* Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar.

DISSENT has its place in a democracy where, as in the case of Malaysia Madani, diversity of opinions is crucial.

Although frowned upon by many, particularly those in the establishment and their supporters, dissent is what you need to boldly raise a red flag when something is amiss.

Dissent also reminds the majority that there are alternative perspectives and prospects. In other words, it challenges groupthink.

Such lawmakers as Hassan Abdul Karim play an important role in alerting the powers-that-be to disturbing signs, in the political domain in particular and society in general.

Hassan’s recent remarks regarding the PKR-led unity government reportedly touched a raw nerve among some party leaders. In other words, he’s seen as a thorn in the flesh.

The PKR MP warned Pakatan Harapan it could be punished by voters in the state elections if former prime minister Najib Razak were to be pardoned and corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dropped.

The Pasir Gudang MP insisted he had never been a yes-man, which explained his constant wrangles with the powers-that-be over the years.

His independent stand reflects American fiction writer Anthony Marra’s contention that “A single whisper can be quite a disturbance when the rest of the audience is silent.”

Similarly, dissenting voices were also heard among university students who protested against the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, the existence of which Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin recently defended with vigour.

It is a law that curtails freedom of expression and academic freedom on campus, which was why the students called for it to be repealed.

The students reminded the public that certain PH leaders themselves, particularly Anwar Ibrahim, were victims of the undemocratic law. For example, Anwar was refused official permission to give a talk at Universiti Malaya in October 2014. He was the opposition leader at the time.

The irony is obviously unpleasant. The students were rightly concerned that PH had neglected, if not abandoned, its reformist agenda.

Dissent among students in the past and the present is often driven by idealism and a desire for a better world.

To be sure, not all dissenting views have value, if at all.

For instance, Perikatan Nasional lawmaker Ismail Abd Muttalib was critical of the way the government granted citizenship to non-citizens.

The Maran MP recently questioned in parliament the rationale of the Home Affairs Ministry for granting citizenship to people born after independence without taking into account their “skin colour”.

Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution was spot on when he replied that citizenship was granted to the laws spelt out in the Third Schedule of the Federal Constitution, Citizenship Rules 1964, and other enforcement provisions.

The skin colour of the applicants does not bear any significance and it should not.

Obviously, the question has a tinge of racism, although Ismail denied that it was racist.

It goes to show that while dissent has a role to play in a democracy, views that are foolish may not be taken seriously.

Perhaps a remark of American writer and humourist Mark Twain would be instructive to us all: “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt.” – April 19, 2023.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.