.tranJ. ' . \ "'

spirited group of M a­ laysians converged in Kamunting (nc:tr Taiping), Perak, to mark the 1Oth anniversary of a mass crackdown against dissent under the Internal Security Act- code-named Op­ eration Lalang. About 150 of us from all over the country turned ('f!;:--:;::-::::::::::'--~---F£ Behind the iron gate:,: up on the morning of Sunda). 26 the dreaded KfllfllOiling October, at the gate~ of the Detention Camp. dreaded detention camp with one aim: to vigorous!~ oppo~e the ISA and call for iL' repeaL

Malaysicm.f wi1h a I mis.fitm : tlu! prottmers We were all there: the young. the arrive at the camp'~ entranL·e. middle-aged and the old: men and women: Muslims. Buddhists, Hindus, and Christians from all ethnic groups. Among us were representatives from PAS, Parti Rakyat Malaysia. the Democratic Action Party, Suaram, Komas. Sahabat Wanita, the Estate \\ rk­ ers Support Group, the l rban Settlers support group, I OMCA andAliran.

We gathered at the entrance t"'f Free tlutm!: £1:-detninee Irene Xavier the detention camp. just in front calls rm thi! gcwemmenJ to release all of the guard house. at11.00 a.m /SA detainees. I

A/iran Monthly 1997: 17(10) Page 2 Protest At Knmunllng Remembering Operation Lalang 5-14 Abolish The ISA 40

Abrogate The ISA IS

16

Islam And The West 27

Thinking Allowed 19 ALIRAN'S HOMEPAGE 23 http:/lwww.llllllaysia.net/aliran Current Concerns 34

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Alira11 Mo1111rly 1997: 17( /0) PtlfW J PRM president Dr Syed Rusin At 2.00pm, the forum got under­ Ban Chen, detained in an earlier Ali read aloud a statement, signed way after a few songs to awaken crackdown and for a longer pe­ by 36 organisations, in Malay, everyone from lunch. Syed riod than the others, ta1ked of his fo11owed by Sababat Wanita 's Husin, Lee Ban Chen, Mohd time inside. But he said the ways Irene Xavier in English. Other Sabu, Julian Jayaseelan, Irene, the interrogators dea1t with de­ former detainees spoke out Lim Kit Siang, and Dr Mohd tainees were the same. They against the ISA in short speeches. Nasir spoke of their experiences. played him against his fellow de­ At times, they were emotional tainees. even against his mother, lt was then time for slogans. and l saw tears flowing down as they tried to persuade him into "Mansuhkan JSA! (Abolish the some cheeks. making a confession. Actually, Internal Security Act!) /SA Zalim they were always fishing for (The ISA is Cruel)," we shouted Some extracts loosely recalled: more infom1ation. They played in unison. The crowd released up expectations of an early re­ dozens of brightly coloured bal­ Syed Husin stressed that the lease and then didn't deliver, all loons, some of which floated TSA and other measures of con­ to make one's head go into a spin. above the camp grounds. All in, trol are vestiges of the colonial Be vigilant, be strong, he said. we were in front of the camp for era. Just as the imperialists have almost an hour. gone, so too must these laws Nasir said he was not a hero and especially the lSA. The abuse didn't aspire to become one. His Interestingly, no uniformed po­ of the TSA is commonplace. problem was that he is a socialist lice sho?'ed up - only plain First used against miJitant com­ and wants to fight for the righls clothes Special Branch (SB) munists, it's now used against of the oppressed. He admitted types who videotaped and opposition parties, critics and, that detention was tough. He snapped lots of pictures of every­ during Operation Lalang, cried in private, but neYer in front one. The camp wardens looked against the NGOs, too. of his interrogators. The time on behind their gates, at times spent insicie has made him pointing to this or that ex-de­ Very often, these arrests take tougher. tainee in recognition. place when the government finds itself facing a political and/or Irene, detained j n Singapore and Apparently, the police had been economic crisis, as was the case handed over to the ~falaysian informed beforehand and were during Operation Lalang. He authorities, clarified that women told that it would be a peaceful asked us all to read his book did notrcceive s~cial treatment. gathering. Rightly, they had cho­ "Two Faces/Dua Wajah" for in­ She herself was ph~ ,jcaJ1) beaten sen to play it low-key - for, re­ formation on how he and others by a man. The ~arne tactics, ally, we were only making noise were treated during the time he which were used again't the oth­ in one small comer of Perak and was detained. ers as recoumed by the other the media were hardly presenL speakers. were also LEed against Mohd Sabu said the ISA is her and. as t:a:r as she knows, Everyone then adjourned for zalim, degrades the individual, is against other\\ omen Loo. lunch at the Taiping rest-house, opposed to God's law whatever where a meal had already been our religions. He said everyone Kit Siang said ir \\-as important prepared. The plain clothes folk - whether from government or to situate Operation Lalang followed suit and some joined in opposition parties, NGOs, and the meal. (Apparently, lheSB had concerned Malaysians - must questioned the rest-house man­ work together to get rid of the CONTINUED .;] ager on the arrangements to use ISA God-willing, the ISA will ON PAGE... ..0 the premises.) go.

Aliran Momhly 1997: 17(10) Page 4 COVER STORY

Malaysians should never ever forget that Operation Lalang happened by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar

emory is important. Ma­ put forward on behalf of this instru­ laysians should never ever ment of repression, should be chal­ g forget that Operation lenged in Parliament, in the courts. Lalang happened: that on through the media. at NGO meet­ 27 October 1987, 118 politicians, so­ ings, at academic conferences. We cial activists and academics were ar­ must aim to persuade more and more rested under the infamous Internal Malaysians that the ISA is not the Securit)' Act (ISA) which allows the guarantor of our security, the keeper government to detain a person with­ of our peace. On the contrary, it out trial for any length oftime in the transgresses all the decent human name of national security. values that peace-loving people cherish. Though all the Operation Lalang detainees were released within two It is crucial that sound, solid criti­ years. the ISA remains in the statute cisms against the ISA are expressed books. For 35 years it has been that from time to time in various circles. one law that concerns Malaysians There is a danger that since the ISA The ISA should the most. Of course. the ISA has has not been used en masse against been around for a much longer political leaders and social critics for go. It should be while. Tt was the British colonial some time now, the general public power that introduced the JSA in will slowly begin to forget that the abolished 1948 in order to thwart the militant law is sti II around. Lt may not occur communist movement. Next year. it to them that the law can be used any immediately. wi II be the fJftieth anniversary of the time to stine the growth of a politi­ TSA. cal opposition orto preserve the po­ The ISA is a blot sition of a ruling elite. The ISA is a The ISA should go. It should be "Sword ofDamocles" hanging over on our dignity. It abolished immediately. The lSA is our heads all the time. a blot on our digniry. It is a slur upon is a slur upon our democracy. It shames our nation. This is why it is important to remem­ It smears our people. ber the 271f1 of October 1987. It is our democracy. only by remembering a great injus­ But the ISA will not disappear to­ tice that we will continue to struggle It shames our morrow or the day after or even in 5 for a greater justice. 0 IUliWn.lt smears years time- unless something out of the ordinary happens. In the mean­ ( luuuha \lu al/tll '' fouudtll-.; ourpeople . time, we should continue to speak l't t 'ldt 111 oJ \ /u till tlltd I'' (\(uti\ out against the lSA. The TSA. and l'rt 'idt nt,J/ II 'I 1/, H t1., d( tcJIIl( d dtllllf!.: t Jp( ta/11111 I a lou!.: all the arguments which the state has

A/iran Momhly 1997: 17(10) Page 5 Mllltqsii:uls mUNt never forget the iniquities of Opemtion l4/tmg and the onslaughts on democracy. by Lim Kit Siang

alaysians should not forget • amendments to lhe lnternal Secu­ Lalang and the onslaughts on de­ Operation Lalang for il rity Act to remove judicial review mocracy and civil society, for we do g represented the worst set­ ofMinisterial powers in ordering not want another Operation Lalang. back for democracy and detention without trial; civil society in the nation's history. • the amendment to the Police Act In fact. it would not be out ofplace to automatically dis- to ask: when is the next Operation The assault on de­ qualify Oppositton Lalang? mocracy and civil so­ leaders from their 1 ciety ten years ago Parliamentary and There was a period in August this did not end just with State Assembly seats year when the crisis atmosphere in the arrest of I 06 Ma­ or from standing for Malaysia was so orninou_.; that many laysians, including elective office if they thought there could be a repetition opposition leaders - are involved in illegal of Operation Lalang - "hicb took 16 of whom were assemblies of more place ten years ago with mass arrests from the DAP, in­ than three persons; of dissenters - when those "ith dis­ cluding MPs and and senting views (from those of the State Assembly • the introduction of Government) on the twin currency members. trade a new-fangled of­ and stock market crises were con­ unionists, social ac­ fence under the Print­ demned as "traitors.. and threats to tivists, environmentalists. Chinese ing Presses and Publications Act invoke !SA were made. education activists and religious about "publishing false news··, workers. which allows the Attorney-Gen­ Such a crisis atmosphere and threats eral to practise selective prosecu­ to invoke the ISA against joumal­ Tt was followed by a wholesale at­ tion against the opposition and dis­ isL'>, writers, financial analysts and tack on press freedom with the clo­ senters. economists who dare to dt..f>art from sure of three newspapers, on the in­ the officiallme on the t\\ in currency dependence of the judiciary and on Democracy has not recovered and stocl market cri__..;cs did not help the rule of law arising from the sack­ from the body blows it suffered I 0 to alleviate - but onl~ deepened - ing of the Lord President and two years ago although all the Opera­ the sense of economic and national Federal Counjudges. tion Lalang detainees were re­ crisis in the countl). leased, with Guan Eng and I shar­ Far-reaching amendments were ing the dubious honour of having Although that danger h.a.' pas...'t'd. \\ e passed to arm the government with to serve the longest detention of must recognise that " hen lhe coun­ a draconian arsenal of laws to fetter 18 months. try is faced with a political cnm the fundamental liberties of Malay­ coupled with an economic cri sians as guaranteed under the Con­ Malaysians must never be allowed then the conditions are there for an­ stitution: to forget the iniquities of Operation other Operation Lalang.

Aliran Momhly 1997: 17(10) l'agl' 6 The only way to ensure that there Konvensyen/Protokol dibentcmg dan tional human rights covenants de­ will not be another Operation Lalang diterima di Perhimpurzan Agong spite it having voted in support of is to repeal the Internal Security Act PBB, tidak semestinya ianya akan them in the UN General Assembly and all other repressive undemo­ terus ditandatangani ataupun in 1966. cratic laws. diratifikasikan oleh negara-negara yang telah mengundi bersetuju. LetMalaysians send out a clear mes­ However, there are no signs that the Pada kebiasaannya, Covenant/ sage that they want the government government is prepared to be a Konvensyen/Protokol akan dikaji to ratify the International Covenant model ofdemocracy for developing oleh pakar-pakar undarzg-undang oo Civil and Political Rights and the countries, although the third strate­ negara dan perbandingan akan International Covenant on Eco­ gic challenge of Vision 2020 calls dibuat dengan undang-undang nomic, Social and Cultnral Rights for "fostering and developing mature dlJmestik umuk memastilwn ia tidak and not to take over three decades democratic society, practising a form bercanggah dan boleh diterima­ to study their implications - which of mature consensual, community­ pakai oleh negara. (For the informa­ is not flattering to Malaysia's effi­ oriented Malaysian democracy that tion of this august House, when a ciency, competence or wisdom. can be a model for many develop­ Covenanl/Convention/Protocol is ing countries.'' tabled and approved at the United Although the government is exhort­ Nations General Assembly, it does ing Malaysians to be full participants The Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir not necessarily mean that it will then and not bystanders in the informa­ Mohamed is unhappy and even be signed or ratified by the countries tion revolution, the government is wants a review of the Universal Dec­ that voted for it. Usually, the Cov­ adopting an information policy that laration of Human Rights. enant/Convention/Protocol will be is evenmore restrictive and less open studied by experts in the national and transparent than in the past. Malaysia has not ratified the other laws and comparisons will be made two international human rights cov­ with domestic laws to ensure that Last week I posed a question in Par­ enants although Malaysia voted for there is no conflict and that it can be liament to ask the Home Minister to them in the United Nations General accepted and used in the country.)" give the number of TSA detainees, Assembly in 1966, namely the ln­ the reasons for theiT detention and Lemalional Covenant on Civil and "Malaysia setakat ini belum the details of the five lSA detainees Political RighL" and the International bercadang untuk menyertai (accede) who have served the Jongest deten­ Covenant on Economic, Social and Tntemational Covenant on Civil and tion. Cultural Rights. Political Rights (ICCPR) dan Inter­ national Covenant On Economic, This is the answer I got from the As of28 September 1995, 133 states Social and Cultural Rights Home Minister: have ratified or acceded to the Inter­ (ICESCR). Walau bagaimanapun "Untuk makluman Ahli Y.B. pada national Covenant on Civil and Po­ proses pertimbangkan dan kajian masa ini terdapat seramai 207 or­ litical Rights, but Malaysia is not one atas artikel-artikel dalam Covenant ang yang masih ditahan dibawah of them, although according to Vi­ ini masih diusahakan. (Malaysia has Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri sion 2020, Malaysia wanL" Lo be a so far not planned to accede to the 1960. Kesemua mereka ditahan model of democracy for many de­ ICCPR and the ICESCR Neverthe­ kerana terlibat dalam kegiatan­ veloping countries. less, the process of evaluation and kegiatan yang boleh memudaratkan study of the articles in the Covenants keselamatan Malaysia. Wa/aubagai­ Last week, 1 raised the question of is stilI being carried ouL) " manapun butir-butir mengenai Malaysia's ratification of the two tahanan yang ditahan untuk tempoh international human rights cov­ l find Badawi 's answer outrageous, paling lama dibawah Akta enants, and this is the answer from that it is not necessary for a country Keselamatan Dalam Negeri 1960 the Foreign Minister, Abdullah to ratify a covenant or protocol after yang masih ditahan sekarang ini Badawi: voting for it. Malaysians must also tidak dapat diberikan kerana ianya express their outrage that the gov­ tidak berkaitan. (For the information ··untuk makluman Dewan yang ernment needs to take over three of the Honourable Members, at this mulia ini, bila sesuatu Covenant/ decades to study the two intema- time there are 207 people still being

Alir(JJI Mon/ltly 1997: 17(10) Page 7 held under the Internal Security Act 1960. All of them were held for be­ ing involved in activities that could They call us many things ... jeopardise the security of Malaysia. Nevertheless, the details of the de­ They who cannot see tainees who were held Lhe longest Call us blind under the ISA 1960 and who are still Because we see only Evil.

being held now cannot be g1ven be­ Tbec~ofmdrB~ i. cause they are irrelevant.)" ! Tbey who cannot hear In the scvcntics,and eighties, there THIY Call us deaf I Because we only bear would have been a full and proper 1 answer to parliamentary questions , The cries of Justice aboutlSA detainees, but not today - a clear indication that the informa- I 'The cowards tion society !hat Lhe government is They call us afraid promoting docs not necessarily 1 CALL Because our voices ring loudly i mean !hat Malaysians will enjoy the Against the silence of Oppression f right to information or that the gov­ ernment would be more open, ac- I 1be thieves countable and transparent. They call us criminals Because we refuse I remember that when 1 was detained us To let their victims starve. for a second time under the ISA and was sent to the Kamunting Deten­ The patriots tion Centre in 1987 with other Op- They call us traitors 1 eration Lalang detainees, we found. Because we have no pride to our horror, long-serving ISA de­ In leaders who lUll freedom slowly. tainees who bad been forgouen by MANY the authorities - who had served for The Faithful, the Believers more than 10 years. one over 13 They call us sinners years and another, 16 years. Because we do not believe JD ~ their god It was as a result of our highlighting Who sanctifies Evil. such gross injustices and violations THINGS of human rights in Parliament and They call us ouL\ide that these long-serving !SA Traitors detainees were released !.honly af­ Agents ter. Enemies Subversives But if currently there are long-serv­ ••• Foreigners ... ing ISA detainees who have simi­ larly been forgouen, nobody would They call us many tbiDp. know about them - for the Home Ministry will not even furnish these Because we give eyes. particulars to Parliamem. which is ears, supposed to be the highest chamber and a voice. in the land. 0 to the rorment of our lives. 1 \wn:,: '' '"' \laltn q,t, 111 IIlli I\ fJppo\f(loll I' w/, 1 'diltl111Ctftftfllll:.: f)Jitlaf,o/1 l

Aliran Momhl_v 1997: 17( 10) Page 8 The cost in tmns ofourluutum rjghts IUUIIIU#tll.,aluea is inealeulable by Dr Kua IGa Soong

here is a definite whiff of And, ac; in 1987. the victims of this the number of activists in human deja vu in Malaysia's Insidious Suppression Apparatus rights work compared to the pre­ g jurassic politics just now. will not be these lawless elements Operation Lalang days, it is clear that Dr Mahathir is making from the ruling party but dissident<; the ISA has played a part in deter­ the rounds seeking reassurance who are charged with having "pro­ ring Malaysian dissidents. The num­ just as he did in his Semarak cam­ voked" them. This is Malaysian rul­ bers involved in the campaign paign ten years ago. His position ing class logic. Alas, the relatively against the Official Secrets Act in in the party may not be threatened new Malaysian bourgeoisie have not 1986 for example, is vividly remem­ at the moment but yet learnt the discreet bered. once the big cor­ charm of their coun­ porate interests in terpart in the devel­ As for us, "on-rehabilitated" victims the country feel oped world. As a re­ of Operation Lalang who have car­ that his "Third sult of which. 1 am ried on with human rights work de­ World Leader" afraid this Indefen­ spite months of detention. the ISA posturing is sible Security Act docs not haunt u:. like before. The merely putting will still be around to spectre of this most dreaded suppres­ their money (our haunt us for the forc­ sion apparatus has been demystified money) where his seeable.future. once and for all. mouth is, r wouldn't be too The fact that the Ma­ The last ten years since my release sure! laysian Government from detention bas made our family still needs a law cherish every minute of our waking This is all symp­ which allows deten­ Jives and learn not to take freedom tomatic of a society that is still not tion without lrial is evidence of its for granted. "at peace with itself', which if you authoritarianism. This authori­ remember, is one of the aims of tarianism is part and parcel of the But talking to young people and ''Vi!-.ion 2020". The Mob Rule by ruling class agenda, its class inter­ even some of the older ~eneration, BN Youth at last year's Asia-Pa­ ests and its populist ideology of we have realised that a whole new cific Conference on East Timor is bu:m.iputerai!.m. We are a society generation is growing up unaware another reminder by the powers­ "not at peace with itself' because of of the events which saw not only that-be that we are still far from the contradictions created by the pri­ the detenlion without trial of a attaining such a society that is at vate monopoly capitalism which whole spectrum of Malaysian dis­ peace with itself. And as long as dominates the economy and the in­ sidents but also the assault on our UMNO Youth or the BN Youth can creasing hollowness of the Judiciary. It is probably the hope be provoked into taking the Jaw bumiputerclist appeal as these con­ of the power~-that-be that Malay­ into their own hands, it will be tradictions come to a head. sians have a !> hort and selective their justification that "We o;ti 11 memory, but the cost in terms of need the JSA !" Judging by the marked decrease in our human rights and moral val-

Alira11 Momhly 1997: 17( 10) Page 9 ues is incalculable.

My good friend, the late K. Das' closing words in his Foreword to the account ofmy detention experience. "445 Days Behind the Wire", are worth remembering ten years after Operation Lalang:

... don't be terrified by the prospect ofbeing detained under the ISA. AF ter all, in a sense we are already all alaupunAkta Keselamatan dengan steam roll. under detention. Detention without Dalam Negeri (ISA) trial is, without doubt a horrible nui­ didakwa untuk Malaysia yang didakwa oleh para sance, yes, but your honour and self keselamatan dan pemimpin UMNO sebagai "negara respect will remain unblemished by ketenteraman negara, tetapi ia lebih contoh" kepada negara-negara umat the duly authorised rapists who are kerap di!,TUnakan untuk Islam dan beglru gbairah untuk in the business of running our Gov­ mernangsakan penentang-pencntang mengejar status "negara maju" ernment today. parti yang sepatutnya turur memerintah, sejak mengcjar kemajuan lf we are at all grateful to these Ma­ dari zaman parti di dalam kcdaulatan laysians who paid a heavy price for Perikatan undang-undang dan speaking out for us, we must send sehinggalah ia kcbebasan bersuara out a message to the jagas of ditukar nama Penggunaan Kamunting and their masters who kepada Barisan undang-undang perch on various hills around Kuala Nasional. yang mcngetepikan Lumpur: Do your worst, and we will perbtcaraan dan do our best. ISA yang sering keadilan seperti lSA digunakan dalam - ditambah pula But we must not spend our days and setiap perhimpunan dengan krisis nights living in silent fear of the agung UMNO kepercayaan thieves who stole (their)freedom ... untuk menakut- terhadap badan nakutkan mereka kehakiman Let me end with these immortal lyr­ yang menegur dan menunjukkan Ma- ics by Violetta Parra, the Chilean menglcritik penyalahgunaan kuasa laysia jauh ketlnggalan di dalam poet: dan pcnyelewengan parti yang kedaulatan undang-undang. ISA dipimpin oleh pengamal-pengamal juga menjadj senjata yang ampuh politik wang dan politik ugutan itu. kepada kerajaan unluk mcnckan "Thanks to life that has given me so Akhir-akhir ini, TSA juga digunakan kebebasan bersuara. much untuk menakut-nakutkan ulama lt has given me two eyes, that when yang bcrani mcnegur tindak-tanduk Kepada mereka yang dimangsakan f open them pemimpin kerajaan yang oleh Operasi Lalang, apa yang telah f clearly distinguish the black from bertentangan dengan ajaran Islam ditempuh hanyaJah proses kecil the white yang menitikberakan akhlak dan unruk memperjuangkan keadilan Altd in the infinite sky, its starry keadilan sejagat. sejagat. Kebenaran walaupun ia depths lemah pada hari ini. akhimya akan And from the crowds ofpeople, Lebih dabsyat lagi, kuasa mencapai kemenangan. 0 the friends thatllove ... " 0 menggunakan ISA berada di tangan o.rang yang pemah menyatakan hua hia \oon1: ;, a \til uti tit 1111,1. pejuang-pejuang NGO, yang \lolmmad ~aim ialult \ltlt l'arltml'lt 11 nit 1 uutlfonllt 1 \It mber of menegur ketelanjuran kerajaan ke 1111111/, l\lthaiiK haia11. Htlum d11alwu flat luuut'lll. Ht '' tl\ th /ill lit. tf dunur.: \l'llla\tl Up' rrni lulull!,!. atas alam sekitar, patut dilenggek ( JperaiiOII I a lull~

A/iran Mo11thly 1997: 77(10) Page 10 Ensure Operation Lalang does not happen again; Abolish the ISA! By Lim Guan Eng

en years ago, on 27 Octo- for justice and for what is right. became history with the signing of ber 1987, the nightmare of the peace agreement. However, the g 119 Malaysians and their Unfortunately, we were caught in the lSA remains. loved ones began. Using huge internal struggle within UMNO the code-name "Operation Lalang", between the forces of Prime Minis­ We do not want innocent Malaysians Malaysia began the fust descent into ter Dr Mahathir Mobamad and like ourselves to suffer again. That darkness and volice terror, where de­ Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and we is why it is important that Malay­ mocracy existed only in name. Three had to be sacri !iced. We were merely siam; must not forget this event for newspapers were also closed down used as a scapegoat in the internal what it represents - a naked abuse and press freedom fight within UMNO of power and a gross violation of ceased to exist. and to cover up the basic human rights. excesses and fail­ The 119 Malay­ ures of the ruling The lSA is a crime against human­ sians detained party. ity because it not only hurts detain­ came from all ees and their loved ones but also walks of life. From For that, 119 Malay­ speads fear throughout the country. Parliamentary Op­ sians were detained That is why in remembering Opera­ position Leader without trial and in­ tion Lalang. we need to remind our­ Lim Kit Siang to terrogated for up to selves how important it is for the ISA PAS Kubang 60 days - 60 days to be abolished and for the Govern­ Kerian MP under solitary con­ ment to release all ISA detainees and Mohamed Sabu, finement, in un­ charge them in open court. from Catholic ac­ healthy conditions tivist Bro. Anthony without proper More importantly. we must use Rogers to 73-year-old Chinese edu­ medical treatmenr. Some of the un­ this JO'h anniversary to reaffirm cationist Sim Mow Yu. lucky ones were even tortured. Then, ourfirmand unyielding opposition a few were detained for a further two to the ISA and to press for its abo­ Those detained without trial were years in Kamunting Detention Cen­ lition. We hope to remind Malay­ voices or conscience for the nation, tre. Evenin Kamunting. the Govern­ sians to stand up for basic human mostly leaders from non-govern­ ment tried to "rehabilitate" the de­ rights and democracy. Hopefully, mental organisations and political tainees to admit they had done wrong this lOtltanniversary commemora­ parties who offer a djfferent view and recant publicly. tion can also be a rededication of from the powers that be. our determined purpose to seek the All this is possible because of the abolition of all laws that violate We were all victims. We were not Internal Security Act (ISA). The basic human rights.O threats Lo the rule of law or the Government had promised that the I country's security. We had done no Act will be abolished once the armed I rm (llltlll I· 11:,: '' t1 \It mbt 1 of f'tlllza- wrong. We were just ordinary indi- threat from the communists ended. mtutfor holt/ \ldt~l.a. lie \Ill\ dt'Uillll d dun11.!: l Jpt rtllloll 1 a/au~. vi duals and professionals fighting The communist threat has ended and

Alira11 Monthly 1997: 17(10) Page 11 Religion of hope shattered by warped religiosity Democracy moulded ... rationalizing society Swooping shamelessly to the rune of profitable justice THE WHEELS To bury development in ever confusing directions

OF CHANGE Yet youth rebelled Braving the uncharted dream Seeking lessons fTOm demented realities Wishing to penetrate this hostile future

Adulthood Seeking and flirting ... for glory and fame Compromises upon compromises Lo redefine realities Is this the language of opportunists? or A phrase of mature strategists? or merely Another word for desperate escape artists!!!

But then we are reminded ... these spectral hues of con- tradictions Are but one of the same of contending polar extremes Penetrating the hidden agenda of political patronage Birth Laced with oppression. exploitation and manipulation The piercing cries ... eclipsing silence Compressing humanity into the bins of historical ob- Savouring the breaths of nature scurity The joy of deliverance Clinging desperately to the decaying culture of capilal­ The ray of hope ism To etch the fmure Yet options remain ... the giant step forward Yes. these fragile beings thoroughly blessed Yet we appeal for compassion and sanit) with pure innocence of universal unity Yet they declare war on mother nature These heavenly sparks of humanity To decorate the privileged few Exploding into two ... the polarity of earthly spirits Yet they are troubled by the conscience of youth Bursting again into thousand contradictions Unbending in simplicity ... to forge a better future the very essence of life to be So the adults invoke the wisdom of uncertainty A legacy of passivity The expectations of yet to come Merely to subvert humanity and inquiry Provoke these humble beings To harness such lingering earthly energies But the never ending question continue to reverberate To grow and to glow as one universal family Of untold stories lOmlenting anger, misery, humiliation and fear Youth ''Who should bell the cat?" says the profound ones Searching for the elusive truth ... the lasting dream Deliberations upon deliberations upon deliberations Fathoming the uncharted identity called ·self' Whilst the loved ones wallow in poverty, helplessness Glimpsing the future with awed silence And untimely deaths Seeking guidance from placid history Silence stabbed from all sides

But their solemn guardians Where is the unity that we brag ... far too long? Trapped by intellectual apathy Where is the ideology that we proudly usher Bickering to condition society ... to harmonize these universal beings? Wreakhavoc for these young ones Silence ravaged from all fronts

Alirtm Monthly 1997: 17(10} /'age 12 So be it With you ... without you ... or in spite of you FOUR TEN This struggle rages on Tn ever fiery circles FORTY NINE* Transcending time and overshadowing boundaries

Lamentations upon lamentations Be good citizens, by the law abide! Sighing ... What if! If only! Maybe ! But then! Cast your vote and let the government decide. Yes ... the dreaded curse caressing infantile minds With PQwers mandated ministries dictate, Bragging over untruths ... half truths Your tights, conscience and life ab9icate. Upstaging the inquiring minds To worship wishful thinking The wrath of the government descend Stumbling graciously into intellectual senility If you so much as dare to dissent. While grieving over lost youth and pampered scenarios Absolute power a constituent element Deaths abruptly stake their claims In the law for the government to implement Whisking away those babbling fools of lost ideals A law unjust intrinsic Death Stuns my ~]Jirit so sick! A moment of silence Conscience boul'ld I am to disobey Tears dramatized A law such as the ISA. A call cries out to the dead "Where have you been all these years? Oh! The horrendous consequence I travelled through time ... to seck your wisdom Of a civil disobedience. Only to see your footsteps leading nowhere When things were bad ... so bad ... so unforgiving?" Hounded by the special branch The dead remained silent and the living lost for words Anned with unwarranted carte blanche. Victimised, incarcerated, dehumaniSed, Yes ... mother nature snatched you away Free cx.crcise of conscience despised. Trying Lo reconcile your absurd being Salvaging the universal essence ... that you led astray After four decades of Merdeka Keselamatan Dalam Negeri Acta! This time when history betrays the struggle Colonial hegemony an overthrown yoke? The young ones will pick up the pieces to remould hu- Makes post-independent admin a joke! manity A grain of idealism Western values deplored and negated A dash of aggression Against westaping the youth castigated. A sprinkle of experience and The TSA. however, preserved by sacred custody A streak of reflective wisdom And maintained as the white god's legacy. To turn the wheels of change growing to the rhythms of universal truth For the ruling elite a tool of convenience: from the voices of roiling masses For the voting demos a rule of sub.~iervience. To unite the thousand contradictions a blessing from heaven and earth David .Anthony the very essence oflife to be Novembu 1997

Dr Mohd. Nasir Hashim •F.xpkuullion~JntJe 27 October 1997 4 x 10 : 4(} years oflndepnuknCY 10 -Jeqr/:rillu Opeta1il>11 10 years after Operation Lalang Lall®~ 49--,ear.f .~~ !SA wa$ proniulgared.

Dr Sm.ir work\' amou~ urbau settlen iu IJm·itl -t ntlwny\ II'Ue. /.im Cltin Cltin. 1ra1 de­ the Klaug \ 'alley. He wa.\ detained dur­ tained durinx Operatiou /.alanJ;. ing Operation htlau~.

Aliran Monthly 1997: 17( 10) Page 13 COVER STORY

Maturity implies a certain degree of openness to dialogue with others who hold different views •

here existed and still nal insecurity, and to be able Malaysians were often reluc­ g exists this belief that to face others who have dif- tantto ask because itrequired the greater the pun­ ferent views and not use co- answers from our leaders ... ishment and the greater the ercion and force to silence fear instilled in people, more those who don't think like us. There is a need to experience law and order wiJI prevail So Human Rights is not to just the depths of kindness and leading to greater harmony in to make known one's views compassion to the least within society. The imposition of the but also to recognise the Hu­ our communities. These are "Death Penalty" for example, man Dignity that others have the ways of drawing the peo­ for both drugs and fire-arms a right to. Human Rights fol­ ple to work for the common possession was thought to be lows a legal framework, while good. More laws and stricter the best way to reduce crime Human Dignity seeks to law enforcement, more and the Dadah (drug) men­ arouse the spirit within per­ fenced drug rehabilitation ace, but has the desired effect sons to seek harmony in and centres are not going to stop been achieved? through compassionate en­ the pandemics of HIV I AIDS. counters with others. The promotion of a true moral Maturity implies a certain de­ and caring society is what will gree of openness to dialogue One thing that most of us who guarantee that greater free­ with others who hold differ­ were arrested and detained in dom - not more draconian ent views, to be able to admit Operation Lalang had in laws· and threats of punish­ that we have our weaknesses, common was that we bad ment. 0 to acknowledge that there are raised many questions related also many Malaysians who to social justice in our nation. Rrotller .\ntlwny Rogen ;, a Catholic Church •o•rl..<-r in­ also have the good of all the Questions about the many as­ •·olrcd in fllt//U/11 tft-rdopiiiCI/1 people at heart. It callc; for the pects of the social and politi­ worf... He II'((' tft·tainnl d11ring discarding of our own inter- cal problems that ordinary Opaalion l.alang.

A/iran Monthly JIJ97: 17(10) Page 14 Why do we detain people without trial? Why do we physically and mentally torture detainees? by Dr Syed Husin Ali

I stead we are treated with some irre­ belong to the Shiah sect. The Ma­ sponsible and queer statemenL'> from laysian Constitution upholds reli­ DatukAHamid Othman, Minister in gious freedom. Islam teaches that the Prime Miruster's Department. there is no compulsion in religion and that, consistent with justice, no Abdul Hamid accused the detainees person should be punished withoul of being militant and anti-monarchy. a fairtrial. Why don't we respect all There arc laws to deal with these this? (e.g. the Sedition Act). Funher. haven't we heard some very strong Our leaders constantly criticise anti-monarchy sentiments expressed double standards in the practices by government leaders just a few of justice, democracy, human years ago? He also accuses them of rights and press freedom by the being Shiah. Jf this constitutes "reli­ United States and Tsrael. Why then gious deviation" why not try them do we allow our police to use the Why then do we in a Shariah Court? method~ of the CIA, KGB and Mosad? Why do we detain with­ allow our police Yesterday (I 0 Nov 97) the Deputy out trial? Why do we physically Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk and mentally torture detainees? to use the Tajul Rosli, as if ro save the embar­ Why the need for the lSA? rassment caused by Abdul Hamid, methods of the alleged that these detainees threat­ The Minister of Home Affairs must ened public security. Why is there put a stop to all this. He must give a CIA, KGB and no proper and satisfactory explana­ full explanation about the recent de­ tion about this? Why can't these tentions. He must assure the people Mosad? people be neutralised, if this is in­ that this is not done to create an at­ deed necessary, without the usc of mosphere of fear, to divert attention the ISA? Doesn 'tlhe government or from the country's economic crises the religious departments have and from the conflicts within enough experts to fight idea~ with UMNO. or to begin a new cycle of ani Rakyat Malaysia ideas? What hac; happened to the tra­ mass arrests (which seem to occur (PRM) calls upon the Min­ ditions of consultation every 8-10 years). g ister of Home Affairs ro (musyawarah) and discussion lltop using the draconian (muzakarah) ? Where else in the 37 years is enough. Abrogate the Tntemal Security Act (IS A) to detain world are Shiab believers detained ISA O people arbitrarily without trial. without trial?

/lr '"" llu1/ll \h '' /'u 111/t 111 o/1'/( II The Minister has remained silent on As far as T know, Shiab teaching is aut! u form• 1 I\\ d, talllt • lh I\ the recent arrest of ten persons ac­ not banned in thi!. country. A large autlun ofth• boo/.. ··J '' o /tit f' I lt It Ill it Ill \\ lthnllf 111111" L uscd of "religious deviation". In- proportion of Muslims in the world

A/iran Momhl~ 1997· 17(10) Page JS •wr..t CO

HAzE AFTERMATH

week ago T went with a from Sumatra," he told us, ··y feel A nur-.e popped her head in at the couple of friends to visit tired even when 1 try to do light door and seeing us, quickly walked someone in a hospitaL The chores. They found something not over. She wanted to know who we IIpaticnL a friend of a friend, normal in my blood. 1 don't quite were and then said that the patient is a firefighter who had helped put understand what it is, but they say it needed rest. Was she worried about out fires in a part of Sumatra. T is not related to the haze." his talking too much? wanted to get a first-person account of what it wa.., like and I was also At this pomt, a young woman and a We were also curious about the re­ concerned about this individual. The I itlle child carne in. They arc his fam­ sponse of the people in the areas the newspapers had reported that all is ily: his wife and child. Her worried firemen were in: so my friend asked: well with Malaysian firefighters look as she poured him a drink of "How did the local people react to even though some laboured in areas water told us more than her few your help?" where the APT was a horrendous 900 words: "His tiredness doesn't seem or more. to go away". Between sips of water. the patient said: "They were themselves suffer­ T recaJl the photos of a sea of faces "We had to walk some seven ing ... but I th:mk they seem to take it (firefighters both young and middle­ kilometres to the site of the fires,'' as part of life. People need jobs, aged of all ethnic groups) on front the young patjent continued, money to survive and plantations page!. of newspapers with captions "sometimes the air was so grey, so mean work. I don't know if anyone of "Malaysia Boleh". They were smelly, ya ... and even with masks even knows clearly the real dangers about to <;ail from Port Klang to vari­ it was hard to breathe. We worked of the haze. Did anyone 'kasi talw'? ous parts of Indonesia. Even then, I from 9am to 4pm, then returned to lt was not like they saw us as heroes was thinking: "Did they know that base. We had to surrender our or anything like that." they were getting into? Were the} masks so we never wore masks instructed on healtbcarc and honestly when off-duty. I don't know- ta' It seemed that some of the firemen told about the dangers? Were they pastilah - but people say that had to leave in such a hurry. they properly equipped?Wt:rc: individual some of the time the APT was could not even make certain thl"ir feelings of apprehension, reluctance, 1.000! The water we drank was families had enough money nor fear suppressed under "Malaysia supplied locally and il was yellow. could those who have some off­ Boleh" or. quite simply, under threat What to do, we were thirsty all the duty work (eg. selling kueh (deli­ of discilinary action?" time. Kena minumjuga, apa boleh cacies), hawking. etc.) make ar­ buat?" rangements. T looked at the tned. A pale, rather thin young man on a pale, young face and could only bed was talking to another visitor I could not help boning in: "But pray that he would recover quickly when we walked in. At first he bottles and botlles of mineral water and that he would not suffer from looked at us guardedly. but when it were donated!'' any long-term effects. Bidding the was explained that one of us knew a wife salam we left the ward before friend of his. he visibly relaxed. "Ya ... But I heard that one load of another nurse decides to "caurion" mineral water was missing at the us. "l have been suffering from blurred port. We did get other things. 1 got a vision and tiredness since I got back Star tee-shirt too." Surdukah

A/iran Munt/Jiy 1997: 17(10} Page 16 Para nelayan memanjatkan doa Agar tiada kapa yang melanggar mereka.

Dalam Jaut berjerebu. Analc:-anak kapal bersemadi di Selat Melaka Menteri bilaJlg. Hanya rob mere.k.a Alam kelabu . Putang merangkul anak dan istcri Udara berjerdlu Yang ditinggalkan selamanya. Semuanya kclabu ' Dalam udara berjerebu Bwni terbakar Juruterbang hilang panduiin Pepobon dan riinba rentu,1lg Sempat mengingati Allah Haiwan. unggas dan manusia Sebelum terhempas bersa.ma anak-anak sawatnya. bertempiaran Yang malang. rent1lng Mengapa ini scmua harus terjadi? dib~ api marat Mengapa segala rimba hijau menjadi bara? membakar segatanya dengan galak. Mengapa mereka yang berzaman menjaganya bertempia.ran lari? Dalam asap tebal dan api menggila Mengana keganasan terbadap alam berJeluasa? Segala hidupan rimba dan manusia jadi ken:lil Mengapa peracun al.am dibiar bermahrajalela Tiada kuasa menentang malapetaka. Bertingkah bagai maharaja Membakar hutan rimba? Kampong balaman, tanaman dan temakan musnah Dijilat api yang ganas Atas nama pembangunan Seolab membalas keganasan terbadap alam. Segala boleh mereka Jakukan Yang tiada behls· kasihan Merampas taruib petani Tanpa ganti ~ DaJattt. kepanasan bak neraka. Dan bersikap bongkak sekali. Mereka yang kehilangan semua Meratapi kehilangan smnber rezeki di rimba Atas nama pembangunan Meratapi tanab usaba sekangkan kera Membakar rimba dan kampong balaman Yang dibabam api neraka dunia Tanpa merasa berdosa Terhadap berjuta yang menderita. Dalalil.jerebu tebal Anak.. dt Irian Jaya Mereka yang ada kaitan dengan kuasa tertinggi Kdapu;an di musim kemarau memanjang Mungkin yang lebih tinggi lagi tnendetita ceR$ beft:t Membabam segala kekayaan bumi mendetita ~dan kebausan. Tanpa memberi sebarang gantirugi Kepada yang bakal rugi Tiida bantuan yang tiba. Jerebu tebal menutup papdangan Yang biJang rumahtangga para sukarelawan dalam pesat udara Yang bilang kampong halaman Bersama asap tebaL. bersama rebaban pepohon ri.mba Yang hilang somber rezeki di hutan Yang hilang kesihatan badan Bayi·bayi dilrian Jaya Maiah, lelaki perempuan Menghembus nafas mereka Yang bakal. Dalam usia y.ang amat muda. Hilang kesuburaa.

Dalam laut yang tiba-tiba jadi kdabu Siti N,r Htunid Tllah Nelayan billlll& panduan l!SM Tiba-tiba laut jadi masjid 26 Oetober 1997

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A/iran Monthly 1997: 17( 10) Page 18 IThailand has passed a new constitu­ tion that will allow the Cabinet to be filled with professionals and tech­ nocraLs rather Lhan corrupt politi­ cians and MPs appointed to the Cabi­ net, will have to resign their constitu­ ency. The intention is to break the immoral circuit between political position and corrupt practices. For too long, politicians have used their positions to enrich themselves or secure deals and favours for their friends, families and people. The quest for political position and the expected end rewards is precisely the reason for the money politics we have seen at home for the past de­ For a while. poor Rafidah thought cade. 1n fact, Rafidab ought to be she was back at an earlier nightmare feeling rather relieved at being re­ -the Wanita Urnno elections! Then, lievedofher Wanita position. She is supremely confident of retaining her now free to concentrate on what she title for the umpteenth time, the poor does best minus the hassle of pan­ woman was rudely shaken when she dering to the grassroots. So what's a was elbowed from the position she little jostling from Egyptian had held for 12 years. strongmen?

But surely even Rafid:ah must admit that being shoved around by Egyp­ tian beefcakes was nothing com­ pared to being shoved off-staged by So, are the Egyptians going to blame disgruntled Umno women. Since the CNN and other foreign media for re­ Ialter experience, she has been what porting the Luxor massacre? Are in politics is known as a minister they going to get hopping mad that without grassroots supporL But the the media has gone to town with the Rafldah: Kicked around? situation is really not all that bad and horrific incident that saw dozens of Kicked around, that was what the public should seriously lhink foreign tourists killed by religious Malaysia's superwoman Rafidah about this as a possible future trend: zealots? Will they gag their acade­ Aziz bad to endure during the recent bringing in competent and techni- micians from commenting on the Gl5 Summit at the Mines Resort cally skilled people who are not poli - tragedy, especially to the foreign (the latest in the string of theme re­ ticians into top government posts, media? Will its Tourism Minister go sorts that are, unless we have grossly especially, in crucial areas like fi- on national television to declare that misinterpreted planning policy, nance, transport and environment to I tourism will not be affected by the aimed at transforming the Klang name a few. At the moment, people incident? Will their Prime Minister Valley into one huge Disneyland!). are made ministers and deputy min- Irile and rant at CNN? ApparenUy, our beefy superwoman isters just because Lbey hold an im­ was no match for the equally beefy portant party position, which as we Egyptian bodyguards accompanying all know, is more a combination of the sphinx-like Hosni Mubarak. The money, cunning, and connection musclemen shoved, elbowed and than intellect or competence - hence, "Ada tokoh korporat guna bomoh, ·• pushed their way through functions some of the specimens we now sec was the title of a report in a Malay in their quest to protect their leader. in the Cabinet. newspaper. The statement came

A/iraTI Momltly 1997: 17( 10} Page 19 r from a Selangor kadi, who clearly teet" him from his political enemies I studying in the island republic. As disapproved of the practice although and help him become the Menteri the jams worsened, workers could he would surely be aware that it is Besar of Pahang. not get to work on time while par- hardly an overnight phenomenon. ems were furious that their children Many Malays. including highly edu­ The late Datuk Malian's nasty little got home only at 11 pm. hungry and cated ones. seek the servtces of experience does not seem to have exhausted. bomohs for a stunning number of deterred other polittcian-. who seem reasons: to cure an illness. to gam to crave power by whatever means. So! what b this we keep hearing affection, to do another in. to stop So why should the kadi be upset that about Malaysia being a centre of rain from falling during a football corporate figures are doing the academic excellence? If our educa­ match or. as is particularly common same? ·Perhaps his admonishment tion system is so good, why is it that among politicians and corporate fig­ should be directed at the politicians those who can afford it continue to ures, for protection again~t known before anyone else. But this particu­ send their children to Singapore to and perceived enemies. lar kadi is probably more career-con­ study? And how come the govern­ scious than his superior. the ex-mufti ment i'> still sending thousands of Politicians. for instance. have been of Selangor whose contract bas not Malaysians for further studie~ in known to rravel as far as Thailand, been renewed following the "beauty America and the United Kingdom? Kalimantan and the far reaches of the queens" episode. Or was it follow­ ls it because the}' don't believe in Javanese islands to seek the services ing the mufti's criticil.m of Dr M? their own propaganda? Or do our of reputed bomohs. Apparently, leaders. like so many Malaysians. Malaysian bomohs arc not as good; believe that foreign is better? Is that yes, Malaysians suffer from the no­ why their children are studying torious "foreign-is-better" syndrome abroad? Surely, all this says some­ even when it comes to the occult. It's hard to imagine that Singapore thing about our standard of educa­ The most sought-after are said to be was once part of Malaysia. Ever so tion, especially tertiary education. bomohs with both Thai and indone­ often, spark!. are set off by seemingly sian expertise (of course!). Although inane incidents involving both coun­ we find it hard to believe, it is said tries. The latest was the way the cur­ I that almost every top Umno leader rency crisis (which has shrunk the Recently heard joke: Prai will be has at least one personal bomob at ringgit) has affected relations. turned into a green tourist attraction! his beck and call. No major political Singaporeans arriving in ever larger Not funny? You· re right. ft's ridicu­ move is made without consulting droves to shop in Johor Baru were lous, but not funny. For too long this important person. Never mind reponed to have caused resentment now. politicians have been riding the what their wives or party colleagues among locals as prices of goods, al­ environment bandwagon. embellish­ say. ready among the highest in the coun­ ing their career!> with green slogans try, shot even higher with the in­ and promising us the earth but de­ One Umno leader, since fallen from creased demand. At the same time, livering an incrcasiDgly deteriorat­ grace. was said to have had three the traffic jams at the causeway ing environment. It ts obvious that consultant bomohs on his payroll! worsened with both sides blaming our politician!> enjoy making policy But it didn't do him much good: the the other. announcemenLs (it gets them into the bottom felt out of his political ca­ news) and cutting ribbons to launch reer, his love life hit the scandal But the jams revealed more than just yet another new campaign. but can­ pages and he is now virtually a po­ the fact that relations between the not be bothered to follow up on the litical outcast. Some have been so two countries are superficially implemenration. Thus. newspapers obsessed that they have literally lost friendly at best. It also revealed other kick up a fuss about the loss of one their head over their bomoh ru. in the embarra<;sing bits like the number of angsana tree here and a raintree case of Datuk Mazlan who was Malaysians who choose to work in there, but were strange!} mum over found dead. dec-apitated and his bod) Singapore (bener pay and working a project like Bak.un Dam which in several parts. The poor man had conditions, they claim ... shame on would have finished off more trees turned to a glamorous bornoh couple you Malaysian employers!) and of than city developers wiU ever cut in the belief that they would "pro- Malaysian children and teenagers down.

Aliran Monrhlv 1997· 17( 10) Page 20 US Congrc~smen asling our Dr M November. Definitely not a good to apologise for his remarks about time to hold conferences. that's all L!!!!!!!~!!!!!~!!JI I Jews or step down. How dare they! we can say. That seemed to be the tone of Round 2 and, as expected, Umno Youth chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was '' j J.j iU"fJ I; j{.J I Ilil among the first to rush in. Poor, piti ­ Poor Samy Vellu. He was jeered and ful Zahid! Still hopeful for ~orn e booed in Parliament recently by crumbs from his party president. MPs, including those on the same Zahid and his gang of youths have side as him. The MPs, probably ter­ been among the most fervent of rified of the reaction from their con­ I groups demonstrating their support. stituents, had grown fed-up with Samy's habit of defending Plus' own Yet, there is something hysterical bad habit of increasing the toll ever and even contradictory about his ac- so often - twice last year. in fact. lions. He and hi~ gang have not only Apparently. the Works Minister has, Sray·on-Dr-M-rhnrus has Iuken off periodically called on President I of late, begun to sound as though be Clinton to resign for this or that is- is employed by Plus rather than Well. even Pos Malaysia has come sue, but have called Bill Clinton elected by the people. He ought to outtopledgeundyingsupponforDr ' someofthe vilestnames.Justasthe be aware that if Pos Malaysia (he M (M used to srand for Midas, but US congressmen have no right to was formerly Post, Telecommunica­ nm anymore). Yes, 1997 that had demand the resignation of Dr M, tions and Energy Minister). is among begun in so boring a manner has who came into office by election, the least improved of the turned out far more interesting than Malaysians ought to remember that government's privatised projects, we expected. The spectrum of the US president is also elected by then Plus must surely be the most groups which have declared support Americans. The point is, Zahid and rapacious. Consumers have at times for our beloved Prime Minister has his gang seem '>trangely thin-skinned felt that the government gives been quite am:uing - from bani. considering that they are so forward greater priority to Plus' !.O-called clerks and the Sikh community to and unrestmincd when it comes to loan servicing problems than the tortoises (Pos Malaysia-lab. stupid!). their own actions. Then again. Umno people's struggle to balance their FrankJy, if I were Dr M, I'd ask Pos I Youth has not always been the most budgets. Malaysia to retract their support and consistent of groups and particularly riiiiii;iiii.~;iiiiiiii~ keep it. The postal services are the so under the leadership of Zahid one privati sed service that has shown Hamidi. the least improvement if not deterio­ Buddhist monks and nuns may have rated performance. It is really not Others say Zahid's aggression is to carry identification cards soon to something that we can be proud of. governed by 12-month cycles. About I tell the authentic ones apart from the And if they had decided to send their this time last year, a gang of his bogus ones. Apparently. there arc support by post, Dr M would be Youth thugs had stormed a confer- "fake monks" going around begging lucky to get it before Christmas - that cnce on East Timur in a manner that for donations. Truly, this fake goods is, if the postman does not dispose would ha\e done the Nazi thing is getting too far. As it is. the of his load in some mining pool or brownshins proud. Thus. the itch, authorities have a headache with landfill. compulsion or urge, whatever you imitation branded goods, pirated vid- call it. must have overcome them eotapes, bogus doctors (in the old Meanwhile, Round 2 of the stay-on- again. Thankfully, there were other days, they went into politics) and, Dr M-chorus has taken otT. Round I scapegoats lilc Soros and the United now, bogus monks. But ifthey think kicked off after the currency crisis States government to demonstrate that identification cards are going to (read wicked/jealous foreigners try- against so that they need not auack solve the problem, they had better ing to destroy Ul>). Barely was that some peaceful conference or semi- think again. over when Round 2 began, uiggered I nar going on in town. God knows ~a draft resolution by a bunch of whom they'll be going after next 1 The number of "aliens" (not of the

Alirwr Mont/J\' 1997: 17(10) Page 21 X-Files sort) carrying Malaysian TCs threatening action against potential one of the most unbridled slinging and registered as voters has been a demonstrators when Suharto attends matches ever witnessed in MAS his­ big issue each general election. The theApec meeting in Vancouver. Note tory. The last time MAS staff took Deputy Home Minister recently de­ that he is threaterung Indonesian!-. on on a Cabinet member. they were nied that these lCs were issued by foreign terntory. The Indonesian banned. Of course. then, they were the government. He blamed syndi­ president was deeply upset when dealing with Dr M whereas. now, cates. The strange thing ts that all faced with demon!>trators jeering and they are dealing onJy with Ling. Ling these lC-carrying illegaJs should be booing at him while in Germany sev­ may be a heavyweight. physically. registered voters since that the aim eral years ago and does not want re­ but everyone know~ he is a political of most illegal immigrants in getting peat humiliation. That's Indonesia lightweight. an IC is to enable them to, one, get a for you. They don't care about the job and, two, avoid being har.cssed feelings of their hosts much less their The story as it goes is that. follow­ by lhe authorities. Voting, one would neighbours. What they care about is ing public complaints and several think, would be lhe last thing on their saving face, appearing strong and critical comment), from the Trans­ minds. Something stinks mighty. and never mind about the port Minister, MAS had sent the popular bit Ye~. Indonesian is minister a lengthy report explaining clearly not anyone's sweetheart at the steps being taken in view of the l1£ff¥¥Biji(!J l-1] the moment, and particularly not her haze. But the critical comments con­ neighbours' after all the foul air they tinued, presumably, because the min­ The haze that had cleared for about had to breathe as a result or their ister did not think much of there­ a fortnight returned with some ven­ environmentally inept neighbour. port or had neglected to go through geance to lhe Klang Valley just as the report. The MAS boss lost his the G 15 leaders converged in cool and sent a strongly-worded let­ Selangor for their much-ado-about­ ter to the minister and one thing led nothing meeting. And perhap!. for to another and before "-'C knew it, a the first time, President Suharto saw full-scale squabble "-'al> in progress for himself how Malaystans have with a deputy minister being slapped suffered for months because of his with a law suit. Ye~. Ling bad tlown government's years of lax anitude into a storm of his o""' n making with towards open burning. Ensconced in a little help from Pak 'Harto. clear-skied Jakarta. he probably bad a limited sense of the magnitude of Strangely enough. the one who had the problem or lhe anger and frus­ opened his mouth first and widest trations of his neighbours. Then was not sued which led many to again, perhaps he did not even no­ think that MAS was a coward tice the lousy Klang YaJley air. TV trapped in a bully\ body. Why tackle footage and photographs of him at a deputy mmt..,tcr when it was the the G 15 meeting showed an old and minister who made the most noise? Taj11din ha.f more clo111 than we tho11gh1 tired man, slumped in hi~ ~t:

Aliran Montfll)• 1997: 17( 10) Page 22 Lim Pew U (SERf). Aedah Abu I Bakar(CAP).k.rinaAbdullah, 011g L E L,. E Boo11 Keong, Kanda Kumar, Molul ...... ,...... _ The Editot -~...... ~~- !sa Abd Majid, Ong Kung Wai, 'ALIRAN MON'T\\\.'f Ruslan Raimis, Ahmad bin Chik, Cheah Hovi Giam, Lee Shok. Mee, P. 0. BOX 1049 Evelyn Teng, Wazir J Karim, Mariam 10830 Penang Lim. Lim Poh fm , Toh Kin Woon. Leong Yueh Kwong, Khoo Salma ~~~~~M__ a_ l~~~s-ia~~~~~~ Nasution. Murali Ramakrislman, Susan Siew. We welcome letters from readers. These moy be edited for purposes of space and (The alxwe letter was also sent to clarity. The views moy not be those of AURAN MONTHLY. Pseudonyms are The Swr. NST and The Sun) accepted but all letters should include the writer's nome and address. Letters should preferably be typewntten with double spacing, If handwritten they should be legible. Letters should be addressed to the Editor, AURAN MONTHLY

These are misguided attempt.-; at best. If unnamed researchers have The Legal Advisory Centre views been guilty of slipshod research or with "alarm'' and profound concern interpretation of their findings. let the Cabinet's decision to gag univer­ them be challenged by their detrac­ sity lecturers and academics from George Orwell knew from first-hand tors whether in government or in the voicing their opinions on the content experience that in war. the first ca­ tourism industry and financial and possible effects of the continu­ sualty is oftentimes truth. He might houses who are fully capable of ing smog (haze) on the health and have added that truth fares no better mobilising academic rctainees to ar­ well-being of the people in this coun­ in clumsy attempts to avoid discord. gue their case. Let these research­ try. The recent gag order on university­ ers suiTer loss of credibility among ba..e4 environmental scientists to bar their professional peers if indeed The attempted gag runs counter to them from publicly divulging their they have been incompetent or in­ the public's right to know. the bao;ic empirical findings on the persistent excusably negligent. principles of academic freedom and smog, and more generally from ex­ the fundamental liberty of free pressing their opinions on the pos­ If we are going to slap on a gag or­ speech which are the cornerstones of sible health effects of prolonged ex­ der every time we feel jittery that an every civilized society. posure to smog constituents speaks unsympathetic forl'ign press might poorly of our aspirations to be a re­ selectively exploil slipshod, alaml­ At a time when there is a severe gional centre of excellence in science ist local research, we might a-; well dearth of information from our au­ and technology. in education and bid farewell to our brave vision of a thorities who appear hell-bent on research. It is particularly ill-timed confident and resilient scientific cul­ down-playing the deleterious and coming on the heels of the Deputy ture. life-threatening effects of the smog Prime Minister·s exhortations to while at the same time covering-up avail ourselves more of local under­ Participants of the First SERf the culpability of our Asean graduate education. Roundtable 011 Ecological neighbours, the independent advice Sustainabiliry ( Bukit Jambul, and opinions of environmentalists. It appears to be motivated by a con­ PefUlllg, Nov 8-9. 1997): academics. experts and doctors is cern over declining tourist arrivals vital in safeguarding the health of {bad also for our currency and stock Chan Chee Khoon (epidemiologist), this nation. market recovery}, and perhaps ap­ Chang Yii Tan, Dr S P Choong prehensions that an agitated local (Penang Heritage Trust), Dr T It appears. however, that the Cabi­ populace could de-rail delicate re­ Jayabalan. Chia Loong Thye net is more concerned with the im­ gional diplomacy in the matter. (HAKAM). Tan Pek Leng (SERf). mediate economic effects of the

Alirun Mrmthly 1997; 17( /OJ Page 23 smog on the mind~ of foreigners and Operation Lalang mass arrests of the tourism indu~~try than with its October 27, 1987. instead of usmg (the smog's) long-term effects on the this occasion and our 40th year of future health and well-being of our Independence to prevent this shame citizens and their children. from recurring, the government con­ ·•J did not "'c il'". said a tinue!. to resort to this repressive and police officer to a youngMalays woman's~ I If anyone i!> to be held guilry of tar­ unjust Act as a form of social and complaint that she wa., manhandled nishing the image of our country and political control. by non-uniformed and uniformed driving away tourists from these staff of the Indonesian Embassy. on shores, it i., nru these hone~t doctors. Even while it portrays itself as a vic­ Friday, 14 November. The police lecturers, experts, etc. but those du­ tim of international economic thug­ from Dang Wangi station seemed re­ bious characters and companies re­ gery. the government continues to luctant to stop the violent actions of sponsible for those raging ftres in violate fundamental norms ofjustice. rhe Embassy staff "ho shoved. indonesia. making its own citizens victims of punched and molested some 15 Ma­ political thuggery. laysians gathered peacefully to re­ The Government has a legal and member the 6111 anniversaJ) of the moral obligation to its citizens not We arc concerned about the health Dili Massacre in Ea.'> I Timor. which to foreigner.,, private companies or of these men. two of whom are eld­ fell on 12 November. Approximately economic partners/polluters. erly. and one of them is suffering two hundred thousand people have from severe diabetes and is almost died during the last 21 years of Access to information and the right blind. Indonesia's illegal occupation. The to know is the backbone of this ob­ Malaysians also saluted Indone~ian ligation. SUARAM expresses its grave coo­ political prisoners languishing in jail cern that the TSA maybe used once for their struggle for democmcy and The smog (haze) is not a 'sensitive· agrun as in 1987 to resolve the inter­ justice for all the people's of the ar­ issue but a life threatening one! nal crisis of the Barisan Nasional by chipelago. scape-goating oppositional forces Cecil Rajendra from both political and civil Bemama news agency reported that Consultant organisations. We can only hope that "policemen ordered the Embassy Legal Advisory Centre the arrest of the three men will not be staff to get back into the emba!.sy the start of another TSA crackdown. building while the group were told to disperse or face action". It was We hereby call upon the government clear that the police were ineffectual to: and were not able to get the Embassy release Usta7. Abdullah Hassan, staff to stop haras~ing the Malay­ SUARAM condemns the Malaysian Paharuddin Mustapha and sian~. A member of the Emba:-.sy in government's detention of three men Kamaml7aman lsmaiJ from ISA facr claimed that the :-.pace in front - Ustaz Abdullah Hassan, believed detention and charge them in open of the Embassy was Indonesian ter­ to be a PAS activist from Pendang court for any alleged offences; ritory. Bemama also reported that a (Kedah), Paharuddin Mustapha, a release full information to the pub­ banner carried by the group "covered former PRM activist from Buk.it lic on the grounds of their deten­ the embassy's name". This is incor­ Mertajam (Penang) and tion; rect. The signboard "hich stands at Kamarulzaman Ismail from Muar ensure that the men are not ill­ least 15 feet above ground wru; at no (Johor), also believed to be a PAS treated or tortured and that point covered hy any banner. activist No reasons have been given Paharuddin receives adequate for their detention and their present medical treatment for his illness; Through their actions the group - whereabouts remain unknown. repeal the TSA and aU other laws Solidaritias Timor Timur-Malaysia allowing for detention without - called on Malaysians to promote Their detention comes at the time trial. the cause of peace in f..ast Timor and when NGOs and ex-lSA detainees Elizabeth Wong to remember tbe death of Kamal had recently commemorated the SUARAM Bamadhaj. 20. ofPetaling Jaya who

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A/iron Monthly 1997: 17( 10} Page 24 ~rutally murdered by the lndo- but T think that the current protests siders desirable- such as more lights, 1 nesian military during the Dili inci- over the latest PLUS toll-hike are extra lanes. etc.ln fact, if the sched­ dent. Kamal who was ~hot was found somewhat misplaced. Jf ever there uled toll increases were not forth­ alive by a Red Cross worker but was was a justifiable mega project, the coming. PLUS itself would default 1 prevented for about an hour from building of the NSE is it. Indeed. I on iL~o; loan reimbursement schedules. seeking medical assistance and died have yet to hear a word of complaint from loss of blood. about the fact that it wa-; actually It is true. of course. that the increase built, although l have heard plenty appear steep in relation to the initial The Indonesian government initially about the toll charges. There can be charges. but a little arithmetic will refused to acknowledge that any for­ no doubt about the great advantages show that the costs incurred by those eigners had been killed and so dumped it has brought to the motorist, both who can afford to own and drive Kamal's body in a mass grave. It was in terms of time and money saved motor-vehicles are very mild when identified by the Red Cross worker and the convenience it affordl>, let equated to the benefits in terms of which then forced the Indonesian gov­ alone the far wider beneficial effects time and convenience and when emmentto admitto Kamal\ death and it has had on the nation's economic compared to the alternatives of air, to return his body to his parent1.. development from many points of rail, or even. as CUEPACS has sug­ Kamal's body rests in PJ. view. gested, using the old routes.

The military commander. General But all this has to be paid for. The If there is any blame to be attached Panjaitan. responsible for the mas­ Government, having failed to carry for the state of affairs. it should be sacre was found guilty in a US Court out the project on its own resources, on the Government for not in the lin;t for Kamal's death and ordered to pay took the only viable alternative so­ place telling the facts as they are, USD 12 million. He absconded be­ lution. namely to privatise it. PLUS, including the schedule for increa-;ed fore the trial and has refused to the concessionaire might be thought toll charge~ up till the year 2005. and honour the decision of the court. He to have been handed a fonune on a for not taking the Malaysian public is now assistant to BJ Habibie, an golden platter in winning the con­ into its confidence and treating w. an Indonesian cabinet minister. cession. but before PLUS could starr as mature individuals who with the it had to mise around RM7 billion to right information can derive the right Solidaritas Timor Timur-Malaysia meet the coc;tc;. That thio,; sum was conclu.,ions. call!> on Malaysians to raised - entirely from Malaysian fi­ nancial sources - is a miracle in it­ DJ M Tate condemn the arrogant and violent self. But that miracle would not have Gombak actions of the indonesian Embassy occurred without the permission and its staff; from Government to impose tolls demand that the Indonesian gov­ and without government guar.mtees ernment respect international laws to cover any shortfalls in revenue, both on human rights as well as against which PLUS was able to I refer to the article entitled "Villains rights to seu·-d~termination: raise its huge loans. Part of the deal or Victims" in the 1997: 17(2) issue demand that the Malaysian gov­ between the Government and PLUS ofAlirclll and the photograph that ac­ ernment and its agencies protect was that the toll charges should es­ companied the text. its citizens from violence by other calate periodically up to a stipulated governments. maximum level by the year 2005. The photo shows a group of Tndian Without such conditions. PLUS children riding the bullock card. The Sharaad Kuttafl could not have raised its loans and implication is that such is the state Solidarirus Timor 1imur-Malaysia the highway would not have been of the Indian lot. No"' the downside completed. Furthermore costs also of such inaccurate depiction is that

~~--~-:~.,--y"'- -..--::----;-·-~ increase for PLUS, too. It is liable they serve more to damage the cred­

~ -~-~ ~~· ~~ 0 ' ),o; L ~t~~ for the upkeep of the highway and ibility of a well intentioned article .. i._:J~aL_::~~':~'; -';~~ the maintenance of its services as than add to its essence. well as for carrying out supplemen­ 1fear that I may be a minority of one. tary works that the Government con- While articulating a genuine prob-

A/iran Monthly 1997: 17( 10) l'agr 25 lcm plaguing the society, an exrreme 1995. To date, it remains undone. periodicals e.g. newspapcrs, regularl or unrepresentative or out-of-date Conrractor~ have abandoned work mag:uincs do they need a KDN per­ fact or picture tends to suggest that one after another. mit. they are afmid. Only if the gov­ the author .is scraping the bottom of ernment had gazetted a particlar the barrel. so to speak, to make hi~ T suggest that you employ Renong book a.., being banned in Malaysia, point. ll is possible that the photo­ to build the bridge as it 'A ill directly does it be~omc an oiTence to print. graph was inc1uded by A limn and not benefit u~. the small people. Renong sell or even own the book. b} the author. but my comment ap­ bad proposed to build a long bridge plies equally well to either possibil­ across the Malacca Straits. Such Can Buldt Aman or the legal frater­ ity. mega-project:-. will not benefit Ma­ nity enlighten these poor souls laysia. The proposed bridge will through the pre~s. :-.o that our book lt can't be true that at this srage in bring more Indonesians to Malaysia industry can prosper without any our society's development, even a to earn our money, not for unnec~sary hindrance. minority of Indians are shackled to sightseeing. We have enough lndo­ the bullock-cart way of life. The Ia... t nesian workers over here and more KCLee 15 years have brought motorcycles. than enough troubles that keep our Plentong cars and lorriel> into the Indian police very busy. The proposed households. Even bicycles have be­ bridge is doomed to fail and will not ...... 1 come obsolete to the average Indian be profitable. But some people think 1 r . =-- I in the estates and certainly bullock­ they can always rely on the Govern­ carts are a relic of the past. ment which will take over. This is Oh negara ku. where and why this country has gone Mclawan tcrcinta. There was a piece about estate work­ wrong in financial management. We Paling God ble1>5. ers entitled "It's a Form of Slavery" must look at our own selves and try Sungguh sungguh kaya. in the 7 March 1997 i11sue of not to blame foreigners. Jumlah rak) at. Asiaweek. There too truth was tem­ Bukan macam di Jawa. pered with to portray extreme si!Ua­ Tfl were a tour guide. I would bring Oh CD dan geng. tions a ... commonplace. Sometimes foreign tourists to sec the broken Bangunan tcrtinggi. journalists tend to ignore that their bridge behind Hongkong Bank and Mc.,jid terindah. magazine's credibility i!'. at stake tell them that we are going to build Teknologi maklumat. when a fair and balanced picture is the longest bridge in the world. I A'itro tcrhad. not presented. would also tell the western tourists Kerabat Everest. not to try to sabotage our wooden Selam laut terdalam, Readers who are more knowledge­ bridge project. lni dan itu, able on the subject are bound to view Tcrhc~ar. with suspicion and cynicism such Kamponkasihpileh Tertinggi. reports. That then Lo; the loss to jour­ Ktwla Lumpur Terlebar. nalism. Termahal, Bina kekayaan. Gopalan Sellon Atas projek-projek. Temer/oh Longkang-longkang kotor. (As indicated in the footnote, the ar­ Merata pekan. ticle together with the photograph Most <>f our printers are scared to Cukai-cukai kcliling badan. was extractedfrom Vision 2020- Vol print alternative books though they Dcnda tak pasang lampu 14 No 2 March/Apri/1996- Editor) are not sensitive or illegal in nature Siang-siang. for fear of their licences being re­ Oh macam-macam ~usah voked or of imprisonment. In spite Rakyat kena badapi. of my repeated explanations to them Nyamuk,lalat. hangat. that our constitutional right to free­ Mai hujan tiga hari The wooden bridge in our kampong, dom of expression means that they Dah tenggelam. i.e. behind The Hongkong Bank Ipoh can print any book without a gov­ Road, has been under repair since ernment/police permit. that only for ABP

Alira11 Mo11thly 1997: 17( 10) POJ:l' 26 f RELIGION

ISLAM AND THE WEST

Islam had great libemtive impact on marginalised sections of the soci­ ety. The Holy Prophet onslam was deeply disturbed by the suffering of the weaker sections of Meccan society. On the one hand. there were powerful and rich merchants who were busy accumulating wealth through international trade, and on the other. there was acute suffering among the widows, orphans. slaves and poor.

The holy Qur'an sensitised the rich towards sufferings of these section!. of society and exhorted them to take care of the poor and needy, or­ phans, and widows, indebted and slaves. The Qur'an says:

.. Hast thou seen him who belies re­ ligion'? That is the one who is rough to the orphan. And urges not the feeding of the needy." {see I 07:1- 3)

Again condemning the accumula­ tion of wealth, it says :

"Woe to every slander. defamer! Who ama-;ses wealth and counts it. He thinks that his wealth will make slam means establish­ revolution. It created. among its him abide. Nay. he will certainly be g ment of peace on one followers. \\hat we call today so­ hurled into the crushing disaster; hand and. surrender to cial consciousness towards the And what will make thee realise I the will of Allah. on the other. Is­ weaker sections of society and what the crushing disaster is? It is lam. to begin with. was much sensitised them towards their suf­ the fire kindled by Allah. Which I more than a religion, a social ferings. ___ _ ~----riscsoverthehcam."(Qur'an; 105J

,\Jiron Monthly 1997: 171101 PaR~ 27 1-7) equality. Again, the Qur'an gave a tained in the above verse. lead in this field also. The Qur'an's JIHAD The verses quoted above from the intention was to establish sexual Holy Qur' an make it very clear that equality on a human plane. 1t Islam, as pointed out earlier, is are­ Islam was a social revolution ex­ clearly declared that wa /alumna ligion of peace. not of violence and tremely sensitive toward<; the suf­ mitlzlulladhi alayhinna i.e. women aggression. There is a great deal of ferings of weaker sections of soci­ have righLo; similar to those against misunderstanding in this respect. ety. The accumulation of wealth them (obligations) in a just manner not only among non-Mu.c;lims but without improving the lot of the (2:228). This is a ringing declara­ among Muslims themselves. Jihad poor and needy comes for condem­ tion of the equality of the sexes is hardly encouragement of aggres­ nation. For example, Allah says in more than fourteen hundred years sion. The Jihad only meant tight­ verse 9:34. "And those who hoard ago. Until then, society had de­ ing for the protection of the rights up gold and silver and spend it not manded only duties from women of the oppressed. Thus says the in The Allah's way - announce to and had not conceded rights to Qur'an "Pennission (to fight) is them a painful chastisement." them. given to those on whom war is made, because they are oppressed. JUSftCI & EQUALITY The Qur'an was the fll'St revealed And surely Allah is Able to assist The verse on zakar also emphasises book giving them righto; equal to them." (22:39) distributive justice. The zakat needs their duties. Women were given to be spent on orphans. widows. the specific rights in marriage, divorce, It is clear that permission to make needy and poor, the indebted and inheritance. property rights and war is given only to those who have manumitting slaves. lL is the state maintenance. Their rights have been oppressed and arc vicums of treasury bait-al-ma/ which will col­ been clearly defined by theQur'an. violence. All the statements in the lect and distribute among the They have.not been left vague in Qur'an regardingjihad are of simi­ weaker sections of society. This was any manner. lar nature. "And fight in the way of the most modem concept of the Allah", says the Qur·an, "against welfare state. The world took an­ The Qur'an also clearly pro­ those who fight you but be not ag­ other fourteen hundred years to pounded its doctrine of the equal­ gressive. Surely Allah loves not ag­ evolve this concept. For Muslims. icy of men and women in the eyes gression:· (2:190) Or in verse 9:36 this was a religious obligation. of Allah in verse 33:35. lL says : Allah says. "And tight the polythe­ "Surely the men who submit and ists all together as they tight you Had the Muslim states followed women who submit and the believ­ together.·· these revolutionary teachings of the ing men and believing women. and holy Qur'an they would have the obeying men and obeying Also, the Qur'an warns the be­ avoided many serious economic women. and the tmthful men and lievers not to kill anyone without problems. lt is unfortunate that in truthful women, and the patient reason. Thus it i' said in 6:151 many Muslim countries. too. imi­ men and patient women, and the " ... and kill not the soul which tating rhe western concept of humble men and bumble women, Allah has made sacred except in maximising production and profits, and the charitable men and chari­ the cause of justice. This He en­ the Qnr'an's teachings have often table women, and the fasting men joins upon you rhat you may un­ been neglected. Today. UN agen­ and fasting women, and the men derstand." Thus one cannot take cies have developed the concept of who guard their chastity and life except when demanded by human development. as a real mea­ women who guard, and the men justice. The western world has sure of economic development but who remember Allah and women grossly misunderstood the very the Qur' an had emphasised the idea who remember-Allah has prepared concept ofjihad. It has been pro­ of human development long ago. for them forgiveness and a mighty jected. unfortunately, as fanatical reward." There cannot be a clearer and aggressive war for spreading The feminist movement now is statement in favour of equality of Islam. Nothing can be further I emphasising the idea of sexua_l_m_e_n and women than the one con- from the tru'tb.

A/iran Mmwuy 1997: 17(/0)Pag~ 28 Jihad, a-; pointed out above, was aJ­ what they did."(6: 109) Islam, it should be noted, was the I lowed, not for spreading religion first religion in the world that re­ but for lighting oppression and in­ Allah does not even approve of quired its follower, to respect other 1 justice. No religion can ever be aggressively destroying any place religions and live in peace with spread through coercive means let of worship. He has charged the them. Thus the Qur'an declared alone through war. "Sword in one people with the duty to protect all that "For you is your religion and band, and the Qur' an, in the other" places of worship, whichever for me is my religion''(l09:6). Is­ is a total distortion of Qur'anic community it belongs to. The lam accepted pluralism without any teachings. The west deliberately Qur·an says, "And if Allah did reservation and required Muslims spread such a stereotype about Is­ not repel some people by others, to live in peace and harmony with lam in the days of the crusades to cloisters, and churches, and syna­ other religions. Thus, It says : "Tf give Is I am and Muslims a bad gogues and mosques in which Allah had pleased He would have 1 name. However, this bas stuck and Allah's name is much remem­ made you a single people. but that even today a section of people in bered, would have pulled down. He m•ght try you in what he gave the west believes this. And surely Allah will help him you. So vie one with another in vir­ who helps Him."(22:40). tuous deeds. To Allah you will all TOLERANCE return, so He will inform you of that The Qur'an never upholds the idea wherein you differcd."(5:48) of the coercive spread of religion. lts seminal statement in this direc­ When religious intolerance was the tion is, "Call to the way of the Lord , order of the day, islam laid stress with wisdom and goodly exhorta­ on tolerance, mutual harmony and tion. and argue with them in the peace. It specially extended a hand best manner..."(6:25). The Qur'an of peace towards what it calls ahl also declares unambiguously, al-kitab (people of the book) and "There is no compulsion in reli­ required Muslims to accept the truth gion "(2:256). of the Torah and the Bible and re­ spect them as revealed scriptures. Not only this, The Qur'an warns Unfortunately, as the Jews of against exercising coercion in mat­ Madina rejected the hand of friend­ ters of religion. lt says, "And if the ship extended by the Messenger or Lord bad plea'\ed, all those who are Allah, the Christians remained in the earth would have believed, friendly. The Qur'an acknowledged all of them. W1H thou then force this in verse 5:82. The verse reads people till they become believers?" as under: ( 10:99). Thus, it is mere unfounded accusation against the Qur'an to say "Thou wilt certainly ftnd the most it requires Muslims to spread Islam The Qur'an respects others' way violent of people in enmity against through coercive means. Not only of worship too and requires their the believers to be Jews and the that, the Qur'an prohibits believers places of worship to be protected. idolaters: and thou will find the from abusing the gods of others. It will be an un-Islamic act to de­ nearest in friendship to the believ­ Thus, it warns believers : "And stroy others' places of wor:,hip. The ers to be those who say, We are abuse not those whom they call Qur' an also makes it clear that Christians. That il'> because there upon besides Allah, lest, exceeding " ... whoever submits himself en­ are priest<; and monks among them the limits, they abuseAilah through tirely to Allah and he is the doer of and because they are not proud." ignorance. Thus, to every people good (to others), he has his reward have We made their deeds fair­ from his Lord, and there is no fear However, this docs not mean that seeming; then to their Lord is their for them nor shall they the Qur'an denounces the Jews in I return so He will inform them of grieve."(2: 112). general. This verse has reference

A/iran Monthh 1997: 17{10) Pas:~ 29 nly to those Madinese Jews who, the west taken a hostile attitude to­ ern national community building conjunction with the unbeHev­ wards Islam.? Here, I would also than might be imagined. The effort s of Mecca, conspired against the like to point out that it would be of modem Muslims to depict the ophet (PBUH) and his followers. wrong to think that the entire west early communi!} as a type of egali­ Otherwise, the Qur'an respcctli Ju­ has been totally hostile towards Is­ tarian participant nationalism is by daism as much as Christianity. lam. In fact the reality is much no means an unhistoricaJ ideologi­ Thus, the Qur'an says : more complex. There are severnl cal fabrication. In a way the failure trends in the ~est. There is cer­ of the early community. the relapse "Surely those who believe, and tainly a trend of hostility in a sec­ into pre-Islamic principles of social those who arc Jews, and Christians, tion of the media as also among organisation, i" an added proof of and the Sabians, whoever believes policy makers, scholars and the the modernity of the early experi­ in Allah and the Last Day and does government bureaucracy. ment. lr was coo modem to !>ucceed. good. they have their reward with The necessary social infrastructure their Lord, and there is no fear for Unfortunately. sometimes the me­ did not yet exisr to !ill'itain ir. ., (Rob­ them. nor shall they gneve."(2:62) dia in the Islamic world also over- ert N. Bellah. ed. Beyond Belief simplifies the western situation and (New York. 1976 J. pp.IS0-151] Thus. it wilJ be seen that Islam is a see nothing but hostility in the west­ (emphasis added). very rational, liberal and open reli- em situation. In the west. too, there gion. Evenin matter of race, colour are scholars. sociologists and politi­ Also. Ernest Gellner in his Muslim and territory it does not consider cal scientists who have great regard Society (Cambridge. 1981, p.7) anyone superior or inferior unlike for Islam. Robert N.Bellah, a noted says candidly: white racism in the west. The sociologist of reHgion. observes Qur'an says: about Islam: "By variouc; obvious criteria - uni­ versalism. scripturalism. spiritual "And of His signs is the creation of '·There is no question but that un­ egalitarianism. the extc::nsion of full the heavens and the earth and the der Muhammad. Arabian society participation in the -.acred commu­ diversity of your tongues and made a remarkable leap forward in nity not to one. or ... orne. but to all, colour. Surely, there arc signs in social complexity and political ca­ and the rational '-Y'tematisation of this for the lcamed."(30:22) pacity. When the structure that took social life - Islam is. of the three shape under the Prophet was ex­ great monotheisms. the one closest According to the Qur'an, the diver­ tended by early caliphs to provide to modernity." sities of colours and languages arc the organising principle for a world the signs of God to be cherished. empire. the result is something that Thus. about the \\c'>l also. let us not Thus, be it di.,ersity of religion. for its time and place is remarkably make simplistic judgemenL Differ­ tongues. race or colour. the Qur' an modern. It is modem in the high de­ ent sections of western society have welcomes it and makes them si!,'llS gree of commitmem, involvement. reacted differeml) to developmentS of Allah. This is the most modern and participation expected from the in the Islamic world. It should be attitude, in fact, the post-modernist rank-and-file members of the com­ noted that the prejudices against Is­ attitude. The west had all along munity. It is modern in the open­ lam in we!.tcm ~ociet) are more due been a mono-religious, mono-racial ness of its leadership positions to to political rivalry than religious society. It is in the post-modern pe­ ability judged on the universalistic doctrines. riod that it has realised the impor­ grounds and symbolised in the at­ tance of pluralism. Asian societies, tempt to institutionaJise a non-he­ In the medieval ages too. because on the other hand. had always been reditary top leadership. Even in the ofthe crusade - which too were po­ pluralistic and derived its strength earliest times certain constraints op­ litical in nature though apparently from this pluralism. erated to keep the community from fought on religiou') grounds, and the wholly exemplifying these prin­ power struggle in Spain. the Chris­ ISLAM AND THE WIST ciples. But it did so closely enough tian w_orld became prejudicia.l to­ The question then arises : why has to provide a better model for mod- wards Islam. The Musli.rru; and the

Aliran MonJhly /997· 17( 10) Page 30 Christians fought against each other sense of humiliation on the part of lained large reservoirs of oil so cru­ in several countrie!> both in the east Muslim.c; also added to the bitter­ cial to the western economy and the and the west. This generated a ness towards the west. There were war machine. Israel was consioered strong sense of rivalry between the some resistance movements in the its military outpost in the region and two communities. The legacy of early twentieth centw) which made therefore were backed to the hill by that prejudicial attitude has been re­ western colonialists think that Mus­ the USA. vived in our own times because of lims were violent and fanatics. In some developments in the Islamic the 1950s the Algerian liberation The Sbah of Iran also became a world. movement from French rule further guardian of western interests. He POLITICAL added to this image. was armed to the teeth by America. DEVELOPMENTS The Palestinians were also fighting It is a universal law that when the for their survival. ln the late 1970s Tt is very important to understand oppressors commit violence, it is the people of lean rose against the the political developments in the thought to be necessary and legiti­ US. The lead was given by contemporary Islamic world to mate. But when the oppressed fight AyatuUah Khomeini. The people of properly evaluate western attitudes for their legitimate rights they are Iran rose to a man under the lead­ towards Islam and the Islamic denounced as bloodthirsty mon­ ership of the Ayatollah. It Wn!> an world. Apart from the wars fought sters, aggressors, and fanatics. unprecedented uprising of the between Muslims and Christians in Some such things happened with people of a country against another the medieval period. nineteenth Muslim freedom tigbters during the country that indirectly sought to cenmry developments are also an twentieth century. As they used Is­ dominate iL important determinant of the west­ lamic ideology and political idioms, ern attitude towards Islam. The Islam also came to be condemned Naturally. American interests were western world coloniscJ the Islamic as violent, aggressive and fanatical. deeply hurt as the Shah was play­ world when it was passing through The medieval stereotypes about ll.­ ing an important role in safeguard­ a period of steep decline. There was Jam and Muslims were revived. ing these interests. And, as Islamic stasis in the Islamic society all ideology was invoked to mobilise round. Thus, it could be easily sub­ The developments in the Lc;lamic the people. the American media jugated by the western countries. world in the 1970s and 1980s are began to conjure up a picture of a The western world, owing to the also important in this respect. The militant Islam: an Islam that was capitalist revolution, bad acquired MiddJe East was in turmoil during again on the rise to subdue unbe­ more dynamism. and the colonies this period. The west wanted tore­ lievers. One headline of an America proved quite profitable, and the tain its political and military hege­ paper when the !raman revolution plunder and loot in Asian and Afri­ mony over this region as it con- was taking place was "Soldiers of can countries further strengthened the capitalist revolution in Europe.

The Muslims felt quite humiliated but could not measure up to the western political domination. The mutual conflicts and western con­ spiracies kept them divided and some of them even became collabo­ rators of the west. Jamal at-Din Afghani, the great thi~ker and dy­ namic leader also became victim of Turkish palace conspiracies and failed to unite the Islamic world Iagainst the Eastern domination. Th_e______

Alira11 Monrhly 1997: 17( 10) Page JJ Allah on lhe March''. Islam again tic about it. They maintained their communistic one. Or perhaps, the became associated with the sword studied distance from it. Other Mus­ west is always in need of some ex­ and bloodshed. lim countries like Indonesia, Ma- ternal ideological enemy. For years laysia, Bangladesh etc. never issued since the first world war. it was The tennfundamentalism began to any statement in its support. communism that was projected as be used. This term, in fact, w~ first an external enemy and since it was applied to certain American evan­ It is also important to understand no more, another ideological en­ gelists who believed the words of the real significance of the fatwa emy has to be invented and so Prof. Bible to be literally words of God. against Rushdie. It wa-; not sentenc­ Huntington invented one. Thus, it could hardly be applied to ing Rushdie to death that was im­ Huntington's proposition created a Islam as it is a fundamental belief portant. Rather, it was confronting controversy, and various western of Muslims that the Qur'an is the the west, which was seen by and Muslim scholars expressed dif­ word of God. Not only was this fun­ Khomeini and his supporters as fering views. damentalism applied in a pejorative denigrating and supplanting Islam sense. It suggested fanaticism and and imposing western imperialism Western scholars or bureaucrats are terrorism. over Islam. As pointed out before, not unanimous in their views. Dif­ NEGATIVE PORTRAYAL Iran was in revolutionary turmoil ferent academics and bureaucrats and was challenging western politi­ take different views. A !>ection of The western media's portrayal of ca1 hegemony. It was during this the western media is downright Islam created a strong impression period that the novel was published. hostile towards Islam and \-luslims. that Islam is militant and fanatic. lt was, naturally, seen by Khomeini It depicts Islam as fanatical and as This projection of Islam was far as a western conspiracy. The novel, a war-monger. militanC) being in­ from objective. In fact, all Muslim moreover, was published when Iran tegral to it. Even if any individual countries from Indonesia to Saudi was forced to sign the ceasefire Muslim indulges in 'ioience, it is Arabia were not united on any po­ treaty with Iraq. Khomeini was re­ projected as inspired by the tenets litical issue. These countries had ally in favour of continuing the war of Islam. The film media al.-;o ste­ different interests and their Islamic but was forced to agree to the reotypes I~ lam. Recentl) a fll.m The response was also shaped by their ceasefire. It was humiliating for him Executive Decision released by own political situations. Let alone and he felt demoralised. Thefatwa Warner Bros. resorted to such a ste­ all Islamic countries, the Arab uplifted his spirit and again gave reotyping about Islam. Protesting countries were not united in their him a cause to fight for. This agajnsl the depiction of Muslims in approach. Saudis differed from Ira­ polarised situation created further the film, Chandra Mu1affar of Ma­ qis and Iraqis from Syrians. The misunderstanding between the two laysia wrote to Warner Brothers on Gulf war of 1990 also divided the worlds. Thefatwa, needless to say 21 March 1996: Arab countries into two camps. only furthered the confrontation. Had the farv.:a not been issued, it ''It is this type of stereotyping that The Salman Rushdie affair also would not have caused so much aggravates relat1ons between the caused divisions or opinion. misunderstanding about Islam and Muslim world and the West. One Though all Muslims were united in Muslims. wonders why other communities condemning the novel Satanic which have also produced indi­ Verse, there was no unantmity Sometime ago Samuel Huntington, vidual 'terrorist!.' arc nut stereo­ among them about thefatwa issued a Harvard University professor pro­ typed in similar manner. Has one against Rushdie. However, the posed in one of his articles that af­ ever showed a Serb slitting the fatwa was used by the media to ter the collapse of communism, throat of a Cathohc Croat or a project a bloodthirsty image of Is­ there will be confrontation between Christian Bosniak \\ ith the Bible in lam. It was not made clear that the western and Islamic civilisations. one hand and a knife in another? fatwa had no universal support Perhaps in Huntmgton's view Is­ Are Irish Catholics as a community among the Muslims. The Arab lamic civilisation was as different depicted as a terrori

Aliran Momhly 1997: 17( TO) Pax~ 32 are Irish freedom fighters who have the image of Islam in the mind of Esposito concludes his paper with resorted to violence in pursuit of the average newspaper reader is the following observation : their cherished goal of indepen­ often one of an undifferentiated dence from Britain?. How different movement hostile to the west, and "Contemporary Islam is more of are Chechen freedom fighters from ready to use violence and terror­ a challenge than a threat. It chal­ Irish freedom fighters?" ism to achieve its ends". Mr. lenges the west to know and un­ Pelletreau also said that ...... we derstand the richness and diver­ Here it will be quite interesting to view Islam with great respect. Is­ sity of Islam and the Muslim ex­ quote the observations of Robert lam is one of history's civilising perience from North Africa to Pelletreau, Assistant US Secretary movements that have enriched South~ast Asia. Muslim govern­ of State for Near Eastern Affaire;, our own culture." ments are challenged to distin­ presented in a symposium on 26 guish between religious extrem­ May 1994. Among other things, Mr A CHALUNGE ists and moderates, to be more re­ Pelletreau said : In fact, there are scholars like sponsive to popular participation, Georgetown University professor to tolerate rather than repress op­ "In examining the impact of there­ John Esposito who refute position movements and surgence oflslam on these issues, I Huntington's thesis. ln a paper "Is­ organisations (including Islamic find that reasoned debate and de­ lam and the West" presented in To­ organisations and parties) and liberation is often muddled by con­ kyo in a symposium held on 14-15 build strong civil societies." fusion over terminology. The term December 1995, Esposito says: "Islamic fundamenTalism" is fre­ The Islamic world need not be un­ quently, and often imprecisely used " According to many western necessarily apprehensive of to refer to any number of Middle commentators, rslam and the Huntington's perspective. In fact East phenomena, ranging Crom the West are on a collision course. he should not be taken seriously at Saudi Arabian government to Mus­ Islam is a triple threat: political, aU. His understanding oflslam and lims seeking to reinterpret their demographic and religio-social. Islamic society is seriously flawed. faith in constructive ways. or to For some, the nature of the Is­ simplify their values or purify their lamic threat is intensified by the What is, however, important for lives or to protest corrupt govern­ linkage of the political and demo­ the Islamic world is to liberalise ments or corrupting western influ­ graphic. Much as observers in the and democratise and enshrine in ences, across the spectrum to past retreated to polemics and ste­ their constitution the real essence groups that claim religious motives reotypes of Arabs, Turks. Mus­ of Islamic values as set out in the to justify acts of terrorism and vio­ lims rather than address the spe­ beginning of this paper. Islamic lence. It bears being used with req­ cific cause of conflict and con­ scholars, specially the 'ulama, uisite caution." frontation, today, we are witness­ will also have to engage them­ ing the perpetuation or creation selves seriously in 'de­ He further said that :"In the United of a new myth. The impending medievalising Islam'. Islam's States public concern has been confrontation between Islam and concern for human fellowship, raised by the World Trade Centre the West is presented as part of a justice. peace, equality and plu­ bombing. by attacks against for­ historical pattern of Muslim bel­ ralism will have to be re­ eigners in Egypt and Algeria, and ligerency and aggression, a his­ emphasised. After all 'ad/, ihsan, by the rhetoric and actions of Iran toric clash of civilisations. Past rahmah and hikmah Gustice, be­ and Libya. In our media. references images of Christian west turning nevolence, compassion and wis­ to Islam and Islamic fundamental­ back the threat of Muslim armies dom) are the key words of the ism tend to be found most oflen in to overturn the West are conjured Qur'an. These key words are as reports on political violence, ethnic up and linked to current realities abiding as our planet. 0 strife, or acts of terrorism." by governments or groups as di­ verse as those of Turkey and Source : Asian Muslim Action He continued, ''In tills context, Bosnian Serbs." Network (AMAN).

A/iran Monthly 1997: 17(10) Page 33 teguran demi teguran yang dibuat, malah sekali bertindak menyalahgunakan wang hampir 10 juta pekerja yang dijangka meningkat kepada RM200 bilion menjelang 2000. Apa yang lebih mendukacitakan, kerajaan menggunakan hard earned money golongan pekerja ontuk men yclamatkan korporat-korporat besar milik jutawan dan billionaire yang disenaraikan di BSKL, termasuk anak YAB Perdana Menteri, Mirt.an Mahatbir. di mana syarik.at yang beliau mempunyai kepentingan di dalarnnya mengalami kerugian terbesar.

Nasional Berhad. Bagi pihakkaurn pekerja dan rakyat PINYAI.AIIGUNAAII II tertindas yang semakin tidak WANeKWIP Tindakan melambakkan wang kaum kedengaran suara mereka di dalam M,..,....lllllqat Kqgtltt pekcrja ke dalam pelaburan yang ncgara yang digambarkan YAB DGio' Anwulllrahillt Sui sedang mcngalami krisis dan sangat dcmolcratikinL Per-;dangan Rakya1 terdedah kepada kerugian besar Membantab Penyalahgunaan Wang KumpuJan Wang Simpanan Pekerja adalab bertentangan denganjaminan K WSP pada 12 Ok:tober 1997 di City (KWSP) merupakan scbuab institusi untuk menyelamatkan wang yang Villa. Jalan Haji Hw.sein, Kuala yang bertanggungjawab untuk diamanabkan oleh para pekerja dari Lumpur. mendesak kernjaan supaya: mcnjanrin keselamatan sosial hari pelaburan berisiko tinggi. tua para pckerja. Seperti yang • Tidak menyalabgunakan wang dijamin oleh kerajaan, dasar Tindakan kerajaan, mengulangi pekerja di dalam KWSP. pelaburan KWSP ialah untuk penyalabgunaaa wang KWSP amat • Mengadakan referendum di mengimbangi antara dasar dikcsalimemandangkansebelum ini kalangan pencarum KWSP bcrkhidmat dan usaha memperolehi kerajaan telah pun ditegur apabila sebelum membuat keputusan keuntungan di dalam pelaburannya menggunakan wang KWSP menggunakan wang mereka untuk dengan risiko yang boleh diterima. sebanyak RM600 juta untuk pelaburan yang diyakini umum Ini bertujuan supaya tabung amanab menyelamatkan Perwaja Steel yang merugikan mereka yang diuruskan itu adalab selamat mengalami kerugian pada tahun • Memberi tumpuan kepada dan tidak dilaburkan dalam 1996 selepas pi njaman sebanyak langkab yang lebib menjamin pelaburan yang berisiko tinggi. RM130 juta diberikan kepada ckonomi negara daripada syarikat yang sama pacla Labun 80- menyelamatlan segelintir Mengambil kira jaminan kerajaan an. kapitalis eli BSKL di dalam usaba itu, kami amat pribatin dan him bang mcmulihkan ekonomi negara. dengan tindakan kerajaan Kerajaan juga pemab ditegur apabila • Mcngkaji semula pcncrusan menyalabgunakan wang KWSP wang KWSP digunakan untuk sejumlab projek mega walaupon sebagai sebahagian dari suntikan Projek Bakun di mana KWSP sesudab negara dapat mengatasi berjumlah RM60 bilion untuk bersama-sama Hicom Berhad kemelut ekonomi. membantu Bursa Sabam Kuala diumukan menanggong 49 peratus • Menghentikan retorik yang tidak Lumpur (BSK.L) yang mengalami dari pembiayaan projek tersebut. bermanfaat dalam menangani kejatuhan teruk akibat krisis mata masaJah ekonomi negara. wang baru-baru ini, selain dana dari Kerajaan bukan sahaja tidak • Mcngamal.kan ketelusan di dalam Khazanab Holding:; dan Pennodalan membcrikan perhatian kepada pentadbiran kerajaan terutama

A/iran Momhly 1997: 17(10) Page 34 I yang berkaitan dengan wang or- fied- no matter how painful this pro­ as the Barisan Nasion a) resort::; to the 1 ang ramai seperti tabung KWSP. cess may be - if we are to seek long­ TSA to detain people, Malaysians term solution:.. will remain scepticaJ about the le­ Keprihatinan kcrajaan terhadap gitimacy of their detentions and the kebimbangan dan cadangan kami Currency speculation, fortune-hunt­ government's avowed goal of akan menjadi ukuran kepada sikap ing and profiteering are not the mo­ achieving a civil society. patriotiknya kepada negara ini. nopoly of any one ethnic group. In­ Sekian. deed, greed defies colour, creed and Atiran therefore urges the govern­ boundaries. ment to release these citizens imme­ Ditandalmrglllli oleh: diately or charge them in an open Hqji Mohamod bin St.Wu (Pengerusi Playing the 'racial card' will only court, where they will have the right Persidangan merunglulp ah/i, compound the problems that we are to defend themselves. Parlimen Kubang Kerion. PAS), facing. As is clearly evident in the Syed HIUin Ali (Prr:rillen PRM), la\t few days, it in\'ites unnecessary A/iran Executive Committee Prrsiden ( PerStJIIIOn KebturgSDIJII negative attention and critictsm. lo­ 5 November 1997 Pelcerjo-Pelerja. Perusohtlan Alai­ cally and abroad. Alai Pengtmglultm dim Sekulu). S ArultcJrelvon (S1111rom), P Rama­ Finally, we hope that Malaysians, es­ krilllllan (Presiden AUran), N Marimuthu {Seliau:raha Agong pecially tbt: powers-that-be, will tackle our economic problems so­ FOJICA). Fan YR~ Teng (Beklu Ahli Parlinten), Salumuldin berly and rationally. ll4dtlruddm (~tiau•aha Agong The Education Ministry's recent di­ ABIM) Aliran Executive Committee rective to muzzle academics who 12 Otlol¥r 1997 16 October 1997 have been voicing informed views about the smog and other environ­ mental issues is regrettable and dis­ appointing. It is also undemocratic II and goes against the spirit of intel­ I ~!S' 1111 -=--=- lectual freedom. Aliran docs not see AI iran is perturbed to learn that yet how such a gag order can help the As a non-goverrunentaJ organisation again the ISA has been used to de­ tourism industry. that strives to promote justice and prive two Malaysian citizens of their inter-ethnic harmony. AHran is con­ right to defend themselves in accor­ Academics, by the very nature of cerned that current mainstream dis- dance with natural justice. their profession. are expected to pur­ course on the currency speculation sue truth and share their findings and the economic crisis in the coun­ UstazAbdullah Hassan, a PAS mem­ with society, no matter how painful try seems to have assumed raciaJ ber from Pendang, Kedah, and they may be. In this way, academics overtones. Paharuddin Mustapha. a former Parti are being socially responsible and Rakyat MaJay.,ia activist from Bukit relevant. and are helping to build Although we are equally disturbed Mertajam, Penang, have become the an informed society. by the economic woes that the coun­ latest victim~ of this cruel and un­ try is now facing, we feel that point­ just law. They were detained on the Academics doing serious research ing a ftnger at a certain ethnic group night of 3 November 1997, soon af­ and publicising their findings should as the alleged source of our eco­ ter the I Oth anniversary of the infa­ be appreciated instead of being nomic woes i<> misplaced and ITUS­ mous Operation Lallang. blamed for damaging the tourism Ieading. industry. The idea'> and arguments of It is a shame that the grounds for academics need to be known so that If anything, it may prevent us from their detention remain a mystery. others can debate their findings. U conducting our own soul-searching. There are adequate laws in the coun­ the findings are speculative and er­ The underlying causes of our eco­ try to charge any citizen who may roneous, !bey should be challenged I nomic problems need to be identt- have fallen foul of the law. As long professionaJJy in an academic or - ----

A/iran Momhly /997: 17(10 ) Pap,~ 35 public forum so that more accurate society. Aliran, therefore, urges the 1987. 106 Malay,;ans were detained I reports can emerge. Cabinet ro immediately revoke this in an ISA crackdown against dissi­ directive in the national interest. dent voices - an indelible blot in the Instead of a gag order, the Cabinet human rights record of Prime Min­ should take up the smog issue seri­ Gan Kong Hwee ister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ad­ ously with the Indonesian authori­ Aliran Executive Committee ministration. ties. Rather than blaming academ­ 7 November 1997 ic!., the Government should demand One wonder!> if the recent TSA ar­ compensation from the Indonesians resrs is a prelude to a larger crack­ for the losses suffered by the Ma­ down that will include Malaysians laysian economy as a result of lhe of other ethnic and religious back­ smog, and for the harmful effects it grounds who have been critical of has had on the health ofMalaysians . official policies. We, the undersigned. are alarmed at The Cabinet should not deceive it­ the spate of arrest<; under the Inter­ We call on the Malaysian Govern­ self and mislead the people about the nal Security Acr in recent days. So ment to respect the basic human real reason for the collapse of the far, I 0 Malaysians have reportedly rights of its citiLens. Those held tourism industry. The industry is suf­ been held under this harsh iaw, should be immediately released or fering not because of academics' which allows for indefinite detention charged in an open coun. views but because of the smog. The without trial. smog also continues to threaten the general health of the people of this We call on the government to charge ENltmetJ by: region. It is unfair and a travesty of those detained in court ifit has proof I. AWgQJ. 2 Ali,_ 3. ~for justice to single out academics and that lhey were involved in violent Ottag Asli ~ (COAC). 4. brand them as alarmist when they are activitie:.. Islam, like all other reli­ Comlrumity ~ Cetrt~ (CDC). 5. hwntlllioiiGI Mo-..'eiMPII trying to explain to the people how gions, upholds freedom of religion for " }lUI Hbrld (JUST), 6. Nodi best to protect themselves from the and insist<~ on justice for all individu­ KIJIIIUIIIiktui, 1. Plll'li /WytJl MIJ. risks posed by the :,mog and irs long­ als. It is ironic that the ISA is appar­ /taylitl (PRMJ, B. IW'flli41Sj'or OJm­ term effect-; on their health. ently being used to protect Islam lffllllily~ ~COSJ. 9. when that same law goes against the PIISOl SARA. 10 hMII KowJs. 11. The Cabinet should be ashamed of core of the religion. The lSA denies Selangor Chin~u Assembly Hall itself for issuing such an absurd di- justice to the accused, and this vio­ (Youth Section). 12. Sisters in Is­ recti ve. Academics, it must be lates the concept ofjustice espoused lam, I J. Socrn, for Cltristian R~· stressed, are not in the business of in Islam and all other spiritual faiths. jkctiott. 14. SManr llDtyat Makly· riii(SUARAMJ. 15. Tlfiii8Giibo, 16. churning out only 'positive' evalu- This is what makes the ISA an im­ Ullifed Cltbwe SdtDo& Association ations or conclusionc;. It seems rather moral and evil law. of Malaysia. 17. Urdt«< Chrnese silly to try lo han alarming news or Scltooh T•aclwn Auociatiolf of 'negative' views in this era of If the so-called offences are related Malaysia, Ill at 19. DAPSI: 20. globalisation, when information to the Islamic faith, why haven ·t the SACCESS crosses borders in split seconds. accused been charged in the Shariah II Nut1embu 1997 These views will still be accessible couns? 1s it because the Shariah to those who seek them. Silencing courts would demand more stringent bad news will not make problems go evidence, which the government is away and may in!>tead only encour­ unable to provide, for their alleged age baseless speculation. Further­ 'deviationist teachings'? more, if we gag academics, how can we possibly tum Malaysia into a cen­ The recent detentions have come just Aliran supports the Malaysian tre of educational excellence? over a week after human rights government's stand in refusing to workers and political activists ob­ yield to the US pressure over The Cabinet gag-order is a step back­ served the JO'h anniversary of Op­ Petronas· investments in iran. We wards in our quest towards a civil eration Lallang on 27 October. In cannot condone the US' attempts to

All ran Monthl) 1997: 17( 10) Page 36 infringe on our country's sover- must also be curbed. press, particularly on the smog. cigmy. Third. if it is a universal principle The Ministry's secretary-generaJ, Dr A sovereign country such as MaJay­ that a UN member country that vio­ Johari Mat, assured everyone that the sia should have the right to choose lates human rights and democratic new circular was not meant to gag its trading and investment partners, norms must be slapped with eco­ academics. But by prescribing the especially since the International nomic sanctions, then Israel, the US' restrictive procedure that academics Monetary Fund, World Bank and the closest ally in West Asia, must also have to go through before they can major industrialised countries have face world condemnation and trade voice their informed opinions, rhe been promoting sanctions. Israel Ministry is effectively and subtly trade libcralisation MALAYSIA BOLEH has. for many curbing academic freedom. and globaJisation. years, been mis­ Malaysia Boleb treating the Pales­ For one. to remind academics that We appreciate the Malaysia Bole tinians and violat­ their findings must be verified by usefulness and po­ Malaysia Bol ing the sover­ peers and 'cleared by research spon­ litical vaJue of eco­ Malaysia Do eignty of its Arab sors' before being publicised is re­ nomic sanctions MalaysiaB neighbours. ally to monitor and to restrict the mounted by the Malaysia intellectuaJ activities of the academ­ world community, Malaysi Fourth. if a coun­ ics. This implies that they have to through the United Malays try is given the lib­ receive theapprovaJ of others before Nations, against Malay erty to unilaterally they can speak out. Invariably, they any nation guilty Mala impose its own would have to get the clearance of of blatant human Mal domestic laws on the authorities as many academic rights abuses or Ma other coumries, research projects are funded by gov­ violations of M the world will be- ernment or government-related bod­ democnttic norms. Lali/Ksntahuldm come a chaotic ies. All this means that academics But the US' ideo- Peltlllfg and dangerous stiJJ do not have the right to articu­ logical and eco- place to live in. It late their views independent! y. nomic fight with iran is rather dif­ will be a world where might is right. ferent and problematic, politically Second, the Ministry's empha<;i~ on and ideologically. Finally, for as long as the United 'quality findings· can be equated States cherishes it hegemonic ten­ with the kind of research that only For one, Iran seems to be one of the dencies and refuses to resolve its provides good tidings. We would countries singled out by the US double standards, itc; constant call to argue that a responsible piece of re­ mainly because of the former's in­ uphold human rights and democracy search is one that relentlessly pur­ dependent stance on many interna­ around the world, particularly in de­ sues truth without fear or favour. tional issues that runs counter to US veloping countries, sounds rather geopolitical interests. hollow. Third, the new circular once again insults the intelligence of academ­ Second, ifit U. true that Iran poses a Dr Mustafa K Anuar ics as it implies that they are not military threat to West Asia jn par­ Executive Committee Member aware of their responsibility to their ticular and the world in geneml, then 11 November 1997 profession and to their country. the UN General Assembly and other regional groupings must take the aao•_... 1f anything, the latest circular may country to task. Similarly, the US, ACADIMIC ...t once again provide ample fodder for with its political and military clout, tomorrow's headlines in the interna­ can be deemed a threat to world tional media and invite unnecessary peace. and therefore also needs to be Ali ran is perturbed by the Education criticism and cynicism. closely monitored by the world body. Ministry's seemingly relentless ef­ The bullying tactics of the United forts to gag academics from commu­ Aliran Executive Committee States in the UN Security Council nicating with the public through the 15 November 1997

Aliran Monthly 1997: 17(10) Pag~ 37 ABOLISH THE /SA continued trom page 40 in the "Operasi Lalang·· crackdown, Emergency (Public Order and Pre­ Consistent with that. they have re­ which started on 27 October 1987. vention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 pealed completcl:r in 1994 their Those arrests included persons such was enacted followed by the Dan­ identicallSA which was used regu­ as the Leader of the Opposition and gerous Drugs (Special Preventive larly to detain their citizens. a wide range of political. religious, Measures) Act in 1985. These Jaws social and environmental activbts. have also been used to detain thou­ We therefore call upon the govern­ No credible evidence of any wrong sands of Malaysians without trial for ment to: doing bas ever been produced alleged criminal offences. They vio­ a) repeal the ISA and all otherlaws agai11st those detained as with all Late the most basic of moral and hu­ allowing for detention without trial: other !SA detainees in the past. The man rights precepts - that no one b) release all detainees held under detainees were simply the victims of should be punished without clear such Jaws or charge them in open the iron claws of politicians abusing public proof in a court. Our criminal court for any alleged offences. 0 power entrusted to them. justice system is completely contra­ dictory and discriminatory- we give 7. We stand here today to remem­ alleged murderers and rapists a trial ber all physical, mental and other - but detain without compunction abuses inflicted on all the detainees thousands of others without trial in the pasL Detainees have been kept Detention periods under these laws in the past for long periods in soli­ arc also lengthy and punitive. The tary confinemem without access to detentions are under the complete lawyers. family members or friends control of the police and the Minis­ and subjected to physical and men­ try of Home Affairs. Since there is tal torture. no public scrutiny of the detentions by the courts, one can expect much n.,._, a~,..,,.,_,_tor 8. In Malaysia. our government abuse to happen to the detainees and 41111tflfllld(JU81) H lf.. p,_n.le has detained people without trial for their families. U11U1a QtaJ~ -tiiFUC) lS.:NIIfll continuous periods of up to sixteen ~· ~/!WCI. ,..., years. Such detentions are a shame 11. We stand collectively here to­ ~(MCQII 11h!tl,., in our history akin to the injustices day to demand that the Malaysian ~(au) 1,.,., B~J~qat Ma­ perpetrated by the apartheid regime government rid our beloved country ,_fHAil ~~~p_,. in South Africa using an identical or the shame and injustice perpe­ ZO.P#IIpl•~ ,.,.,_ Orp.UIIIift ISA againsr its own people. trated by the existence and use of 2l.hr'fM ~ ~011 such laws. Not only must we remove ~ ...... ~ 9. We stand here to honour andre- these laws, we must also remove Ar­ 23.Pil1tlt BIIM 'l4.PIIMI KOIIIAS member every person who has been tide 149 of our Constitution which 2S.s.l4lrgor ~~&II. detained without trial as a victim of gives legitimacy to such obnoxious (Jbld .s.aiMJ 35 S.IR'l,ttll Mil FM· human rights violation. Not only b. laws. Our moral exhortations to and •'* ~ Ctn rr !'II .t.JciMilllr he or she made a victim. his or her condemnations of other countries in 21.s.p ...,_..,..,. (SUAJIAM) family and loved ones are all made the world must be backed by con­ :z&SMnRiqcPeJfiwitSWPJ 29.T..O victims. And through fear- the main sistent actions in our own country. swon G..,.,. for H..., Bisltts purpose of the TSA and other simi- JQ.JU,g...,. :l.f f!/fiiMl Ctiwu lar laws - our society is also made a 12. We ask our government to emu­ SdulttiU ~ of~ victim. late what the South African nation Jl UIIW~,.,_.,..._nA.t- has proudly accomplished very re­ ~~ JMII'IM .u.&­ cently. The people of South Africa 10. Although it is the most infa­ ~h:Mctl~M~(I,f,M~ mous law, the TSA is unfortunately have repealed their previous apart­ -~ J.S: 'urql~l ....~ not the only law in Malaysia that al­ heid constitution and have promul­ ,.,.,._..,.,tJSPBJ J6.~ lows the government to detain gated a new constitution based on ~~P--) people without trail. ln 1969, the equality with guarantees of freedom.

Alira11 Month/.v 1997: 17(10) PUJ:t! 38 within the fennent that wa.c; oc- he had the opportunity to meet ' cuning in Malaysia in the late "some of the best people in Ma­ 1980s. More recently, he had laysia then" - people who stood feared that a new crackdown was by him. people who invoked re­ imminent due to the economic spect. honourable Malaysians. crisis triggered by the collapse of the currency and stock markets It was a moving, emotional ex­ and to the political hedging go­ perience. Outside, the heavy rain ing on within UMNO. A new pelted down on the lush green crackdown could occur, he said - grounds of the rest-house as if , a point Syed Husin had also men­ to bless the occasion. And indeed. tioned. most of us returned home that af- ternoon with a renewed sense of Julian, who chaired the forum, determination to continue our made his own commentc; between fight against the draconian Inter­ speakers. The only "good thing" nal Security Act- until it is finally about detention, he said, was that repealed. 0

MANSUHKAh' · S · A

Watching you watching us : the awhorities kepi a watchful eye on the crowd.

An emotwnaf experience : ex-detainees recoUIItlileir experiences tfuring detetllion at a forum after lunch.

AliranMonrltfy 1997: 17(10) Page 39 delJI11 its violation. Any per$011 with any sense of moral right wiU agree that detention without trial is an im­ moral and cruel practice. It means the severe punishment of detention is handed out without having to prove any offence. Since detention without trial means that there is no access to court or lawyers., frequently the detainee is subjected to mental and physical torture. For authoritar~ ian leaders, detention without trial is very convenient for instilling fear and controlling a people.

Unfortunately. after our country's independence in 1957, our own leaders imitated their British e, the following listed independence. The British then de­ predecessors, then recreated laws organisations and indi­ tained thousands of nationalists like the ISA in 1960 allowing them viduals gathered here to­ fighters without trial and also ex­ to detain a person indefinitely with­ day in front of the Kamunting De­ ecuted some of them. out trial. The ISA was then used to tention Centre in Perak on the 26'h detain and abuse thousands of our October 1997 say and declare as fol­ 3. Laws such as the ISA which al­ people of all races, religions and lows: low the government to use the po­ walks of life in the last few decades. I. The Internal Security Act 1960 lice to detain a person indefinitely In the sixties, the labour movement (IS A) and all other laws which pro­ without trial would not have been and political opposition were at­ vide for detention without trial are tolerated by British citizens at home. tacked systematically using the ISA. obnoxious and oppressive instru­ But of course. a foreign and ln the seventies. besides trade union­ ments of state maintained by the rul­ colonised population was another ists and political activists, leaders of ing government as instruments of maner. the then active student movements control over our public life and civil were also attacked using this law. society. 4. Internationally accepted human rights standards an recognise that 6. The use of the lSA has contin­ 2. Similar laws like the ISA giv­ one of the most important protec­ ued through the eighties and nine­ ing power to detain without trial tions for individuals' liberty and per­ ties. We stand here today on the 10th were first enacted by our British sonal protection is the right not to anniversary of an infamous round of colonisers to oppress, intimidate and be detained or punished in any way arresL'i of over a hundred Malaysians control our people in their struggles without a fair and public trial. All the during the earlier part of this cen­ major religions which are practised CONTINUED tury against British exploitation of in Malaysia recognise this very ba­ ON PAGE ••• our resources and in our fight for our sic and fundamental right and con-

A/iran Monthly /997: 17(10) Page 40