28 March, 2024

Blog

20A Vote Once Again Proved: Muslim Political Opportunists Are Up For Sale! Shameful!

By As-Sauthul Mazlum

As-Sauthul Mazlum

“The most useful thing about a principle is that it can always be sacrificed to expediency.” ~ W. Somerset Maugham

It was the history of deceit and shamelessness in the repeat. When the 20th Amendment was put to a Vote in the Parliament recently, Eastern based political opportunists bearing Muslim names became turncoats and sold themselves to the Rajapaksas  presumably for proverbial ‘thirty pieces of silver’ by voting in favour, allowing the brothers to rule Sri Lanka with an iron fist. It was however not the first time that these political scumbags acted against public interest as it happened during the passage of the equally toxic 18th Amendment too. What will be the quid pro quo they were promised is anyone’s guess; at least they will be answerable to the God Almighty for their treachery. One thing was however clear: it was time for the Muslim community to call out them for who they are and shun them like a plague: as they continue to sell the dignity of the community, pretending to represent Muslim interests.   

The SLMC in 2010 supported the 18th Amendment to Sri Lanka’s Constitution that lifted the two-term limit on the  Presidency. When the 18th amendment was being formulated, Rauff Hakeem reportedly had a meeting with President Rajapaksa in Kandy. The one to one meeting ended on a positive note. Rauff Hakeem returned to Colombo and after consulting party stalwarts and well-wishers convened the meeting of the High command. After much discussion and debate the High Command resolved unanimously that the party would support the proposed amendment from opposition ranks. This the Muslim Congress did and the 18th Amendment was passed. Soon afterwards the SLMC joined the Government as a party in its entirety. Rauff Hakeem became Justice minister.

In particular, the capitulation of the SLMC, which ultimately granted the Rajapaksas the two third majority to make the Amendment possible, presents a clear example of the failure of minority of parties to engage in any meaningful, principled opposition politics. At the time, the SLMC’s rationale for crossing over was explained as an exercise in pragmatism: without being in power, they were unable to respond to the demands of their constituents. The then response of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was better. Though the party was engaged in a process of reflection and debate on its role in the post-LTTE political context and was inclined to withdraw from the debate on an issue that it was argued by some was a matter that did not affect them directly, it did oppose the Amendment. The speech delivered by Mr Sumanthiran M.P. contained probably the most powerful critique of the Amendment. Even during the 20th Amendment vote, the Tamil politicians took a principled stand. 

Then in 2014, in a major setback to Mahinda Rajapaksa ahead of the January 8 polls, Hakeem’s party cunningly quit his government and pledged support to the opposition camp led by challenger Maithripala Sirisena and the rest was history.  At the time of their crossover, Hakeem said in a tongue in a cheek fashion, ‘We are guilty of compliance, and want to redress that” explaining his party’s disillusionment with the statute that enables the executive President to use wide-ranging powers. However, after a decade, his MPs along with another one from ACMC (and 2 SJB members Diana Gamage and Arvind Kumar)  voted for the 20th Amendment visibly for material benefits, thus letting down the people who voted for them and petty political gain. It is interesting that Rauf Hakeem wrote a book on Muslims titled ‘We are a part; not Apart’. However months later, his party ripped apart the dignity of the Muslims! 

Thus, Sri Lanka’s political pendulum decisively swung toward a strong, centralized state in the grip of an executive president with sweeping authoritarian powers, fulfilling a goal of the Rajapaksas, Their (slavish) allies argued that an all-powerful executive echoed the political mood in the country, but it was a fact that the brothers tapped into an ultranationalist, majoritarian sentiment to win two decisive electoral victories in December ‘19 and August ’20. With the passage of the draconian 20th Amendment, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is being  re-enthroned with unbridled powers of a monarch and the electorate cannot complain, for they voluntarily invited the disaster.  In passing the new amendment , the Government (along with this band of Opposition renegades who voted with it) has eagerly given the President a blank cheque to do what he wants. 

As the columnist Malinda Seneviratne once warned: “History has shown time and again that tyrants have come to power democratically and ‘nice people’ have ended up abusing trust and position” The columnist Malinda Seneviratne warns: “History has shown time and again that tyrants have come to power democratically and ‘nice people’ have ended up abusing trust and position”.  He adds: “Forget names and faces. Let’s concentrate on the wording. Let’s imagine the unimaginable. It is far better to assess the worth of any particular amendment by imagining that the benefits accrue to the politician you dislike most”. 

The proposed amendment generated a heated debate in the public domain , led by liberal and progressive-minded academics, Maha Siangha, legal experts and civil society activists ,who expressed alarm at the country regressing into a virtual dictatorship regime. However, the amendment received the green light from the Supreme Court before being placed for Parliamentary approval. In fact, Parliament’s makeup also favoured the Rajapakses with previous amendments to the 1978 constitution not being subject to a national referendum as well. Their political juggernaut has given the SLPP 145 seats and were confident of attracting few more votes from smaller parties to meet the two-thirds threshold. However, this exercise posed no difficulties, as the Rajapakses knew that there are always political garbage lying around in the leadership of these so-called Muslim parties , who can be bought for ‘thirty pieces of  silver’ as they say.  Thus, despite all those nays against the move, the legislature of the country gave 2/3rd majority approval to the 20th Amendment which will be a death knell on the democratic process  and the strengthen the autocratic Executive Leadership- a curse of the JRJ ghost! 

Politicians face a perpetual conflict between what’s expedient at the moment and what they should do for the long-term. The tendency, unfortunately, is for expediency to prevail, thus worsening longer-term consequences. History will record the treacherous action of the turncoats and political opportunists from some so-called Muslim parties in the East who paved the way for the political disaster to happen for the second time. O tempora, o mores! (Shame on this age and on its lost principles!“). Their unprincipled conduct will continue to tar the image of the Muslim community already being wounded by a well –orchestrated demonization campaign with blessings from the top.

As Senior journalist Latheef Farook said, round this time, knowledgeable Muslims began losing faith in the SLMC that built up an image as a political party by simply joining the winning side to suit its leader’s personal agenda. There were many who started to openly criticise the SLMC, stating that the community’s interest would have been better served if the SLMC has not come to the political scene and allowed the Muslims to be in different political parties and work together with the other communities.  …. the SLMC has become an unfortunate liability on the community. This was the sorry state of affairs that Muslim politicians have brought upon the community especially at a time when nationalists and neo-nationalists from the majority community in the Government are hell-bent on implementing their agendas against the Muslim community. The general feeling among the Muslims is that the SLMC is today a liability’. So are other splinter groups under Muslim names who continue to use the community name and its interests to further their narrow political interests and earn political positions. It is a shame that Muslims are still failing to realize their hypocrisy and political opportunism and continue to vote for them. 

In the Post- Easter Sri Lanka in general and after the election of a Sinhala Buddhist nationalist government headed by the Rajapaksas, anti-Muslim hatred  is on the rise with increasing tempo of demonization of the community visible both in the media and government policy. Muslims are being portrayed negatively regularly in the media., In the light of opportunistic gymnastics of these Muslim name-bearing political turncoats, it is highly likely that Muslim community has to bear the fall-outs and insults thrown at them for no fault of theirs.  Isn’t it therefore time opportune for the Muslim community to drive out these political scumbags from the political arena.  The Muslims should not let any of these so-called Muslim parties to auction their vote and make the community the punch bags for the gimmicks of the likes of Hakeems and Bathiudeens? These parties are in fact a liability and a shame on the community. The sooner they realise, the better for the community. Instead, the Muslim community should seek to develop political leaders in the moulds of  Sir Razik Fareed, Sir TB Jayah and Dr Badiudeen Mahmud for they are better and exemplary political role models. 

As Muslims, we are proud of the visionary approaches of our early Muslim leaders, especially during the latter stages of our Independence struggle, which helped significantly to charter Sri Lanka’s way to Independence from British colonialist masters in 1948. The Muslims participated in the demand for freedom from British rule without any hesitation and in full strength through their organization Muslim leaders at the time of Independence, did not lose sight of the national priorities whilst gaining immense benefits and rights for their community, due to their balanced approach and political maturity to see things ahead of time, without harping on narrow community interests. .

Crucial Muslim support then facilitated the process of Sri Lanka gaining independence from the British in 1948 and helped end almost four and half centuries of European colonial rule in the island. Fast forwarding the time clock 72 years later, and comparing those leaders of statesmen calibre with today’s array of cheap Muslim politicians who use community interests to gain their own vested interests ( about whom the lesser is said, the better), aptly sums up the degeneration of political values and culture during the last 6 decades. Those early leaders did not sell the dignity of the community and the country like how the despicable so-called Muslim parties are now doing. Of course, this process of political degeneration has been on a national level, and applies to the political leaders of other communities too. There was more class and polish in those leaders of yesteryear.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Latest comments

  • 3
    14

    My dear,
    .
    Will of the people prevailed.
    .
    We have shown that few NGOs and few self styled civil society idiots cant control us.

  • 15
    2

    Total shame on those 6 Muslim MPs, 1 Tamil MP and 1 Sinhala MP for getting elected from the anti-Rajapaksa vote and ending up as Rajapaksa slaves.

    One good thing is 20A totally humiliated saffron jokers. Anything saffron is going through a bad time!

  • 8
    0

    Dear As-Sauthul Mazlum,
    ,
    I’ve skimmed through.
    .
    Greatly appreciate all that you have said. People like you must be the future leaders.
    .
    These fellows who crossed over were elected just two months ago. There have been no significant changes since then to justify crossing-over as a matter of conscience. Betrayal, stemming from absolute selfishness.
    .
    Please come forward and contest – guys like me are willing to give one preference to a Muslim and one to a Hindu, after careful consideration. I don’t mind telling you how I actually voted in August 2020.
    .
    Panini Edirisinhe

    • 1
      4

      P.E.
      Price tag of this guy could be relatively high.

      Soma

  • 11
    1

    “It was the history of deceit and shamelessness in the repeat.”

    You are right that history of deceit by some Muslim politicians is repeated again and again but it is not only Muslim politicians. There are few Tamil Politicians and Sinhalese politicians. But the real deceit was against Buddhist Sinhala by Rajapakse family. They turned against Buddhist Sinhala Mahanayake’s and all the Buddhist Sinhala community by making deals with Muslims and Tamils. Some promised that they will never agree for dual citizenship and never allow Muslims with them who they blamed as terrorists. Buddhist Sinhala thought LTTE was their enemy. LTTE thought Rajapakse family is the right choice to destroy Sri Lanka. It is a victory for LTTE. Today Buddhist Sinhala lost their freedom of speech and write.

  • 7
    2

    These category of MPs are the landmark of SL politics. They have been there , like Thiagarajh Vaddukodai MP in the 70s and will continue to be there. The only way is for the constitution to be changed so that the MPs elected under a particular party has to draw in line of the party’s policy, if the deviate the party can sack them and the party can nominate another person. People voted mainly for the party and the person is incidental. Then you can eliminate the culture of Turn coats like these MPs .

    • 1
      0

      Dear Umberto:
      It’s very true that lot of us vote along party lines, and for those voters, the person representing the party is incidental.

      In other words, those voters who vote along party lines are at fault for assuming that this incidental person for whom they have casted the vote will not defy the party’s majority stance.
      There’s no guarantee that each party will have 100% consensus on each policy or legislation.

      Would it then be reasonable to legally twist the arm of a people’s elected representative to say ‘yay’ to a party policy stance that he/she doesn’t agree with? That would be undemocratic.

      A democracy must avail each elected representative the right to take a morally and intellectually sound stance. Legally taking away that right just to curtail party dissent will have greater undue ramifications for the democracy.

      Weren’t we hoping that at least a few SLPP MPs would take a moral stance and vote against the 20A?

      Hope you’ll agree that ultimately the voters have the civic responsibility to choose their representative carefully. Elect garbage in, expect garbage out. Voters should know that by now.

  • 1
    1

    What about Diana Gamage. There is a news item that she was a British citizen at the time of contesting the election. It appears that she failed to revoke her British Citizenship before 20th August 2020 which means she cannot participate in the voting for the 20th Amendment. Since she has failed to inform Britain about her revocation of British citizenship, it appears the voting on the 20th Amendment should take place again. I think the Supreme Court will have to intervene and annul the passing of the 20th Amendment, if she has not really revoked her British citizenship. Opposition parties should take adequate steps to expose this.

  • 1
    0

    ” knowledgeable Muslims began losing faith in the SLMC that built up an image as a political party by simply joining the winning side to suit its leader’s personal agenda. “ The average Muslims should realize this truth, if not from their learned members, at least from other communities by interacting with them. It is not a tuition class from other communities to Muslim community. This is in line with Imran, who said these six Muslim MPs proved Sinhalese are right in saying that Muslims are side switchers. Here the funny part is the two leaders, Hakeem and Rishard thought cheap about Slap Party leadership, by allowing their MPs voting to 20A would be seen as an invitation to negotiate to support the government. Isn’t it the Slap Party asked Sinhala Buddhists their Sinhala only 2/3 majority, because Muslim MPs betray Sinhala Parties (Including last Yahapalanaya). By doing the same donkey deed in 20A, where Slap Party had already the needed 148 votes, what kind of equal status negotiation these two leaders are looking from Slap Party other than their full surrender to slavery?

  • 2
    1

    Yes time and again Muslim parties, leaders and the community which is commandeered by the low life politicos have proved they are carpetbaggers. If anyone thought they stood for Dr.Shafi, Hijaz or Thaj, they are in for disappointment. They proudly claim this as “living in cordial with majority”(symbiotic parasites/opportunism) nationalism(pseudo)/ patriotism(pseudo)—etc.Like Richard their turn will come one day.The history will mark/remember , such leaders and the community lead by them for ever, as what they are.

  • 1
    0

    Ceylon National Congress was a unique political movement comprised of all the communities in Sri
    Lanka. Their primary goal was to retain and safeguard the political interests and intentions of the Ceylonese from the British Empire.

    Further, T.B. Jaya was elected as the Vice President of the National Congress on the 14th day of October 1925 which could be considered as one of the remarkable event at this instance.

    N.H.M. Abdul Cader, Makan Makar and T.B. Jaya were among the members of the board of panel which was formed to submit the measures to the Donamor Commissioners arrived in the country in 1927.
    http://www.seu.ac.lk/researchandpublications/symposium_fia/2014/Islamic%20Thoughts%20Civi/Role%20of%20Muslim%20Leaders%20in%20Sri%20Lankas%20Independent%20Movement.pdf

    SL have named roads after the these eminent leaders. They played together as First Sri Lankan’s and not thinking of only their own community. These Eastern political parties of one ethnic race “Muslim Congress /Marrakal ” should never have been allowed to be formed.

    But these eastern leaders have shown that they take decisions only for cash. and not for benefit of the whole country. They can sleep with dogs and get up with the ticks..!!

    • 0
      0

      “SL have named roads after the these eminent leaders.”
      Do street names reflect greatness? What I have seen do not say so.
      *
      “These Eastern political parties of one ethnic race “Muslim Congress /Marrakal ” should never have been allowed to be formed.”
      This is arrogant and offensive.
      The Muslims until the founding of the SLMC had to rely on the mercy of Tamil & Sinhala nationalist political parties to get elected. Very few of the MPs so elected thought in terms of the entire Muslim community. Some were persons of stature, but others helped themselves and their friends.
      The SLMC erred in bargaining for cabinet posts.

  • 2
    0

    Comrade Mazlum.

    I have been looking up my old moth eaten copies of Somerset Maugham, but no luck in tracing the opening lines to your passionate essay.
    Cakes and Ale ? Razors Edge?

    Anyway for Rauff Hakeem and Rishard Badiuddin the opening lines should read as ………
    The most useful thing about expediency is that it can always be sacrificed for Principles.

Leave A Comment

Comments should not exceed 200 words. Embedding external links and writing in capital letters are discouraged. Commenting is automatically disabled after 5 days and approval may take up to 24 hours. Please read our Comments Policy for further details. Your email address will not be published.