It is called a coup d’état in most parts of the world, whereas in Malaysia, it is a coup de dedak. Those in commanding positions are too cushy, too happy and too content with dedak (animal feed). Why would they bite the hand that feeds them?
There are many parallels between Malaysia and Turkey. Both are Muslim majority nations. Both have leaders who were ‘elected’ through democratic means. Both leaders are alleged to reward their cronies and family members with plush jobs and positions. Both leaders are divisive.
Both countries have relatively sound economies. Both countries are vital to the west in the fight against Islamic terrorism. Both countries have founding fathers who said their respective nations were secular; the Turkish army claims that it is the protector of secularism and would act to defend Turkey against Islamist forces.
Despite the Tunku’s wish for a secular Malaysia, few Malaysians would dare to put their heads above the parapet and defend this secularism.
As a result of the botched coup in Turkey, President Recep Erdogan has vowed to punish severely the people who opposed his rule, and may reinstate the death penalty for the opposition forces he has accused of treason.
In Malaysia, ‘The Chosen One’ is both a compassionate and understanding leader. He hurriedly pushed through the National Security Council (NSC) Bill to pave the way for a possible clampdown on his detractors.
In Turkey, Erdogan’s rival, the preacher Fethullah Gulen, in exile in America, has accused the Turkish president of staging the coup so that he could generate more sympathy for him and his party, and more importantly so that he could swiftly round up his opponents and further tighten the screws on civil rights and democracy.
If the world thinks that Turkey’s democracy sucks, they would be horrified to know that our democracy is worse. We appear content, and visitors to Malaysia see a functioning country, a prosperous nation, the Twin Towers, the highways and the malls. Few are inclined to scratch beneath the surface to find that all is not well.
Many people have a roof over their heads; even a low-cost roof is better than no roof at all. So, why would anyone risk what little they have, for that ideal which means very little to them? Democracy.
If you earn below RM2,000 per month, you are entitled to Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M). Why risk this by demanding change, and not knowing if the proposed change will bring an end to more handouts?
If you are non-Malay, why demand better rights and justice, when your life could be made more miserable than it already is? Why invite taunts like, “go back to your motherland”, even though you were born in Malaysia, and this is home?
If you are Malay, why rally against the system that rewards you with small-time business schemes to become an entrepreneur? If you are privileged, why rock the boat, which will reward you with multi-million ringgit contracts on the strength of your ‘cable’ to the top?
M’sians should heed the advice of Aristotle?
If you’re a woman, why not just follow orders and stifle your ambition to be a beauty queen, gymnast or model? The Islamists want to fast-track you to heaven with their version of your life on earth, including imposing a dress code and rules on your behaviour. Malaysians should heed the advice of Aristotle, who said: “Tolerance of evil can itself be an evil”.
The Islamist agenda is increasing in Turkey. Erdogan has imposed alcohol-free zones in Istanbul and almost made adultery a crime. Only the ignorant will think that this is not already happening in Malaysia. Until recently, the headscarf was banned in Turkish state institutions, but in Malaysia, the headscarf and female clothes are used against women, to make them submit to the will of conservative Muslims.
In his book, ‘Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia’, Dr Kua Kia Soong alleges that military bigwigs are rewarded with directorships and lucrative arms contracts upon retirement. Why would our generals stage a coup and risk losing their retirement dream?
What is the real reason for the disappearance of the jet engines from the Sungai Besi base? Who were the true culprits in the multimillion ringgit corruption scandal at the Lumut naval base? Kevin Morais was allegedly working on a corruption scandal in the armed forces at the time of his death.
Despite the similarities, there are stark differences between Turkey and Malaysia. Erdogan did not have an iron grip on institutions like the army, the judiciary and the media. Journalists have been jailed, murdered or disappeared, but in Malaysia, our journalists have been ‘tamed’.
After the Turkish coup, army personnel have been arrested, and 2,647 judges have been sacked. It is ironic that despite wanting to control the media, Erdogan was ‘saved’ when he used social media on FaceTime TV, to urge his supporters to go out into the streets and ‘defend’ democracy.
Would Malaysians heed The Chosen One’s plea to hit the streets to defend his democracy? Comparatively few people bothered to support Bersih, which advocates fair, clean and free elections.
If ‘The Chosen One’ were to act like Erdogan, only the volatile Umno Baru Youth, the red-shirts and PAS, his new supporters, would acquiesce.
So, would a coup happen in Malaysia? The simple answer is “No!”
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.
