BATTLE FOR UMNO Politics As If People Did Not Matter

THE upcoming UMNO election sets the political mood, that h'eates the than the pursuit of power. This will lead has already begun to receive wide political atmosphere in the country. This eventually to a Machiavellian notion of coverage. Columns after columns in is why it would not be wrong to suggest politics. Ethics, which should be the basis the local dailies are devoted to that ours is a one-party dominant system. of politics, as it should be the foundation of life, will cease to exert any influence. would be contestants and the posts Perhaps this is not altogether accurate. Secondly, the run-up to the UMNO they might be contesting for, subtle The other Barisan Nasional parties too wield some influence. But the total election confirms one of the outstanding campaign speeches by prospective impact of all the other Barisan parties put characteristics of Malaysian politics: its candidates and unending pleas for together is not even half of the power elitism. The media discussion about the Malay unity and UMNO solidarity. UMNO commands. It may be more up to election is confined to who will lead The way in which this event the mark, therefore , to suggest that ours which division and who will be standing dominates the media could ea~ily is a one and a half-party dominant for the Supreme Council election, who lead one to believe that nothing else system. are being nominated for the Vice- of importance is happening in the Why UMNO in particular and the Presidencies, whether Tunku Razaleigh country these days. Barisan in general enjoys this dominance will contest the Deputy Presidency and lies outside the scope of this analysis . so on. In other words, it is all about the While UMNO has the li9n's share of At this point, we will merely observe that UMNO elites. the coverage, the other two political colonialism, certain other historical The newspapers tell us very little parties which will be holding their circumstances, the ethnic situation, the about how ordinary UMNO members feel elections in the near future, namely the nature of the merdeka movement, the about the election. Do their feelings and MCA and the Gerakan, have also managed limited success of first the Alliance and thoughts matter at all? Are there certain to get quite a bit of media exposure. In then the Barisan in various spheres, the issues which they regard as crucial in the their case too, it is the nominations, the effective control of the ruling coalition coming contest? Will these issues emerge contestants, the rival cliques, their over the entire political process, the during the deliberations at the UMNO motives, their manoeuvres which make relative affluence of the middle and upper General Assembly in May? Or, are the news. classes, the general prosperity of the ordinary UMNO members there only to The UMNO election in particular country and indeed the shortcomings of elect their leaders? Is it true, that once which takes place once in 3 years has the opposition have all contributed to that purpose is served, the ordinary become such a big thing now that no this dominance. members - 'the little people' - do not other event comes anywhere close to it Whatever the reasons, UMNO and count at all? in terms of its political significance. It is Barisan dominance is clearly unhealthy as Thirdly, just as the UMNO election undoubtedly a reflection of UMNO's evinced by the media coverage of the establishes the elitistic nature of UMNO dominance of the political process. It is UMNO election. Firstly, it creates the politics, so does it render every other UMNO - or rather its leadership - that impression that politics is nothing more public issue insignificant and unimpor- tant. In the last few months, there have been a number of extraordinary social controversies. It is of course true that INSIDE some of them - like the constitutional BltfFiasco •••• 3 crisis - have lost public appeal. But some of the questions it raised should still be Schizophrenic Saudi Arabia .... 8 discussed by the newspapers. Should we, Government Gives A Dam •••• 14 for instance, undertake a comprehensive review of the constitution? Then there Buat Apa Seni ••••. 1 7 are other issues which continue to be crucial but are now ignored by the media. What is happening, one may ask, to the . .. DAN 15U - ISU BMF probe? Is the Chairman of the PILI HAN internal committee of inquiry - Tan Sri PA~TI TAHUN Ahmad Noordin, the Auditor-General - INI IALAH •.. getting the cooperation of all concerned? At a more elementary level, has he even received his official letter of appoint- ment? There are other public matters too of great magnitude which the country will have to grapple with in the near future - and which have been pushed into the background by the UMNO election. One of them is a review of the New Economic Policy . (NEP) which the government is supposed to be doing. Given the failings of the NEP, it is particularly important want the government to overcome the the "others". that the views of groups and individuals drop-out problem in primary schools Preserving one's ethnic image is not outside government are given maximum first. Or a certain candidate may be of the like the other issues we mentioned a attention. There may be other ways of view that penghulus should be elected while ago. For it is conditioned almost reducing poverty, of narrowing the gap while another may be of the opinion that entirely by a sentiment, an emotion between rich and poor, of restructuring they should continue to be appointed. which cannot be subjected to reason and society, which the government may not Issues such as these do not seem to analysis. It is simply a feeling about one's even have considered. With the over- engage UMNO politicians involved in the race and its interests (It is equally strong whelming dominance of the UMNO election battle. It is not issues that in the other communities). Unlike an election there is hardly any likelihood differentiate one candidate from another. issue like rural industries or dropouts the now of new perspectives on development What separates them is the clique, the pros and cons cannot be examined influencing government thinking on the group, the camp to which each belongs. A objectively and dispassionately. NEP. certain chap may be regarded as so-and- At this point we may want to ask: but Yet another issue of immense social so's man, while someone else may be seen how does all this make UMNO elections significance which should be on the front as yet another leader's follower. It is different from what takes place in other pages of our newspapers is the eviction these 'camps' with leaders and followers countries? Isn't it true that in other of 200,000 squatters from Malayan Rail- in each of them which dominate UMNO multi-ethnic societies too, ethnic way land. What is unfolding before us is politics. They exist at federal, state, sentiments overwhelm other rational a human tragedy of colossal dimensions. divisional and even branch levels. issues? Isn't it true that in other societies, The squatter problem is one of the most Loyalties don't always follow a straight whether they are multi-ethnic or not, we vivid illustrations of what underdevelop- line. This means that a certain branch also get groups and cliques in their ment means in a Third World country. leader may be in the camp of a certain political parties? And yet UMNO and MCA political divisional leader but the state leader he All that is true but the difference is leaders are too busy with their election supports may not necessarily be the state that in many other countries socio campaigns to do anything substantial, leader that his divisional boss supports. economic, educational and administrative beyond offering the usual token This also shows that cliques and groups issues which are independent of ethnic responses. If politics were conducted as if are not separated by rigid boundaries. considerations or group loyalties also people mattered, they would spend much •"fhere is a great deal of fluidity as engage candidates and voters. For more time and energy trying to resolve members and lower-level leaders switch instance, in multi-ethnic India, the ruling the problem. allegiances from election to election and Congress party embodies varying The subordination of issues which are sometimes from period to period as it ideological tendencies. We can speak of vital to the human being, the way in suits their convenience. This fluidity and groups that want more socialism and which crucial social concerns have variations in loyalties at different levels groups that want less socialism. In retreated into the shadows in the face of are among the many factors which have Britain, within the Conservative party, the UMNO election bodes ill for the prevented strong factions from you have the more 'progressive' conserva- nation as a whole. What makes it worse is developing within UMNO. tive group presently linked to Edward yet another glaring fact: in the UMNO But the fact remains that personalities, Heath and a more 'reactionary' conserva- contest itself there are no real issues. not issues , count in UMNO elections. tive group generally associated with Within the larger context of the UMNO Groups and followings, not policies and Margaret Thatcher. Even in the ruling philosophy and its policies, there could programmes, constitute the substance of liberal coalition in Japan, it is not just a be different approaches to, varying UMNO politics. If there is any issue case of factions led by powerful party emphases upon, a whole variety of issues which influences candidacies it is the brokers; on certain issues like Japanese which are important to ' the Malay perennial ethnic question. In UMNO , as rearmament and international trade they community in particular and the in other communal parties, it is there all hold different positions. Malaysian nation in general. As a case in the time. This is why every candidate, no It may be useful to reflect on why the point, candidate Y may want a rural matter what position he is fighting for, is situation is different in our country - development programme that emphasises careful to present himself as a protector though it is by no means an unique rural industries while candidate Z may be of the community. What this means in situation. Why are the issues as such not more inclined to heavy industries and essence is that one must articulate and central to the elections within UMNO? urbanisation. Candidate A may feel that act from an ethnic perspective. On the This is something that we may want to more residential schools should be built economy, on political power, on cultural analyse in a future article. Perhaps our to improve educational opportunities for identity, on national symbols one must readers have some views in this matter. Malay students while candidate B may be seen as a leader who will not give in to We would be happy to hear from them. D

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 2 BMFiasco Government Credibility At Stake

Some months ago, we carried a feature on the BMF Scandal, setting out the unusual circumstances behind the huge unsecured loans made to several development companies in Hongkong. This feature deals with more recent events pertaining to the scandal, as rumours abound 1n the face of an apparent 'cover-up'.

FOR several months now, the Malaysian the BMF issue was not even on the protested against the use of these docu- people have been following the continuing agenda of a meeting that many-.onsidered ments. saga of the Bumiputra Malaysia Finance the most important political event of In a strongly worded note to the , (BMF) Hongkong loans. BMF is a fully- the year. British government - which Foreign owned subsidiary of Bank Bumiputra, At the UMNO general assembly Minister, Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie now the country's largest bank and more s.everal years ago, then UMNO president, describes as "friendly advice" - the importantly, financial symbol of the Datuk (now Tun) Hussein Onn took the government said the BMF papers were growth of indigenous capital since inde- delegates to task for their silence over being put to wrong use. It was (BMF pendence in 1957, and especially after the White Paper on the Bank Rakyat assistant general manager) Jalil Ibrahim's the promulgation of the New Economic corruption · case · - for which current murder the Hong Kong police were Policy (NEP) in 1970. UMNO vice-president, Datuk Harun Idris, investigating, not the BMF link to George Very sadly, most of what Malaysians spent three years in Pudu prison . - in Tan and Carrian's debts, the note said. know has been the result of the efforts his closing address. of investigati;e journalists working , for Why the protest? The Hong Kong foreign business periodicals. There is no doubt that the BMF police would not have been doing their In the absence of an open and thorough scandal is one of the two most important job if they had not looked into the inquiry undertaken by those enjoying issues facing Malaysia today. In this possibility of a link between Jalil's public confidence, the government's connection, Datuk Sanusi Junid, Minister murder and the huge BMF loans to credibility is eroding as rumours abound for National and Rural Development, Carrian which he was investigating when in the face of an apparent 'cover-up'. has reportedly alleged that the issue he was murdered, for which another Why was the government so reluctant involving the constitutional amendments Malaysian . citizen, Mak Fook Thiam, to establish a royal commission, if it has been played up by certain quarters is now charged in court. Who are Selangor- had nothing to fear from it? After all, to divert attention from the BMF crisis. born Mak's Malaysian patrons and what not only the opposition political parties It is certainly . of greater political has been their role in Carrian and the but also others concerned, including and economic significance than the Bank Jalil murder? leaders of the ruling UMNO, had asked Rakyat scandal, or even the disastrous In early September, Hong Kong for such an inquiry. 'mystery buying'. of tin in the world police raided the offices of the Carrian The committee of inquiry which will market last year, which is rumoured to group, making use of information obtain- table its findings in Parliament as a White have cost the government about a billion ed from the BMF papers. On October 2, Paper will only encourage rumour-mon- ringgit (i.e. about US$440,000,000). Malaysian-born George Tan of Carrian gering and further undermine the govern- was arrested. ment's credibility. Hongkong Disclosures Bentley Ho, executive director of the In July 83, Hong Kong police obtained Carrian group, was also arrested on the UMNO General Assembly documents from the BMF office in the same day. Bentley Ho was trying to At the UMNO general assembly in colony in connection with the murder of board a flight - to Malaysia! - when he August last year, everyone thought, after BMF officer Jalil Ibrahim. These papers was detained at Kai Tak airport by the months of evasion and silence, that showed how the loans were given to police. Why was Ho trying to get to the national political leadership would George Tan of the now insolvent Carrian Malaysia while he was being sought by confront . the BMF scandal squarely: group of companies. Hong Kong· police, and who are his how much was lost; who were responsible; The papers were circulated among the Malaysian connections? how it happened; what action would be authorities in Hong Kong before the On October 4, George Tan and taken regarding the matter; what steps UMNO ·general assembly in August. Bentley Ho were charged in a magistrate's would be taken to prevent it from Instead of pre-empting the Hong Kong court. Why did the Malaysian government happening again. Instead, the much-await- revelations with findings from its own not want Jalil's documents to be used ed disclosures did not take place. Indeed, investigations, the Malaysian government against George Tan then?

3 ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 Firstly, the papers show that BMF had lent Carrian far more than BMF or Bank Burniputra annual reports revealed. It was not the equivalent of one billion ringgit, as was previously believed. Instead, the court was told that the total amounted to the equivalent of 1.7 billion ringgit (i.e. about US$739,000,000). And more incredibly, no one knew what had happened to almost half the amount (about 769 million ringgit or US $334,000,000). Secondly, the arrest of George Tan meant that the Carrian group could no longer continue to do business. Its creditors therefore had to sue for its liquidation in order to recover some of the money they had lent.

Implications for BMF For BMF, this meant that it can expect to get back only a small portion of the moriey it lent out since Carrian's assets will have to be auctioned off. According to Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir's estimate a week later, Bank Burniputra would be able to get back only 25 to 30 per cent of the total lent by BMF to Carrian in Hong Kong. "Bank Anda?" The Malaysian government also evidently preferred to see George Tan currently husband of a widow of the late tions? Surely, the story does not end remain free despite what he was reputed Sultan of Pahang, and by Yap Lim Sen, with the one plus million ringgit in to have done. As Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir managing director of Ipoh Gardens, a 'consultancy fees', which has been the said on October 11: "We wanted to keep property development company involving main focus of government revelations the goose alive . Then, maybe we could Datuk Tan Chin Nam and the Kuok to date. · have some of the golden eggs." Brothers, and reputedly enjoying close BMF was only one of 100 banks which In fact, BMF kept up its loans to links With the Perak royal house. If the would lose money in Hong Kong, he George Tan up to rnid-1983, even after bids had not been pre-empted by the turn added. But it has been singled out - "for Carrian announced in late 1982 of events, funds from the sales would unknown reasons" - by the Hong Kong that it cduld not repay its debts! On have enabled Carrian to settle debts with authorities to investigate. This may not October 10, a Hong Kong-based news- other creditors, and thus protect the really be so strange since BMF was paper, the Asian Wall Street Journal magnitude of the Carrian-BMF exposure Carrian's biggest lender - bigger even quoted a source close to Bank Burniputra from the public eye. than Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, the as saying: "Carrian is BMF's largest colony's biggest bank. · client, and of course, the bank didn't "A Heinous Crime" Even Malaysian newspaper reporters want Carri.an to collapse. So more loans At a press conference on October 11, - who usually face so much difficulty were made." Datuk Seri Mahathir described the BMF getting information - were blamed. They were told: "Nobody, including you, Moreover, even after George Tan's loan losses as "a heinous crime". Every- pointed out at that time (1979) the arrest, BMF continued to help him. one knew by that time that Bank Burni- putra was certain to lose hundreds of problem over the loans . . . . If someone BMF officials in Hong Kong apparently had pointed out at that time , maybe we helped to raise part of the million millions of ringgit. But the press HK$3 could have stopped the loans." (i.e. US$300,000) bail for George Tan conference continued to pin the blame Most significantly, Datuk Seri Dr. so that he could remain free until his for the BMF scandal on others. Mahathir has strongly implied that five trial! Why has the Malaysian government If the property market in Hong Kong officials of Bank Burniputra and BMF acted in such a way as to appear to be had not collapsed, "there would have been no trouble," the Prime Minister were to blame: former Bank Burniputra "defender, protector and guardian of chairman, Tan Sri Kamarul Ariffin Mohd. Carrian boss George Tan", as alleged by said. And that was due to British Prime Yassin , former Bank Burniputra and the Parliamentary Opposition leader, Minister Margaret Thatcher's "hamfisted BMF director, Datuk Mohd. Hashim Lim Kit Siang. clumsy handling" of China's claim Shamsuddin, former Bank Burniputra However, circumstantial evidence to Hong Kong, he said. director and BMF chairman Lorraine suggests that the additional loan facilities But the question is, of course, why Esme Osman, former Bank Burniputra extended to Carrian were intended to lend so much in poorly secured loans to international loans division head and enable it to restructure its debts and thus such mysterious and doubtful credit risks BMF alternative director Dr. Rais avoid public embarrassment. Bank Burni- on the volatile Hong Kong property Saniman and BMF general manage putra is alleged to have been involved in market in the first place. Were there Ibrahim Jaafar. financing the abortive attempts to pur- or rather, what were the extraordinary and extra-commercial considerations chase Carrian subsidiaries - by Fleuret Who is to Blame? Investments, controlled by Datuk Dr. involved? What does all this say for Bank Mohd. Hussain, a businessman and Burniputra's normal conduct of opera- Were only these five men to blame?

ALIRAN MONTHLY F EB' 84 4 For example, Ibrahim Jaafar may have ASN subscribers. Can it continue to do Dr. Mahathir announced that the govern- accepted 'consultancy feei; but as general so," Tan Sri Kamarul asked. ment had no intention of setting up a manager of BMF, he is only an employee. (PNB had to inject 600 million ringgit royal commission! Even a White Paper Even Tan Sri Kamarul, like some of the (about US$250 million) into Bank was ruled out! Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir others, was a political appointee. Bumiputra three months ago . If only even denied having said it was possibM! It is widely believed that Datuk 20-25 per cent of the BMF Hong Kong At this point, very few people believe Hashim Shamsuddin has been treasurer of loans are recovered, it will definitely that the internal government investigation the UMNO building fund committee, and have to inject more. But PNB's operating will reveal the whole truth behinq the rumours abound about the possible impli- profit in 1982 was only 168 million scandal. Of course, those who have some- cations of this connection. · ringgit, only a little more than the 167 .7 thing to hide or patrons· to protect will Did they really act on their own? If million ringgit in 1981 ). be happy. they did, they could have put much more Current estimates of BMF's Hong into their pockets than one or two million The Right to Know Kong loans - to·Carrian, Eda and Kevin in 'consultancy fees' , or less than 0.001 Hsu - are in the region of two billion Many calls have already emerged of the over two billion ringgit loaned ringgit (i.e. about US$900 million); i.e. by BMF to the three ailing Hongkong for a full-scale public inquiry into the BMF scandal. The Malaysian people want over 140 ringgit per Malaysian. Two property-based companies, namely billion ringgit could also finance 100,000 Carrian, Eda and Kevin Hsu . answers to questions, and they have a right to know. low cost housing units (at 20,000 ringgit Where is the missing 769 million per unit), which could house over half ringgit loaned to Carrian? Perhaps the They want the truth rather than a million people. As has been pointed money went to the owners of Carrian rumours. Some prominent Barisan out, this amount could also supply the Nominees (the parent company of Nasional politicians, other politically textbook needs of one million primary Carrian Investments), which is still well-connected businessmen and members school children for 40 years to come. shrouded in mystery. of some royal houses are alleged to have No small sum indeed! If so, who are the owners? Are they been involved, according to these Already about one-third of BMF's Malaysian interests? What are their rumours. Their names - and by implica- Hong Kong loans have been written off political connections? tion, that of the national political leader- because of changes in the currency We all know that Tan Sri Kamarul ship - cannot be cleared Without a exchange rate. If a quarter of the balance claimed the next day that he did not thorough and open inquiry. can be recovered - which is being quite know anything about the BMF loans, Even some UMNO leaders have called optimistic - this could still mean a loss of although he acknowledged 'moral res- for a royal commission, including UMNO five-sixths of the original loans, or about ponsibility' as chairman of Bank Bumi- vice-president Ghafar Baba. His son, 1.7 billion ringgit (i.e. about US$750 putra. Malaysians do not know who is Tamrin, a member of the UMNO Youth million). telling the truth, but obviously, · there Exco, has questioned the accuracy of Several investigations have been· are reasons why he dared to reply in Bank Bumiputra's accounts and the started by the Hong Kong authorities strong terms to his party leader and violation of several existing laws of the into the BMF case and Jalil's murder. Prime Minister. country and has pointed out that "there While the colonial Hong Kong authorities The Prime Minister's statements were are other loans extended to the tune of may have been prepared to 'cooperate' "unfair, one-sided and made without a 10.07 billion ringgit as at Dec. 31, 1982:" with the Malaysian authorities previously, thorough study", Tan Sri Kamarul claim- He has also queried the origin and nature this is less likely now after several 'indis- ed. The Prime Minister "should have of the bank's published guarantee that cretions' were made by prominent checked with me first; that would have the Malaysian government "has given an Malaysians in response to the situation \)een common courtesy." Datuk Seri undertaking that it would back the bank in Hong Kong. With the trial of Carrian's Dr. Mahathir later s;lid he would "let fully." Incredibly, Bank Bumiputra's chairman and the trial of Jalil's murderer the people judge" who was telling the reply implied that Bank Negara had been still pending, more details will surely truth. Such confidence in the people quite aware of ·BMF's Hongkong pro- emerge whether. the government likes it is gratifying, but the people are also blems before Bank Bumiputra's accounts or not. demanding the information to make their were published in the June' of 1983 and The two most popular slogans intro- judgment with. had amended Bank Bumiputra's directors' duced by the present administration have Surely such large loans were approved report such that ifs 1982 results "had been "clean, efficient and trustworthy" at a higher level as well. And what about not been materially affected" by the and "leadership by example". Only an the other loans extended until mid-1983, BMF problems! Even UMNO Youth open and thorough inquiry by a truly· well after Tan Sri Kamarul was replaced leader, and hence UMNO vice-president impartial commission will clear the after March 1982. And what about loans Anwar Ibrahim - a rising star and picture as well as the people's doubts, by other Malaysian banks to similar Hong Mahathir favourite - has called for an and restore some credibility in the Kong interests? Rumours abound and open inquiry. government. The announcement by the only satisfactory answers from an open On October 22, Datuk Seri Dr. PM in early January that a committee of and proper inquiry can clear the existing Mahathir was reported to have said that inquiry had been-appointed to investigate doubts . the government was considering the the BMF loan scandal only confirms In an interview, Tan Sri Kamarul setting up of a royal commission of rumours of a blatant cover-up. went on to attack Permodalan Nasional inquiry. He also did not rule out a White Berhad (PNB), and by implication, its Paper on the scandal. chairman Tun Ismail Ali, who is Many people immediately praised him Mahathir's brother-in-law. (PNB owns for this statement. After all , the Bank [The author of this piece is a 80 per cent of Bank Bumiputra). Rakyat scandal, involving (ar less funds, journalist with one of the local ''There will be another Carrian, had merited a White Paper. A royal dailies. He is a keen observer of perhaps affecting one of the high-fliers, commission, which at least in theory is events related to the BMF loan even the PNB." Tan Sri Kamarul claimed. freer to conduct a more thorough inves- scandal.] "PNB promises to pay at least 10 per tigation, was only appropriate, they said. cent' annual dividend to the l .'3 million But exactly one week later, Datuk Seri

5 ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 ------Education------

Vinoba Bhave, now 84 years old, is one of India's Questioning most distinguished Gandhian figures. In the fifties he walked all round India, asking large landowners to donate part of their land for redistribution to the land- less. This was known as the Bhoodan (land gift) Education movement. This redistribution however has had only a limited impact on basic agrarian structures. Vinoba Bhave

eaching must take place in the and everything else for themselves. We from action. There is no knowledge T context of reitl life. Set the children have to put into their hands the key to without action and no action without to work in the fields, and when a problem knowledge. knowledge. The two are one, this is not arises there give them whatever know- On the completion of his education a a question of technique, but is a funda- ledge of cosmogony, or physics, or any student ought to have confidence in his mental principle of Basic Education. other science, is needed to solve it. Set own powers. This is what matters, not a People ask - if children have to work for them to cook a meal, and as need arises supply of miscellaneous information and two or three hours every day, how are teach them chemistry. In one word, let a degree. they to learn anything? It seems to me them live. The children should have The goal of education must be free- an extraordinary question. What we someone with them, but that someone dom from fear. In the Upanishads, when should really be asking is how they are should not belong to a special category the guru is teaching his disciples he says ever going to learn anything if they called teacher, he should be a man living to them: "O my students, whatever good spend three or four hours a day poring an ordinary life in the practical world. conduct you find in me, that follow; over books. We never seem to have any The man who is to guide children should whatever you do not find to be good, doubt that by reading they are obtaining conduct his life intelligently and be that do not follow." That is to say, the knowledge, and that reading is in fact the capable of explaining the processes of life guru gives his students freedom. He tells direct road to knowledge. It is nothing of and work to the children .as opportunity them to use their own jtidgment in the sort; on the contrary, book-learning is arises. It is not education to fill students' deciding what is right and what is wrong. like a curtain that shuts us off from the heads with information, but to arouse They are not to think that whatever their real world ... their thirst for knowledge. Teacher and guru says is wholly right. is certainly It The separation of learning from labour pupil both learn by their contact with true fftat the guru is endeavouring to live results also in social injustice. Some each other. Both are students. True by the truth, otherwise he would not be a people do nothing but study and others education is that which is experienced, guru; but he nevertheless cannot claim nothing but hard labour, and as a result tasted and digested. What can be counted that his every action will be in harmony society is split in two. Those who earn and recorded is not education. Education with truth. And so he tells his students to their bread by manual labour form one cannot be doled out; it cannot be be alert, to use their intelligence and social class and those who do only weighed and measured. examine his conduct, and to disregard intellectual work form another. In India, Education must be of such a quality whatever seems to them wrong. And manual labourers are paid one rupee a . that it will train students in intellectual by this means he enables his students to day, intellectual workers are paid twenty- self-reliance and make them independent grow in fearlessness. five or thirty rupees. A very great thinkers. this were to become the chief If Fearlessness means that we should injustice has been done by rating the aim of learning, the whole process of neither fear anything, nor inflict fear on value of manual and intellectual work learning would be transformed. Life- others. Both these things are parts of fear- so differently. And it is the abolition of knowledge can only be had from life. The lessness. True fearlessness neither enslaves such injustice that must be the goal of task of the school is to awaken in its another, nor does it slavishly submit to our education. pupils the power to learn from life. another. The purpose of learning is freedom. The only basis for such fearlessness is Human lives are like trees, which Freedom does not imply just an indepen- the knowledge of the self. This self- cannot live if they are cut off from the dence of one's own moods and impulses. knowledge is the foundation of soil which nourishes them. Therefore, The man who is a slave to his senses and education. everyone must have the opportunity to cannot keep his impulses under control tend the soil, but at the same time the is neither free nor self-sufficient. The business of agriculture must be done so question "What shall we teach our no knowledge efficiently that the smallest possible students?" is raised in the Upanishads, without action number of people are tied entirely to the and the answer given is that we should land. These two principles may seem to teach them "the Veda of Vedas". That is The origin of all the world's conflicts be mutually contradictory, but they are to say, the power to study the Vedas, is that knowledge has been separated both parts of Basic Education. It ·

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 6 basic need of humanity to be in touch teacher and studen1 to become work- can teach reading, writing, history and with the earth, and any nation or civili- partners and this can happen only when geography. Well , they are not entirely zation which is cut off from it slowly the distinction between the teacher useless, there are times in life when they but surely loses its vigour and 'teaching' and the student 'learning' can are needed. But they are not basic t'6 life. degenerates. be overcome. Would you be willing to learn Education is like the water in a river weaving?" "I don't want to learn - what is here today is not what was anything new now. Besides I couldn't student teacher here yesterday, and what is here today learn to weave, I have never before done comradeship will not be here tomorrow. The river any kind of handwork." "In that case it goes on flowing but its water is never the might of course take you longer to learn, An interesting light is cast on the same. In the same way education should but why should you be unable to learn Indian attitude to education by the fact go on changing continually, with the it?" "I don't think I could ever learn it. that in all the fourteen languages of India experience of every passing day. But even supposing I could, it would there is no root word corresponding to Each region is different, and plans mean a lot of hard work and a great English 'teach'. We can learn, we can help for education must take account of those deal of trouble. So please understand others to learn, but we cannot 'teach'. differences. Education will take one form that I could not undertake it." _ The use of the two distinct words, 'teach' in a town on a river bank, another in a This conversation is quite enough to and 'learn', suggests that these two pro- town on a hill, another in a town near a enable us to understand the psychology cesses may be thought of as independent forest. It must vary with the circum- apd characteristics of far too many of of one another. But that is merely the stances. The same fixed mould, the our 'teachers'. To be 'only a teacher' professional vanity of the 'teacher', and same set of text-books, will not be means to be: completely ignorant of any we shall not understand the nature of equally suitable everywhere. When there kind of practical skill which might be education unless we rid ourselves of that is just one text-book for the whole State useful in real life; incapable of learning vanity. Our first task is to realize that an no attention can be paid to these local anything new and indifferent towards 'uneducated' human being is nowhere features and variations; in consequence any kind of craftsmanship; conceited; to be found . But today, all too often, an the student's interest is not awakened, and buried in books. ordinary schoolboy treats a first-class and the special needs of th ,individual It is important to make our own carpenter as if he were an ignorant boor. town are not met. Teaching ought to lives a pattern of what the life of society The carpenter may be a man of maturity fit the situation. We eat today to satisfy ought to be. If a man can really fulfil his and experience, a wise and skilled work- today's hunger; we do not eat for ten own life, the radiance of education will man, who is of real service to his commu- days ahead. Similarly the student should stream out of itself upon everyone nity. But simply because he cannot read be given the knowlege that is needed to around him, and the atmosphere of the and write, the 'educated' boy treats satisfy the demands of his life today. whole neighbourhood will feel its him as an inferior. influence. A teacher like this is a school The gift of education is not a matter in himself, and to live with him is real for pride, in fact an essential condition "only teaching" education. for being able to receive it is that we The teacher in the school should be should grow in humanity. In our ancient A young man said that he wished to the inspiration of the whole town, and books vidya (education) is equated with do some good work for society. "Tell the. school should be the centre of service. vipaya (humility); vinaya, in Sanskrit, is a me", I said, "what kind of work do you If the community needs medicine, it synonym for education, and a student feel you could do well?" . "Only teaching, should be supplied through the school. who had completed his studies was called I think", replied the young man, "I If the streets need cleaning, the school vinit - perfected in humility. This can't do anything else, I can only teach, should initiate the work. The people humility is the fruit of true education. but I am interested in it and I feel sure should turn to the teacher to help them The teacher must be ready at all times to I shall be able to do it well." "Yes, yes, I settle disputes. The school should make serve his students in humility; the do not doubt that, but what are you plans for the observance of festivals. In students must learn humbly from the going to teach? Spinning? ·Carding? this way the school should become the teacher. Teacher and student must each Weaving? Could you teach any of these?" centre of the community; it should regard the other as a fellow worker; in "No, I can't teach these." "Then develop whatever is of value and intro- former times they united in the ancient tailoring? or dyeing? or carpentry?" "No, duce the things that are lacking. prayer of the schools - "May the study I know nothing about them." "Perhaps There is nothing more tragic than that of both of us be filled with vigour". you could teach cooking, grinding and knowledge should be paid for in money. The teacher does not consider himself other household skills?" "No, I have A man who possesses knowledge hungers to be 'teaching', but to be studying . The never done any work like that. I can only and thirsts to pass it on to others and see C prayer asserts that both live together and teach . . ." "My dear friend, you answer them enjoy it. The child at the breast f both study together. They both under- "No' to every question, and yet you keep finds satisfaction, but the mother too f stand that the teacher finds his own true saying you can only teach. What do you takes pleasure in giving suck. What would good in helping the student, and the mean? Can you teach gardening? become of the \l(Orld if mothers began 1 student in helping the teacher. The would-be teacher said, rather angrily, demanding fees for feeding their babies? e Wherever two people live together in "Why do you ask all this? I told you at If you ask someone what he is this kind of comradeship giving and the beginning, I can do nothing else. I drinking he will answer 'tea'. There is sugar in it, but he never mentions the 0 receiving mutual help, real education is can teach literature." "Good! Good! .e in progress. The place of books is, there- I'm beginning to understand now. You sugar, he never says he is drinking tea- and-sugar. The sweetness of the sugar ) fore, secondary. This idea troubles many mean you can teach people to write e people, who think that if the place books like Tagore and Shakespeare?" permeates the tea, but the man dr,inks and says nothing about it. Education tC assigned to books is reduced the students This made the young man so angry that must be like the sugar, doing its work in 0 will be deprived of the most valuable he began to splutter. re tools of knowledge. Books do have a "Take it easy", I laughed. "Can you secret. The best education is similarly a place as tools of knowledge, but it is a teach patience?" That was too much. invisible. The more it is s~en , the more very minor place . The major need is for "I know what you mean", I said, "You imperfect it is! D

7 ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 . ._ ------World------

Television, which offers up as " entertain- ment" programmes of a learned and religious character, bans imported films it SAUDI ARABIA considers "shameless". Everyone comes to terms, as best he can, with this austerity imposed jointly Schizophrenic Society by the government and an ultra- . conservative clergy working hand-in-hand. The rich, whether princes or commoners, Of The Corrupt treat themselves to frequent junkets abroad - occasionally for just a weekend thanks to the private planes they own - having a good time , in European or American capitals, on the beaches of California or in Swiss Alpine ski resorts. The less well-heeled let their hair down more modestly in Bahrain, Kuwait or Cairo. And in between, video, which is in wide use in Saudi households helps fill in evenings. Businesses which specia- THE party this prominent Saudi bour- The contradiction is all the more lise in providing video-cassettes of full- geois gave would have been no different striking as the laws regulating women's length feature films, whether "immoral" had it taken place in Paris, London or status are extremely harsh. A woman or not, are making money hand over New York. The Bedouin dress wouldn't may not drive a car, go to places fre- fist. The Wahhabite kingdom is said to have fooled anyone. Businessmen and quented by the public without an escort be one of the biggest importers of skin- highly-placed government officials who or obtain a job without the written per- flicks which are shown in semi- when they return from abroad swop mission of her father, husband, or, in clandestine halls that are more or less their custom-tailored suits for no less the absence of either, the head of her tolerated and proliferate in the bigger elegantly designed traditional attire - family . As a pupil or student, she can cities. the thawb (along silk or woollen gown), only go to her educational establishment Young people are more uncom- a gold-edged mishalah (cape) and a accompanied by a male member of the promising than their elders and find ghutra (a shawl with black or red squares) family. Only a very limited number of it increasingly hard to- go along with thrown coquettishly over the head - jobs are open to women - in teaching, the ambivalent attitude and the con- chatted in careful Er.glish as they sipped medicine, laboratories, social service or straints of a dual morality. Stung by their whiskies or champagne. offices - and even then only on the the system's "hypocrisy" some of them condition that she does not frequent inveigh against the inflitration of The consumption of alcoholic beve- a male milieu. So, for example, banks rages is in theory punished in Saudi Ara- "western corruption", while others - and have ' ecently had to open branches they are said to be by far the more bia with prison sentences, but it is tole- staffed entirely by women and serving rated within the home. As illegally numerous - rather call for abandoning women customers exclusively. customs which they consider to be smuggled-in liquor is very expensive, a Nevertheless, morals are beginning locally distilled drink nicknamed sadiki falsely Islamic, or, at any rate, ill-adapted to loosen up under the corrosive impact to the requirements of modern living. (literally, "buddy") is the common tipple of the runaway modernisation that Saudi of the working class . "We feel stifled", concluded a student Arabia has been experiencing in recent after bitterly complaining especially The rule calling for the segregation years with more and more money pump- about the absence of any contact with of the sexes is increasingly ignored at ed into the economy, imports of western the opposite sex. He told me that many private gatherings. Women who must be technology, increasing urbanisation, an of his fellow students feel frustrated and covered from head to foot when they influx of foreign workers, in particular seek escape in alcohol and drugs. Both step outside their homes are seen without from non-Muslim countries, and the boys and girls are increasingly jibbing veils and wearing make-up at middle- spread of free education. at "proxy" marriages and demanding class parties, and the more comfortably True, between 70 and 80 per cent of that they choose their own spouses. off among them wear clothes designed the population are still illiterate, but Since there is no possibility at all of by top Paris couturiers. some 1,200,000 young Saudis go to going out together before marriage, school and university, with about 30,000 relatives arrange family meetings to which Party conversation is surprisingly un- of them studying abroad, half of them the prospective marriage partners are buttoned for a country which is reputedly in the United States. Thousands of these invited. a pillar of Islamic puritanism. Only words diploma-holders return home every year The appearance a few months ago of sympathy can be heard for Princess and find themselves suddenly cut off of the first supermarkets (which I am Misha'al, who was executed in 1977 for from distractions to which they have told are being used as assignation places) adultery, antl only praise for the British become accustomed - cinemas, theatres, illustrates the changes taking place in ulevision film on the subject, "Death clubs and cultural associations, which Saudi society and the contradictions of a Princess", which was widely shown are all outlawed under Wahhabi Islam they are spawning. If the "middle classes" on western television. handed down from the 18th century. who have visited the West are at home

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 8 in these tabernacles of frenzied con- the consumption of which seems · to be airport has been planned to handle sumption, the recently urbanised high, yet malnutrition is still present 8.5 million travellers by 1985 and ten Bedouins are visibly less so. Accustomed in the country as was confirmed by, million by the year 2000. The Riyadh to doing· their shopping in the narrow, among others, a poll taken by the daily airport under construction today will twisted and redolent lanes of the souks, Okaz. Eleven out of 100 heads of house- handle 15 million travellers, thf t is, where they can palpate a tomato or holds in Jeddah who were asked what three times the Saudi population. , By sniff a mango before haggling over its was their most fervent wish, answered the same standards Roissy in France price, here they move about, numbed they would love to have the means to should be handling, not ten mitlion and gawking, between rows of glassed-in , buy meat at least once a week. Even travellers as is the case today, b~t 150 antiseptic and air-conditioned shelves if this is an extreme case, it is significant million. offering products as alien as American- in a country dripping in oil and loaded It's all like this. Ports have been made ketchup, Danish salmon, Swiss with money. equipped with facilities 20 to 25 per chocolate and French camembert. Social pressures, population shifts, and cent more than peak traffic requirements. Riyadh's supermarkets also sell declining traditonal values - the fabric Urbanisation work will extend Jeddah's Japanese-made transistor radio sets and of Saudi society is breaking up under residential area five-fold, although the stereo systems, blue jeans from the US the impact of the uncontrollable growth city's population density is very low. The and French perfumes - with all the to which the country is apparently hotels now being built will in all proba- stocks under continuous computer inven- doomed. · bility exceed requirements considering tory. The electronic cash register, which 32 brand-new tower blocks of a that Saudi Arabia has neither a tourist of course offers no discounts, is yet housing development stand in a row nor a transit trade. The industrial projects another object of disapproving wonder in Jeddah. It is a magnificent complex currently being developed are huge, among the "non-westernised" Saudis. containing 2,000 apartments ( each of 220 whereas the country is underpopulated The feeling of cultural - even national square meters), offices, shopping centres, and lacks labour, qualified technicians alienation has deepened since playgrounds and even air-raid shelters. and potential markets. foreigners began flocking into the king- The project has been nicknamed the "The biggest project ever conceived dom following the oil boom. The "Towers of Silence" because they have in the history of mankind" - to borrow population census is not for publication been unoccupied since they were com- the official blurb - is being carried out - like so many other statistics, it is pleted almost two years ago. t cost the at Yanbu and Jubail: they are two enor- considered a state secret. But various Saudi government $600 million. The mous industrial complexes, the former cross-checks allow one to place the native religious authorities insisted on each of on the Red Sea and the latter on the Saudi population at between 4 and 4.5 the blocks being provided with a third Gulf. The plan is to build two cities, to million , to which have recently been stairway for exclusive use by women. accommodate 150,000 and 350,000 added some 2.5 million foreign nationals, That added another $20 million to the inhabitants respectively, but in the who make up the bulk of the work-force. cost and meant further construction meantime 95 per cent of the 30,000 While the Saudis are businessmen, delays. workmen and engineers have had to be farmers, top officials, customs officers, But the tower blocks are still empty. recruited in some 40 countries. policemen and taxi drivers, the Yemenis The needy people living in the Al Sabi! It is a particularly costly project. (over a million of them) are farm shantytown for whom the complex was Some $15,000 million has already been workers, dockers or shopkeepers; the built refuse to move into it on the spent on drawing up the blue-prints Pakistanis and Turks are unskilled grounds that it neither fits in with their and building a modest part of the infra- labourers; the Indians are refuse collec- resources nor their mode of living. They structures. As much again will be spent tors; the South Koreans, Filipinos and would have preferred individual houses in the next five years. Experts say that Thais are bricklayers, porters and waiters; better adapted to traditional customs from a strictly economic viewpoint the the Egyptians and Palestinians are on which bar ·any "promiscuity". Besides, steel and petrochemical works which teaching staffs in schools and universities; they really wouldn't know what to do are to be put up with additional thou- the Americans and British (about 50,000 with these spacious apartments which sands of milli9ns of dollars cannot be and 30,000 respectively, including their would cost them a prohibitive $600 a justified, since they will probably not be families) are business ·managers, senior month (or three times the average wage) profitable given prevailing world market executives i.n commerce and industry and in repayments. For similar reasons, some prices. In other words, Saudi Arabia will military advisers. 32,000 apartments remain empty in be indirectly subsidising products meant Although foreigners form the bulk Jeddah alone inspite of the housing for industrial powers. of the lower layers of the social pyramid, crisis the city is going through. The Saudi leaders' main concern is all Saudis are by no means rich or well-off Squandering and gigantism are features something else. They must somehow or as outward signs and certain statistics of many of the kingdom's development other use up their fabulous oil wealth, might give the impression. Theoretically projects. The new airport at Jeddah, for $98,500 million in 1980, which was the annual per capita income is one of instance, is one and a half times as big twice as much as the income in 1979, the highest in the world (about $20,000) as the airports of Kennedy, La Guardia, and 15 times as much as it earned in all but the average salary, as computed by Chicago and Los Angeles put together. of the 35 years leading up to the 1974 the commercial service of a Western Its buildings, which are all air-conditioned price rise. To everybody's great relief, embassy , is only a tenth of this. Farmers with walls and floors entirely paved with the Second Five-Year Plan's costs far (who make up about a quarter of the white Italian marble, are equipped with overran estimates ($225,000 million working population) account for just one highly sophisticated installations and instead of $142,000 million) before per cent of the gross domestic product surrounded by mosques, swimming pools, the projects listed under it were (GDP). It is true also that the Wahhabite parking lots, hotels, supermarkets, restau- completed. kingdom boasts of having one car to rants, banks and a desalination plant. The credits allocated to the Third every four or five inhabitants, but many The entire project, which was planned Plan, about $240,000 million, will in all Saudi families have five , six or as many as by American architects, will be com- probability be insufficient. Which does ten cars each , when vehicles placed at pleted with a forest of 72,000 trees not displease the Saudi leaders at all. the disposal of servants are included. and 2.5 million green plants, all imported They want to slow down the accumu- Stores are bursting with food products from_ tropical countries. The Jeddah Continued on Page 11

9 ALIRAN MONTHLY F EB' 84 Surat------

Cultural Freedom We welcome letters from readers. These letters may be edited for purposes of space at,.d clarity. The views expressed may not be those ol, Since much has been said by Aliran the Aliran Monthly. Pseudonyms are accepted but all letters should about National Culture I hope that Aliran include the writer's name and address. Letters should be addressed ·to could comment on the restrictions and Editor, Aliran Monthly, conditions imposed on lion dance troupes, as stated in the NST on the 18th - Ro. Box 1049,Penang, Mala:}'sia. of January 1984. To me these restrictions are a curtail- ment of cultural freedom and a denial of cultural rights and equality. Mere harping Limitation To Basic Rights on cultural principles is not sufficient if minor but real issues like the lion dance We are perturbed by extra restrictions are ignored. Parliament And imposed in the conditions of the KDN permit and the kind of information Wee Koh Bad Examples required by the Registrar of Societies in Selangor Vulgar language has no place in recent months. Both the Registrar and Parliament. It is disgusting to hear of the the Publications Division which issue the use of- words like.. ..5 utak haram, kurang KDN permits, come under the Ministry of Equal Opportunities ajar, otak kera, otak lembu and baruah" Home Affairs headed by Datuk Musa in Parliament. Parliament is the supreme Hitam. Social problems exist in the country authority of the nation where decisions In the case of the KDN permit we take not through any fault of the government are taken to determine the destiny of the exception to the additional condition but because of the reluctance of Chinese- nation. It should have the sagacity to 3(i), which states that the permit can be educated Malaysians to accept the kind of bring honour and respect to its name. It is cancelled or suspended if the publication society conceived by our government unfortunate that what we read, see and among other things "endangers the good since independence. If these people, now hear is just the opposite of this. relations between Malaysia and other a minority within the Malaysian Chinese The kind of behaviour that persists in countries or goes counter to the national community, were to accept this concept Parliament will have a bad effect on and public interest. " This phrase is too our country will achieve greater progress people particularly the -young. Boorish broad and infringes on the basic right of in every aspect. We will all be authentic acrimony and a lack o.f quorum is not publishers to comment and analyse a Malaysians with a single national identity. uncommon these days. Yet outside wide range of issues. There are equal opportunities in our Parliaqient MPs speak of leadership by We also fail to see the reason why the country regardless of whether one is a example and of the need to work hard Registrar of Societies has called on all Malay or non-Malay. The New Economic and improve productivity. societies to submit a copy of the AGM Policy {NEP) is a reasonable piece of Finally it is most disheartening to minutes, as well as details of the societies economic planning and should be looked learn that parlirnentarians and sometimes office-bearers {date, place of birth and at from the developmental point of view. even the Speaker seem to be ignorant of the ' ame and address of his/her In the 1980 World Development Report, the standing orders. Whenever problems employer). our country was ranked 24th out of a crop up, parlimentarians give different We urge Datuk Musa to investigate and total of 90 developing countries. Even interpretations to the standing orders and rescind these extra restrictions and taking developed countries into con- the Speaker himself becomes confused. In unnecessary paperwork. We fail to see sideration, Malaysia's per capita income order for Parliament to run smoothly the how these restrictions fit the liberal was within the top 37%, at the end of Speaker should be well versed in the commitments. of the 2M administration. the l 970's. The NEP to a certain extent standing orders so that he can interpret We hope other societies will join in this played its part in this and should thus he them should the need arise. protest against what are further limita- given credit. tions to our basic rights. RRC Andrew Chuah Choong Petaling Jaya Selangor Graduates Society Hong Kong.

Just as water from the dries(regions of the earth ultimately flows into the ocean where already there is plenty, so wealth flows from the poorest nations and the poorest individuals into the hands of those nations and those individuals who are already too wealthy. A man who can afford to buy only one loaf of bread a day contributes to the profit accruing to the owner of the bakery despite the fact that the owner already has more money than he knows how to use. And the poor nation which sells its primary commodities on the world market in order to buy machines for development finds that the prices it obtains and the prices it has to pay are both determined by the forces of the free market in which it is a pygmy fighting against giants. For he that hath to him s_hall be given, and he who hath not that also which he hath shall be taken away from him. Julius K. Nyerere, President of Tanzania in Maryknoll magazine, June 1971.

-'-'LY FEB' 84 10 ALIRAN Of Rights And Responsibilities Monthly Recently the Deputy They who have been entrus- for this. Having been brow- Education Minister Datuk ted with the power of the beaten for some time now, Khalil Yaakob and the Minister people have many responsibili- they have begun to view their Vol. IV: No. 2 FEB' 1984 in the Prime Minister's Depart- ties. A responsibility to provide rights as privileges bestowed ment Datuk Abdullah Haji for the basic amenities; running upon them from above and Aliran Monthly is a publication Ahmad Badawi threatened to water, electricity, roads and that it is the right of those in of Aliran Kesedaran Negara, P.O. Box 1049, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. withdraw scholarships from the infrastructure for develop- power to · revoke these First issue of the publication Malaysian students overseas, ment. A responsibility to privileges. appeared in January 1984. Its who "criticise or oppose the provide education, health and It is high time that the forerunner 'ALIRAN' published government." They would employment opportunities. A ·rakyat become aware and quarterly was first produced in responsibility to consult the prevent the erosion of their 1980. All inquiries should be sent probably argue that the govern- to the above address. Unsolicited ment is not obliged to spend people and involve them in the rights. The rakyat must contributions to the publication are money on those who are decision making process. demand that those wielding always welcomed. Yearly subscrip- critical of it. In fulfilling these responsibi- power fulfill their responsibi- tion for Malaysia and Singapore is lities those in power should lities to the rakyat or make $10.00. Overseas subscription is Misguided thinking of this US$10 .00 (surface mail). Single nature is commonplace among remember that they are doing way for others who will. copy price is $ 1.00; overseas the ruling elite and they often nothing more than providing US$1.00. Editorial - Board: Editor, use this to threaten the rakyat. the rakyat with what is right- Rajendran Devaraj; Members: Threats of this nature are used fully theirs. The rakyat have Shanti Ayinarappan, Elizabeth certain inalienable rights and ~ Cardosa, Gan Teik Chee, Hum Kim particularly frequently, during Choy, Loh Kok Wah, Ramakrish- elections, when people are they should not be called upon -- nan, Zainol A.A. Shariff. warned that funds for a to negotiate on these rights. ------. Th" · h., h . d" _ In converting the quarterly particular area would not be is_ is W,u t reatem~g to is- into a monthly, we were hard forthcoming if politicians from continue . . schol~rsh~ps for pressed for time and as such the ruling party are defeated. student d1ss1dents is distasteful. made some hurried decisions as It is a shame that those in The _governmen~ is obliged to regards presentation. In retro- power do not see it as their p~~v1de educational op~ortu- spect we are of the opinion duty to serve the rakyat. They mt1es for. th~ ~akyat _and in th_e that the presentation of the often fail to understand that event of ind1v1duals in need, 1t January issue was lacking in they are merely acting in the is the d~ty of the go~erni:nent several ways. capacity of temporary repre- to provide scholarships irres- With th·1s in mind we feel it . f . h h sentatives and that all power pective O views t at t e necessary to present the and wealth belong to the students hold. February issue of the Aliran people. Instead of constantly This misconception among Monthly differently. We hope urging the rakyat to be respon- the ruling elite of the role of our readers· will bear with us government has gone on for sible, those who wield political during this transitional period. power should begin to shoulder too long. It is unfortunate that some responsibility. the rakyat is partly to blame Rajen

SAUDI ARABIA a third of the output would suffice to Overproduction of Saudi oil has Continue~ from Page 9 ensure even growth better geared to the mostly resulted in filling the order books lation of monetary surpluses banked country's capacity and its people's needs. of Western manufacturers, who are the abroad which, while they do earn Another issue generating indignation principal beneficiaries of recycled petro- interest, are nevertheless subject to the is the fact that the sale of Saudi oil at dollars. For example, last year $60,000 risk of devaluation in particularly prices below those applied by other million (two-thirds of Saudi Arabia's unstable market conditions. Saudi OPEC countries has resulted in an income oil revenue) helped pay off Riyadh's Arabia's foreign reserves are growing at a loss of about $20,000 million since suppliers of consumer and capital goods, formidable pace. They rose from $30,000 January 1977 - a princely gift to the US armaments and various services. million in 1977 to $100,000 million companies in the Aramco consortium The Wahhabite kingdom is by far this year, and are expected to reach the which market almost all of Saudi the Third World's biggest importer of enormous sum of $250,000 million in Arabia's crude output as well as to western consumer goods. It is also the the next three years. various other Saudi and foreign country which allows the highest profit The paradox - or "shame" as people middlemen. margins to foreign companies. The Saudi are increasingly beginning to say even Saudi leaders, who claim to be government provides these firms with in the corridors of power - is that Saudi standing firmly behind the West, argue generous interest-free loans - up to Arabia has absolutely no need to exhaust they are making these "sacrifices" in the 50 per cent of the cost of a project - its oil reserves prematurely and squander West's interests. The very high availabi- offers them sites, picks up the tab for job its revenues in order to develop its lity of oil in the Arabian Peninsula is training, grants tax holidays of five to economy. Oil Minister Zaki Yamani him- indeed curbing price increases and has for ten years to foreign investors and self says that half its current crude a long time spared industri'al powers the authorises them to take away all their output, about five million barrels a day, need to reduce their consumption (and profits and capital.D would be more than enough to finance waste) or undertake the massive invest- the Third Plan. If projects which are as ments necessary to make alternative [ Le Monde, Paris and The Guardian useless as they are grandiose are dropped, energy sources profitable. weekly].

11 ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 Sarawak Misplaced Priorities In Politics And Development

Loh Kok Wah

The Rise of Communal Politics What is more disheartening is the way the incidence of poverty in Sarawak was On March 22 1976 when the Sarawak in which legislation "deemed necessary" 51.7% in 1976 while the average for National Party (SNAP) announced its in peninsula Malaysia has been lumped peninsula Malaysia in that year was decision to join the Barisan National (BN) onto Sarawak. The Seditions Act, 1971, 35.1 %. The per capita GDP for Sarawak government, its Secretary-General, Leo for instance, which resulted from the in 1980 was $1,382 as compared to Moggie, declared that even though his May 13 riots in Kuala Lumpur, has been peninsula Malaysia's $1,886. party was becommg a component- enforced in Sarawak despite very The situation in ~he rural areas is member of the BN government, SNAP different local conditions. Thus issues particularly bad since some 60% of rural would continue to "maintain its separate which are not "sensitive" in the Sarawa- households in 1976 were living below the identity. " On that occasion he said, "The kian context cannot be discussed as they poverty line. Although the lbans and Sarawak National Party is a multi-racial have now been deemed to be "sensitive". Land Dayaks comprised about 39 .6% party and the party's multi-racial Similiarly, despite the fact that the of the state's population, they accounted character will be maintained. " Apart Sarawakian situation was neither studied for 57% of poor households in Sarawak. from this, Moggie also emphasised that nor mentioned in the Report of the Royal Moreover in a study of Kuching and its SNAP would continue "to be of service Commission of Inquiry to Investigate into surrounding areas in 1970, it was and help to the people of the state the Workings of Local Authorities in West discovered that the urban average . particularly those in the rural areas. " Malaysia, the Local Government Act monthly household income was $528 In 1983 however, Datuk Leo Moggie 1976 was imposed upon Sarawak. Con- while the rural one was $168. led a group of well-educated young lbans sequently popular elections to town From these figures it is clear that out of SNAP to form the Parti Bansa councils have been abolished in Sarawak despite economic growth, the rural poor Dayak Sarawak (PBDS). With this move, as well, despite the recommendations of made up largely of Ibans, Land Dayaks we see the emergence of yet another the Royal Commission which advocated and other small groups of indigenous ethnic-based party on the political scene. the continuation of local elections. people have benefitted little. In contrast to the period of the early ·Political participation is further sixties when there existed several multi- qurtailed due to much power being Despite the fact that three-quarter of ethnic parties, Sarawakian politics today concentrated in the hands of the Chief all Sarawakians depend on agriculture for is increasingly dominated by ethnic-based Minister. Various researches have shown a living, allocations of publ_ic develop- political parties. how in the 1970's important decisions ment expenditure for agriculture and Indeed the emergence of the PBDS is were usually made by the Chief Minister rural development have continued to but the latest epis9de in the trend himself in consultation with a small group decline. Whereas allocations from 1966 towards ethnic politics. The Sarawak of advisers. Often, even his Cabinet to 1970 comprised 31.7% of the total, United Peoples Party (SUPP) for instance, ministers were not consulted. There is the amounts dropped to 24.9% for 1971- which started off as a multi-ethnic party much reason to believe that the situation 1975, to 26.8% for 1976-1980 and to has become essentially a Chinese-based has not changed significantly. only 17.5% for 1981-1985. party in terms of its ideology, leadership It is significant that important issues Instead increasing funds have been and membership. Likewise Parti Pesaka like these: i) the rise of communal made available for urban "moderniza- Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB), which claims politics; ii) the erosion of democratic tion" projects. Such "modernization" to represent all Sarawakian bumiputras liberties; and iii) the concentration of projects include the Bintulu port ($332 is essentially Malay-Islamic in its power in the hands of the Chief Minister m); extentions to the Kuching and Miri orientation. were not issues in the recent December airports ($86 m); new airports in Sibu, For all practical purposes, politics in election. Instead the election focussed on Bintulu and Miri; new highways; the new Sarawak has taken on the ethnic personalities and the quest of component Secretariat and Dewan Undangan Negeri character of peninsula Malaysia politics. parties ·of the Barisan National for seats. complex in Kuching ($65 m); prestige The issues were simply ethnic unity and buildings for the numerous other govern- which party could represent this or that The Erosion of Democratic Liberties ment agencies and statutory bodies; ethnic group better. Scope for political participation in expansion of telecommunications and the Sarawak is very limited. Legislation with introduction of colour TV transmission regard to labour, societies, the professions The Lack of Rural Development ($162 m for 1976-1985); the Batang Ai and publications have all resulted in the ($600 m) and future Pelagus and Bakun curtailment of political freedom and This situation is disturbing as hydroelectricity- projects (estimated $1 O pppular partici.patiQll in politics: __,__illlg to the Fourth Malaysia Plan, - 12 billion).

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 12 By contrast, allocations for rural health improvement schemes ($6.9 m for 1976-80), rural electrification ($30 m for Vital Statistics---- 1981-85), kampung and community development ($13.2 m for 1981-85), all catering specifically for the rural poor have been meagre. Meanwhile, the amendments to the Land Code Ordinance in 1974, coupled with the growth of the timber industry over the past decade, have further limited the acreage of land available for natives who practice swidden cultivation. The Sarawak Land Consolidation and SARAWAK Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) which was set up in 1976 has attempted to resettle natives, often from different communities, into new, artificial units where they are required to cultivate oil The 1980 Housing and Population projects) and education (tertiary-level), palm and cocoa. Such drastic changes Census registered the poputation of all of which benefit the urban areas more create much hardship for the newly Sarawak as 1,294,753 having grown from than the rural areas where the large resettled especially since SALCRA has 976,269 in 1970. majority of the poor are located. been allocated limited funds ($14.2 m for lban and Land Dayak accounted for The result of a development policy 1981-85) and projects have been carried 39.6% of the state's population in 1970, that is urban-biased, is unequal growth. out inefficiently. Chinese 30.1 %, Malay 18.6% and Melanau This leads to further deterioration of Indeed a recent study by a Dutch 5.5%. The Kayan, Kenyah, Murut, Punan, conditions in the rural areas· as described scholar asserts that because "there is little Bisayah, Kelabit and other ._,smaller in the two adjoining articles on Sarawak. co-ordination in the approach to rural indigenous groups accounted for 5 .2% of development between the planning and the population. implementing organizations", many of In 1976, according to the Fourth Malaysia Plan, 1981-85, 84.9% of the the rural villages (in this case Bidayuh), Population of Sarawak by Ethnic Origin "quickly disintegrate when they are heads of poor households were employed incorporated in the market economy and in the agriculture, forestry, hunting and Peoples Numbers Percentage political system of Sarawak. The relation- fishing industries. About 85% of these ship between households weaken and poor households were in the rural areas. Malay 181,426 18.6 the responsibility for the welfare of the Under these circumstances it is dis- Melanau 53,379 5.5 community decreases." The situation is heartening that allocations for agriculture lban 303,461 31.1 probably worse in the case of resettled and rural development have been progres- Land Dayak 83,612 8.5 comm uni ties. sively reduced since 1971. Instead, Other Increased job opportunities as a result increasing amounts have been allocated Indigenous 50,696 5.2 of expansion of the public services has for urban "modernization" projects like Chinese 293,949 30.1 generally been denied to the rural poor, transportation (ports, airports, highways), Others 9,746 1.0 communications (introduction of TV), since they do not possess the necessary Total 976,269 100.0 qualifications. The Bintulu liquified energy and public utilities (hydro-electric ~----~------' natural gas project costing $3 billion is extremely capital-intensive. So too the petroleum industry centered around Miri. Hence employment opportunities are · est. largely available only in the construction industry where unskilled labour is $m % $m % $m % required. And since conditions in the Agriculture rural areas are deteriorating and employ- and Rural ment opportunities lacking, rural youth Development 27.8 17.4 86.7 31.7 151.6 24.9 444.6 26.8 439.9 17.5 have migrated to places where roads, ports, airports, prestige complexes and Transport 71.5 44.6 80.5 29.4 150.6 24.8 395 .9 23 .9 795 .6 31.6 dams are being constructed to search for jobs. Such migration, in turn, hastens the Communications 5 .3 3.3 18.4 6.7 47.2 7.8 75.8 4 .6 108.6 4.3 disintegration of rural communities. Energy and It is a sad reflection on our political Public Utilities 11.9 7.4 8.3 3.0 54.0 8.9 158.1 9.5 586.0 23.3 leadership and on the politics that prevails in Malaysia , that the problems of Commerce and the majority of the Sarawakians were not Industry 0.4 0.3 2.4 0.9 6.3 1.0 102.8 6 .2 88.2 3.5 commented upon during the last 186.9 11.3 elections. As mentioned earlier, SNAP Social Services 32.1 20.0 53.4 19.5 107.4 17 .7 379.2 15.1 leaders in 1976 (whether they have later Administration left the party or not) had promised, upon &Gen. 11.2 7.0 10.0 3.7 39.6 6.5 92.2 5.6 65 .8 2.6 their entry into the BN coalition, that they would continue "to be of service Security 13.8 5 .1 51.4 8.4 80.0 4.8 52.1 2.1 and help to the people of the state Total 160.2 100 273.5 100 608.1 100 1,657.0 100 2,515.4 100 particularly those in the rural areas. " D

13 ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 Sarawak ------

Government Gives A Dam To Long-House Communities Special Correspondent

There is a popular myth surrounding the meaning of development. To many people a massive hydro-electricity project, skyscrapers, fancy highways, large-scale industries and supermarkets are commonly associated with development. But these only represent the physical aspects of economic growth. Development is certainly more than this. It encompasses the satisfaction of basic and social needs, the sharing of economic benefits and achievement of political freedom, all, with the objective of enabling human beings to realise their full potential. Insofar as physical growth does not lead to the realization of these human objectives, it may not be considered as development. Indeed, the construction· of such physical structures might, at times, create problems for the people and hinder the development cause. This is apparent in the case of the Ba tang Ai Dam wherein the construction of the massive hydro-electricity project has caused the resettlement of an Iban community which in turn has resulted in the destruction of their self-reliance and community spirit.

In June 1981, amidst several isolated with 80 percent of speeches and much fanfare, household heads visiting the Dato Amar Taib pressed home nearest town of Lubok Antu a switch detonating some once a month or less explosives on a hillock some frequently. (Lubok Antu is not 800 metres away. Work on the large, comprising of 2 streets Batang Ai Dam had begun. and around 25 shophouses). Today, the 85-meter high dam The study also revealed that which has a crest length of subsistence agriculture supple- about half a mile, is almost mented by cashcropping completed. The diversion (rubber, pepper, etc) was the tunnel will e closed this predominant economic activity. -I>ecerimer to allow the water This study reported that 52.3 to accumulate above the dam. percent of the people inter- Work on the hydroelectric viewed were unwilling to move plant is now underway and and another 14.7 percent were when fully-operational, pro- uncertain. Of those who were bably sometime in 1985, the prepared to move , one-third scheme will be able to generate felt that they had no other 92 megawatts. (Sarawak's total option since the government consumption of electricity in Giving A Dam had already decided to imple- 1982 was 100 megawatts.) ment the project and half This $600 million project is as consultants. The major This scheme will flood an felt that their leaders in being carried out by Maeda source of funds is the Overseas area of 21,000 acres (i .e. 33 Kuching were probably acting Okumara Joint Venture Economic Cooperation Fund square miles) and displace 21 in their best interest. with machinery and trans- of Japan. It has been projected longhouse communities with a We visited Batang Ai in formers for the power station that hydro-electricity from this combined population of about August 1983 and stayed in ,me being supplied by the Mitsui scheme will save Sarawak $60 6000. A study conducted by of the longhouses that had Co. (Japanese) and Area Ab . million in oil bills yearly the Sarawak Museum in 1978- been resettled. We managed to (Swedish), and with Snowy (Borneo Bulletin, 4th Sept. 79 revealed that these talk with around 20 people and Mountain Co. of Australia 1982). communities were guite they were unanimous in their

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 14 dislike at being resettled. In the shift each family $1000/- per month." (All economic life-style of the their former longhouse, all the received between $25,000 and this said with pride.) community - the types of necessities of life were free - $200,000/- depending on how What does Tedong do at the work done and the relationship they grew their own rice, much crops they had. But still, Hydro? with the environment and with vegetables and fruits; the jungle on the whole they felt that other members -of the "It's an easy job. He sits had an abundance of tubers, they had lost a lot more on community. Carrying out these upriver from the dam and fruits and game; fish could be being resettled. Several people types of work play an impor- looks out for any logs caught in the rivers. Now, they pointed out to us that many tant role in shaping and floating down. If a log have to buy everything, inclu- families were spending this maintaining a partic1:1lar comes it will be stopped by ding rice and the rivers have compensation money with gay culture. When the economic the floating barrier and he become muddy and have much abandon. Almost all the biliks activities of any particular will row out to it and saw it less fish than before. had new settee sets, televisions community changes, the into smaller pieces. " Many felt that they had and cassette recorders. Ten culture too will change - if the been tricked. families (out of a total of 50 Does one laugh at their rate of change doesn't exceed in that longhouse) had bought naivety or cry? None of the 3 a certain limit. If the rate of "The government promised cars. Trips to neighbouring men engaged in the above change in life-style is drastic, us free longhouses. But now towns had become much more exchange seemed aware that in the culture of that particular we are charged $27,000/- common. effect their brave and strong community may disintegrate . per bilik ( each longhouse The Tuai Rumah himself Tedong had been bought out. What will the case be in Batang contains several biliks, each said to us, In all probability Tedong him- Ai? Adaptation or fragmenta- occupied by a family) and self is also unaware. tion? "What will happen when have been asked to pay Were the people of these The change from a subsis- this money is spent? We $127/- monthly. Where are resettled longhouses misled, tence economy where money is now have no land and once we to go for the money?" either knowingly or un- used only occasionally for the the Hydro is finished there "We were told we would get knowingly, by the authorities purchase of luxuries to a won 't be so many jobs free electricity. Now they concerned? Were free long- money economy where most there. Where will we go for have put up meters in every houses and free electricity of the produce is for sale and money then?" bilik and they are charging actually romised to them? most of the goods consumed is us monthly. " Why did you agree to re- Were they told that the crops purchased, is a drastic change would be ready for harvesting "The government promised settle then we asked the people especially when it takes place we talked to. as soon as they moved? over a few months. This change that each family would be We were unable to find any- given an 11-acre plot of land has been compounded by the "We had no choice. We thing in the newspaper reports massive introduction of elec- fully-planted and ready for weren't consulted about the regarding the above three cropping. So far, we have trical consumer gadgets and the building of the dam. They alleged promises. However an much easier accessibility of only received one acre each started building the dam article in the Borneo Bulletin and this too is uncultivated. " commercialised urban areas. If and asked us to move. " of 3rd September, 1983 says the resettlement area is "We were told that these "We believed too much in that each family will be given 5 developed in blocks delineated new longhouses would be the words of our political acres of rubber, 3 acres of by land-use, the farming of ready for us when we leaders." cocoa, 2 acres for padi and one different plots of estate-type for fruits. Another article in shifted, but they weren't. Several respondents told us land, each distantly-separated the Borneo Post also on 3rd We had to squat underneath of an incident that occured in from the others, would further the longhouses for one September, 1983, claimed that complicate matters for a the middle of 1982 when field work on 414 acres of month while the workers several young men donned community engaged in shifting completed building it. " cocoa for resettled communi- cultivation and hunting for their traditional clothes and ties commenced in August proceeded with swords to the centuries. These changes in We asked the Tuai Rumah 1983. When will the rubber be life-style would definitely whether it was true that they Dam site where they took over planted? When will the crops the keys of all the machinery result in a "culture shock" but had been promised free long- be ready for harvesting? Will there is a chance that the houses, free electricity and 11 and sent their drivers/operators the rubber and pepper plots for back and so brought work to a culture will be able to adapt acres of land for each family. a particular family be near to itself and sustain the commu- He confirmed what the others halt. each other, or would they be What happened then? nity. had said but admitted that separated by two, three or It appears to us that what they did not have any written "The police came and arres- more miles? Would the people will happen will probably be agreement regarding all these. ted the men. But the be requested to pay back the worse than the above. The Hasn't any good come out purpose was served. They costs of land development delays in implementing the of this shift we asked the wanted a chance to meet "Felda-style"? These questions agriculture schemes, coupled people we talked to. Haven't the government officers in were not answered in any of with tpe fact they would have you gained anything at all? charge of the project and the newspaper articles to repay SALCRA (Sarawak Grudgingly they conceded they did." available. Land Consolidation & Rehabi- that now they had newer long- The culture of a people is a litation Authority) and the houses and 24-hour electricity Oh, are any of these young living organic entity with rami- possibility of their various supply. The town was nearer men here? Could we meet fications in every aspect of plots being scattered about, and urban facilities, especially them? their lives. It is a major deter- will probably cause a signifi- clinics and the hospital in "Yes, Tedong is." (Someone minant of their sense of self- cant portion of the families to Sirnmanggang, were now viuch goes to call Tedong.) worth, of their attitudes migrate to urban areas to more accessible. Also, the towards their spouses and secure a livelihood. They will government had compensated "Tedong has gone to work. children, and of their orienta- end up as construction them for the value of the cash He is working at Hydro. He tion to their community. labourers or contract workers crops they lost as a result of has a good job there, gets Culture h~s deep roots in the in the service sectors of

15 ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching. As that the nation leaves the need to re-examine the those among the indigenous urban-centred development indigenous peoples alone to approach of every institution - peoples who are educated are will push up land prices, the their development. The issue is for example, is the syllabus complacent in their comfor- migrant Ibans may have to stay how we should help them, and, that is deemed appropriate for table suburban homes. They in cramped squatter communi- is our involvement with them kids in PJ, Ipoh and Kuching are a group which can concep- ties without proper sanitary motivated primarily by a desire of relevance for Iban students tualise and articulate the facilities. This rate of change to genuinely help them, or in Lubok Antu and the genuine grievances of the might lead to the process of because we covet the con- Kenyahs in Marudi? Or should indigenous peoples. But videos, cultural disintegration we siderable timber and hydro- a more "appropriate" syllabus the latest car models and their mentioned earlier. The Iban electric potential of the regions be fashioned? None of this is children's education are their propensity to alcohol con- that they inhabit? Is the straightforward, but whoever major priorities, not "abstract" sumption will increase to solution their abandonment of said that development is questions like what will happen pathological levels and their economic activities and simple? to the communities displaced problems such as drug abuse adaptation of ours - viz. Sadly however, alternatives by the Hydro schemes of and gang violence, now almost Felda-type schemes and wage- will not even be considered. Batang Ai. In all probability, unknown amongst them, will labour in urban areas? Or Politicians will continue in therefore, the Ibans and their probably make their appea- should we try to adapt relevant seeing the wisdom in sacrificing Kayan, Kenyah and Bidayuh rance in the squatter zones of parts of our technical and the interests of a few brothers, will get displaced, Sarawak's towns within the scientific knowledge to up- thousands in the interest of relocated, traumatised and next ten to fifteen years. grade their economic activities "The Nation" - especially ultimately squatterised. And Is there any other alter- through introduction of appro- when their vision is enhanced within the next ten years we native? No one would deny priate technologies, and by the opportunities to get rich journalists with a sociological that there is poverty and mal- strengthen their marketing quick themselves as long as bent will have plenty of field nutrition amongst the indige- position through encouraging they don't ro~k the develop- material for comparative studies nous peoples of Sarawak. cooperatives. If the second ment boat. The educated with the situation of the Neither would anyone propose approach is chosen, one would people of Sarawak including American Indians.

Of 10th Anniversaries And The Malaysian Environment

1984 marks a number of 10th anniver- moved to invoke the maximum penalties. especially in terms of . increase in saries of special relevance to the The Director-Caeneral of Environment has greenery. But overall there has been a Malaysian environment. These include the not adequately discharged his duties deterioration in environmental quality mactments of the Environmental Quality especially that-on-the mandatory publica- especially in the mushrooming of high- ~et (EQA) and the Pesticides Act as well tion of Annual Reports. He has also not rise buildings, a tremendous increase in IS the establishment of the Federal delegated any of his powers to local the volume of traffic, and bottlenecks in ferritory of Kuala Lumpur (KL) and the authority officials. drainage maintenance and refuse collec- Snvironmental Protection Society The Pesticides Act has been implemen- tion. alaysia (EPSM). Activities are being ted only slowly, and the Pesticide Board In the case of EPSM, the last 10 years rganised to mark these various anniver- has only functioned usefully in the last have been somewhat uneven. We have had aries. We hope that while evaluation of few years. The majority of the public are some achievements but have also faced ~e last 10 years are carried out, greater still ignorant of the range of pesticides some problems, not least among which mphasis should go towards making the which may be used without endangering have been poor financial and moral ext decade more progressive at least the users health. Pesticide abuse still support. We are conducting an evaluation om the environmental angle. continues especially in the agricultural and hope that we can overcome most of The EQA has not been an unqualified sector and the spectre of dioxin poisoning our problems. We hope to be more ccess. This does not imply that it has has arisen. We believe that the dissemina- effective in our investigations, campaigns •en useless either. But many of its tion of pesticide information and public and representations. ovisions like that ·dealing with the education on uses/abuses is long overdue. We hope that the next decade will see mposition of the Environmental The Pesticide Board and pesticide distri- greater public awareness 6f environmental ality Council and the penalties for butors have to be made accountable to issues and more effective action to curb llution, have been inadequate - no the public. pollution. ·zen groups are represented on the In the case of KL, there have been uncil and few magistrates have been some environmental improvements EPSM

IRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 Seni

Ucapan Saudara UsmanAwang Sempena Penerimaan Anuge- rah Sastera Negara Di Dewan Bankuet, Bangunan Parlimen, BUAT APA SENI? Pada 7 Disember 1983. Suara Kemanusiaan Seorang Pengarang

aafkanlah kalau saya memulakan Tapi jika saya menyebutnya saya diang- tan pa sikap 'kurang ajar'.-- M ucapan malam ini dengan memper- gap pongah dan 'kurang ajar', maka saya Beberapa bulan lalu, ketika Universiti katakan diri sendiri dalam hubungan terima dengan senyum, sebab saya kira Malaya menganugerahi saya ijazah ke- dengan penghormatan yang saya terima. kita sekarang ini berada dalam zaman hormat Doktor Persuratan, saya berasa Sopan santun dan budi bahasa Melayu bersejarah yang menuntut supaya kita takjub dengan kehormatan mulia yang mengajarkan supaya saya tidak menyebut- sesekali menjadi 'kurang ajar'. tidak termimpikan itu, sehingga berasa nyebut diri sendiri di khalayak ramai. Suatu bangsa tidak menjadi besar diri terapung dijulang awan. Bayangkanlah betapa gugup dan gun- dahnya hati seorang yang tahap persekolahan dan pendidikannya seperti B&narkah Ketam Mengajar saya, apabila ia berdiri dan berucap di sebuah menara gading, di tengah para sarjana, para profesor dan tamu-tamu '~naknyi:.c: BM'jalan,- 'B.~ :'"tul? terhormat ketika menerima ijazah mulia Sebenamya Sang Ketam tidak pemah menyuruh dan mengajar itu. anaknya berjalan betul kerana Sang Ketam cukup yak.in bahawa Dan pada malam bersejarah yang caranya berjalan, sebag · a cara ne!lek moyang kepada nenqk gilang-gemilang ini, saya berdiri pula di moyangnya, qi.in cucu ci epada cubu ~citnya berjalan, telah., bangunan bertuah tempat perlembagaan betul dan sempuma. Sebaliknya bangsa Ketam pulalah yang negara menerima daulat rakyat, di tengah- tengah orang kenamaan, para cerdik merasa hairan dan takjub melihat manusia itu sendiri yang tidak pandai, para diplomat dan para penulis habis-habis, malah bertambah-tambah dengan ajaran dan peraturan ternama untuk menerima satu anugerah yang pelba .. cam, dati doktrin-doktrin, rukun-rukun, fazy.r~;. " lagi. &fiWa sam kepada a~a-akta, pekeJiling-peke~g dan menicp Demikianlah di peringkat usia setengah memo. Man a telah menghabiskan Waktunya untuk mernbuat abad ini saya dikejutkan oleh berbagai- segala maCaJU peraturan dan mengawasi perlaksanaan peraturan- bagai penghormatan yang bagaikan tiba- peraturan; dari peratur.µi lalulintasjalan raya; peraturan datang ke tiba bertimpa datangnya. Timbul pejabat dan peraturan berpakaian, sampailah kepada peraturan- pertanyaan aneh. Adakah saya melakukan 0petaturan be1,eakap di :etU"llihen dan .~i Mahkamah, peraturan,, sesuatu kesalahan, atau barangkali sesuatu f· _.. .·. : ~-~ -,w -__. ;.;@ menyekatkan'" air dan rnenggunakan elektrik, serta peraturan kesilapan? Tidakkah lagi saya pembicara menyimpan rambut di kepala bagi kepala yang berambut. bagi golongan miskin dan tertindas? Adakah ini tanda kelumpuhan saya? Kehairanan Sang Ketam itu kian bertambah bila melihat rnanusia Atau, mungkinkah kerana saya mengalami yang tidak pernah berjalan betul itu menghabiskan waktunya masalah darah tinggi dan masalahjantung, ,~engan mendi:ndan muk~Yfl, memelib,;ua rambutny;:1, mengena- maka sesuatu hams diberikan kepada kan pakaiannya, malah lebili aneh menahan makan dan minum saya sebelum darah berhenti mengalir untuk mengumskan badan, menelan kapsuJ dan jamumakjun dan jantung tidak lagi berdegup? untuk memperkuatkan bahagian-bahagian anggota tubuhnya, Te.tapi setelah meneliti siaran-siaran mengumpulkan harta dan ringgit, menentukan jenis dara,h dan akhbar dan tv serta kenyataan Pengerusi ki.e.tumnan se ,. status d laran, " sangat teliti mencukur Panel Anugerah Sastera yang menekankan 15111unya di ping ber · dan unuhan, menindas dan bahawa Anugerah Sastera ini bersangku- menipu sesamanya. Soalnya di sini, siapakah sebenamya yang tan juga dengan perjuangan menentang kezaliman, ketidakadilan dan kemiskinan, mengajar dan menyuruh anaknya berjalan betul, Ketam atau di samping ciri-ciri kemanusiaan, maka Manusia? · saya mula percaya bahawa di kalangan mereka yang kaya dan berkuasa pun ter-

17 ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 dapat juga yang menyokong and merasa- yang menggelombangi jalan sejarah kita. Sayangnya, sebahagian daripada kan kemarahan yang sama terhadap Rakyat sudah mula bersuara lantang penulis kita tidak begitu sensitif terhadap kezaliman, ketidakadilan dan kemiskinan. dan untuk pertama kali berhujah secara kenyataan-kenyataan yang wujud di Masalah ini bukan saja menghalang terbuka sejak kemerdekaan. Bersinarlah tengah-tengah kehidupan masyarakatnya. kemajuan sesebuah negara, tetapi juga harapan bahawa rakyat biasa akan mula Sastera haruslah meliputi semua aspek mencacatkan kehijauan alam tanahair, mendapat keadilan sosial, bertentangan kehidupan manusia secara luas. Dalam keindahan pantai dan pulau-pulau serta dengan keistimewaan yang wujud seka- zaman pembangunan ini nelayan tidak menyumbingkan keriangan tawa anak- rang, yang hanya bagi golongan kaya dan lagi berkolek berpayang, tetapi telah anak tercinta kita. istimewa. berkenalan dengan alat-alat moden Saya berasa lebih bahagia bahawa Harapan saya kini ialah agar tenaga menangkap ikan, dengan motor berenjin anugerah sastera ini diberikan ketika baru dan suasana baru dalam negeri ini dan sebagainya. Tetapi adakah jiwa negara sedang bergerak ke depan, akan ditujukan kepada masalah-masalah mereka tidak lagi berombak, dan kehidu- mengorak langkah melaksanakan seba- besar seperti kemiskinan. Sungguh pan keluarga mereka tidak lagi berkocak? hagian daripada impian yang pernah menyedihkan bahawa dalam sebuah Para buruh semakin banyak, kerana saya suarakan sepanjang usia karya saya. negara yang kaya-raya hasil burninya, kita bukan saja memandang ke Barat Di negeri kita ini masih ada mereka rakyatnya kaya dengan kerniskinan. Sung- tetapi juga memandang ke Timur. yang menegakkan diri sebagai manusia guh menyedihkan bahawa kawasan luar Beratus-ratus kilang moden telah didiri-

500 Mereka

BegittJ keci/ ia berdin tepi pagar (kepada Siti Nor Hamid Tuah) kilat matanya 11):emangflil ls~(l.ndar '" siapa /ahr siapa berkaca "' Lima riJtus 'friereka me/ihat keduanya bergurau senda. mara! mara mencium hutan dara ~ • I 1ima raws m~reka f 1tw Anak Tionghua kelahirannya di sini , kapak di tangan parang di pinggang di ~umi Niau lagang-ladang qetah dan padi hutan dara mereka rebahkan. " ia 8.isa b'lkeritamuntuk slapa 'Gaja !' .. ' :t -.,. di sini tanahnya dan ibunya bersemadi. Lima ratus mereka - u petaniwfpiskia rakyaJ; tertindas , Lihat mereka sedang berebutan pistol mainan kini ba1ngkit dengan tenaga perkasa he, jangan berkelahi . . dengan berani mengambil milik sendiri.,. ah, anak-anak dengan caranya murhi berke/ahi untuk nanti bermain kembali. Lima ratus mereka

,'] tajam-tajam tangan undan{/-undang lihat mereka tertawa riang tiada gentar ditangkap tii!da gentar dipenjara ·*' ' Ah Chew tak punya gigi sebatang petani berani pahlawan rakyat tercinta. /ska,ndarf!meng8$at hfngµs kt:baju cl sekarang mereka menunggu aiskrim,. la/u . 1969 Bumi tercinta resapkan wahyumu jantung mereka adalab langitmu da'itah rrteteka tidalah sungaimu nafas mereka adalah udaramu. .... ff,fa,; 7962 istimewa, terus-menerus di atas dari bandar masih mundur, sekolah-sekolah kan, berpuluh-puluh bangunan pencakar segala orang lain, dan senantiasa pula serba kekurangan, murid-murid serba langit ditegakkan. Bagaimanakah kehidu- hidup dalam kemewahan dan kepura- ketiadaan dan perubatan serta doktor pan mereka, sedu-duka, harapan dan puraan. Seperti yang kita ketahui, tidak berkecukupan. Sungguh menyedih- impian mereka? mengikut Islam hanya Allah sajalah yang kan bahawa kanak-kanak miskin masih Ladang-ladang se~akin banyak dan sempurna dan yang kekal, manusia banyak yang cicir dalam pelajaran, dan luas dibuka. Pelbagai nama institusi tani semuanya sama di sisi-Nya, dan hanya alangkah pilunya hati apabila hanya dan ladang berdiri di luar bandar. Bagai- kepada-Nya kita sujud. Saya memanjat- sebilangan kecil saja kanak-kanak perem- manakah isi hati, keringat dan suara batin kan doa kepada Allah, semoga masanya puan yang dapat mengembangkan para petani pada zaman pembangunan? akan sampai manakala kita tidak lagi akan kebolehan mereka sepenuhnya dalam Segala ini masih kabur dan sayup- melihat keistimewaan yang tidak adil. segala bidang pendidikan. sayup dalam pengucapan sastera kita, Ada terasa semacam perubahan yang Bolehkah kita semua bersama-sama padahal merekalah golongan terbanyak berlaku di negara kita sekarang ini, Ada mengatasi segala masalah ini? Dan tidak dalam masyarakat kita. Sudahkah wujud terasa hembusan angin segar yang nyaman kurang dari semua ini, saya bermohon keadilan sosial bagi golongan ini? Adakah bertiup menerbangkan debu dan pUing- menyuarakan harapan agar korupsi, pilih suasana baru sekarang menyalakan ha ra- puing usang. Ada terasa cuaca baru dari kasih dan segala penyelewengan - dalam pan baru pula kepada mereka? kr'"oak sinar matari pagi yang cerah bentuk apa pun - yang menjadi beban Dan ada terasa deburan ombak serta merugikan rakyat dapat dihapuskan. Continued on Page 21

<, FEB' 84 18 Seni

KO-TAI Theatre Ko-Tai In Progress In The Streets Tan Sooi He ng Ko-tai literally translated as "song- Not surprisingly, comic sketches are he tells the audience that they stage" in Hokkien consists of a modern the highlights of the performances. Their should "get a job and work hard open-air stage featuring both Chinese and popularity is directly related to their and not gamble like I did': Western popular songs and comic content which by and large are issues, con- sketches. It is performed during religious cerns and problems relevant to the festivals to celebrate the birthday of lower-class Chinese audience. These CONFLICT BETWEEN THE Chinese deities. include (a) social ills in the city (b) con- YOUNGER AND OLDER GENERATION The ko-tai was introduced in the 60's flict between the young and the old and to draw young people, particularly those (c) stratification and social mobility. In addition to portraying social pro- who could not identify with Chinese blems in the city, ko-tai sketches also operas, to religious festivals. In Penang SOCIAL ILLS bring into prominence the conflict the ko-tai is performed almost once Among the social ills portrayed are between the younger and older genera- every month. During the peak seasons of crime, gangsterism, gambling and drugs. tion. The city is a place where the young the 7th and 8th lunar months, there are Stories like the ko-tai skit described wear western dress, use modern 5 to 6 performances a day. below are common. appliances, speak English or Mandarin X gambles a lot. He arrives at work more than their local dialects and practice Even though ko-tai performances are "modern ways". In contrast, the older founded on religious festivals, the content late and is fired. He goes home and his wife divorces him because he is people who grew up in a different of comic sketches and songs is far from environment, at a different period of sacred. The majority of the older genera- a "good for nothing': Thugs come in and beat him up because he time, still cling to their traditional values. tion in fact see the ko-tai as a crude and Arrogant youngsters, who often reject meaningless source of amusement, a mere cannot pay his debts. He steals but gets caught in the process. their parents' values, speak rudely to their adjunct to the festival; in their own parents, flirt with women and are lazy, words, "a lot of shouting, joking and However, as the ko-tai is didactic and tries to impart morals and standards always end up in trouble because they do jumping around on stage". not listen to their parents. of behaviour to the younger generation, This is however not so to the lower we now see, Even though skits portray parents working-class youths. For them, the as "old-fashioned" and not understanding ko-tai has become an important form of X released from jail dressed in rags the modern ways of the city, the ko-tai entertainment. Its combination of popu- and carrying a mat (his bed) in his seems to be subtly telling the audience lar songs, slapstick and sketches which are hands. He tells the crowd his story. that the older generation having "eaten closely related to contemporary social "It is my own fault that I'm a more salt" know what is best for the reality has great appeal. beggar. I gambled too much". Then children.

19 ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 In addition to telling children that the audience to donate money to a good woman, the ~ector shouts "Stop! they should obey their parents, ko-tai cause. When this happens, the crowd We earn and spend the government's sketches also try to tell the audience to throw coins and dollar notes onto the money, we have to be faithful to the love, respect and care for their elders stage. Children then climb up onto the government - when we are working we come what may. A typical scene con- stage to help the performers pick up cannot be 5-8-4 (In Hokkien, 5-8-4 means veying this message goes as follows: the money. lecherous). " But then, the inspector A third reason why the ko-tai draws himself goes over to stroke her. When the A rich businessman flies home from crowds is that the audience is able to private asks him why his hand is hovering business abroad, planning to test his laugh off and vent its frustration with around the woman, he answers "I am an children's love for him. When he the authorities, the system and with inspector, you are not". Apparently, approaches them in rags, pretending , family life. Policemen and lawmen who what is not permissible for the rank and he has lost all his money, they are corrupt and inefficient are usually file seems to be permissible for the reject him. However, when he tells made fun of in the sketches. In the officers! It is the rank and file who are them the truth, all of them kneel to scenario outlined below, the police caught for misbehaviour in the end. ask for forgiveness. But the father officers are depicted as slow and ineffi- Aside from jests on the authorities, kicks them and gives them cient in performing their duties, and also ko-tai performers often create banters {indirectly to the audience) a morally questionable: about "old-fashioned" fathers and lecture about the, proper way to mothers as well. Children in the sketches treat parents. A death has occured on the road. A police inspector and two con- ridicule the manner and ways of their stables ( clownish chracters) arrive old folks even though they are told to SOCIAL STRATIFICATION on the scene. The inspector gives respect and listen to their old folks. orders to the constables to get Ko-tai sketches often depict serious _ A-thire-aspectof the ko-tai includes down to work. One telephones the scenes like fathers scolding their sons commentary on social stratification with- coffin shop. Then the other tele- for being careless and unloving and then in the Chinese community and the lack phones the local whore-house to turn the scenes into comic ones. For of mobility for the·lower classes. ask for a woman for the inspector. example, as the father is reprimanding Ko-tai elites dress elaborately, speak The following conversation ensues: the son, his walking stick suddenly breaks Mandarin instead of the local dialect and and he falls. Sometimes, he drops his do not use four-letter words. On the Constable: The owner of the spectacles· in the midst of shouting and · other hand, lower-class characters always whore-house says that has to grope about. Tense situations dress crudely, speak the local dialect and the last time you went between the young and their parents are use foul language. "to do business' with turned into funny, light-hearted episodes. The ko-tai appears to extol elite values them, you owed them The audience is thus able to laugh off and to encourage aspirations towards $3 .... their frustrations with their families elite status through hard work, education Inspector: Who asked you to through these episodes. and through marrying across class lines. telephone them? A last reason why the ko-tai is popular However, the ko-tai brings out the Constable: I noticed that you is that it is sensitive to the changing tastes social reality that these are difficult to were troubled, so I of the audience. It is constantly experi- achieve. Poor families often cannot · called for a woman to menting with new ideas to attract larger · afford to send their children for tertiary help you relax . . .. audiences . . The content is flexible, and education. In fact many of the young But she inquired as to sketches and songs presented change have to quit school and start work at a when you were going according to the fashion of the day. tender age in order to supplement the to pay her the $3 you Pr.esently, to cater for a wider range of family income. Education, particularly still owed .... audience (particularly to attract the secondary school education, is still a Inspector: $3? I'm not returning older opera audience) and to draw the privilege reserved for a minodty. Thus, her the money! ko-tai away from mere "singing and in most ko-tai sketches, attempts by the joking", ·some of the ko-tai troupes in lower class to marry across class lines are A man is found dead but the two Penang have introduced . "modernized" shown to end disastrously. Members of constables (comedians) take a long time Chinese opera. In these presentations, the lower class who strive for acceptance in deciding what to do. In the process, ko-tai actors retain certain Chinese opera as elites do not make it. They are seldom the two constables expose the vice of the elements as well while introducing new given opportunities to study and marriage inspector. He is a womaniser and fre- techniques of singing and musical accom- across class lines is often unacceptable. quents the whore-house, even owing paniment. For example, opera tunes are them money. sung to the accompaniment of the WHY IS THE KO-TAI SO Further on in the sketch, the con- western ko-tai bands, using harmony POPULAR? stables call for a police car to take the based on the western diatonic scale. The first reason for this is the content wife of the deceased home, but the car Modern popular songs never used before of the ko-tai. The skits portray problems, has broken down and is unavailable. The in the traditional opera performances are issues and concerns of the younger crowd bursts out laughing as this is just often included. the sort of thing they expect from the generation. The young can also relate to authorities. From their experience, they the popular songs rendered. THE KO-TAI: A PEOPLE'S know that if there is an accident, they THEATRE FORM? In addition to its ~ppeal through would have to wait for hours before content, the ko-tai also attracts large the police arrive on the scene. In some aspects, the ko-tai offers crowds through its improvisatory nature Another stereotype used on stage is for many people an alterative to the which enables the audience to participate to illustrate how within the government, institutionalized theatre performed by in the performance. The audience is often higher officials are often more morally professionals, and consumed passively asked questions and they respond by corrupt than lower officials. For instance, by the well-educated. shouting back answers. Sometimes, ko-tai in the same sketch, when one of the Sketches are improvisatory in nature·. perfo~ers even go to the extent of asking constables starts stroking the weeping There is no script. Members · pf the

ALIRAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 20 audience who have never been involved BUAT APA SENI? yuarakan hati · nurani saya yang saya in theatre are invited to participate. percaya adalah juga hati nurani masyara- Continued from page 18 Sketches are simple and contemporary in kat, maka dalam penyuaraan itu saya nature so that the less-educated lower tidak membatasi gotongan kaum, bangsa, class can understand. The sketches also Ketika mula-mula menulis

21 ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 ------Current Comments------Aliran's Statements To The Press Made During The Preceding Month.

Seminary Grounds Aliran hopes that in the interest of Aliran hopes that lawyers and judicial people-oriented development and people- officers in the subordinate courts will be Campaign based democracy the signature campaign supported by judges and the general of the socially-conscious Pulau Tikus public in fighting for the separation of Aliran gives full support to the objec- residents will succeed. the judicial service from the legal service. tion raised by residents of Pulau Tikus to It is a fight that must succeed if we want the proposed conversion of the College Rajendran Devaraj, to ensure that justice is done in the court General Seminary grounds from its 12thJanuary, 1984 ExcoMember. houses of the land. present religious/institutional status to commercial/residential use. The signature Chandra Muzaffar, campaign that the objectors have 14th January, 1984. President organised _is closely related to two The Importance Of A principal aspects of Aliran's own struggle - one, our concern about the nature of Separate Judicial Service development taking place in the country Reduction and two, our commitment to widening The question of bias that has risen in the scope for popular participation in relation to the discharge of duties of In Defence Expenditure public policy-making. magistrates, Session Court Presidents and Aliran welcomes the announcement by It is obvious that developing the other judicial officers in the subordinate our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. seminary grounds into a commercial courts can be overcome only if the legal Mahathir that we shall not be purchasing complex will not benefit the local and judicial services are separated. the expensive American F-16 jet fighters. community in Pulau Tikus or help to The legal service should be part of the improve the economic position of the civil service doing all the legal work for majority of people in the state of Penang. the Executive. The Attorney General Aliran's Latest Book On the contrary, it will mean that the should be responsible only for the legal grounds cannot be used for public service. He should not have anything to Our latest publication is a purposes such as a public library, do with the judicial service. In fact, the booklet on Thean Teik. community centre or children's park. executive should have no say at all in the The seemingly isolated incident It is only right that land given to the running of courts and their staff. The of Thean Teik focusses attention church for charitable purposes in the past courts and their staff should be the sole on one of the major challenges con- should now be returned to the people so responsi4tility of the head of the fronting Malaysian society - the that it can be used in the public interest. judiciary. need for people-oriented develop- Besides, the sort of commercial develop- For this to be effective the judicial ment. ment that is envisaged will weaken the service should become a separate and "Thean Teik: The Other Side Of existing commercial network in Pulau autonomous service whose status is Development", discusses the Tikus, change the residential character of enshrined in the constitution-. This history of the community, the the place, increase traffic problems and requires a change to the judicial and legal relationship between landlord and erode the historical and architectural service Commission as presently provided development, the enforcement of significance of the area. for in the Constitution. It should hence- the law, the question of rights and By objecting to the conversion of the forth be the Judicial Service Commission. compensation and events leading to seminary grounds for commercial use, The judicial service should have full the death of a Thean Teik resident. the socially-conscious residents of Pulau powers to recruit, emplace, promote and The booklet is the collaborative Tikus are in fact protesting against the dismiss its own personnel - without effort of a group of individuals type of development that allows a having to refer any matter to the including an Aliran Exco member. wealthy and influential elite to direct Attorney General or the executive. This While the initiative for this effort and control the growth of the nation. means the judicial service should have its began outside Aliran, the views Similarly, the signature campaign own administrative staff and its own fund expressed in the booklet are in initiated by the Pulau Tikus residents is which it will control and utilise. harmony with Aliran's own under- an important dimension of the struggle This separation of the judicial service standing of development and we to strengthen the democratic process. from the legal service is vital to ensure took a decision to publish the For 'through the campaign people will that the judiciary is truly autonomous booklet. become more conscious of their right to and independent. The judiciary cannot be The booklet which is priced at participate in the formulation of public said to be independent as long as the $3.00 is available at major book poliSJ. They will realise that in a genuine subordinate courts and their officers are stores in the country. The booklet democracy the ordinary masses should be under the Attorney-General for it is in can also be obtained by writing to consulted in all matters that affect their the subordinate courts that the bulk of us at P.O. Box 1049, Pulau Pinang. interests. judicial work is done.

ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 ·22 . . \. Purchasing military hardware particularly policies that have caused ethnic Continued from Back Page from a superpower could lead us into polarization? one time opponent of the NEP took the undesired dependence on it for our Of course, in criticising government view that if the policy had not succeeded defence. This decision by the Premier is policies, students may sometimes err. In in achieving its objectives then the bes( especially appropriate in view of the fact such circumstances, it is up to the govern- thing to do was to extend the deadline- that our national budget is in serious ment to rectify distortions and mis- until success was accomplished. This is a deficit (an estimated $9 .8 billion in 1983) interpretations that may have occured. good example of bad logic. Anwar does and our external debts are rapidly This is what one expects our embassies not seem to understand that the problem mounting (an estimated $20 billion by abroad to do. is not time but the concept embodied in the end of 1984). More important our Taking action against student critics the NEP itself. Even if the government poverty level, by official admission has is not going to do the government any extended the policy for the next 100 increased to 42.8 percent in the last 2 or good. If anything it will further tarnish years, it will not be able to resolve the 3 years. the government's image abroad, particularly in the liberal democracies of poverty of the masses, a majority of With this decision, Aliran hopes that whom are Bumiputras or close the gap the West. It will confirm a view that is the government will further cut down on between the rich and poor or trans'form defence spendings and re-allocate a held in some circles that our government does not respect dissent. The government society in such a way that the majority greater amount of funds for social benefit directly from the development will be regarded as intolerant, undemo- services, agricultural development and the process. rural and urban poor. cratic and authoritarian. There are two main reasons why many What this means is that the NEP is the And while we in Aliran do not suggest wrong road to genuine development. Why that we should abandon our defences, government leaders adopt such a negative attitude towards student criticism of should we persist in travelling along the nevertheless, we believe that the best wrong road? However long we may travel, defence is to be provided by a united government policies. First, they labour under a misconception that since a we can be certain that we will not reach nation. Such unity will emerge if socio- our destination. economic benefits are shared justly, student's duty is to study, he has no right communal politics got rid of, and the to criticise government policies. These people given the opportunity to partici- leaders fail to realize that the process of pate meaningfully in the affairs of becoming educated is also a proc s of government. developing one's critical faculties. This means that as students become more Reagan's Running Again Gan Kong Hwee, knowledgeable and more conscious, they There is a good chance that Ronald 17th January, 1984 Exco Member. are bound to become more critical of the Reagan who has just announced his inten- existing social system. It is inhuman to tion to contest the Presidency in this punish an individual for becoming more year's election, may get re-elected. Apart sensitive to his environment. from the advantage of incumbency, some Second, many of our leaders believe improvement in the economy, the reduc- Action Against that it is the height of ingratitude for tion of certain taxes, some control over students to criticise the government since inflation and increased employment Student Critics Abroad it is the · government that has provided opportunities could all work in his Aliran deplores the statement by them with facilities for pursuing higher favour. Most of all, President Reagan has Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Khalil education. This is why they are parti- succeeded to whip up nationalist Yaacob , that action would be taken cularly incensed by criticism from sentiments among a lot of Americans against Malaysian students abroad who students who are scholarship-holders. through the invasion of Grenada and his criticise government policies. It is obvious that such leaders see confrontational attitude towards the ,- , If certain government policies are scholarships as symbols of their Soviet Union. unjust or unfair it is only right and proper benevolence. They refuse to understand What many Amerioans do not realize is that students abroad - like Malaysians that in the ultimate analysis , scholarships that his pursuit of 'American Supremacy' , anywhere - criticise them in a rational come from the rakyat. It is the rakyat's has resulted in the heightening of inter- and responsible manner. By criticisin~ right to expect the government to provide national tensions. Through his massive wrong policies, students would in fact be for the higher education of their children. arms build-up he has made the world a helping the government to correct its own By giving scholarships, the government is much more dangerous place to live in. At shortcomings. In this way, the nation as a merely doing its duty to the people. It is the same time, Reagan is completely whole will benefit. Criticism should there- to fulfil such responsibilities to the rakyat insensitive to the aspirations of the Third fore be seen as service to the people . It is , that we have entrusted the government World. His attitude towards the Law of in a sense , an act of patriotism. with power and authority. It has no right the Seas, Antartica, UNESCO & As a case in point, wouldn't it be in to expect unquestioning loyalty to its UNCT AD are all proofs of this. Indeed, the interest of the rakyat, if students policies from students, whether they are even many moderate Third World leaders pointed out the weaknesses in the govern- on scholarships or not. see the Reagan administration as a major ment's poverty redressal programmes The fact that many government obstacle in the evolution of a more especially sin ce poverty has become more leaders continue to demand blind equitable international order. serious in recent years? Wouldn't it be to adherence to their thinking shows that It is ironical therefore, that such a the public's advantage if students they have yet to free themselves from leader should regard his candidacy for the expressed their concern about corruption paternalistic attitudes rooted in a feudal presidency as something beneficial for and mismanagement, especially in the past. world peace. In announcing his candidacy light of scandals like BMF? Isn't it How can we expect such leaders to he stated that he has "to finish the race" legitimate for students to criticise the help evolve a modern, progressive , demo- he began to promote international co- erosion of democratic rights especially cratic society? operation. since it is such an obvious trend? Aren't One can only pray that in the course students being responsible if they voice Chandra Muzaffar, of it he does not finish off the human their misgivings about government 6th February, 1984 President. race .

23 ALI RAN MONTHLY FEB' 84 -----Katak Di . Loar Tempurung-----

No Information .... says Minister establishes its own news monopoly within it is sexual productivity. Its leaders want of Information its own national boundaries? Have our educated women to produce more Recently, Minister of Information, third world governments forgotten that children. Educated women, according to Lee Kuan Yew and Dr. Goh Keng Swee, Adib Adam, made news again. He was golden rule of life, "Do not do to others produce better quality children who will unhappy that people continued to what you do not want others to do to you?" eventually become the type of leaders analyse and reflect upon the constitu- that Singapore needs. And so, the tional crisis even after it had been educated are being given all sorts of resolved. Since the whole thing had been incentives to produce more. At the same settled, there was no need for post- time, the less educated will be mortems and the like he argued. Dead men tell tales discouraged from having too many Now this is an amazing view coming children. as it does from a Minister of Information. For the last few months there has been Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans Before the crisis became a crisis there was quite a lot of international reaction to the alike have criticised the policy for its no information. When it became a crisis, organised killing of so-called "criminals" absurdity. It is not only elitistic but also there was one-sided information. When in Indonesia. The government is clearly represents the worst form of social the crisis is over, he insists that there behind this attempt to reduce the crime engineering. Surely, the task of a good should be no information. Surely, the rate through the easiest - and most least we can expect of a Minister of inhuman - way: by killing off known government is to improve the educational Information in a democracy is a commit- criminals with the help of killer squads. and economic standards of the popula- ment to information - to the right of the The government thought that once tion at large. There must be a serious people to know. the job was done, everyone would be effort to equalise opportunities for all. happy. Many people were in fact glad It is social transformation - not social since robberies and murders have become engineering - that is needed. quite commonplace in many Indonesian By embarking upon such a policy, cities. But some of the more sensible Singapore leaders are in fact trying to ensure that the children of the elites Control news .... to preserv_e the Indonesians soon realized the dangerous continue to be the elites of the future. 'truth' implications of what was happening. Even a "known" criminal has the right to be They want elites to perpetuate elites. It is Non-aligned information ministers met protected by the law. Indeed, only the like the Mandarin system of ancient recently in Jakarta to express their law can decide whether he is a criminal or China. opposition to the dominant control of not and how he should be punished. This But the Mandarins of modern western news agencies over news flow. is what the rule of law means. If the rule Singapore will not find it easy to carry Aliran is also opposed to this of law is undermined, then there will be out their social engineering. Apart from dominance. On a number of occasions in nothing but anarchy. opposition from sections of their own the past we have criticised western infor- Besides, there's always the danger of otherwise docile population, Singapore mation imperialism clearly evident in the making a mistake, of killing the wrong leaders fail to realize that education and way in which its vested interests are guy. Ap arently, this had happened in a upward mobility invariably limit family propagated through the media. This is couple of instances. More serious is the sizes. what leads to distortions, exaggerations fact that this method of killing could be Perhaps the leaders need to educate and sometimes outright lies about what is used against dissidents and critics. And themselves before getting the educated happening in our countries. why not? For it happened in Brazil where to procreate! But what is the solution of these non- killer squads were also organised initially · aligned states? They want to strengthen to reduce crime. government-owned news agencies which Even if nothing of this sort happens in present only the government side of an Indonesia, one should ask whether killing issue. We have seen this happening in our The NEP - and An war's long, wrong off criminals really reduces crimes. road country where BERNAMA ignores any Shouldn't we eliminate the underlying criticisms made of the government causes of crime? For unless that is done When some government leaders started however just and legitimate they may be. there'll always be criminals. talking about extending the NEP (the This is happening in a number of other It is good that Indonesians and others New Economic Policy) beyond 1990, countries too where government control are asking these questions. Those in critics pointed out that the basic philo- over the media is so tight that the truth is power were wrong in believing that dead sophy of the NEP, its concept of develop- effectively suppressed. A rosy picture is man tell no tales. The dead sometimes ment, was wrong. For that reason, they painted of the government's so-called speak through the living. argued, the NEP as it stands should not achievements while the opposition is be extended beyond 1990. What we need deliberately smeared. Indeed, one some- is an alternative philosophy of develop- times feels that national hews agencies in ment with alternative strategies of growth many third world countries have less and redistribution. respect for freedom of expression and Ye educated - bring forth children! In his response to these critics, Anwar dissent than the western news agencies. Singapore - the little island-state Ibrahim, UMNO Youth leader and H w can a government complain of known for its productivity - has begun Minister of Culture, Youth & Sports and western news monopoly when it yet another productivity drive. This time Continued on Page 23

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