eyes may be replaced with hope.

In short, we urge progress, because Malaysians deserve progress.

Yeo Yang Poh
Chairman
Bar Council

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