With just five years for the country to achieving the status of a mature democratic nation in 2020, former Bar Council president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan believes it can be done if changes are made now.
“There is hope if we can change now,” said Ambiga, when asked if Malaysia is on the right track to fostering and develop the nation into an ideal society, at par with the other developed countries in the world.
This vision is part of the nine strategic challenges envisioned by the former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who had outlined ‘Vision 2020’ in 1991.
“It can be done as we have the raw material -- the people are ready for it but there has to be a complete change right now.
According to Ambiga, Malaysians are generally more mature today than what it was before due to seamless access to information.
“Malaysians are more mature because we have access to information now than we ever had before. Malaysians are also ready to have bigger democratic space, but the government that is not ready.
“It is their right to raise issues -- whether they are emotions or factual – that concern them. It is the responsibility of the powers-that-be to respond to them with facts and not emotions,” she said.
Ambiga outlined several steps including a free and fair election.
"The problem now is the government is closing all the spaces because it does not want to be questioned. We should also fight corruption," Ambiga said in a phone interview with Astro AWANI, recently.
Change is paramount, said Ambiga as the current democratic space is narrowing.
“I think we are going backwards. Our institutions are severely compromised -- there is a lack of trust and confidence in our many purported democratic institutions like the elections, parliament, and police.
“The problem of our legislation is, it is getting more oppressive as compared to less oppressive and I’m talking about POTA and the Sedition Act. There is a narrowing democratic space. How can we ever become a mature democracy like this?" she said.
The social media, Ambiga added is an ideal space for people to share ideas and opinions which could eventually lead to real change.
“It (social media) is a good space. Some may not find it comfortable but that's what free speech is all about. You have the right to ignore what you don't like.
“Social media has made all the difference worldwide in elevating the rights of the ordinary people, to elevate information sharing among the people and to elevate people's thought process into a more mature one,” she said.
READ: #5Tahun2020: Malaysia is 'too young' to form Bangsa Malaysia - Ibrahim Ali
Syafique Shuib
Wed May 20 2015
Ambiga Sreenevasan calls for a bigger democratic space. - File Photo
SPRM tahan CEO syarikat pembekalan air, pemilik syarikat
Kedua-dua lelaki berusia 38 dan 35 tahun itu ditahan di pejabat SPRM Selangor kira-kira pukul 4 petang semalam bagi membantu siasatan.
Menteri Kabinet zahir penghargaan kepada warga pekerja
Hari Pekerja disambut pada 1 Mei setiap tahun bagi meraikan sumbangan warga pekerja dengan sambutan tahun ini yang bertemakan 'Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa'.
Bayi maut disyaki akibat didera, polis tahan empat individu
Polis menahan empat individu di sekitar sini yang disyaki terlibat dalam kes kematian seorang bayi perempuan berumur sembilan bulan di Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), dipercayai akibat didera, minggu lalu.
Rasuah RM3.3 juta: CEO syarikat air, pemilik syarikat ditahan
Ketua pegawai eksekutif syarikat pembekalan air dan seorang pemilik syarikat ditahan semalam berkaitan kes rasuah dan tuntutan palsu RM3.3 juta.
Sumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf sempena Aidilfitri
Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) menyumbang lebih RM16 juta kepada asnaf di Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Labuan sempena perayaan Aidilfitri tahun ini.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Maklum Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (hal ehwal agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, bantuan itu diagih sejak sebelum syawal berjumlah RM16.1 juta kepada 32,250 asnaf di ketiga-tiga wilayah yang mana RM500 diberikan kepada setiap seorang.
Keputusan rayuan Siti Bainun sabitan salah abai, aniaya Bella esok
Keputusan itu akan diputuskan Hakim, Datuk Noorin Badaruddin pada jam 10 pagi.
Sabah, Sarawak setuju pinda Ordinan Buruh
Kerajaan Sabah dan Sarawak kerana bersetuju untuk membuat pindaan ke atas Ordinan Buruh Sabah (Ordinan Cap.67) dan Sarawak (Ordinan Bab 76) bagi diselaraskan dengan Akta Kerja 1955 yang terpakai di Semenanjung Malaysia.
Laporan Bank Dunia: Sistem pendidikan didakwa ketinggalan, MASA gesa tindakan segera
Azril mencadangkan agar penelitian tuntas dan telus terhadap sistem pendidikan dilakukan segera terhadap beberapa perkara.
Apple dijangka tambah ciri AI pada Safari melalui iOS 18
Ciri kecerdasan buatan pada Safari kelak akan memudahkan beberapa proses pelayaran.
'Tiada kartel dalam Lembaga Maktab Mahmud'
Video yang ditularkan semula itu sudah disunting dan diubah suai daripada video sebenar serta tiada kakitangan yang diturunkan pangkat seperti yang dinyatakan.
#5Tahun2020: Rakyat sudah bersedia, kerajaan belum - Ambiga
Bekas Presiden Majlis Peguam Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan mahukan pilihan raya yang bebas dan ruang demokrasi yang besar agar rakyat bebas bersuara.
#5Tahun2020: 'Bangga saja tidak mencukupi, perlu ada tabiat hebat' - Anas Zubedy
Bagi Anas Zubedy, seseorang yang bebas mempunyai kuasa, kebolehan, dan mencari jalan untuk mencapai kejayaan dan tidak menyalahkan faktor luaran.
#5Tahun2020: Jangan 'bertuhankan' Bahasa Inggeris - Nik Safiah
Wawasan 2020 yang diilhamkan Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad pada tahun 1991 merupakan misi negara mencapai kecemerlangan dalam pelbagai bidang.