Engage rather than isolate

While Malaysians are still arguing themselves hoarse in the legal courts as well as the Court of opinion regarding the Perak issue, a potentially dangerous threat is rising  on the other side of East Asia.

North Korea has undertaken another nuclear test, and this time, the device was enough to wipe off a city equal to that of Hiroshima.

With its missile capabilities, North Korea now has the potential power of destroying cities in South Korea, Japan and China.

This single act has raised the tension in the region, and US and its allies would be hard pressed to deal with this.

We really do not know much about North Korea. even less about the leadership. What we know is mainly from the reports from the West, and those reports might be biased. BUt what if those reports are true?

What if North Korea, with its economy in tatters, decided to sell some of its arsenals to terrorist groups? What if these terrorist group decided to unleash the device in US or Europe?

What if North Korea decides to use its nuclear device against its South, even though they are their own blood brothers? ( already North Korea has warned of military action against the South today ..read this report )

On the other hand, when China exploded its first  nuclear device in the 60s, was it not considered the pariah/danger of the world then? Only when the world made an effort to understand CHina with Nixon’s visit to China in the early 70s, that the world at large realised that CHina was not likely to invade others, and that under Deng Xiao Ping, the country would concentrate more on building its economy and improving the standard of living of its people , more than anything else.

What path will North Korea follow?

It may depend on whether the world is willing to sit down and talk with its leaders , rather than sanction and threat of military action.

Engagement is always better than isolation..

The court of perception

I have written many posts on Perak issue and have spoken in meetings and private to numerous people, that there is only one sensible and logical solution:  Go Back to the people. 

I base this on the basic democratic principle that the ultimate boss in a democracy is the people. Judiciary cannot solve this political impasse without being perceived as partisan by one group or the other.

What has made the matter worst in the eyes of the public is the tough stand taken by certain government institution in charge of enforcement which should by right be non-partisan.

The latest action that has shocked many people is the arrest of some participants in connection with a hunger strike in Ipoh. Even though the latest news had it that all had been released, I thought a little bit more discretion would have been more prudent.

Uder Federal  Constitution Artile 10 (1) , there are 3 clauses, namely:

(a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression;

(b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms;

(c) all citizens have the right to form associations.

 

We must realise that the world is no longer like 20 or 30 years ago. Under the emergency ordinance, formulated during the time of the war against the communists half a century ago, any assembly more than 5 persons will be deemed illegal unless held with permission. This rule is long past its usefulness, and should have been abolished long long time ago.

In the modern world, peaceful expression or picketing, without disrupting peace , should be allowed.

We are not Myanmar.

Despite all the imperfections, we are still a country ostensibly ruled by law. If that is the case , there should be more discretion in using the power to arrest and detain.  By all means, watch over them, but if anyone wishes to go on hunger strike and the strike is not harming his life, he should be allowed to do so as a form of expressing his dislike.

Article 9 of the Universal declaration of Human Rights:

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile. 

Our new administration under the new PM has wanted to win the war of perception. But to win the perception , you must win the hearts of the people, not by sending a signal that strong arm tactic will be used if you do not obey.

The PM and his ministers can institute all the reforms they want but without respect to human rights and heeding the wish of the people in the case of Perak, all the efforts would come to  naught.