PETALING JAYA (May 4): Malaysians should never resort to "extra-legal" ways to bring about change even if they are non-violent, former Prime Minister Dr Tun Mahathir Mohamad said today.
Reminding Malaysians to be bound by the Constitution, he said that the rule of law must be upheld at all times.
"We may change the law as provided for by the Constitution. We may even change the Constitution if there is a need to.
"But we must not resort to extra-legal ways even though they may be non-violent. Nor should anyone take advantage of the reluctance of subordinates to refuse your demands," he said.
Mahathir's comments were posted in his blog,www.chedet.com in response to a speech by Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah which was delivered mid last month.
He said that Raja Nazrin's speech was a timely reminder for all that Malaysia is a parliamentary and constitutional democracy which keeps all elements of power in the country in check.
"No one, but no one should for any reason think that absolute power rests with them, and that parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy can be ignored," he said in his post.
He held that no one should take advantage of the situation to bring about change in a non-constitutional manner simply because the government of the day was weak.
"Democracy is not perfect. It may result in weak or incompetent governments. But democracy provides for changes in leadership. It may be through scheduled elections, it may also be through voluntary resignations. But no one should bypass the law and assume power simply because the elected Government is weak or incompetent," Mahathir said.
Once power is seized, there will be no stability
He pointed to developments around the world today where citizens staged mass protests to overthrow the government, generals seized power to overthrow weak governments, politicians abused their powers and even the monarchy had taken control and carried out unconstitutional rule.
He added that when power is seized and when overthrowing the government of the day was a possibility there will be "no stability and anarchy may be the result".
"When the constitution is ignored and power is seized by anyone, sooner or later, the people will show resentment. This may lead to violence. Once violence is resorted to, it will not stop.
"And we have seen how demos and violence can overthrow Government whether elected or otherwise. Once such an overthrow is shown to be possible, resort to it will be made even for flimsy reasons.
"There will be no stability and anarchy may be the result. We are seeing this happen before our very eyes right now," he said.
He added that those in power must always remember that power given to them is not for "personal aggrandisement but for the performance of the duties for which they hold their positions".
FZ
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