Why the Different Yardstick?

Quod licet iovi non licet bovi- Why the Different Yardstick?

The courts uphold a person’s right to association vehemently, even to the point of defending party hopping, yet another equally important right, the right to assemble is not defended with the same fervor. Quod licet iovi non licet bovi?


The enforcement agencies gives a higher priority to be minding what religious communities and political parties write in their own internal publications, occasionally flexing their muscles to these people who the boss is, yet does not seem perturbed with rampant misreporting, racially provocative material in some papers, or tabloid articles that make up imaginary stories about non-existent religious figures in Christianity, Hinduism and sometimes even Islam itself. Quod licet iovi non licet bovi?


When the Opposition and NGOs organize rallies, or in governmentspeak- “Illegal Assemblies”, the police are there to arrest them, throw them into ISA, and as if throwing the book at them is not good enough, sometimes other objects are thrown at them as well, including batons, fists, police shields, tear gas and water cannons. However when the Government organizes “Peaceful Demonstrations”, the police are there to escort them and if possible, they would be carrying their banners and distributing mineral waters to tired UMNO speakers. Quod licet iovi non licet bovi?


When an international rating , like the THES or the Democracy index rates us higher, which is not that high anyway, everyone jumps and praises our effective government policies that got us there.But as soon as we drop or when anyone condemns us, we dismiss such ratings as inaccurate, flawed and done with mala fide. Quod licet iovi non licet bovi?


Murderers, racists and slanderers are permitted to walk in the aisles of power while freedom fighters in democratic pursuant are painted as criminals and terrorists and treated as such. The Parliamentarian from the Ruling front gets escorted to functions and the Parliamentarian from the Opposition gets escorted to Kamunting. Quod licet iovi non licet bovi?

Quod licet iovi non licet bovi? Auri sacra fames!



* The cursed love for Gold.