Malaysia is at present grappling with the twin terrors

of sham justice and sham democracy. Corruption, bribery

and crime are rampant in the country. The government is
proving to be very untrustworthy and the police are more
interested in playing politics than going after the rising
crime rate.

The power grab in Perak was undemocratic and amounted to

an act of robbery that was committed in broad daylight.
The police acted as the bodyguards and henchmen while
the media acted as the cheerleaders. There was absolutely
no shame or guilt felt and it was described as part and
parcel of the workings of a democratic system.

It was sham democracy at work. With the police, the right-

wing groups, the pro-BN media and others in full support,
the power grab was hence judged to be legitimate. That could
only be sham democracy at work.

There is an element of truth in the opposition's claim that

the government has the judiciary in its hand. That has always
been the case in this country. The NST issue of May 16 2008
clearly showed who was responsible for controlling the nation's
judiciary. Judges could be dropped, promoted or favoured by
virtue of their relationships or ties to important VIPs alone.

Meanwhile, the crime rate is going up and up and criminals

are getting bolder and bolder. The violence used has also
gone up by several notches. Robberies, killings, kidnappings
are rampant mainly because the police are too busy catching
minority politicians and conscientious objectors and have no
time patrolling the streets to ward off potential criminals.

In our residential area, gangs of youths ride around on bikes

roaring here and there especially in the early hours and no
policeman is in sight at all despite the fact that the police
station is less than a km away. The police here could not be
bothered unless and until a dead body or two has been found.

Even in the evenings there are groups of youths riding around

like there's no government in place and they are free to do as
they pleased. No wonder crime is so bad in the country these
days. The police are off catching more valuable fish.

Also, the police are now opening fire a la the Wild Wild West
whenever they corner a suspect or two after an alleged crime
was said to have been committed. The reason given is providing
'self-defence' in the line of duty. In a recent kidnapping case
the victim was lucky to have avoided the fusillade of bullets.
The kidnappers had gotten out of the car when it was cornered.
Had they been still inside, all would have gotten killed.

The typical case of instant justice. Or justice on the spot.

Or sham justice. Just wham, bang, bang and a day's work is over.

Thus we have sham democracy and sham justice at work in this

country and to think we moan about other countries like Myanmar.
Minority opposition politicians are ushered into police cells
at the slightest movement and alleged criminals are trucked
into the mortuary all in a day's work and we worry about Myanmar.

Myanmar at least harbours no pretence about democracy, knowing

full well that it is a poison pill right now. The country has
a deadly thorn stuck somewhere down its throat but is forbidden
by 'others' not to remove it. If the deadly thorn ever succeeds
in its intended purpose, the country would be open to unmitigated
plunder by giant hands belonging to pale-skinned giants well
known for their past mercilessly unsatiable appetites.

Democracy ? Hogwash more likely. It's all about riches and the
national interests. Ask the Iraqi people about the truth of it
all. The same over here. Sham democracy and sham justice. Are
we smelling any sweeter than Myanmar ??? Definitely not. No, no.