The 3rd Way- No Thank you!

let's blow up this democracy!

I have been uneasy these few days. A few ex servicemen whom I met and some UMNO grassroots leaders appear despondent. Being so used to tried and tested government the last 50 over years render them timid souls to face the unknown. The future under PKR with Herr Anwar as the new Fuhrer, is a great unknown.

The solution which they offer as panacea for their pessimism is what bothers me. The ex servicemen volunteered that perhaps its best if the army takes over. The UMNO chaps concurred- saying that would be better than losing power. Then, some comments in my blog suggesting the same, gives me the impression, this idea of rule by military is gaining ground?.

What? Government by the army? Military dictatorship?

I sincerely hope we shall never have to go that way. Malaysia is a democracy and must remain that forever. We compete in the realm of ideas and convictions and not in terms of clashing of brute force.

Even more worrying is what these casual talks represent. To me, it can lead to a conclusion that, really, after 51 years of independence, we have not imbued a democratic culture.

We have on the other hand, instilled an idea of a false democracy made possible, sustainable and succoured only by the rule of an elite group. This idea of an elite democracy reaches its high point, sad to say, under the vacillating rule of Pak Lah and Dato Najib.

That is, thus far, the concept of democracy as understood by the masses, is that variety parlayed and drummed in by the elite in this country. Then, UNLESS the rule over this country is forever vested in the hands of the current elite, people are doomed.

Therefore the comfortable alternative, if power cannot be retained by the elite, is military rule. This kind of talk, even casual one, must be, as they say in military parlance, be terminated with extreme prejudice!