BY: LYNDY NG

When he resigned as prime minister, during his second tenure, one of the first statements erstwhile prime minister Mahathir Mohammad issued was that “Malaysia undeniably has become a police state.”

Coming from the man who had so many years been governing as the paramount leader of this country, it goes to show that all is not right in this country and there really needs to be real reforms and not the mere slogan chanting of Anwar.

There is a culture of fear that is prevalent in this country, people are understandably scared over the erosion of their human rights and the emergence of Malay racists groups, Islamic extremists and other lunatic fringe groups.

These are not the ordinary, usual times, where business and everyday life goes on as usual, but deep, dark, sinister days where there is obviously and admittedly severe oppression of the minority races in this country.

But there is a silver lining in every cloud and though they are being persecuted and oppressed, the minority races have become stronger and more resilient and have developed a powerful capacity to thrive amidst adversity.

In contrast, despite the bullying and oppression wrecked by extremists forces and groups in this country, the Malay Muslim community is in sixes and sevens and unable to find their way through the maze of their own deceit.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher