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Free Malaysia Today
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PKR must remember its beginnings
From Mahathir Rais PKR is no longer shouting from the sidelines. Today, it holds power at the heart of the government and with it the burden to deliver. With new leaders in place, the time to regroup has passed. What lies ahead is the real test. Can PKR earn back the trust of the people who once believed in its fight for justice and reform? This is no longer about saving a party. It is about proving that the party still matters to the nation. The party's internal elections are over and new faces have stepped up. But holding a title/position is one thing. Earning public respect is another. The political landscape today has changed. People are tired. The cost of living is rising. Promises made before the election still feel far from reality. So the real question is this: can PKR rise to the occasion to win back the people's trust and show that reforms are still alive, not just in name, but in action? Beyond meetings and speeches, the real work is out there. Go to the ground. Talk to the people. Listen without any filters. Many feel disappointed. They feel that what was once a party of the people has grown distant. If PKR wants to rebuild, it must return to where it began. That is where the soul of the party was born, and that is where it must be reborn. The 15th general election was a warning. PKR lost several important seats to PAS. That result did not come out of nowhere. It was a sign that something was wrong. Reclaiming those seats is not just about counting votes. It is about showing real ideas and plans that speak to daily life. Malaysians no longer want slogans. They want something they can believe in. Yes, the shift from opposition to government is hard. There are systems and barriers. But the rakyat do not want excuses. They want honesty. They want leaders to admit where things went wrong, explain what can still be done, and deliver on what was promised. One thing stood out from the party election — big names, including some ministers, were voted out. That is not a crisis; it's a sign that democracy still lives within PKR. People in the party are not afraid to choose change. That should be celebrated, not feared. Reform must begin from within. Of course, there are always whispers about money politics, favouritism, nepotism and abuse of power. These things damage trust. But they also serve as a reminder that power is not a prize. It is a responsibility. It does not last forever and can be taken back. The rakyat gave this mandate, and they are watching closely. Even so, there is reason to hope. PKR is not short of future leaders. Young, capable individuals from across the country are ready to serve. The question is whether space will be given to them. The party has talent. What it needs now is trust and direction. New voices must be heard, and old ways must be questioned. More than anything, PKR must remember its roots. This party was not born in comfort but from the depths of struggle. It was carried by the voices of ordinary people who refused to give up. If that memory fades, everything will be lost. We have seen what happens when parties forget the people. They lose their way and, eventually, they lose everything. This is the Anwar Ibrahim era. But no single name can carry a cause forever. If this era is to mean something, it must deliver change that people can feel and see. That was the promise. That is the challenge. The road ahead is not easy. But it never was. The real question now is simple: do PKR's leaders still remember why they began this journey? If they do, the people may still be willing to walk with them. Mahathir Rais is the former secretary of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional's federal territories chapters. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
Free Malaysia Today
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Freedom without privacy is no freedom at all
From Mahathir Rais A culture that glorifies invading privacy is not progress. It is decay masquerading as vigilance. Social media was created to connect us, yet it has bred a culture where people's personal data, private income, private lives, and even personal choices are treated as public property. Today, we face the real consequences of this shift. It is no longer rare to see personal information leaked, reputations destroyed overnight, and baseless allegations spread faster than truth can catch up. In the race for attention and influence, the basic human right to privacy has often become the first casualty. Privacy is not a privilege. It is the foundation of dignity, freedom, and peace of mind. Without it, we invite fear into our daily lives, fear that anything we say, do, or even think can be weaponised against us. Liberty is hollow without the protection of privacy. In a digital world, safeguarding privacy is not a secondary concern. It is essential for our safety, our stability, and the public's trust in the nation. Recent incidents have shown how fragile these protections have become. Some social media figures, driven by the pursuit of followers and fame, have weaponised private information, dragging even national institutions into controversy. Content that provokes racial, religious, or royal tensions is not free speech. It is a threat to the foundations of our society. No individual, no matter how influential, has the right to position themselves as judge and executioner in the court of public opinion. No citizen is entitled to reveal another person's private life as a tool of intimidation. The law must be the line that holds, even when social media storms rage. The reckless exposure of private lives does more than harm individuals. It erodes social trust, damages Malaysia's reputation globally, and weakens investor and public confidence. True national stability depends as much on respecting individual rights as it does on political governance. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has made commendable efforts to act when abuses occur. But enforcement alone is not enough. Malaysia's existing Personal Data Protection Act 2010 mainly regulates how businesses handle personal information. However, it does not fully protect individuals when private data is exposed, leaked, or abused between citizens, especially on social media. What we truly need is a full Privacy Act that criminalises the misuse of private information by any party. Privacy protection must go beyond businesses. It must defend every individual's right to live without fear of being violated or harassed in a digital world. We urgently need a dedicated Privacy Act that makes it unmistakably clear: violations of personal privacy are serious crimes, and perpetrators will face real and serious consequences. Those who irresponsibly incite issues involving race, religion, and royalty, or who misuse private information to harass, intimidate, or damage reputations must be held accountable. Stronger enforcement is not about restricting freedom of speech. It is about defending society against the toxic effects of slander, harassment, and misinformation. Nations that value their people, from Europe to parts of the US, have already moved forward with strong privacy protections. They understand that safeguarding personal dignity strengthens democracy. We must not fall behind. Communications minister Fahmi Fadzil has proven his dedication to strengthening digital responsibility. Now, that spirit must be translated into a firm legal framework that closes gaps, removes ambiguity, and protects citizens from digital harm. Freedom without responsibility is not freedom. Openness without respect is not progress. A mature democracy is one where speech is free, but boundaries that protect dignity and truth are firmly upheld. Protecting privacy is not about silencing voices. It is about ensuring that no one lives in fear of being dragged into public humiliation or harm. Freedom must walk hand in hand with responsibility. Malaysia must act now. If we move decisively, we can build a safer, healthier digital culture, where dignity is preserved, trust is strengthened, and freedom remains meaningful. Because when we protect privacy, we are not just defending individuals. We are defending the future of a society worth believing in. Mahathir Rais is the former secretary of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional's federal territories chapters. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.
