In Malaysia’s ever bubbling hot political culture, politicians and their supporters follow an odd practice. If they don’t like what someone has said and if it doesn’t amount to libel, they will make a police report.

They won’t counter the statement with their own points of view. Instead they will file a police report. As a result, a number of politicians have been called up for “investigations” under various Acts like failing to meet the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 or the Communications or Multimedia Act and even the outdated Sedition Act 1948.

Just recently, lawyer and Pejuang Information chief, Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali, was hauled up for questioning under the Sedition Act for calling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim a “scammer” at a “Rakyat Lawan Anwar” rally held outside the prime minister’s official residence in Putrajaya last month.

At the rally, in his speech, titled “Scammer, scammer, Anwar scammer” Rafique alleged Anwar had failed to fulfill his promises, and hence, the name, scammer.

Name calling and making statements that imply misconduct should not be acceptable in any political culture but it is done in Malaysia. Anwar, himself, has implied that leaders before him have — in his often repeated words — stolen from the government and they should return the money to the people. In his case he gave no proof while Rafique give real examples of the “scams” yet Rafique got into trouble while Anwar got away with it!

The police report was made in Kangar, Perlis, by some obscure NGO. Doesn’t the police have anything better to do than investigate police reports on politicians, especially by some supporter in the far corner of the country?

It’s no wonder that our police can’t focus on crime prevention because they are distracted by the numerous police reports made against leaders and, particularly one group of people, lawyers! Most are “investigated” and get off free. All the more reason why it is an unnecessary waste of time!

If politicians and their supporters don’t like what they hear, issue a press statement to counter it no matter from which corner of the world!

If it is slander or libel, take the politician to court. But, if it’s just an angry statement even if substantiated should the politician be investigated under the Seditions Act?

Everything, however, can’t be legislated. Every aspect of life can’t be ordered by law. Much of culture is evolved by conventions and common practices. So, why don’t our politicians start by developing such practices?

Begin, by deciding, there will be no more name-calling and hitting below the belt. Sometimes, however, some things need to be said for very good reasons. In such rare cases, a risk is involved in making a point but it must be well-thought out and backed by facts. If that risk is worth taking for the benefits it would bring the people, say it but be prepared to face the consequences.

In such cases, it is better to say it in the Dewan Rakyat. With facts and logic, anything can be argued in the Dewan Rakyat. Our MPs, however, have yet to see themselves as equals and empowered by the federal constitution and find confidence in that to stand up and fight instead of giving in and making unconstitutional deals to survive. It is the latter two tendencies that are the underlying causes of all the political instability we have been facing since the Sheraton Move.

When they begin to make their words count in Parliament, there will be no need for name-calling, hitting below the belt, making police reports and making unconstitutional deals “to save the country” which are never justified.

Stick to the constitution and fight it out in the Dewan Rakyat. When the fight goes to Parliament, the instability is contained and the political temperature drops.

There still will be the mudslinging and the police reports but they will be much less.

Today, this is all I have to say: A little wisdom!