KUCHING, May 20: An open letter addressed to the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government from lawyer and activist Siti Kasim has gone viral on social media.
The letter which was posted on her Facebook page on May 13 pulled no punches in reminding the new government that they had been given a mandate by the rakyat to serve the people and that there was much at stake.
“We did not elect you to squabble over posts and spoils of war. We want a reformed nation. Not the same politicking and sharing of spoils amongst politicians. We do not care which party you came from,” said Siti.
She identified three immediate and present dangers — economic malfeasance , a “corrupt, racialist religiously-bigoted civil administrative system” and an “ineffective…religious-centric education system” — which the nation is facing.
“Let’s be honest in our euphoria of victory that the work ahead is difficult. To be honest, the economic problems, intractable as it looks, is the easiest to solve. That I have full trust in Tun (Dr Mahathir Mohamed), his brilliantly assembled Council and newly minted Minister of Finance (Lim Guang Eng).
“The other two challenges could very well be almost impossible but if not solved will mean the utter destruction of our beloved nation.”
Siti acknowledged it would take ‘great political will’ to make tough decisions needed to bring about reforms. The three areas she highlighted as the clear separation of religion and government, the removal of religious education and proselytising from the public arena and the need for education to emphasise education and not indoctrination.
“Do we want our nation to be another failed Muslim majority country as everyone of them is, or do we want to pioneer one that is a model Malaysia — developed, wealthy, technologically superior multi-ethnic multi-religious nation fair to all?
“We, the Malaysian rakyat will be watching and we will be calling you (PH government) to account throughout your term. Mark my word, we and I are only starting.”
Siti is a prominent advocate for Orang Asli rights and also a vocal critic of hudud. She has drawn both bouquets and brickbats for her views and has been targeted by religious groups for defending the rights of the LGBT community.
So far her post has been shared over 1,200 times on Facebook as well as widely circulated via other social media platforms such as WhatsApp.
The full text of the post is reproduced below:
AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR ELECTED NEW GOVERNMENT PUBLIC SERVANTS
Dear PH elected public servants,
We, the rakyat, elected a coalition called Pakatan Harapan under a single banner led by a 92 year old statesman whom we have, at least, the most trust for to save this nation. This is a MALAYSIAN mandate. Do not forget that. You are all public servants. SERVE.
We did not elect you to squabble over posts and spoils of war. We want a reformed nation. Not the same politicking and sharing of spoils amongst politicians. We do not care which party you came from.
The nation faces 3 immediate and present dangers:
1. We have an economic catastrophe waiting to happen due to economic malfeasance over the last decade – financed by debt.
2. We have a corrupt, racialist religiously-bigoted civil administrative system to be dismantled and replaced.
3. We have today an ineffective education but instead a religious-centric education system that has been the source of extremist indoctrination of Malay-Muslim youths and populace over the last 2 decades at least. The result being, Malaysia is per capita the largest exporter of terrorist Islamic fighters in the world and sympathisers. And a large unemployable pool of graduates as product of our failed system.
Lets be honest in our euphoria of victory that the work ahead is difficult. To be honest, the economic problems, intractable as it looks, is the easiest to solve. That I have full trust in Tun, his brilliantly assembled Council and newly minted Minister of Finance.
The other two challenges could very well be almost impossible but if not solved will mean the utter destruction of our beloved nation.
It will take great political-will from your leadership to make hard decisions to drag some of you, not to mention the mostly entitled ketuanan bangsa and ugama Malay-Muslim populace kicking and screaming towards reforms.
1. We need clear separation of religion and government. Government and public funds must stay out from the business of religion and religious morality.
2. We need to take out religious education and proselytising from the public arena. Religion must be a private matter and kept private.
3. Our education must emphasise education not indoctrination. There is no such thing as religious education, only indoctrination. The nation’s future rests in its populace being science and technology passionate.
In conclusion, as I had mentioned before, by 2050, seven of 10 Malaysians will be Muslims. We do not reform at our peril. Do we want our nation to be another failed Muslim majority country as everyone of them is, or do we want to pioneer one that is a model Malaysia – developed, wealthy, technologically superior multi-ethnic multi-religious nation fair to all.
We, the Malaysian rakyat will be watching and we will be calling you to account throughout your term. Mark my word, we and I are only starting.
We wish you all the best and before I forget – congratulations.
Siti Kasim
A Malaysian
— DayakDaily
