For Justice, Freedom & Solidarity PP3739/12/2010(025927) ISSN 0127 - 5127 RM4.00 2010:Vol.30No.4

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 1 COVER STORY Restoring the Third Vote, reclaiming our democracy

If the Local Government Act stands in the way, then it must go. It is not because we are lawless but because we value democracy by Tan Pek Leng

he fate of local elections City Council TT in is a sad re- TTT flection of the state of democracy in the coun- try. Never having had the chance to be firmly rooted, it was rudely trampled upon when it attempted to grow, leaving it mangled, hidup segan mati tak mahu.

A testimony of our failed state is how our democratic rights are reversed rather than advanced. The third vote, our constitu- tional birth right as a nation, was forcibly taken away - no, not in the interest of the citi- zenry, but as a political expedi- ency by the ruling coalition to ernments from the restrictions The question is: why are we al- cripple the legitimate Opposi- imposed by Section 15 of the same lowing ourselves to be dictated by tion. More than half a century act and thus allow them to invoke a piece of legislation of such ques- after Independence, we are bat- the LGEA to restore local elec- tionable legitimacy? tling to get back to square one – tions?” to get back this third vote. A look at the process that culmi- This legal conundrum appears to nated in the promulgation of the Much of the recent discourse on have got the State LGA will lay bare the many anti- how to restore local elections re- Governments tangled in knots for democratic acts that abetted it. volves around what the law al- a while. The and lows and what it doesn’t. “Does state governments attempted to cut Thirteen years Section 15 of the Local Govern- the Gordian Knot by asking the of local elections ment Act 1976 (LGA) override the Elections Commission (EC) to Local Government Election Act conduct local elections in their It is the height of irony that the 1960 (LGEA) and thus prohibit all respective states, only to be told Umno-MCA coalition (the precur- local elections?” “Does Section 1 by the EC that this would be sor to the Umno-MCA-MIC Alli- of the LGA exempt the State Gov- against the law. ance and subsequently the

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE

Bring back local council elections! That’s the theme of Tan Pek Leng’s cover story exploring the quest to CONTENTS reclaim our democracy. If the Local Government Act stands in the way, then it must go, she says; it is not because we are lawless but because we value our COVER STORY democracy. ••• Restoring The Third Vote 222 ••• Local Gov't Polls Can Be Held 888 Actually, a team of legal experts have advised the Penang government that it is legally possible to hold FEATURES local government elections, reports Francis Loh. The ••• Penang's Red Letter Day For Penang government will now have to decide Democracy...... 101010 whether to seek a court declaration on the issue. ••• Penang's Speakers' Square: A Step Forward...... 131313 The quest for democracy received a boost with the ••• Climate Warming: The Present outcome of the by-election. Ngu Ik Tien inter- Original Sin?...... 141414 views a couple of Sarawakians on the implications ••• Zunar, The Multifaceted of the result. Before polling day, Ik Tien had cor- Cartoonist...... 191919 rectly detected the shift in voter sentiment among ••• Whither The Sibu Chinese Voters? 282828 ordinary Sibu residents who were seeking change. ••• The DAP Night in Sibu: An Observation...... 292929 Another milestone in the struggle was recorded in ••• I Help You, You Help Me...... 313131 Penang, where a Speakers’ Square was launched ••• Komtar's International on 4 May. Angeline Loh reports on the historic oc- Community Marketplace...... 323232 casion while Toh Kin Woon describes it as a step ••• The Battle For Thailand...... 343434 forward. Another fairly new attraction in Penang ••• Reflections On The Sibu has to be the ‘Asean community market’ in Komtar, By-Election...... 404040 where migrants from the region have set up a vi- brant hive of community shops and local businesses. REGULARS ••• Thinking Allowed 242424 The struggle for democratic space is also visible in ••• Current Concerns 383838 the arts. CY interviews cartoonist extraordinaire Zunar, who hopes to generate more young artists OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS who can shape history through their cartoons. ••• Subscription Form 181818 ••• An Evening With Aliran 393939 But the world as we know it could be history if we don’t do something about global warming. Tissa Balasuriya calls on the various world religions to work Published by together to prevent the crisis from getting worse. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)(ALIRAN)(ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Aliran is an organisation for ‘social democratic reform’. We advocate freedom, justice and Penang, Malaysia. solidarity; comment critically on social issues, offer Tel: (04) 658 5251 Fax: (04) 658 5197 analysis and alternative ideas keeping in mind Email (Letters to Editor): the national and global picture based on universal [email protected] human rights and spiritual values. We are listed on the on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of Email (General): [email protected] the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran Homepage : http://www.aliran.com welcomes all above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Konway Industries Sdn. Bhd. Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kampung Jawa, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 3 ) first laid claim vote but more than double the to fame in the 1952 number of seats. Gerrymandering municipal elections, when it won was already well entrenched nine of the 11 seats. The Alliance within a few years of Indepen- continued to perform well for the dence. next few years because the oppo- sition parties had yet to consoli- Having the upper hand in the date themselves. The tide began numbers game did not satisfy the to turn by the end of 1956, how- Alliance; it irked them that the ever, when the Alliance suffered choice urban councils were out of unexpected defeats in local elec- their grasp. First, the Penang City tions in Penang and Melaka. The Council in 1958; then, the Melaka Penang debacle, in which the Al- Municipal Council in 1961; fol- liance failed to win a single of the lowed by the Seremban, Kluang eight seats contested, was attrib- and Bentong Municipal Councils uted primarily to the harsh action in 1963 came under the control of taken to crush the Chung Ling DS Ramanathan: First Mayor of the SF. The PPP had also taken a High School students’ protest PenangPenangPenang firm grip on Ipoh by 1961. Under against the conversion of their the pretext of the volatile political school into a national-type school. The Alliance achieved a similar climate engendered by the Con- apparent triumph in the Kuala frontation with Indonesia, the Al- The downward slide continued Lumpur local elections of 1958, liance Government suspended and by the December 1957 local winning three out of four wards. local elections on 1 March 1965. polls, the Socialist Front (SF) – a However, the total opposition The Speaker refused to allow a coalition of the Labour Party of votes in the four wards were motion by the SF Members of Par- Malaya (LPM) and the Party greater than the Alliance votes. liament calling for a debate on the Rakyat Malaya (PRM) – had Once again, dissipation of votes issue. gained enough seats to take over among the opposition parties had the Penang City Council. In this handed the victory to the ruling But this supposedly precarious series of local elections, the Alli- coalition. Overall, the Alliance political situation had not pre- ance garnered 18 seats, less than took 43 of the 57 contested seats vented the government from hold- half of the 37 contested. A year as well as 19 unopposed ones in ing state and parliamentary elec- later, the trend was reversed, with the 1958 series of local elections. tions in 1964. The Alliance the Alliance doing better than they realised that the Opposition was themselves expected, clinching On the face of it, this ostensible better able to win control of local victory in four of the five contested Alliance dominance continued councils than state or parliamen- seats in Penang. But how credible through to the 1960s – with them tary constituencies and was cer- were these wins? The names of so winning 430 seats to the tainly not keen to allow them free many previously registered voters Opposition’s 148 in the 1961 lo- play on these platforms. were missing from the electoral cal elections and 449 seats to the rolls in George Town, Butterworth Opposition’s 184 in 1963. Exam- War of attrition and that the EC ining the popular vote garnered, contemplated postponing the though, tells an entirely different The foul means adopted by the elections for these councils. To be story. In 1961, the Alliance ob- Alliance to stem the challenge of fair, though, the raising of assess- tained 218,428 of the votes cast the Opposition was not limited to ment rates by the SF-controlled compared to 227,104 for the Op- electoral sleight of hand. Deten- Penang City Council and the position; in 1963, it was 251,970 tion without trial put many expe- splitting of opposition votes by votes for the Alliance versus rienced cadres of the SF (then the the People’s Progressive Party 263,000 votes for the Opposition. strongest opposition party) out of (PPP) contributed to the Alliance In both cases, the Alliance had action, threw the party success. won less than half the popular organisation into disarray and

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 4 in Singapore with the arrest of This was combined with the ban- more than 120 political lead- ning of certain divisions and ers and trade unionists; branches of the Front. The con- • in March and June 1964, at the tinuous lopping off of the leader- height of the Confrontation ship echelons left the with Indonesia, when Malay organisational structure of the leaders from the SF and Pas LPM, in particular, in shambles were the main targets, but and a combination of bans on po- many LPM state and branch litical grounds and deregi- level leaders were also nabbed; strations on administrative tech- • in the early months of 1966 nicalities reduced the number of when about 50 LPM and PRM LPM branches from 224 in 1967 cadres were arrested (SF had to 24 by 1972. The party was fi- split up in December 1965); nally deregistered by order of the • on 25 October 1966, when Registrar of Societies on 6 Septem- about 100 members of LPM ber 1972. Hasnul Hadi: Socialist Front and PRM were arrested fol- lowing demonstrations Eleven years of weakened its capacity to play a organised by the two parties suspension meaningful part in the electoral against US President Lyndon process. The first mass arrest of Johnson during his visit to Ma- Suspending local elections may political opponents took place laysia. Between 1966 and 1968, have prevented the Opposition only a little more than a year after an estimated 250 protests and from making further inroads into Merdeka, on 1 October 1958, with demonstrations were held in the local councils, but it did not the detention of 109 persons. various parts of the country, return the “lost” councils to the each to be met with repression Alliance. How more efficiently The situation did not improve af- and arrests; can they wrest back these coun- ter the end of the Emergency in • on 9-14 November 1968, when cils than by Executive decree? 1960 as the Internal Security Act some 140 LPM, PRM and trade Whether it was legitimate did not (ISA) was introduced to allow the union cadres were detained enter into the discussion. The case government to continue the prac- following the confessions of of Penang was instructive. tice of detention without trial. SF former LPM National Chair- leaders and members were fre- man Koh Kay Cham and As- D S Ramanathan, former Chair- quent victims of the ISA through- sistant Secretary-General Loh man of LPM and the first Mayor out the 1960s, in big operations or Yuen Wah upon their release of Penang, peeved with the party small. Among the instances of from ISA detention. As in 1967, by 1963, accused the SF-controlled mass arrests that targeted large not a month passed in 1968 City Council of corruption and numbers of SF, in particular LPM, without the detention of dissi- malpractices. The Alliance gov- members were those executed: dents. ernment could not move against • in the aftermath of the May 13 the council yet as it was still firmly • between November 1960 and riots of 1969, when the govern- in the grip of the SF. The opportu- February 1961, with a total of ment once again found the ex- nity arose in January 1966 when 60 persons arrested, including cuse to decimate the LPM and the SF lost control of the council SF leaders and local council- PRM further through arrests of after another of its former stal- lors; their leaders and members. warts and Penang Mayor, Ooi • in December 1962, when more Thiam Siew, quit the party and the than 50 persons were arrested The arrests were systematically PRM councillor chose to align throughout Malaya as a pre- and strategically deployed to de- with him. lude to the formation of Malay- prive the SF of its leaders and sia and the Operation Cold more experienced cadres at the It was a godsend for Chief Minis- Store, which decimated the Left national, state and branch levels. ter, Wong Pow Nee, who immedi-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 5 ately constituted a commission to President. This was a very signifi- eral Government appointed a inquire into the allegations cant appointment as the Presi- Cabinet Committee to study the brought forth by Ramanathan, al- dent, Hasnul Hadi of the SF, was implications of the Athi though he had professed that he then in detention. But the defec- Nahappan Report. The Commit- could offer no evidence for them. tions were not sufficient to deprive tee was also a disappointment to On 1 July 1966, three days before the SF of their control over the the Government because it en- the commission was to commence council. The final coup took place dorsed most of the recommenda- its probe, Wong Pow Nee an- in September 1966 with the take- tions of the Commission, includ- nounced that the State Govern- over of the council by the Melaka ing the one on local elections. ment would take over the func- State Government. tions of the City Council. The com- The Alliance Government went mission completed its inquiry in The respective State Governments for a third strike: instructing the November 1967 and found that similarly imposed their illegiti- Development Administration “although there were irregulari- mate hold over the Seremban, Unit (DAU) of the Prime Minister’s ties and inefficiencies in the Johore Bharu and Bentong Mu- Department to undertake a further council’s administration, there nicipal Councils – the takeover of study. The pliant DAU, in 1971, was no hard evidence of outright the Melaka and Bentong Councils advocated setting aside the rec- occurring after the official termi- ommendations of the Athi nation of Confrontation in Au- Nahappan Commission. With gust 1966. this spurious justification, the LGA was drafted and passed into Further, the end of the Confronta- law in 1976. tion did not mean the end of the suspension of local elections al- By that time, most of the opposi- though the conflict was the sole tion parties had been co-opted into reason cited for putting them on the Barisan Nasional (BN), hold. The clamour in Parliament formed in 1973, and there was no and State Assemblies for the effective voice left to raise objec- bribery”. reinstitution of local elections fell tions against the passage of the on deaf ears. Act. When calls were made for the City Council to be reconvened as the The Athi Nahappan 34 years of ban... reasons for its temporary suspen- Commission sion no longer existed, the State Throughout the three decades and Government announced that they more since the LGA denied us our had no intention to relinquish The Federal Government had fundamental right to the third vote, control of the Council until fresh other plans in mind. In June 1965, the issue has not died away. Un- elections were held. And how was three months after the suspension fortunately, with the BN’s over- that to happen when local elec- of local elections, they appointed whelming dominance in the Par- tions had been suspended indefi- the Athi Nahappan Commission liament, the demands for the res- nitely? to look into the functioning and toration of local elections have administration of the local coun- been treated as mere irritants, un- Another trick deployed by the Al- cils, purportedly with a view to deserving of attention. liance is one we are now very fa- improving and streamlining miliar with – enticing defections. them. To the chagrin of the Alli- It was only with the tsunami of 8 It worked its magic in Melaka. On ance Government, the March 2008 turning the tide that 24 March 1965, three SF members Commission’s report, completed the issue has received a new lease of the Melaka Municipal Council in December 1968, strongly sup- of life. Hence, the momentum must declared they were turning Inde- ported local elections. Instead of not slack. pendents; six days later, one of implementing the recommenda- them was installed as the Deputy tions of the Commission, the Fed- Why must we keep the issue

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 6 Athi Narappan alive? Because the chronicle of the abolition of the third vote is reflec- tive of the larger narrative of the steady subversion of democratic institutions in the country. The underhand tactics deployed by the ruling coalition to dismantle popularly elected local govern- ments are similarly used to under- mine democracy at the state and national levels:

• The consistent use of the ISA to emasculate the Opposition; • The tampering of electoral rolls, be it to make registered voters vanish or phantom voters ap- pear; against the illegitimate depri- worse yet, have all hopes snuffed • Gerrymandering to ensure that vation of the third vote is there- out. they get more seats than they fore risking similar subversion deserve based on the number of the first and second. Another thing is for sure: the LGA of votes garnered; has no business obstructing us • The use of their strength of num- ... still counting from reclaiming full democracy. If bers to bulldoze through legis- this law stands in the way, this lative and constitutional The campaign is only just pick- law must go. It is not because we amendments which are to ing up momentum, the project is are lawless but because we value their advantage, no matter very much a work in progress. democracy. q how undemocratic; There is no telling how much • The resort to Executive decree longer it will take to restore local when the popular will cannot elections. But one thing is for sure, Tan Pek Leng is an be bent to their favour. if we do not keep the pressure on, we will have many more years to Aliran member Not to continue campaigning count before the ban is lifted – or

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 7 COVER STORY Local gov’t polls can be held, say legal experts advising Penang gov ’ t

ment can ‘opt out’ of it, by virtue of S. 1(4) of the LGA 1976: ‘The It is legally possible to hold local government elec- State Authority may [notwith- tions, a team of legal experts advising the Penang standing that it had earlier opted state government has found, writes Prof Francis for the Act or part thereof] by noti- Loh. The Penang government will now decide fication in the Gazette exempt any whether to seek a court declaration on the issue. area within any local authority area from all or any of the provi- sions of the Act or from any by- laws’. After ‘opting out’ the LGEA 1960 can then be invoked to carry t a press conference that the sticky point was the con- out Local Government elections. AAA called by the Penang flict between the Local Govern- Chief Minister YAB Lim ment Act (LGA) 1976 S 15(1) However, Yeo, Thomas and Imtiaz Guan Eng on 30 April, which prohibited Local Govern- adopt a different two-prong ap- the CM announced that a team of ment elections to be held and the proach in their argument. legal experts comprising Tommy Local Government Elections Act Thomas, Malik Imtiaz and Yeo (LGEA) 1960 which provides for Yang Poh (former Bar Council elections. Those who maintained The first prong of their argument chairman, who also led the team) that Local Government elections is based on the fact that the LG had looked into the possibility of could not be held had based their Election Act 1960 was revised in conducting local govt elections for argument on thae basis of LGA 1991 pursuant to the Revision of Penang. 1976 S. 15(1) which stated that Laws Act 1968, and it became Act ‘...all provisions relating to local 473 as from 16 Sept 1991. What is Each of the three had prepared his government elections shall cease the effect of this revision? own legal opinion. Except for mi- to have force and effect’. In other nor differences in emphases, they words, If LGA S.15(1) is valid and Here the three lawyers cite S 10(2) came to the common conclusion can’t be avoided, then Local Gov- of the Revision of Laws Act which that it was legally possible to con- ernment elections as provided in states: ‘On and after the date from duct local government elections. LGEA 1960 are prohibited. which a revised law comes into They offered a novel perspective force, such revised law shall be into the legal conundrum. On the other hand, those who ar- deemed to be and shall be with- gued that Local Government elec- out any question whatsoever in tions could be held did not chal- all courts and for all purposes Yeo was present at the press con- lenge the validity of S. 15(1). whatsoever the sole and only ference. He clarified that others Rather they argued that Local proper law in respect of matters who were looking into this prob- Government elections could still included therein and in office on lem had highlighted previously be held because a State Govern- that date’. They conclude that the

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 8 LG Election Act amended 1991 The second prong takes up the The Penang State Exco is expected prevails, and the LGA 1976 S 15(1) argument that others had previ- to make a decision on this matter falls. ously made about ‘opting out’. In in its next meeting. It will decide this regard, the Election whether to seek declarations di- Additionally S 15(1) is void be- Commission’s recent response to rectly from the Federal Court to cause it is unconstitutional. For the Penang State Government that declare S.15(1) of the LGA 1976 Article 113(4) of Constitution elections cannot be held because void, and to declare LGEA as the states: Federal or State law may it requires consent of the National sole and proper law on Local Gov- authorise the Election Commis- Council for Local Government ernment elections. This is the first sion to conduct elections other (NCLG)’s consent is viewed by prong. Alternatively, they could than those referred to in Clause Yeoh as “an absurd argument” - seek declaration on the Second (1) [i.e. to conduct local govern- for the NCLG is just an adminis- prong of the argument. q ment elections]’. In other words, trative body. It cannot formulate a holding Local Government elec- policy that goes against the Con- tions is constitutionally permis- stitution. Or, put another way, the sible, though not mandatory. At NCLG cannot make a policy that Prof Francis Loh, Secretary any rate it cannot be prohibited prohibits Local Government elec- of Aliran, was present at the by any law, except by way of tions when the Constitution [Ar- press conference. amendment to the Constitution ticle 113(4)] allows for those local itself. elections!

Will local govt elections result in electocracy or democracy?

Before local government can be re- sidedly. vived, there should be some kind of campaign finance reform and a regu- Older Penangites probably remember with some campaign finance reform and a regu- fondness (and romanticism) those days when latory framework on campaigning, the Socialist Front’s local council election cam- says our correspondent. paigns would fill the Padang Brown, and no one had much funds to throw at anything. But confess to being a sceptic on local as is clear, we are a long, long way from those government elections, in our context, days — not just here but everywhere in the III as well as in the context of the evolu- world. And it would be pointless if, at the end tion of politics in the world over the of it, we get an electocracy, not a democracy: as past quarter century or more. we all know, elections are far from being a suf- ficient condition for democracy. However, if it’s going to happen, there should minimally be something to regulate So, while the government may be pushing for campaign financing, or some kind of cam- local elections, I think NGOs should be putting paign finance reform, and also a regulatory in their bit on the terms and conditions under framework on campaigning — both of them which elections are held — and it’s likely easier enforced and enforceable. Currently, we have to do it at the beginning, then trying to change it seen massive inflation in campaign financ- once it’s been set. Else, we may well end up ing, and a regulatory framework on cam- with local elections, under the same auspices, paigning enforced in the breach or one- overseen by the same body... to what end? q

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 9 FREEDOM OF SPEECH Penang’s red letter day for democracy

The little ceremonial institution of our very own Speakers’ Square is the first step of a long journey on the road to democracy and respect for human rights by Angeline Loh

may not agree with what routines. commandos seemed to sense the “I“I you say but I will defend relevance of the opening of this “I“I“I to the death your right to The sun was not yet high and the space, the only one of its kind in say it” - Voltaire large tree around which a group Malaysia outside a university of elderly persons was chatting, campus. This is the first line of The Fourth of May 2010 will be cast a fading shadow over the defence of our right to freedom of known as the day democracy was crowd milling near a sky-blue cur- expression and information under given a space in Penang – it was tained signboard with a red rib- Article 10 of Malaysia’s Constitu- the day when Speakers’ Square or bon flower pinned to it. tion and Article 19 of the Univer- Dataran Pidato was launched by sal Declaration of Human Rights. the first opposition Pakatan Members of the press and broad- Rakyat . cast journalists, including “Citi- The next group with a vested in- Early in the day, before 8.00am, a zen Journalists” writing for the terest in this space are the human small crowd was milling around cyber media in personal blogs rights, socio-economic, social, cul- on the left corner of Millennium and stringers for online news pro- tural and political civil society Square along the Esplanade sea- viders were some of the earliest at groups, activists and non-govern- front while other small groups the scene. They were armed and mental organisations (NGOs) that bunched together in other parts of ready for action with cameras, showed up in some force but to a the large Esplanade going video recorders, tape recorders, lesser extent than the media. This through their morning exercise pens and notebooks. These media is the second line of defence of our

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 10 fundamental right to freedom of rise and perhaps have breakfast members). expression and information. The with friends. The retirees, the importance of the Article 10 con- mothers and children, the office Also present amongst the crowd stitutional right (Article 19 workers, MPPP road sweepers were a handful of distinguished UDHR) to civil society cannot be and car park attendants, the supporters, notably Sulaiman under-valued, as information dis- couples, the homeless people who Abdullah, a former president of semination, exchange of ideas sleep under the stars. They came the Bar Council and his wife; and opinions, dialogue, debate to witness this historic event out Dato’ Anwar Fazal, the former and discussion can only be freely of curiosity and innocent igno- head of the International done by exercising this right. With- rance that they too are stakehold- Organisation of Consumer out this right, service to society ers with a claim to the Article 10 Unions (IOCU), Dato Dr Devaraj; would be ineffective and the de- constitutional right. and Lim Kah Cheng, a Penang velopment of ideas and creativity Municipal Councillor and mem- stunted. As the right to freedom of expres- ber of the Penang Bar Committee, sion and assembly is a fundamen- to name a few. The low-keyed It was within Penang civil society tal human right enjoyed by all in- launch still attracted a number of that the idea of “Speakers’ cluding the government authori- activists and popular bloggers as Square” had its genesis. The idea ties of a country, the presence of a well. mooted by Suaram Penang was small number of police and police supported by Aliran, Sembang- operatives was no surprise. They Thankfully, the police presence Sembang and Bandar Perai Jaya also hold a stake in Speakers’ was not obvious with only one Rukun Tetangga, the four civil Square that hopefully will be ap- uniformed police officer stationed society groups which ultimately preciated and not be used to a distance from the hub of the formed the Speakers’ Square com- hinder the exercise of this consti- event. The police appeared to mittee. This team worked tirelessly tutional right by other stakehold- show some tolerance of the over a short time liaising with the ers peacefully and lawfully peoples’ exercise of a constitu- local council, state government utilising it. tional right especially in the pres- authorities and to some extent the ence of state authorities. police, to open up a space for free “Dataran Pidato” speech. officially approved The ceremony was quite informal, short and sweet with Chow’s Thus, the abstract idea became At a quarter-past eight, the Chief opening speech in Bahasa Malay- concrete reality with the coopera- Minister’s silver Mercedes swept sia thanking the CM, state and tion of the Pakatan Rakyat Penang through the grand wrought iron- local government representatives, State Government. However, the gate to the Esplanade leading to Aduns, civil society representa- road to realisation of this dream Dataran Millennium, stopping a tives and the media for coming to had its potholes and pitfalls and short distance from the nearly 100 witness the launch of “Dataran continues to be a rocky one in view strong crowd to let YAB Lim Guan Pidato”. He hoped the setting up of inherent legal restrictions on Eng alight. There was minimal of the square would serve to en- freedom of expression and assem- fanfare and no ostentatious pomp, trench the right of freedom of ex- bly instituted over the 52-plus just a respectful silence by the pression and assembly as guar- years of our country’s Indepen- people, as they watched the CM anteed by Article 10 of the Malay- dence. approach the lectern placed near sian Constitution. It would give the curtained signboard where he meaning to freedom of expression The third - but not least - among was met by YB , and assembly in a democratic the stakeholders of “Speakers’ the state Executive Committee space in this country. This would Square” is the general public. They member holding the local govern- also be a platform to freely voice were the by-standers who came ment and traffic management the problems of the people in so- with and without intended pur- portfolio), a few MPPP officers, ciety and in the country. pose on their morning walks at and a small number of Pakatan their favourite spot to see the sun- Rakyat Aduns (State Assembly In his speech, the CM confirmed

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 11 the government's stance, adding quote from the French philosopher not easy and the exercise of cau- that “the thrust of participatory Voltaire on the right to speak one’s tion is understandable, but not democracy is alive and well in this mind. The CM also expressed his trying inevitably results in not state (Penang) and it embraces the gratitude and appreciation of the knowing and not learning from value of freedom and human efforts of those involved in setting experience. rights”. He added, “ Let’s not con- up Speakers’ Square. The sky-blue sider the Speakers’ Corner (sic) as curtain was lifted and “Dataran In countries seen to be modern just another platform like Hyde Pidato” was open for business. democracies, the right to freedom Park in London but an important of expression is a hard won right milestone for democracy and free Andre Loh, a member of the Speak- for which many sacrifices, includ- speech in Penang and Malaysia.” ers Square Committee and repre- ing that of life, were made; yet, sentative for Bandar Perai Jaya even these face problems of the Lim also reminded the people to Rukun Tetangga, gave a brief curtailment of Article 19 UDHR use responsibly their right of free speech. (This is a newly formed rights from time to time. expression at Dataran Pidato in residents association in its second demonstrating their views and year of operation since it was It is essential to remember that exercising their right to voice founded in 2008.) every human being has the same them. He cautioned the people basic and fundamental human that the Article 10 right was, how- The little ceremonial institution of rights and that the freedom to ex- ever, subject to other legal limita- our very own “Dataran Pidato”, ercise one person’s rights cannot tions that could attract police ac- whch ended as informally as it be- mean the suppression of tion: “The police have said that gan, is the first step of a long jour- another’s freedom or the exercise they are unable to provide any le- ney on the road to democracy and of the same right. gal immunity from prosecution”. respect for human rights, espe- He, however, urged the police to cially our inherent right to free- Interesting things have already “exercise judicious discretion and dom of expression, assembly and happened at Speakers’ Square allow views to be freely ex- association. and probably more interesting pressed”. happenings will no doubt take What lies ahead? place in the currently only ‘free’ He also acknowledged “unfair space in the country. criticisms” of the government but The laws curtailing freedom of believed that “we are all mature expression like the Internal Secu- As Andre Loh said in his speech, enough to listen to different views rity Act, Printing Presses and Pub- “Let us together exercise our right and allow people the freedom to lications Act, Telecommunica- enshrined under the Constitution express themselves freely.” He tions and Multimedia Act, Sedi- of this great nation, which guar- hoped that the exercise of free ex- tion Act, Official Secrets Act, Dan- antees the freedom of speech, the pression would lead to the “most gerous Drugs Act, Police Act and right to assemble peacefully and important freedom of all, which Emergency Ordinance still loom the right to form associations, to is freedom from fear”. like dark clouds on the horizon realise our dreams of advancing causing unease and uncertainty our people in the spirit of true de- According to Lim, “a good gov- resulting in frequent self-censor- mocracy and freedom.” q ernment must do three things: lis- ship by the mainstream media. ten to the people, do the people’s work and give hope to the people. The Penang State Government as The Speakers’ Corner serves as a well as the People are in the pro- Angeline Loh, an Aliran catalyst to the growing spirit of cess of coming to grips with hav- exco member, partici- democracy throughout Penang ing a right and exercising it. The pated in NGO meetings to and the willingness of the state question, “What is the best way prepare for the setting up government to listen to the people to exercise this right of free expres- of Speakers’ Square to be a good government.” This sion and handle its conse- oratory was closed aptly with a quences?” hangs in the air. It is

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 12 FREEDOM OF SPEECH Penang’s Speakers’ Square: A step forward

The favourable public reaction to Penang’s Speakers’ Square is to be expected as it contrasts with the constant moves by the federal government to restrict and prohibit freedom of speech and assembly, observes Toh Kin Woon.

n 9 May, a group of lic. Needless to say, this move by OO people gathered around the Chief Minister and the State OOO a spot next to the el- Government has been well re- evated dais at Penang’s ceived and supported by the pub- famous Esplanade to listen to lic. short speeches made by a few ac- tivists. This spot is part of the large This is to be expected, as it con- open space that Penangites have trasts with the constant moves by gathered for decades for political the federal government to restrict rallies when they were allowed, and prohibit freedom of speech ceremonies, exercise or just lei- and assembly, such as disallow- surely walks. Since early May this ing peaceful picketing, demon- year, however, the spot has ac- strations, protests and airing of least, the state government has quired an elevated status. It has documentaries highlighting the done well to provide the physical now become Penang’s and the plight of the poor and space that is reminiscent of country’s first speaker’s corner marginalised. TV producers who London’s Hyde Park for people to (outside a university campus). are politically balanced have been gather and speak. denied the space to air their pro- Launched a few days earlier by ductions on the grounds that their Of course, we know that this is still the Right Honourable Chief Min- contents are not pro-Barisan not enough. To expand the space ister, Tuan , Nasional. further, we must all unite to speaker’s corner or Speaker’s struggle for the complete abolition Square, as it is officially called, is Speakers who speak at Penang’s of all the restrictive laws of the fed- offered by the state government as Speaker’s Square are still bound eral government. a space for the public to air their by the restrictive and prohibitive views, grievances, ideas, and laws of the nation, such as the Se- The movement for greater democ- complaints on a variety of issues. dition Act, the Police Act and the racy must continue its onward Internal Security Act. These are, march. q The objective, which to me is a however, laws of the Federal Gov- noble one, is to enhance freedom ernment - and not that of the state Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon of speech. It provides an addi- government - that greatly restricts is an Aliran member tional avenue for articulation and the space for the free articulation expression by members of the pub- and expression of views. But at

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 13 ENVIRONMENT Climate warming: the present Original Sin?

The religions of the world can work to counteract human action that generates undesirable climate warming by Tissa Balasuriya

he concept of original TT sin, in traditional Chris- TTT tian theology, is said to be a sin communicated by propagation to the whole of hu- manity by the first parents, Adam and Eve. The progeny of Adam and Eve are not responsible for their original sin, but bear some of its consequences of the human inclination to sinfulness such as greed, selfishness and violence. Original sin was reflected in the individual behaviour. The Church’s teaching had a solution for this alienation from the will of God in the reception of the Sacra- ment of Baptism.

Medieval Christian theology de- veloped the concept of Jesus offer- ing a redemptive sacrifice of his life, making amends for human emphasising charity and neglect- pression, and the unwillingness sinfulness. (cf. St. Anselm :Cur ing social justice. to deal with these structures. Deus Homo?). This interpretation of Jesus’ life and death as atone- Since the 1960s, more attention Reinterpretating ment to the Father was a distor- has been given in theology for a Original Sin: Capitalism tion of the life story and core teach- reinterpretation of original sin, and colonialism ing of Jesus of God as love, and related to the structural problems His chief commandment of love and situations, which all of us I have myself developed a reinter- of neighbour. This was an alien- are born to and are part of, as vic- pretation of original sin, referring ation of Christology that has come tims and actors. We see interpre- to the sin of capitalism, colonial- down to our times as the main tations of original sin as the struc- ism and of the imperialism of leitmotif of a spirituality tural sins of domination and op- modern times. This “sin” was

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 14 mainly the conquest of The main human weaker peoples by the agents who helped to more advanced (Euro- bring about the warm- pean) powers after ing of the earth’s cli- 1492. Thereafter the mate in the past two to colonial powers set up three centuries are the the world order that industrialising coun- prevailed from 1492 to tries, the modern at least 1945. Some of coloniser countries us- its characteristics con- ing the energy derived tinue even after the in- from fossil fuels. They dependence of the have developed tech- former colonies. The nologies of present inheritors of mechanised produc- the advantages of the tion, motor transporta- colonial system of the tion, domestic warm- past centuries - many ing and cooking that European peoples- are depend on burning not responsible for the oils that generate CO2 situation of colonial and related emissions exploitation, even called greenhouse though they benefit gases. The developed from it and must work peoples, including for its reform. third world elites, have adopted a life style As the colonised coun- that cannot be spread tries developed as part to the whole world due of the modern world to a limitation of re- system, there grew up sources. a local elite that collaborated with ation. Correspondingly they had the exploiting colonisers. There access to valuable natural re- Scientists note that the Western were also internal problems sources, even when these were industrial powers have been pol- within the colonies such as of eth- limited and not renewable. There luting the space in the atmosphere nic relations of majority and mi- were positive aspects of Western while building up their wealth nority communities as in Sri colonialism such as development during the past centuries. “Devel- Lanka specially after Indepen- of the modern education and oped nations already occupy 73 dence in 1948 and three decades health services and the introduc- per cent of the carbon space ... of internal civil conflict till March tion of democratic forms of gov- which is the space available for 2009. ernment. the emission of carbon dioxide and other green house gases, There is no direct responsibility The Afro-Asian peoples were sub- without serious negative impact of the beneficiaries for the inequity ject to the imperialist systems set on the earth.” (cf Nobel Laureate of the prevailing social system or up by the European, North Ameri- K.K.Pachauri and K..M.George SJ world order. But there is an ad- can and Japanese empires. (Threat to Human Survival, In- vantage for the Christians and dian Currents no 50 December Western peoples in the present Climate warming 2009). India has only 2.5 per cent situation. The Euro-American of carbon space, compared to a peoples benefit from migration to A third type of original sin can be due share of 17 per cent. The open land spaces, and hence land seen in the present climate warm- United States with 5 per cent of ownership of colonies, called ing and its consequences mainly the world’s population occupies “terra nullius” like a gift of cre- on the poorer peoples of the world. 29 per cent of the carbon space.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 15 This situation poses grave ques- impact on global warming, but solve. But there is no world au- tions of present and ongoing fu- these insist on an equitable stan- thority that can bring the 200 or ture global equity. dard of living for their poor so sovereign states together to peoples. agree to a solution for the common Some of the consequences of cli- good of all peoples. As indepen- mate warming have been de- On the other hand the highly de- dent nations they tend to act in scribed by James Pender, a climate veloped countries want to main- their self interest, without due re- change expert writing in the tain their standard of living and gard for the common good of the USPG, Anglicans in World Mis- place in the global economy. Thus whole planet. International nego- sion Autumn 2009:”There will be North Americans generally have tiations on climate change did not less rainfall for crops, heavier a private motor car for each adult, arrive at an agreement among monsoons, flooding due to rising and travel very long distances by them concerning a solution that sea levels and more cyclones. This private car. They want to keep up all accept and benefit all. Differ- will have a serious impact on their industrial production and ent meetings in Bali, Kyoto and health. Insects will thrive, which ensure a future supply of petro- Copenhagen led to no legally bind- means more disease; drinking leum, if need be by armed inva- ing agreement among all the na- water will become salty, and there sions. tions. will be smaller harvests, which means malnutrition.” The impact of climate warming is There has to be a radical reform of already being felt in the occur- United Nations Organisation if it Dr Ahsan Uddin Ahmed, execu- rences of earthslides, floods and is to bring about justice in global tive director of the Centre for Glo- the melting of glaciers. Earth- climate policy. The problems of bal Change, said: “We have evi- quakes occurred in Haiti this year climate change are a new phenom- dence of climate change. Records killing about 200,000 persons, the enon in human consciousness in of rainfall and temperature of 50 same happened in Indonesia and international relations. The fac- years showed that night tempera- China. Volcanoes erupting as in tors which give rise to climate ture in winter rose and the dura- the Artic on 16-17 April 2010 are warming (or cooling) cannot be tion of winter shrunk.” said to haven impact on growing controlled by warfare or mere mili- pollution. Is the earth taking re- tary power. The industrially and “An estimated 800 million people venge for the way we exploit her? economically developed coun- in developing Asia currently have tries have been the main contribu- no access to basic electricity ser- The present distribution of popu- tors to climate warming due to vices and some 1.8 billion people lation to land as in China and In- their methods of industrial pro- must rely on traditional biomass dia will, if continued as at present, duction which imply more emis- fuels to meet their cooking and lead to widespread deaths due to sion of greenhouse gases that heating needs” (Daily Mirror, malnutrition. Recently 200,000 cause the climate warming and 17th April, 2010 p.B 3). farmers in India committed sui- pollution of the atmosphere of cide due to frustration with crop land, water and air. Global poli- China and India are nations that failures. Here we experience the cies concerning climate warming cause considerably high emis- connection between the second have to help poor countries to de- sions of greenhouse gases as their and third types of original sin in- velop economically without add- total contribution to climate flicting further harm on the poor- ing to climate warming. Main- warming is due to their high popu- est peoples. taining the standard of living of lation. But their per capita impact developed countries can no on climate warming is relatively Need for a world longer be the priority. very low due to the poverty of their authority populations. To improve their Positive global remedies to climate standard of living they have to The two original sins of warming need to be taken. modernise their economies. The colonising capitalism and iniqui- rich developed countries want tous climate warming pose prob- Humanity has reached a new China and India to reduce their lems the world as a whole must stage in its journey on planet

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 16 save human lives and planet earth. They can inspire the re- quired changes to meet the oncom- ing global emergency

Christianity has a special respon- sibility due to its encouraging the spread of Empire from Roman times, and the colonial empires since 1492. Christian peoples must be prepared to share their lands with the peoples of Asia and Africa, who will face the heaviest pressure for migration. The old laws of citizenship can no longer serve human needs. What would be the meaning of “sharing bread Earth. Climate warming poses fish. so that no one is in need” as in the new and serious problems that • Protecting public health care Acts of the Apostles. How is the demand global action by the and indigenous medicines weekly Eucharist to be under- world’s peoples together. and sharing state pharmaceu- stood in the face of climate warm- tical products. ing and the future challenges as • Helping poor countries to miti- of droughts, cyclones, rising sea gate climate warming by tech- Could we therefore suggest the level and shortage of water? nologies that reduce emission setting up of an International of green house gases. UNO Commission that works on What would the Christian • Developing reforestation of the two levels: catechesis, pastorate in the com- earth by agreed international • on the impact of colonialism ing decades be? How would for- policies as in the more open globally from 1492– 1945 and mation of leadership be? spaces in South America. to seek a redistribution of land • Adopting simple life styles and and population in order to Religions may have an impact on eating habits such as con- deal with the big gap between acceptance of new migrants, by sumption of more vegetables, rich and poor. encouraging just population fruit and green leaves by all • on the impact of climate warm- planning and fair use of arable peoples. ing since the industrial revo- land and resources for industry. • Overcoming the pan-epidemic lution and on the advantages of HIV/Aids, especially in Af- for different countries and the Religions can work together for rica. cost to others. the common good of humanity, to • Ensuring better urban plan- save human lives, and planet ning and reducing slums. World religions must earth. • Providing cheap public trans- come together portation country-wide. They can work to counteract hu- • Introducing planned popula- Can religions inspire the required man action that generates unde- tion migration of the landless changes to meet the oncoming glo- sirable climate warming in differ- to more open spaces as in the bal emergency? The religions to- ent parts of the world. q Americas and Oceania gether have a core of spiritual val- • Maintaining the standard of ues that can inspire the care for Tissa Balasuriya OMI is living of developed countries neighbour and nature that the re- a Sri Lankan Catholic by adapting better technolo- ligions advocate. The world’s re- priest and theologian gies such as organic farming. ligions can work together for the • Caring for nature, animals, common good of humanity, to

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Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 18 SOCIAL COMMENTATOR Zunar, the multifaceted cartoonist As an artist, his vision is not only to change society but to generate young artists who can create and shape history through their cartoons by CY

ost of the interviews with and news reports readers something new, if not different, about him. MM on Zunar, whether in news websites or MMM blogs, have focused on his cartoon styles I decided to put aside the above concerns and and the raids on his magazines by the au- write about Zunar according to how I felt during thorities. the interviews (15 April and 22 April 2010 over the phone). Thus, I decided to write about Zunar As there is already an abundance of information as a multifaceted cartoonist – a political cartoon- about Zunar, it prompted me to think of how I should ist, a political analyst, a freedom fighter, and a write about him and how my writing can provide visionary.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 19 Zunar, a political cartoonist more humour. While working as lab technician, he published his cartoon in Berita Harian (1993), en- Those familiar with Zunar’s cartoons will categorise titled Papa, and News Straits Times (NST). Eventually his style as political. What makes Zunar a political he was offered a permanent position as a political cartoonist? A brief account of Zunar’s career devel- cartoonist. opment may give us insights into his political ori- entation. But his dream of being a real cartoonist was short- lived. Both Berita Harian and NST are part of the Born in 1962 in Bukit Junun in Gurun, , mainstream news media in Malaysia. Zunar’s po- Zulkiflee bin S M Anwar Ulhaque was encouraged litical plane of cartoons was not able to spread out to pursue an educational path that would guaran- due to the lack of freedom of expression in the Ma- tee him a job. In those days, education/teaching and laysian mass media. Even though he was asked to the pure sciences were two of the major courses that replace Lat at that time at NST (Lat was taking a promised a better quality of life and job security to sabbatical leave for a year), Zunar did not stay long modest income families. Zunar eventually studied with the press. To him, he could not replace Lat, he in the science stream at UTM, which provided him could not become another Lat producing Malaysian a job as a lab technician. Despite that, Zunar al- cartoons. Lat is a social commentatary cartoonist, ways had a passion for cartoons. He published his while Zunar regards himself as a political cartoon- first cartoon at the age of 12 for Bambino magazine, ist. then in Mingguan Perdana, Kisah Cinta, and Gila-Gila. (http:/darialmarikartun.blogspot.com/2008/01/ What motivated him to focus on politics? Zunar zunar.html) could not give a straight answer. “I like politics and to be involved in politics. It is about our own daily Zunar’s initial cartoon styles were less political due lives.” His father, his family, the environment or his to the nature of his publishers and audiences. In school setting never inspired him to become a po- Gila-Gila (1983), Zunar had to accommodate teen- litical cartoonist. Perhaps, he feels, it is a passion agers’ interests, which required less politics and that was born from within.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 20 But he was inspired by the cartoons of Thomas Nast, Zunar the political analyst a German-born American caricaturist in the 19th century, whose cartoons brought about the demise Being political requires a critical mind and sharp of Boss Tweed’s corrupt leadership in Tammany observation of societal change and development. “I Hall. Upon further investigation into Zunar’s inter- draw with my heart and I sketch with my brain,” est in Nast, I found out that it was not the cartoon reflects Zunar on his approach. Before a cartoon is style of Nast that attracted him but the impact of produced, Zunar reads a lot. Similar to a researcher, Nast’s cartoon on the corrupt and discriminatory Zunar grabs any chance he gets to foray into alter- practices of US society at that time. Zunar the politi- native references (non-mainstream media) to enrich cal cartoonist was born. his knowledge of Malaysian socio-political issues. He recalls his “introduction” to Aliran magazine: Zunar is political because he desires to reform the once, when he was eating nasi lemak bungkus, the society: “It is not politics, it is about reform.” He wrapping paper used was cover a page of Aliran. sees politics in everyday life. Through his cartoons, Since then, Zunar has maintained his interest in he hopes the messages (whether it is about human Aliran as a reference for alternative views. rights, the environment, animals, PKFZ, Teoh Beng Hock, Altantuya, money politics, education or As a political cartoonist, he finds that reading alone ethnicity) can reach to readers more directly, easily, is not enough to grasp the substance of political is- informally, and universally. These messages, in the sues. Instead of drawing a cartoon that has been form of cartoons, provide an alternative free space depicted by others (“this would be an illustrator not for the cartoonists to engage in politicking and to a cartoonist”), he feels “you need to make a stand create an impact on society. “Cartoonists should be before you find a joke.” He would confirm uncer- the agents of change,” he says. tain facts or clarify unclear incidents with politi- cians, lawyers and many others.

Zunar sees change as essential. Through his analy- sis on Malaysian society, change is juxtaposed as a “puzzle” - a puzzle that needs to be filled with stern and legitimate implementation. For Zunar, Malay- sia is caught in a big puzzle that has not been looked upon seriously by policy makers, the politicians, the power holders. It dissatisfies and frustrates the rakyat. Though there was a New Economic Policy that to some degree has changed society, no real change has taken place since then.

What is this puzzle? Zunar indicates that it con- sists of a volume of unfinished works namely is- sues surrounding the judiciary, human rights, pov- erty, corruption, money politics, freedom of speech, education, and race. In Zunar’s mind, the Barisan Nasional has failed to change and as for Pakatan Rakyat, problems still arise but its calls for change are targeted at this puzzle.

Through this political analysis, Zunar’s cartoons are direct, forward, contemporary, issue oriented, non-historical, urbanised, satirical and political. Zunar’s bold portrayal of Malaysian political issues of the present day ensures that his readers do not miss his simple, direct, sarcastic, humorous yet criti-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 21 even drew him during the visit), participated in the demonstrations and made banners. Like scores of others in that period, he was even thrown into a lock-up for a week in September 1999 for taking part in a demonstration. Upon his release, his talent was discovered by Zulkifli Sulong, the editor of Harakah. He was asked to contribute cartoons in February 1999 – cartoons were something of a novelty to Pas at that time. Since then, his cartoons have been well received by publishers and readers alike. More im- portantly, he is now free to draw - without being subjected to control.

Zunar has never bowed to acts of suppression. Zunar with CY When his magazines were confiscated in August 2008 by the Home Affairs Ministry for publishing without a permit, Zunar fought for his right to con- cal messages. It is an “uphill battle” for Malaysia to tinue to draw. Three months after the raids, Zunar change, he feels. Thus, a straight-to-the-core issue and his Gerdung Kartun team bounced back to pro- method is necessary: “Why pinch when you can duce an 80-page book entitled Perak Darul Kartun, punch?” he asks. Malaysian society has been caught focusing on the Perak political fiasco. Unlike maga- for 50 years of this puzzle so such an approach is zines, under Malaysian printing laws, books do not badly needed, he thinks. That is the political analy- require permit but only an ISBN. Such politics of sis of Zunar - to draw cartoons to create a “punch” suppression fails to annihilate his politicking for for change. change. “It is not politics but reform,” he insists. .

Zunar the freedom fighter Zunar the visionary

Throughout the interview, I felt that Zunar’s pas- In a casual conversation with one of Zunar’s fans, sion is rooted in a desire to be free from suppres- he provided me an insight into what Zunar is like sion. He said he was a loner who did not join any as an artist. Zunar, the fan told me, is an artist who political parties; nor did he have a group of like-minded people during his early struggle to share his political cartoons and to make them come alive. This did not stop him from drawing political car- toons.

At one point, during the low pe- riod of his career, he felt there was no space for a political cartoonist in Malaysia. He then worked in various places just to eke out a liv- ing.

Until the reformasi period in 1998, he drew his cartoons and photo- copied leaflets and distributed them to people. He visited Anwar in jail (Zunar told me that Anwar

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 22 is not “individualistic” but “jalan ke bawah.” (goes to the grassroots). Zunar works with the people surrounding him in the struggle for reform. He does not sup- press others’ new ideas but allows for com- promise within a larger context. This is not to say Zunar has no style of his own. But he does not create a Zunar-style cartoon at the expense of the other collaborating car- toonists’ styles and ideas. No, this is not Zunar. He is a loner or “individualistic” only as far as his passion is not yet shared or articulated within the larger structures of the Malaysian political context.

To create a culture of political cartoons, in- dividual effort is not enough but requires group work. His Gerdung Kartun is evi- dence of his passion to generate new young artists who can continue to draw and express their ideas through cartoons. “The young have fresher ideas which sometimes I do not have,” he says mod- estly.

In his interviews with merdekareview after the raid, Zunar said Gerdung Kartun is just a medium or a tool. The raid on the maga- zines was not a problem. What is more es- sential is to create space for a new genera- tion of cartoonists to express their views and ideas critically and without control. This is this raison d’etre for Gerdung Kartun.

Zunar’s un-individualistic attitude as an artist has made him a visionary. His hope is to create a legacy of cartoons that can influence history and result in change in Malaysian society – a path that will be con- tinued and expanded among the younger generation. As an artist, Zunar’s vision is not only to change society but to generate new young artists who can create and shape history through their cartoons. q

Zunar can be reached for enquiries or correspondence at [email protected]

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 23 embassy. Is it not their duty to do the needful to attract foreign di- rect investment? Q Q Q Q Q Political frogs

It is profitable to be a political frog in Malaysia. In addition to the obvious reasons, they get to go places with the high and mighty. Nazri took Zaharin and family to the US for a forum that was a fi- asco. Then Najib took Zaharin and his family to the US when he went to meet Obama. Some politi- cal frogs are honoured with titles. Hee, a DAP Assemblywoman who Joy rides defected to the BN, has been honoured with a Datukship by the on the house Sultan of Perak for services ren- dered to the state! I have no doubt A classmate of mine always main- that those who betrayed PKR be- tains that among professionals, fore the Hulu Selangor by-election lawyers have the most interesting are bound to be amply rewarded. job. They deal with crooks, rap- If they are in the employ of the ists, prostitutes, murderers, smug- govrnment, their rise in the civil glers, robbers, conmen, kidnap- service will be meteoric. If a po- pers etc. etc. While doctors deal litical frog is, say a doctor, he may with sick people and accountants become the Minister of Health or deal with dry figures, the lawyers at the least, end up as the director are doing fun things.

The BN government at both state and federal levels are doing fun things through their endless “lawatan sambil belajar” overseas Toyo: Lawatan sambil belajar? trips. Under Toyo a “lawatan sambil belajar” trip for assembly- spouses of Exco Members and As- men to Egypt included a visit to semblymen on many “lawatan an entertainment club to see belly- sambil belajar” overseas with dancing! Remember, the Umno funding from state coffers. chap giving the thumbs up sign standing in a pig-sty when a del- Then a terrified BN packed off egation went to study pig-rearing some 50 members of the BBC to overseas! Then we had an entou- Taiwan as 16 December 2008 ap- rage going to the USA and proached. Now Trengganu is Disneyland — to study what we sending a large delegation to do not know. Then Toyo’s wife China to attract FDI. We have as President of Balkis took all the trade attaches in every overseas Zahrain: Two trips to the USA

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 24 of a hospital. dition of the school? What mean- in Parliament and outside that he ing does the mantra that MCA is a Malay first and Malaysian Q Q Q Q Q protects the interests of the Chi- second! Those who had fallen for Asking the right nese have? the BN’s 1Malaysia dishonest questions trick were stunned beyond belief. Dear Malaysians, the gap between The cynics who had seen through The Hulu Selangor by-election the rich and the poor is widening 1Malaysia as a force were vindi- demonstrated to what immoral day by day. The money meant for cated. and unethical levels the BN can the poor Malays, Chinese and In- sink to win the by-election. BN dians is not reaching them. Eth- Najib, your 1Malaysia is a non- wanted a victory by hook or by nic-based political parties like starter from the beginning and crook — more by crook actually. Umno, MCA and MIC create what with you supporting Muhyddin’s Millions were spent to provide the is seen as opportunities for stance you can bet that 1Malay- “goodies” — cash, school uni- crooked politicians to masquer- sia is as dead as a dodo. Just as forms, bicyles, food, accelerated ade as champions of their respec- well. land titles etc. etc. It revealed that tive ethnic group and hijack funds the BN could not care less about to enrich themselves, their fami- TotaTotaTota means and ends. To the BN the lies and their cronies. Stop this end justices the means. The BN is plunder of the nation’s wealth. not accountable. Indeed, they in- Stop it. You have the power to do dulged in the bribery of the elec- so. torate in an open and transparent Q Q Q Q Q manner! The EC does not take 1Malaysia a hoax! action and so the BN indulges in corrupt practices with impunity. When Najib announced his 1Ma- Let us take two examples of gross laysia which was trumpeted as negligence and dereliction of the solution to our ethnic woes by duty. The BN has held the Hulu the government-controlled print Selangor seat for more than 50 and electronic media, I knew it years. MIC MP Palanivel held the was a well-designed trick to fool seat for four terms. The Tamil Malaysians. With Umno con- school has been in a terrible state stantly playing the race card and of disrepair for a long time. Only harping on Ketuanan Melayu, now it has been supplied with Malay hegemony, Malay su- piped water. Where did all the premacy and Malay superiority, money for the so-called develop- how could 1Malaysia hope to ment go? Who siphoned off all succeed? the money for over fifty years? What did the BN MP do for the The objective of 1Malaysia as de- constituency? fined by the 1Malaysia Govern- ment Transformation Programme Next, the photos of the condiiton Roadmap is to create a nation of the Chinese school would where every Malaysian perceives break anybody’s heart. Where himself or herself a Malaysian did all the money in the form of first, and by race, religion or re- school grants go? What was the gion second. BN MP doing all these years? Did the MCA not know about the con- Muhyddin exposed Najib’s 1Ma- laysia as a hoax when he insisted

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 25 REFLECTIONS ON THE SIBU BY-ELECTION Continued from page 40 were working outside but return- families work in town and also in the past; we shouldn’t ing to Sibu for the by-election. “I prefer to live in town.” repeat the same mistake. You may went to West Malaysia in 2009; I feel good when you cast your vote heard those working there saying The other factor contributing to for the opposition but you won’t they would definitely come back the loss of the BN was weak gain any substantial benefits from to vote in the next election. They organisation. “They didn’t set up that.” are the new voters. They are not the operations committee until satisfied with what is happening nomination day. That’s too late. When we spoke off the record, she now.” They should have distributed du- talked about the Chief Minister of ties earlier. Many strategic loca- and complained that the She disagreed with the opposition tions for the hanging of banners whole state had been controlled accusation that Sibu was lagging had been taken by the opposition. by him. She complained that as a behind. She countered that the liv- The slogan also came up very result of his “involvement” in cer- ing standard of East Malaysia late.” tain local projects, the projects took had generally risen, and many a longer time to complete: when would agree that the development As she observed earlier, young the funds went down to the con- of Sibu was satisfactory. The prob- leaders were rare in SUPP. “Hon- tractors at the bottom level, the lem was many thought the BN estly, junior is the only amount allegedly had been had done very little; so they ex- suitable candidate as the leaders greatly reduced. Work was de- pressed their discontent by voting. did not train any other young layed because the contractors had men. I don’t see that Wong and no money to hire more workers. As for SUPP, she commented that Goh have tried to bring up any- SUPP leaders were not cautious one.” Wong Meng Chuo, enough as they were too comfort- the coordinator able with the repeated victories She also expressed deep anxiety of the Sibu Election over the last 15 years. about the coming state election. Watchers (SEW) “Yes, I am worried about the next “They fail to train new leaders state election. We take the and do not keep pace with social challenge of the opposition changes…They cannot keep using too lightly. We should start the old ways to appeal to the preparing now. They keep people. Those who grew up in the saying the opposition can 1980s, a time when our economy talk only. But if talking can was booming, hold very different win the hearts of people, expectations from our generation. then why don’t they do The new generation has higher that? They can learn to expectations in everyday life. For make their speeches more instance, what we need is to fill persuasive.” our stomachs but they want bet- ter food and look for new things.” The Sibu people were go- ing to pay the price for their In her opinion, the political atti- choice as the government tude of natives especially those won’t listen to the opposi- educated and living in urban cen- tion, she sighed. “The gov- tres were very much like the Chi- ernment could delay and nese. “When you go to even stop development longhouses, you don’t see young funds and projects. You people. Many of them and their know what happened to Wong Meng Chuo

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 26 The by-election result was not to- In fact, he expressed pessimism 50s, attributed it to the morality tally unexpected for Wong. After about any change of Iban and concerns of the older folks. He re- careful analysis, he found that the Malay voting patterns in the next ceived a number of SMSes from percentage of Iban and Malay state election. senior church friends questioning votes had not increased. The the appropriateness of the Sibu swing only happened among the “BN’s tactic still works for them. I churches in accepting govern- Chinese voters. would say PAS and PKR haven’t mental allocations during cam- made any impact on the Iban and paign period. They regarded the “I did not agree with some Malay communities. It takes time move as a form of bribery. Wong analyses posted on for them to create an impact. For said the BN’s open ‘bribery’ may . Especially the the Iban community, the electoral have created a backlash among comment about the inroad into result showed that the NCR issue some religious Christians who the Malay areas…If they look at has not yet become a political is- were concerned about the question the Abang Ali polling station, sue. Additionally the land issue of morality. it’s true that the PR gained half has not yet harmed the Iban com- of the votes. But they may not munity in Sibu but it will come to Wong is right that the issue of know that half of the electorate them soon. “ morality is still of great concern there are Chinese. The SJK Meth- among religious people. If you go odist and SK Perbandaran No.3 On the Iban’s voting pattern, he to Facebook page of the the Prin- are the real Malay majority ar- doubted if the Iban would resolve cipal of the Methodist Theologi- eas. BN gained a large majority their grievances through electoral cal School based in Sibu, you will of votes in these two.” moves. “The BN still grips the see questions posted by him on 14 leadership of longhouses, the tuai May about the “generous gifts” of Wong has been working on the en- rumah. During the critical times, BN. The questions were posted as vironmental movement of the tuai rumah are told to reject “Do you like the government giv- Sarawak for a long time. He has the visits by the opposition. BN’s ing lots of money during election established a close relationship tactic is still working on Iban com- or by-election time? Is this open with some Iban communities who munities.” bribery and corruption?” He re- have been affected by the so-called ceived about 50 comments in three development projects of the state On the swing of senior voters to days and most were condemning government. the opposition, Wong, in his late the grants by the BN. q

They came from Batu Gajah to campaign

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 27 SIBU BY-ELECTION Whither the Sibu Chinese voters?

in Sitiawan.

It is difficult to predict how Sibu residents are Christians constitute about half of going to vote. But after a slew of small talks tar- the population of Sibu. The Sibu geted at Christians and females, Ngu Ik Tien de- churches, especially the Method- tects a slight shift towards the Pakatan. But will ist church members, have often Najib’s Santa visit cancel out those gains? been regarded as conservative and pro-establishment Chris- tians. In this regard, the Pakatan Rakyat seminars, especially the latest one when 300 people were olitical commentators, leaders. Around three hundred present, were a breakthrough of PP politicians and even the people, mainly Sibu Christians, sorts. The speakers generated rea- PPP local folks are uncertain showed up. Over the last two sonably energetic responses from about the political pref- weeks, PR Christian leaders had the floor. Apparently, the PR lead- erences of Sibu Chinese voters for tried at least three times to reach ers were reaching out to the Sibu this coming by-election. Sayings out to the Sibu Christians by hold- Christians in engaging fashion! like ‘still water runs deep’ and the ing dialogues or seminars but the Chinese idiom -P[R4l are used to response had not been very en- I called a friend the following day depict the current situation. couraging. At the first and second and asked her opinion about the meetings, fewer than 50 people at- seminar she had attended. She re- In fact, many hold the view that tended. About 70-80 people sponded that she was very the BN candidate, Robert Lau Hui showed up for the third seminar touched by the messages. She also Yew, will probably win as a large when YB was the said that she did not expect so majority of Malay, many Christians to turn Melanau and Iban votes up; some were pastors of would go to the BN. Addi- Methodist churches. tionally, most of the 2,500 army and postal votes will The next evening (11 May), also go the BN’s way. A there was a seminar called couple days ago, the un- “The Night of Mulan” ob- derground gambling syn- viously targeting female dicates also placed odds on voters. A local resident, the the BN’s majority over the manager of a local hotel, re- DAP being more than marked, “Pakatan’s strat- 2,000 votes. I felt the same egy is new and interesting. way too, until… They give you choices. They have special seminars Yesterday (10 May), I attended a sole speaker. As you might know, for women and Christians as well. ‘seminar’ organised by five Ngeh is a Foochow Methodist They are all on the same evening. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Christian who has had an active church life Some even want to attend both.”

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 28 The Sibu voters whom I have talked to - ranging from retirees, school teachers, small businessmen to former leftist and local Chinese ‘The DAP night’ newspaper reporters - are all pro- opposition; except for one who has not made up her mind yet. in Sibu:

I also attended several campaign dinners in support of Robert Lau An observation Hui Yew during this past week. I discovered that there was always someone at my table disagreeing with points made in the speeches by the SUPP leaders. In their campaign speeches in Sibu, Pakatan’s “na- Today someone told me that the tional leaders” mentioned too little about issues underground gambling syndi- that had an immediate and obvious effect on the cates had slightly reduced their local people, notes Ngu Ik Tien. Corruption in odds on the BN’s winning major- Sarawak and problems like flooding and land ity. Based on all these signs, per- titles, which are the current concerns of Sibu vot- haps the Chinese votes for ers, were touched on superficially. Pakatan candidate, Wong Ho Leng might turn out to be higher than we expect.

Of course, I still find the Chinese received a free ticket to voting trend to be full of uncer- II attend ‘the DAP night’ tainty. After all, my observations III from a friend of a friend are based on limited exposure to working as a reporter election campaign activities and with the local Chinese press. Some a few talks with some local Chinese newspapers described folks. But what I am sure of is the dinner as “a show of strength that the people are evaluating (R’YO)”. Another purpose of the and re-evaluating their posi- dinner was to announce the can- tions. Maybe the arrival of Datuk didate for the by-election of Sibu. Najib and his early distribution Though Wong Ho Leng had men- of “Christmas gifts” in one or tioned to the press more than once two days time will create a new that he recommended atmosphere and arrest the mo- to be the candidate, the Sibu folks mentum towards the Pakatan. seemed to disregard the sugges- That could still happen. q tion. “Must be him-lah,” they said. Wong Ho Leng Ngu Ik Tien is a PhD can- The DAP dinner was held at the That surprised me as there were didate in the School of So- Good Happiness Restaurant in a 210 tables laid out for PKR’s night cial Sciences, Universiti relatively new shopping area of which was held a week ago. I Sains Malaysia. She is re- Sibu town, and the restaurant was thought that the DAP would draw searching into Local Poli- packed with about 2,000 diners. a bigger crowd. tics in Sarawak. My friend told me that about 200 tables were sold and occupied. My table was bought at the price

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 29 of RM500 by a middle-age “we, Malays, Chinese and In- businessman, Wong, who dians!” Even the ‘national ran a business that recycled leaders’ who spoke at the scrap metals and used-ma- two functions were guilty of chineries in Sibu, Kuching this mistake; they were and Bintulu. He didn’t think clearly insensitive to the the DAP would have a Sarawak context. chance to win the coming by- election but he came to show In both events, the Pakatan’s his “sympathy”. He said the “national leaders” spoke postal and native votes only fleetingly about issues would all go to the BN. He that had an immediate and also remarked that Robert obvious effect on the local Lau junior, the SUPP candi- people. Umno which has not date, was backed by “V (a yet been ‘allowed’ to contest business conglomerate). in Sarawak perhaps, in the eyes of local people, poses Comparing the DAP night to less of a threat to their every- the PKR’s, there were some day lives than the threats noticeable differences in posed by “White Hair” and terms of the attendants and The Pakatan leaders’ speeches at other local strongmen. Corruption speeches. There were more non- both dinners, I felt, all failed to in Sarawak and problems like Chinese, about 30 per cent, at the evoke thunderous applause from flooding and land titles, which are PKR dinner. Regardless of their the diners. One of the speakers at the current concerns of Sibu vot- ethnicity, the participants were the PKR dinner was the local PKR ers, were touched on only super- generally senior male citizens and youth leader. He had to depend ficially. from the lower middle and work- on a script when he spoke! He ing classes. The dinner was spoke in English and Mandarin That said, the DAP night demon- organised by the youth wing of and briefly in Iban too, but not in strated more local sensitivity. In Sibu PKR, which had obviously Malay. spoke at at least two speeches the Iban lan- failed to attract the local youth. At both events. A local resident who guage was used, once by a DAP my table, all the attendants were attended both dinners com- Iban leader and on the second oc- either in their 50s or 60s. In my mented in Foochow that “he casion by a SNAP Chinese leader casual conversations with a few didn’t say anything” and he who was an Iban speaker. None of them, I discovered that some added “they didn’t talk about lo- of the speeches during the PKR Chinese businessmen had bought cal or ,g0W issues”. I noticed night was given in the Iban lan- the tickets and then sent out buses some people got excited and re- guage even though the event had to the long houses to bring the sponded when Lim mentioned more Iban participants. A local Ibans to the dinner. In other “White Hair”. folk resident told me that Robert words, the attendance of Ibans Lau spoke some Iban, and to be a may not be a sign of support for Unfortunately, he did not exploit successful politician in Sibu, one the PKR. Some remained silent the issue. At both events, some must speak some Iban too. q until the end of the dinner and speakers did not even mention those who talked spoke fluent “White Hair”. Apparently from Foochow. peninsular Malaysia, many Ngu Ik Tien is a Ph D can- speakers criticised and con- didate registerd in the On the other hand, I would say demned Umno; in fact Umno does School of Social Sciences, the DAP received solid support not operate in Sarawak. And USM. She is currently con- from the middle-class Chinese, when these same speakers spoke ducting research on local and most of those who attended about ‘the people of Malaysia”, politics in Sarawak. were youthful and middle-aged. they would often also blurt out

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 30 SIBU BY-ELECTION I help you, you help me Offence committed by no country bumpkin, but a prime minister

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, any election’ on the eve of the polling in relation to the Sibu by- election offered RM5 million to solve Rejang Park’s The bovementioned offence is made punisable un- draining problem if the Barisan Nasional’s Robert der Section 11(1)(b),11(1)(b) the relevant part of which reads, Lau Hui Yew won. He said this when addressing 3,000 people at a ceramah in Rejang Park. ‘ Section 11. Punishment and incapacities for corrupt practice.practice.practice. He said this, (1) Every person who- “I wanted to come and see for myself what problem you have and if Robert Lau wins the seat, you will all (b) commits the offence of treating, undue influence see a new beginning. or bribery;bribery;bribery;

I want to make a deal with you. Can we have an shall be guilty of a corrupt practice, and shall, on understanding? The understanding is quite simple. I conviction by a Sessions Court, be liable, in the case help you, you help me. referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b), to imprison- ment for a term not exceeding two years and to a fine Do we have a deal or not? We do! You want the RM5 of not less than one thousand ringgit and not moremoremore million, I want Robert Lau to win. If Robert Lau than five thousand ringgitringgit, and, in any other case, becomes the MP on Sunday (16 May 2010), on Mon- to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year day I’ll ask the cheque to be prepared.” and to a fine not exceeding two thousand ringgit. Offences under paragraphs (a) and (b) shall be What the Prime Minister uttered in Sibu on Satur- seizable offences within the meaning of the Crimi- day night, 15 May 2010, clearly, amounts to an of- nal Procedure Code.’ fence under Section 10 (a) of the Election Offences Act, 1954,19541954Act, the relevant parts of which read, In view of the seriousness of the offence committed by no country bumpkin, but a prime minister, the ‘The following persons shall be deemed guilty of position is compounded a thousand-fold. the offence of bribery: I call upon the Chairman of the Election Commis- (a) every person who, before, during or after ananan sion to spring into action immediately and lodge a electionelectionelection,,, who directly or indirectly, by himself police report. The MACC should also take the nec- or by any other person on his behalf, gives, lends, essary action. or agrees to give or lend, or offers, promisespromises, or promises to procure or to endeavour to procure, The fact that Najib is the Prime Minister should have any money or valuable consideration to or forforfor no bearing on the matter. The law is no respecter of any elector or votervoteror ,,, or to or for any person on persons. It does not discriminate. Anyone however behalf of any elector or voter or to or for any other high, must be treated without fear or favour. person, in order to induce any elector or voter to votervotervoter or refrain from voting, or corruptly does any such acts as aforesaid on account of such elector Karpal Singh or voter having voted or refrained from voting at Member of Parliament, Malaysia

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 31 MIGRANTS Komtar’s international community marketplace Visitors to Penang should experience first hand the vibrancy of this beautiful Southeast Asian community market place at Komtar by Angeline Loh

t was around 12.30pm The taste of my wan than mee II and the kopitiam on the took me back to my child- III first floor of Komtar fac- hood; it was a taste long for- ing Magazine Road was gotten. The fried wan than slowly filling up for lunch with dumplings tasted like some- office workers and others from the thing enjoyed so long ago in surrounding area. A meal outside the past and the accompa- is a treat for me; it is a time to relax nying tiny bowl of and let my mind mull over things consommé melon soup with at a more leisurely pace while small bits of spring onions and end, where 300 undocumented savouring a delicious meal. fried garlic floating in it was just migrant workers, including two Amidst the kon-lo wan than mee and right. No overpowering taste of children had been rounded up barley suam, my aimless gaze salt or oil to spoil this pleasure. and sent to an immigration deten- settled momentarily on the vari- The barley drink was smooth and tion camp (, 18 April ous patrons of this traditional in- sweetened to perfection, its thick 2010). stitution, our local Malaysian white translucent liquid felt like kopitiam. velvet on the tongue. A majority came from Myanmar, the others from Indonesia, Philip- The kopitiams - little cafes fre- My reminiscing was cut short by pines, Bangladesh and India. It quented by people of every race a sharp loud shout in Hokkien, was a sad thought that couldn’t and colour, local and foreigner, “Or – peng- chniah” in a strange be dismissed. This was the real- worker and professional, rich accent. It emanated from an Indo- ity, the truth. and poor - are a heritage insti- nesian worker with complete and tution all over the country. Ev- persistent gusto. Shouting out or- Asean community ery ethnic community in the ders is the usual system in our bazaar world has its local watering Chinese kopitiams. Foreign work- hole. In some countries, it is a ers face many problems in our Walking round Komtar, I noticed pub or bar; in others it may be a country, despite working hard, many of the Burmese food and coffee house or outdoor cafe. possibly for more hours than they sundry shops were closed. It was This is where people from all should. disappointing because these social and economic strata con- places added to the vibrant inter- gregate to gossip, talk and My contentment was momentarily national variety in this complex socialise or even talk business clouded when I remembered that alongside local traders selling lo- in a pleasantly relaxed and there had been an immigration cal goods and food. This was the friendly environment. raid in Komtar over the last week- point at which one could literally

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 32 walk into “Asean”. It is such a stopped over to trade, rest and ul- with an international character. natural market place where prices timately settle. The original How can we be averse to foreign- are quite reasonable and afford- names of the streets and roads in ers and migrants who add to the able. These small migrant busi- Penang reflect its historically cos- unique international character nesses serve the local migrant mopolitan character and in some and vibrancy of our city state’s communities with basic necessi- ways continue to do so, particu- society? These migrants undeni- ties and special cultural and tra- larly its traditional ties with Thai- ably make major contributions to ditional goods. land and Burma. Penang boasts Malaysia’s economy, whatever two prominent temples off Jalan their legal status. You would come across Indone- Burma (Burma Road). The Thai sian food from Acheh or Jawa and Burmese temples, where the Hopefully, the present state gov- tucked in corners somewhere in Songkran i.e. New Year Water Fes- ernment will see the wisdom of this labyrinthine complex or Phil- tival, is held every year attended maintaining the enjoyable ‘village ippine Pinoy food and goods by droves of Thais, Malaysians, community’ ambience of shops on another floor. Burmese and foreign tourists in Komtar’s shopping centre for the Bangladeshi shops and Indone- the country. These temples are not enjoyment of locals and foreign- sian and Myanmar goods shops merely tourist attractions but ers alike. I would encourage any sell ‘batik sarongs’, Burmese places of worship and Buddhist of my foreign friends who visit ‘lungi’, ‘jamu’ traditional clothes, learning. The name ‘Burma Road’ Penang to step into Komtar’s footwear, medicines, foodstuff also has its own history of being Asean world and experience first and so many things that might be the road along which many Bur- hand the vibrancy of this beauti- found in these countries, without mese migrants settled centuries ful Southeast Asian community the hassle of having to buy a ago. I learned this from the remi- market place. plane ticket or getting immigra- niscences of elderly Penangites, tion clearance. including my parents who love to It was the present migrant com- share stories of their childhood munity shops and a small num- Yet, the raids by immigration en- days. ber of local businesses that kept forcers, Rela, MPPP and police Komtar alive when it was slipping mar the life of peaceful co-exist- Around the Unesco heritage city into a dilapidated and decrepit ence in this international commu- area and beyond, vestiges of small state with the deterioration of the nity business village. This inter- communities of various ethnic lin- city centre under the previous BN esting international marketplace eages can be found in places of state government. The current PR also draws many Western, and worship set up to serve the spiri- State government has contributed Eastern tourists and local shop- tual and cultural needs of the vari- to rehabilitating the complex and pers who happen to visit Komtar ous communities: Sikh gudwara, rejuvenating it by increasing its to find a delightfully wide variety Pakistani and Indian Muslim business potential. We also have of goods from Asean countries, mosques, Chinese clan houses, the foreign workers and migrants including Malaysia. Taoist temples, Eurasian and Eu- to thank for saving this seat of the ropean churches, old Hindu state government, and one of Komtar is the seat of the Penang temples. Even a Jewish cemetery Penang’s most famous icons – State Government that should con- still exists in Penang. There was Komtar. q sider itself privileged to be sitting an Armenian community after on top of this international busi- which “Armenian Street” (Lebuh ness centre, particularly compris- Armenian) was named and so Angeline Loh is an an ing citizens of Asean countries. many others – past evidence of the Aliran exco member. Penang should be proud to be in existence of an amazingly large this unique position - literally and varied spectrum of migrant Footnote: The Filipino within Asean ... or on top of it? ethnic communities who had Pinoy shops and some In- settled in Penang. donesian shops have been Historically, Penang was an in- closed down. ternational entrepot where trad- Penang has had such a rich his- ers from all over the world tory of being an international city

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 33 INTERNATIONAL The battle for Thailand There is a strong class element in the struggle between the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts by Walden Bello

May — Nearly a week 2525after the event, Thailand 252525is still stunned by the military assault on the Red Shirt encampment in the tourist centre of the capital city of Bangkok on May 19. The Thai gov- ernment is treating captured Red Shirt leaders and militants like they’re from an occupied country. No doubt about it: A state of civil war exists in this country, and civil wars are never pretty.

The last few weeks have hard- ened the Bangkok middle class in its view that the Red Shirts are “terrorists” in the pocket of ousted Red Shirts: Made up of urban and rural poor Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. At the same time, against civilian protesters can pected Red Shirt protesters in the they have convinced the lower never be justified. Siam Square area. classes that their electoral major- ity counts for nothing. “Pro- The casualties are still being Red Shirt sympathizers accuse Thaksin” versus “Anti-Thaksin”: counted. Government sources say the military of indiscriminate This simplified discourse actually some 52 people were killed in the shooting. They point to six veils what is — to borrow Mao’s week ending on May 19. Bodies people, including two medical words — a class war with Thai are, however, still turning up, in- personnel, shot by high-powered characteristics. cluding about nine that rescue rifles outside the temple Wat workers discovered on Friday at Pathum Wanaram, where thou- Epic tragedy the massive Central World shop- sands of Red-Shirt supporters ping mall at the Rajprasong Inter- took refuge. A report by Thai aca- No doubt there will be stories told section, which was torched by demic Pipob Udomittipong docu- about the eight weeks of the protesters. The final count is likely mented in painstaking detail a “Bangkok Commune.” As in all to be much higher. One soldier, for military unit’s unprovoked firing epic tragedies, truth will be en- instance, claims to have counted at a medic’s van near the Red- tangled with myth. But one thing 25 dead bodies on May 20, as he Shirt stronghold at Lumpini Park, will be clear: The government’s went with his unit on a room-to- a few days before the May 19 as- decision to order the Thai military room operation to flush out sus- sault.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 34 While the Red Shirts count their would be vehemently disputed by dead, the Bangkok middle classes highly respected politician dwell on the 39 establishments Anand Panyarachun. Anand said and buildings that were burned that, in his experience as prime down on May 19. The anti-Red minister, King Bhumibol always Shirt Bangkok Post editorialized: observed the constitutional rules “City residents will rebuild and of the game. He only provided ad- prove that the collective good is a vice “on request” and left it up to force greater than the terrorists the political players to decide who laid waste to our homes and what to do. ‘This is what hap- businesses.” pened in May 1992, when he brought Chamlong and Suchinda Class war [the warring leaders] together and said it would be desirable for them The local and domestic media to do what was in the best interest have portrayed the Red Shirts as of the people,” Anand says. “He a lower-class peasant rabble in- King Bhumibol: Above politics? never specifies what is to be vading Bangkok from the done.” country’s impoverished north- land have been attacked, arrested, east. This is a distortion. Some Red and imprisoned in the last week, Whatever the role of the king in Shirts estimate that the masses there is no reason to doubt the the recent tragedy — if indeed he that made up the Red Shirt dem- words of one driver that, “when had any role at all —the Thai pub- onstrators and sympathizers dur- the curfew is lifted, Thailand will lic is now engaged in a more ex- ing the two-month-long mobiliza- witness deeds that have not been plicit discussion of the role of the tion were 70 per cent from seen before in this country.” monarchy, something that used to Bangkok and surrounding prov- Who Ordered Whom? be shrouded with vague allu- inces, and 30 per cent from the sions. north-east, north, and other rural Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajeva areas. Those who resisted the ordered the assault. But the ques- Democracy and its armed assaults at key Red Shirt tion is: Who gave Abhisit, who discontents fortifications and refused the Red responds to powerful figures Shirt leadership’s advice to dis- within the Thai elite, the green How did Thailand get to this perse peacefully before the mili- light? The army command appar- point? Perhaps the place to begin tary operation were mainly young ently didn’t favour an assault on is May 1992, when the dictator- people from Bangkok’s lower- civilians and neither did the po- ship of General Suchinda class districts, such as Klong Toey. lice, who largely favoured the Red Kraprayoon gave way to a new era Shirts. General Prem of democratic governance. Be- There is a strong class element in Tinsulanonda, known as “Prem” tween 1992 and 1997, elections the struggle between the Red to many Red Shirt partisans, is the produced three coalitions. But Shirts and the Yellow Shirts, most influential figure in the these coalitions were parliamen- which together form the Royal Privy Council. Some Red tary formations dominated by tra- government’s mass base. Taxi Shirts may well believe that Prem, ditional party bosses and elites drivers are mainly a Red Shirt lot, whom they see as a master of in- who delivered command votes, and in the aftermath of May 19 trigue, is the villain of the piece. particularly in the rural areas, they’re eager to blast the govern- But what other Red Shirts mean through their control of economic ment and the Bangkok rich and by “Prem” includes others in po- and bureaucratic sources of middle classes to anyone willing sitions of great authority. wealth. Little was done to address to listen. Given the way that the the social grievances of the urban Red Shirts and hundreds of their Any suggestion that the King and rural poor. lower-class sympathizers not only Bhumibol Adulyadej had some- in Bangkok but throughout Thai- thing to do with the crackdown As parliamentary democracy lost

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 35 its lustre the economy barrelled Thaksin: Enjoys a mass following telecommunications, one of the along, with the Bangkok metro- economy’s most globalised sec- politan area rapidly integrated tors. Yet he sensed that the finan- into the global economy, via finan- cial crisis catalysed popular fears cial and production networks. about free-market globalisation, The 10 per cent GDP growth rate smouldering resentment at the between 1985 and 1995 — the urban and rural elites that seemed highest in the world, according to to be cornering the country’s the World Bank — seemed im- wealth, and anger at the interna- pressive. But it masked deepen- tional financial institutions. On ing inequalities: between Bangkok becoming prime minister in 2001, and the rest of the country, be- Thaksin made a number of daz- tween the city and the country- zling moves. He paid off the side, among social classes. Be- country’s IMF loan and kicked the tween 1988 and 1994 — the height Fund out of Thailand, initiated a of the boom that made Thailand universal health care system that Asia’s “fifth tiger” — the portion allowed people to be treated for of household income going to the the equivalent of a dollar, imposed top 20 per cent of the population decreeing many corporations a moratorium on the payment of rose from 54 per cent to 57.5 per bankrupt, liberalizing foreign in- farmers’ debts, and created a one- cent, while that going to the low- vestment laws, and privatizing million-baht fund for each village est 20 per cent fell from 4.6 per state enterprises. that villagers could invest how- cent to 4 per cent. In the 1960s, the ever they wanted. income of the agricultural worker When the government of was one-sixth that of workers in Chaovalit Yongchaiyudh hesi- This side of Thaksin won him a other sectors; by the early 1990s, tated to adopt these measures, the mass following among the it was down to one-twelfth. Pov- IMF pressed for a change in gov- country’s poor, marginalized, erty became, as one economist ernment. The second Chuan and economically precarious sec- said, “almost entirely a rural phe- Leekpai government complied tors. But there was another side to nomenon.” fully with the Fund, and for the Thaksin, the side that most of his next three years Thailand had a urban and rural poor followers When the bottom fell off the Thai government accountable not to the chose to ignore. Thaksin literally economy during the Asian finan- people but to a foreign institution. bought his political allies, con- cial crisis of 1997-98, the rural Not surprisingly, the government structing in the process a potent poor were suddenly joined in the lost much of its credibility as the but subservient parliamentary ranks of the marginalized by al- IMF’s demand-reducing mea- coalition. He used his office to most one million Thais, a great sures plunged the country into re- enhance his wealth and that of his many of them members of the ur- cession and stagnation. cronies. He failed to distinguish ban working classes. And as glo- public interest from private gain. balization went awry, parliamen- The two faces of tary democracy fell into severe dis- Thaksin Thaksin appeared to have created repute as Thai governments the formula for a long stay in seemed powerless to protect the It was in these straitened circum- power supported by an electoral people they were elected to serve stances that Thaksin Shinawatra, majority. But then he overreached. from the International Monetary a talented manager, adept politi- In January 2006, his family sold Fund (IMF). In return for provid- cal entrepreneur, and extremely its controlling stake in telecom ing a $72 billion fund to pay off effective communicator, achieved conglomerate Shin Corporation the country’s foreign creditors, the ascendancy. As a businessman, for $1.87 billion to a Singapore IMF imposed a very severe “re- Thaksin had benefited from glo- government front called Temasek form” program that consisted of balization owing to his firms’ Holdings. Before the sale, radically cutting expenditures, monopolistic position in private Thaksin had made sure the Rev-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 36 enue Department would interpret down, which came on May 19. or modify the rules to exempt him from paying taxes. This brought The surrender of the Red Shirt the enraged Bangkok middle class leadership and the repatriation of into the streets to demand his thousands of rural folk to their ouster. Feeling mortally threat- provinces will certainly not end ened by Thaksin’s effort to redraw the Red Shirt challenge. Accord- the landscape of Thai politics, the ing to one pro-Red Shirt academic, Thai establishment jumped onto the disaffected military, police, the anti-corruption bandwagon. and government personnel that Unable to break Thaksin’s parlia- played a prominent role in the re- mentary majority or to achieve a cent mobilizations will create a critical mass on the streets to potent underground network that sweep him from power, the estab- will provide leadership for the lishment pushed the military to next phase of the struggle. oust Thaksin in September 2006. Coup and Continuing Crisis General Prem: Most influential But the main push will come figurefigurefigure from the people themselves. The military was unable to Thailand, it is clear, will never restabilise the country, partly be- sulted in the cancellation of the be the same again. A taxi driver cause of its own mistakes and ASEAN Summit in Pattaya, failed summed up where things stand partly because of Thaksin’s recal- to dislodge Abhisit. But it proved at this point: “The Bangkok rich citrant mass base. The generals to be a valuable dress rehearsal think we are stupid people, who thus soured on direct rule. When for the massive Red Shirt push can’t be trusted with democratic the post-coup military-sponsored that began in the middle of March choice. We know what we’re regime exited, elections brought this year. doing. So yes, they say Thaksin two pro-Thaksin parliamentary is corrupt. But he’s for us and coalitions to power. Frustrated at Within an inch of he’s proven it. The Bangkok rich the polls, the elite middle-class victory? and middle classes see us as alliance resorted to direct action, their enemy. If they think we’re the most infamous of which was To many observers, the Red Shirts finished, they should think the anti-Thaksin Yellow Shirts’ were within an inch of victory two again. This is not the end but the seizure of the new Suvanaphumi weeks ago, when they managed end of the beginning.” q International Airport in December to elicit a five-point reconciliation 2008. At the same time, the courts plan from Abhisit that included intervened to dissolve the domi- dissolving parliament in Septem- nant pro-Thaksin party, and Yel- ber and elections in November. Walden Bello is a member low Shirt politicians used coer- The government says hardliners of the House of Represen- cion to detach some pro-Thaksin among the Red Shirts sabotaged members and force them to join a the agreement by demanding new tatives of the Philippines new coalition centred around the conditions, aimed at making key and author of A Siamese minority Democrats, headed by government leaders accountable Tragedy: Development Abhisit. for the 20-plus deaths in an ear- and Disintegration in lier clash that took place on April Modern Thailand At that point, Thaksin’s followers 10. The Red Shirt leadership, on (London: Zed, 1998). realized that only by mounting a the other hand, claimed that the show of force on the streets like haste with which the government the Yellow Shirts could they re- took back its offer and ended ne- Source: Foreign Policy In store their political position as the gotiations showed it had been Focus, May 25, 2010) country’s majority power. Street merely using the negotiations to warfare in spring 2009, which re- buy time for the military crack-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 37 To their credit, the PKR refused to resort to character assassination. If they had, the voters of Hulu Selangor would have got to know their Ministers and MPs very inti- mately! It is very telling that no one stood up when Lim Kit Siang challenged the BN MPs in Parlia- ment who had not drunk before to stand up!

Imagine what a gala time the vot- ers would have had if the po- lygamy of Bung Mokhtar Radin had been used to run down the BN. Somebody observed, “For a A record of Aliran'sAliran'sAliran's stand on current affairs. member of parliament to act irre- sponsibly by belittling the sanc- tity of marriage is unforgivable.” A foregone Anwar guilty and suspend him. But PKR did not stoop that low. conclusion His removal from Parliament would spare them from Anwar’s While one party is focussing on scathing attacks and more embar- issues and the failures of this na- rassing revelations that would put tion to do better, the BN has re- them in a spot. sorted to the heinous crime of run- ning down Zaid and Anwar This won’t gag Anwar from speak- Ibrahim. Money is flowing freely ing up. But the forthcoming Sod- to bribe and buy up voters with omy II trial in all probability the Election Commission oblivi- would fix that for the Barisan ous to this. The Pakatan party Nasional. workers are being blocked from entering the Orang Asli villages The decision to refer Anwar In a way, this may work to spread their message. This by- Ibrahim to the Rights and Privi- favourably for the Opposition. election is neither free nor fair. leges Committee did not come as Malaysians are in no mood to tol- a surprise to Malaysians. It was a erate blatant abuses or forgive the The voters of Hulu Selangor must foregone conclusion. Even before BN’s excesses. It is a matter of time decide whether this abominable the debate began in Parliament, when things will be put right. way of running down individu- the outcome was very obvious. als should be permitted. One way P Ramakrishnan to send a clear message that they The whole issue had descended President don’t approve of this is to vote into “Get your enemy at all cost – 22 April 2010 against the BN. When this is done, forget about justice and fair play.” future elections and by-elections In a game of numbers, there is no Let Hulu Selangor set will be fair and free. need to be moral about what you the benchmark do. Just nail him. You have the Let Hulu Selangor set the bench- numbers to achieve that! This abhorrent tactic swayed mark for good conduct. Malay support away from the The Rights and Privileges Com- Opposition. A similar tactic is be- P Ramakrishnan mittee - according to what Malay- ing deployed once again in Hulu President sians tend to believe - would find Selangor to achieve a BN victory. 24 April 2010

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 38 Have you heard? In 1987, we were listed on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Aliran Singers are coming to the Klang Valley for a “People First, Democracy Now” dinner! We put across our message to the public through the publication of our journal, Aliran Monthly, Join them for a night filled with music and dance which has been published for more than 30 years, performances and meet old friends and new in the and through thoughtful commentaries on our struggle for a just society. Reflect on what has been website (aliran.com). Occasionally we organise talks, achieved and be inspired and uplifted. forums and workshops.

Never heard of Aliran? We are an organisation for Our main source of income is from the sales of Aliran ‘social democratic reform’ that was founded in 1977. Monthly, donations and fund-raising activities. We advocate freedom, justice and solidarity; com- ment critically on social issues and offer indepen- This dinner is part of our fund-raising effort this dent analyses and alternative ideas. All this while year. It will feature songs and dances with a human keeping in mind the national and global picture rights theme by various groups, rounded off with based on universal human rights and spiritual val- presentations by the Aliran Singers. ues.

Date: Saturday, 26 June 2010 Venue: PJ Civic Centre

For contributions and invitations, contact: Klang Valley 1) Sarajun 019-5451904 2) Vijaya 016-4589486 3) Edda 012-2215075 4) Seng Guan 012-3222739 PenangPenangPenang Aliran 04-6585251

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(4) Page 39 SIBU BY-ELECTION Reflections on the Sibu by-election

Madam Lee, resident of Sibu in her 50s The outcome of the 16 May by- In order to speak freely, Madam Lee chose not to election holds many lessons for disclose her full name and positions in her political both the BN and Pakatan. Ngu Ik party. She expressed a deep sense of disappoint- Tien interviews two people who ment with the Sibu by-election outcome revealed on 16 May. share their frank views on what the result means for both sides “The result was unexpected. We thought BN would and what lies ahead in the com- definitely win, but maybe with a smaller mar- ing state election. We also carry gin…2008 general election has a great impact on East Malaysia, especially the loss of Chinese votes. a couple of highlights of the Sibu It also affects the Iban and Malay votes.” by-election campaign. She said there was a rise in the total vote cast and speculated that these came from young people who

Flooding is a serious problem Continued on page 26

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