Friday, August 30, 2019

Best political statement 2019 (14)

Malaysiakini:

After PM reveals his hardest task, Zaid issues 'Trump' warning


As far as politicians are concerned, decisions on issues concerning race and religion are based on practical considerations to ensure their positions are not threatened.
Agreeing that being practical is essential for a politician, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, however, stressed that core principles must not be sacrificed.
“Otherwise, you are [US President] Donald Trump. You become a destroyer, not a creator of peace and stability,” he told Malaysiakini this afternoon.
“We are a nation struggling to have an identity and seeking unity. Strong principled leaders are required,” he added.
He was commenting on a Merdeka video featuring Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in which the latter stated that managing racial sensitivities is the most difficult part of his job.
Zaid said he can understand the 94-year-old leader's predicament with regard to leading a multiracial and multireligious nation.
“We know that some groups manufacture outrage to justify their actions,” he added.
According to Zaid, it would be useful if the nation's leaders objectively determine what are the permissible limits for Malaysians, especially the minorities, to say or do things as citizens.
“Unless we recognise and agree on what they can do, we will always be subject to the whims of the majority.
“A responsible government protects minorities with equal vigour as they protect the majority,” added the DAP member.
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I deem Zaid Ibrahim's statement (above and reproduced below) as the BEST political statement thus far for 2019:
“A responsible government protects minorities with equal vigour as they protect the majority”

Kaytee has had the privilege of hearing such a similar statement before, when I was studying in the UK - A good democracy protects its minorities with the same vigour, if not more, as it protects the majority of its citizens. Well said Zaid.

Best political statement (2019) series:
(1) BEST political statement 2019 (1).
(2) BEST political statement 2019 (2).
(3) BEST political statement 2019 (3).
(4) BEST political statement 2019 (4).
(5) BEST political statement 2019 (5).
(6) BEST political statement 2019 (6).
(7) BEST political statement 2019 (7).
(8) BEST political statement 2019 (8).
(9) BEST political statement 2019 (9).
(10) BEST political statement 2019 (10).
(11) BEST political statement 2019 (11).
(12) BEST political statement 2019 (12).
(13) Best political statement 2019 (13).








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