PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim has applauded constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari for speaking out “about the rotten state of the rule of law and democracy” in Malaysia.

In a reply by text-message, he described Abdul Aziz as “a well respected academic and a courageous one”.

Zaid, a former Umno strongman who crossed to PKR, expressed hope that many will come forward and be unafraid to speak out for the sake of the country.

“Nothing will change unless those who know rise up to expose the vermin (that are) eating and destroying our national institutions and democratic values,” said Zaid (right), once the de facto law minister.

Last Sunday, Malaysiakini reported Abdul Aziz’s comments that likened the current state of ‘lawlessness’ in Malaysia to that in Zimbabwe.

When contacted, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng echoed many of the concerns expressed by Abdul Aziz.

In particular, he said Umno should not regard governance of the country as its birth-right, but realise that it is the people who have given it the mandate to lead.

“The government is like the board of directors (of a company). The public are the shareholders who can kick out the directors or sack them at will,” said Khoo.

Cautioning BN not to use public funds “as if this belongs to them”, he urged the ruling coalition to hold dialogues with the people before initiating gigantic projects such as Port Klang Free Zone.

Commenting on the way funds are disbursed to states held by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, Khoo said it is “not healthy for the federal government to act on its own whims and fancies”.

For instance, it is “totally crazy and against the law” for BN to withhold oil royalty from Kelantan.

The money has been converted to a ‘compassionate fund’ disbursed through the Federal Development Department, which channels the money to federal agencies in the states affected.

Institutionalised bullying

Khoo also alluded to imbalances in governance, with the executive able to strong-arm the judiciary and legislature with impunity.

He expressed no surprise over the claim that the BN violates the constitution, noting that there have been many instances where the federal government has bypassed the supreme law in making decisions.

Khoo (left) also said the government has back-tracked on its pledges, citing how it has reneged on the 1989 peace agreement with the Communist Party of Malaya.

Universiti Malaya social sciences lecturer Noor Sulastry Ahmad acknowledged the situation.

“This is political hegemony. Most politicians, especially from the ruling coalition manipulate and use (various) institutions to ensure the status quo and to maintain their grip on power,” she said.

As a case in point, she referred to the sacking of Salleh Abas as Lord President in 1988, which effectively brought judicial independence to an end.

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