From:
Date: 28 Nov 1999
Time: 06:17:44
[kini-malaysia] Open Letter to All Malaysia Voters
Open Letter to All Malaysia Voters
Political parties and non governmental organisations who have signed this open letter wish to express their regret at the attitude of the Barisan Nasional, and the mass media under their control, which have deliberately preyed on the racial sentiment of the people in order to gain support from the voters.
The central issue in this 10th General Election is not about the forming of an Islamic state, Malay Power (Ketuanan Melayu), or a Malaysian Malaysia. The central issues confronting the voters are the usurpation and concentration of power and wealth in the hands of one leader and his cronies (resulting in) the abuse of power in polities, administration, legislative and judiciary, economy and finance by a handful of Barisan Nasional leaders who are authoritarian, greedy and unscrupulous.
The abuse of power by these few political leaders have resulted in the negative perception and mistrust of the public towards all important government institutions; for example the Judiciary, the Office of the Attorney General, the Police Force, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Election Commission, and the mass media. In fact, this negative attitude presented by these leaders have begun to permeate, influence and effect the attitude of the Malaysian people towards accepting and acquiescing to a culture of tyranny, abandoning moral considerations and values, and becoming inclined towards the blind adulation of power and wealth.
The abuse of power is the central issue confronting the Malaysian people in this election. The Barisan Alternatif and the non-governmental organizations who are concerned have focused their efforts towards good governance, human rights, social justice, fair and equitable distribution of wealth for all, and the inculcation of moral values and the building good character for the society. These are central issues the voters should pay close attention to.
The Barisan Alternatif has made the building of a just society as its aim. It is a noble and worthwhile goal as stated in the joined manifesto.
The Barisan Alternatif and the non-governmental organisations demand that the Barisan National and the mass media which they control should instead focus on these above stated issues which are important to the voters and stop from intentionally trying to divert the Malaysian people's attention away from these important issues using sensationalised, fabricated lies and false accusations, concocted and manipulated by certain persons or groups because of their own political interest.
The Barisan Alternatif and the non-governmental organisations regard this manipulation of racial sentiment in order to get support from the voters as a dirty tactic which is totally irresponsible, resorted to only by persons who have no ideas and no morals at all. Dirty politics, devoid of moral values, is detrimental and will threaten the safety and stability of the nation.
This open letter is supported by the following organizations.
1. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 2. Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM) 3. Barisan Bertindak Mahasiswa 4. Gabungan Mahasiswa Islam Semenanjung 5. Gerakan Demokratik Belia dan Pelajar Malaysia. 6. Ikatan Pelajar Islam Pahang 7. International Movement for a Just World. 8. Jemaah Islah Malaysia (JIM) 9. Kelab Pembimbingan Insan Terengganu 10. Kelab Rakan Siswa Islah Malaysia (Karisma) 11. Kesatuan Pelajar Islam Melaka 12. Kesatuan Pelajar-Pelajar Islam Johor 13. Kesatuan Pelajar-Pelajar Islam Perak 14. Labour Resource Centre 15. Majlis Pelajar Malaysia 16. Parti Islam SeMalayisa (PAS) 17. Parti Keadilan Nasional (KeADILan) 18. Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) 19. Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) 20. Persatuan Kebajikan Pelajar Islam Sarawak 21. Persatuan Kebajikan Pelajar Islam Wilayah Persekutuan dan Selangor 22. Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar-Pelajar Islam Malaysia (PKPIM) 23. Persatuan Pembimbing Pelajar Islam Kelantan 24. Persatuan Pembimbing Pelajar Islam Pulau Pinang 25. Persatuan Pendidikan Pelajar Islam Negeri Sembilan 26. Sekretariat Pelajar Persatuan Ulama Malaysia 27. Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth
Sent by: Raja Petra Kamarudin (Barisan Alternatif)