COMMENT | Don't slam Tony Pua, slam the Deep State

COMMENT | I salute DAP's Damansara MP Tony Pua for suggesting that we consider our political options, including that of working with the desperado Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to implement political reforms.

I salute him not because I like his idea but because this is what grown-up democratic participation is about.

Too often, we moan that we feel powerless about what’s happening “up there”. But when a senior MP opens up a chance to give input, too many of us resort to angry, childish shouting, betraying our lack of maturity. This will discourage leaders from ever again offering us a chance to discuss decisions.

It was really disappointing to see many Pakatan Harapan supporters abusing Pua online, with some even suggesting he had been bought over with “durians”. How quickly had his years of good work been forgotten.

Even DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang himself was condemned by many Chinese for so-called “selling out” in 2019. His “crime” was to suggest that we should be open to learning three pages of Jawi-khat.

Have we become the fickle crowd at the Roman Coliseum, ready to scream for lions to devour gladiators at the slightest deviation from orthodox views? Is this what we have become? Are we an angry mob ready to stab friends just for daring to think outside the box?

Luckily, not all of us are...