The Barisan 's 213 Majority: Why the Opposition Failed

very time there is a General instrument of power to maximum advan­ consnuencies would help Barisan candi­ Election, those of us who tage. Needless to say. Radio and Tele­ dates to win. Similarly. in rural areas. yearn for more space and vision Malaysia (RTM), the information kampongs regarded as Pas fortresses scope for democracy to grow services and other government depart­ were sliced out of opposition strongholds -. .in this land, hold out the ments and agencies were fully mobilised and integrated into Barisan constituencies Ehope that somehow the electorate would to ensure a landslide victory for the Bari­ so that the impact of PAS votes would be discover the wisdom of strengthening the san. Nearly every newspaper in the reduced. There is some evidence to OPPOSition. In the last 12 years we have country was involved in the ruling coali­ suggest that PAS candidates in certain wa1ted in vain for that hope to materia­ tion's campaign. Journalistic ethics were constituencies in Kelantan, Trengganu lize. In the small hours of the morning of thrown to the winds, as newspapers and Kedah were victims of this sort of 4 August, as the results of the seventh manufactured l1es, distorted statements gerrymandering. The entire constituency General Election poured in, that hope by opposition politicians and smeared the re-del ineat1on exercise is a glaring was dealt a severe blow. It was all the reputation of opposition parties. example of how the authority vested with more painful because there has never As far as the Bansan was concerned, it a ruling party that knows no scruples can been another occasion like this when the was only right that the newspapers and be used against the interest of democracy. possibility of reducing the Barisan everyone else slogged for its tr:.umph. It To wage a successful campaign against Nasional's overwhelming parliamentary was. after all, the State, the government, such an unethical ruling party which had majority looked so real. It seemed as if and whatever it did had to be in the inte· bestowed upon itself all the privileges of that finally the people would be able to rest of the rakyat and the nation. Since it power, one must have an electorate which curb the dominant power of the ruling was the government, it followed that it not only realizes that things are seriously coalition and produce an opposition that was the only party that could guarantee wrong with the government but is also would have at least one-third of all the peace and stability! And indeed stability prepared to act on the basis of that seats in the Dewan Rakyat. was a major thrust of the Barisan's elec­ awareness. More than that, there must be The Barisan's Performance tion campaign. It contrasted its capacity widespread unhappiness, an extraordmary The Barisan Nasional not only kept 1ts to maintain stability with the possible level of anger, and even a certain quan­ two-third majority but went on to retain danger of a May 13th type riot 1f the tum of disgust among the voters before its four-fifth majority in Parliament. It is opposition became stronger. This manipu­ one can reduce the dominant strength of also m control of all the State Assemblies la\ion of the voter's inherent fear of riots an omnipotent political iorce like the and managed to secure about 57 per cent and chaos undoubtedly had some effect Barisan. of the popular vote. Though there is a slight drop in the percentage of votes and parliamentary seats obtained, compared Journalistic ethnics were thrown to the winds, to 1982. there is no denying that the as newspapers manufactured Ilea, distorted Bansan scored a stunning victory. (see Tables for details) statements by opposition politicians and It is now beginning to dawn on all of smeared the reputation of opposition parties. us that it is going to be very. very diffi­ cult to reduce the Barisan's two-third majority. For it is not like reducing the upon the electorate. Lack of Anger and the parliamentary majority of a ruling party If manipulation of fear and media con­ Development Factor in any ordinary, normal democracy. trol were not enough to guarantee total It was obvious that significant seg· Opposition parties and the people have to dominance, the Barisan had already made ments of the rural and semi-urban voting contend with the might of an unscru­ another move. It had re-delineated the population were not angry with the Sari­ pulously powerful State. If it is a ques­ electoral constituencies in 1984 in such a san government - in spite of all the rot tion of various part•es competing aga·nst manner that certain opposition strong­ that had set in. Perhaps they did not feel each other for the people's support in a holds would be weakened while consti­ that way partly because they saw them­ fair, free election campa1gn, then there tuencies inclined towards the Barisan selves as beneficiaries of Barisan's deve­ would be no problem. But in the seventh WO!fld be reinforced. Gerrymandenng of lopment programmes. /To be sure, a large General Election there wasn't art iota of this sort took place all over the country. number of Malay families in rural areas fairness. The Mahath1r administration had In the case of certain urban constituen­ have benefitted directly or indirectly decided that the opposition would be cies the aim was largely to dilute huge from the development process. The Bari- given a little bit of time and hardly any concentrations of Chinese voters by san, in turn, lzas succeeded in convincing. facilities to conduct its campaign, wh:le add;ng pockets of Malays. The govern­ these rural folks that it is because of the the Barisan leadership would utilize every ment hoped that the Malay vote in these Barisan leadership's goodness and gene-

Allran Monthly August/September 1986 2 \ The General Election: the triumph of the 'Protector' rosily that they have received various in particular, that PAS, unlike their party, that the community - groups and indivi­ forms of assistance. They should there­ was no longer capable of protecting the duals notwithstanding- has failed to sub­ fore be grateful to the Barisan and Malay position. They even accused the ject Dotuk Scri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad express that gratitude by voting Barisan party o.f selling the 'birthright' of the and his colleagues to thorough scrutiny candidates. During the election season, Malays to the other· communities. This on major national scandals like BMF, EPF this 'gratitude for development' attitude was areference to a PAS pledge that if it and UMBC. This does not connote accep­ assumes special significance since Barisan came to power there would be no bumi­ tance of wrongdoings, one must hasten to canvassers bribe voters with all sorts of putra-non-bumiputra dichotomy and no add, but· it does seem to suggest a goodies. This distribution of goodies 'special privileges' tor any community. · It 'psychological block' when it comes to happened on a large scale in Kelantan this . also promised to prov.ide more opportu­ appraising the national leadership. It time. nities for the use and study for Chinese e-xplains to some extent why the Maha-• Protector and other non-Malay languages. thir administration has been able to get Because it is only the Barisan that The protector status of UMNO has yet away with serious misdeeds which in any seems to be providing development assis· another dimension to it which may have other society that practises democratic tance (it is of course the go~ernment), also influenced the electoral outcome. In accountability would have led inevitably rural Malay voters form the impression the relationship between protector and to the downfall of the erring regime. that it is the only group that is capable of protecting their well-being. This role that UMNO anc;l the Barisan have always Tangible Issues revealing the Barlsan's played as the protector of the Malay com­ Ineptness were drowned by· all the din caused munity was also perhaps an important factor in the coalition's strong electoral by PAS's clarion call for the establishment of showing. It is quite possible that because an Islamic State. of the economic difficulties generated by the recession, the community feels an even greater psychological need to cling to the UMNO leadership. Groups and protected, the latter does not question, Keeping the Rural Voter in communities which are burdened by a let alone challenge, the former. This is Ignorance · deep sense of insecuritY, tend to turn why on the whole, ihe Malay community Besides that, the rural Malay commu­ even more to their perceived protectors does not adopt an evaluati)!e, critical nity in particular had hardly and access to for solace during periods of uncertainty. attitude towards its leadership. As an news reports and analyses on BM F ·and At the same time, UMNO leaders had attitude, it is rooted in the feudal practice other such scandals. Compared to the succeeded in convincing a lot of the of. giving unquestioning loyalty to the English language press, the Malay dailies, Malay voters in Kelantan and Trengganu Ruler. It is partly because of this attitude even before the election campaign began, gave very limited :::overage to these epi- · sodes. Once the campaign started, all the During the election season, this 'gratitude for major national issues which had occupied developmen~' attitude assumes special so much public attention in the course of the year suddenly disappeared from the significance.since Barlsan canvassers bribe pages of our newspapers. It was obvious that the motive behind this was to hoorl­ voters with ~ all sorts of goodies. wink the voter into believing that there

3 Alirao Monthly August/September 1986 (CCC). The CCCs, sponsored by PAS, did not make much headway. The CCCs, the opposition front and the joint declaration exposed PAS to attacks from two sides. UMNO accused Pas of betraymg its 'Islamic' principles and its Muslim supporters by trying to establish political ties with non-Muslim groups and organizations which do not subscribe to the idea of an Islamic State. It is apparent that this line of argument worked in Kelantan and Trengganu, the traditional bastions of PAS. For PAS has all along indoctrinated its rank-and-file and mdeed the voting population in those two States, w1th the belief thot the Islamic rule it promises would guarantee that political power res1des exclusively with the Muslims. In fact, this has been one of PAS's main criticisms of UMNO ~ because it shares power with non· Muslims, it is not faithful to lslarpic pre­ cepts. This sharing of power, in turn, has often been presented as one of the major causes of the relative weakness of the Malay community in other spheres. After giving so much emphasis to this notion of exclusive Muslim political power, PAS should not have expected its members Urban voters: an agonised cry for fairplay and followers to be enthusiastic about this novel ideal of political cooperation with non-Muslim groups. UMNO leaders were no real issues in the election arrd only reason for the. DAP's remarkable and party workers exploited this 'chink m that all the allegations and insinuations performance but it did play an important the PAS armour' with cunning skill. . about the leadership's integrity were part as I shall show in a while. While UMNO attacked PAS on its without substance. It now appears that So far I have tried to establish that the attempts to cooperate with non-Muslims, this shrewd strategy to prevent the voter power of the State, the media's role, the its non-Muslim partners launched an from passing judgment on the Barisan re-delineation of constituencies, what has effective campaign to dissuade non-Malay government based upon its actual been achieved in terms of development voters in both rural and urban areas from performance worked rather well in the and stability, the position of UMNO as giving any support to PAS because of its rural constituencies. t was perhaps help­ the protector of the Malay community, commitment to the creation of an Islamic ed unwittingly by PAS's own inability to focus upon · BM F and other concrete issues related to integrity. Tangible issues revealing the Bansan's ineptness were It Is significant that In those constituencies drowned by'all the din caused by PAS's within the major urban centres like clarion call for the establishment of an Islamic State. Kuala Lumpur, lpoh and Penang where ·BMF, Seen against this perspective, the EPF and UMBC were put across to the voters Prime Minister's clain in his post-election news conference that the voters rejected with vim and vigour, the DAP emerged on top. all the adverse criticisms of his hand I ing of various national issues does not make much sense. For a lot of the voters espe­ the fear that Malay rights would not be StatP. PAS was hoping to garner cially in rural constituencies - it must be safeguarded and the ignorance of the substantial support from Chinese voters reiterated - were not adequately inform­ rural community all conspired to give in particular in the 1986 election partly ed. He should not therefore misinterpret Barisan its four-fifth majority. They because of the widespread frustration their vote as endorsement of his manage­ explain why UMNO in particular did so with government policies within that ment of the nation in the last five years. well in the rural constituencies. But community and partly because PAS itself It would have been different if the scan­ UMNO's success should also be analysed had begun to com11unicate actively with dals which have come to public notice in terms of PAS's own failings. Chinese groups from the middle of 1985. since 1981 were presented to the voters PAS Blunder At the beginning, PAS made some inroads m rural Malaysia as the crucial issues The greatest mistake PAS made was to with its dialogues but the moment if tried before the electorate. It is Significant try to form an opposition front and to get Chinese grcups and Chinese-based that in those constituencies within the adopt a joint declaration with SOP, parties to endorse its endeavour to set up major urban centres like Kuala Lumpur, Nasma and PSRM a few weeks before the an Islamic State, it ran in'to rough wea­ lpoh and Penang where BMF, EPF and General Election. Even before the joint ther. The Chinese and the non-Muslim UMBC were put across to the voters with declaration PAS tried to get Chinese communities as a whole have become vim and vigour, the DAP emerged on support by establishing a link with the more and more suspicious of any attempt top. I am not suggesting that this was the so-called Chinese Consultative Councils to fslamize Malaysian society especially in

4 the wake of the government's own Islami­ a sense reverted to its 'fighting fro(Tl out­ ing that a significant segment of the zation policy and some recetrt reports of side' attitude. Hence the swing towards voting population in the urban centres alleged forced conversions of Chinese the DAP. has protested in clear, unequivocal terms teenage girls to Islam. This is why it was If anything, the swing is more marked against the Mahathir admi nistration for unwise of PAS to insist that other politi­ this time partly because of the economic its management of the nation's affairs cal parties acknowledge its struggle for an situation. The recession, the retrench­ in the last 5 years. The Priry~e Minister Islamic State in the joint declaration ments and the growing unemployment and his new Cabinet should not ignore . issued on 14 July 1986. This provided the problem in general have all contributed to that message from the ballot-box. Barisan with the ammunition it was wait­ the rising tide of anger and frustration The Future ing for to discredit PAS's Islamic struggle. against a government which is already Having examined Barisan's power The joint declaration was seen as evidence regarded as being unfair and unjust to the and the performance of the two major of PAS's desire to impose an Islamic State Chinese community. Economic woes, opposition parties, PAS and DAP, we upon the population. This could have here as elsewhere, tend to aggravate should now ask ourselves: What does cost the party some support in rural ethnic sorrows. That the DAP benefitted the electoral verdict mean for the future? constituencies where the 10 or 20 per from this is obvious if one considers its Since it may be a litt le too early to cent Ch nese vote would have made the excellent performance . in the Kinta answer this question satisfactorily, I difference between winning and losing. heartland which, incidentally, is one of shall confine myself to some quick And indeed what a loss it was to PAS. those places where the problem of lay­ impressions of what the results indicate. "'! Out of the 99 parliamentary seats it con­ offs and unemployment as a result ot On the positive side, we have an tested, it won only one! It secured merely the closing down of tin-mines has taken opposition in Parliament with some 15 state seats, 10 in Kelantan, 2 in Treng­ a turn for the worse. 9edicated individuals who will take ganu and 3 in Kedah. All its national However, it is not just because of the their legislative roles seriously. leaders were wiped out in the contest. perceived need for a reliable and able What has become a matter of con­ DAP's Success ethnic spokesman that the DAP secured cern, however, to many Malaysians about If PAS blundered strategically, the 24 parliamentary and 37 state seats in the opposition is its lack of Malay repre­ DAP adopted correct tactics and in the Chinese-dominant constituencies. In its sentation. This ethnically lop-sided oppo­ end, performed with distinction. It stayed campaign, the party gave equal importance sition is a direct consequence of PAS's out of the opposition front and refused to whole range of social concerns tran­ poor performance in the election. It to support the joint declaration because it scending ethnic perspectives. More than could have certain unhealthy conse­ could not accept the idea of an Islamic in any other election campaign in the quences for the political system as a State. This was an electorally popular past, the DAP spoke iricenssantly about whole. stand to take w ith the non-Musl.im voters who ~onstitute its base. The DAP, in any case, has always been There Is no de~ylng that a significant seen by a substantial section of the non­ Malay ,and particularly the Chinese com­ segment of the voting population In the urban munity, as a champion of their ethnic centres ha~ protested In clear, unequivocal interests. This is an image which other o.p position parties seeking non-Malay terms against the Mahathlr administration for support like the SOP do not enjoy. This its management of the nation's affairs In the percept ion of the DAP · comes from its role of articulating Chinese grievances on last 5 years. a large variety of subjects with the sort of courage and convinction which few other groups can. match. It is a role it has the decline of integrity and the rise of Given the tendency of the govern­ ment to approach issues alo1g ethnic played for two decades now. authoritarianism. This was certainly true There is no doubt that ethnic grie­ of its campaign in Penang. Colossal lines, it may dismiss legitimate criti­ vances within the Chinese community financial scandals like BMF. EPF, UMBC, cisms of its proposed laws and policies have become more serious now for two Marninco and Pan-El, on the one hand, as 'mere ethnic reactions'. Characterising reasons. To start with, there was a feeling and undisputed instances of political the opposition as 'non-Malay' will do of hope, with the ascendancy of Dr. repression like Sabah, Memali and the irreparable harm to parliamentary poli­ Mahathir Mohamad in 1981, that given OSA, on the other, provided grist to the tics, especially if the government comes his new style of administration he would mill. An urban electorate, especially to be perceived as 'Malay' given the be able to attend to some of their long­ its middle-class component, with more smaller numerical presence of Chinese standing gripes about ethnic discrimina­ education and better access to informa­ legislators on the Barisan benches. In tion in culture, education and business. tion, understoQd the signif icance of the any case, it is true that the Barisan after This hope was one of the reasons for the DAP's rhetoric Their response through the 1986 election has much less Chinese MCA's and Gerakan's outstanding perfor­ the ballot-box on the Jrd of August is electoral support than at any time since mance n urban constituencies in the a clear sigfllll to the Mahathir administra­ 1969. 1982 election. Over the last 5 years, the tion that they are not satisfied with What obtains now is a certain degree community has not seen any changes in the grossly inadequate explafllltions given of legislative polarization which is a policies or even in their implementation so far of how the scanduls occurred. reflection of eiectoral polari7ation which which could convince the majority of Nor are they happy with the feeble in turn, mirrors the ethnic polarization Chinese that things are going to get better attempts to solve some of these massive in the larger society. It is not possible for them. This has led to profound disillu­ f inancial fiascos. The rejection of the to overcome legislative or electoral pola­ sionment especially since it was widely Barisan in most of the ma jor urban rization without first removing :he under­ believed in 1982 that work inn frorn inside centres should also be viewed as a vote lying causes of ethnic polarization itself. the government was. the best way out for against the ever increasing curbs and Nevertheless, both the government and the Chinese community. Having tailed controls upon various civil liberties the opposition can help to reduce the from inside, the Chinese electorate has in and political freedoms. There is no deny-

5 ~!iran Monthly August/September 1986 ------zation. Government leaders should show greater appreciation of the multi-ethnic realities of our society and formulate 1986 General ElectiQn Results policies accordingly. They should not be obsessed with narrowly-defined ethnic considerations in each and every legisla­ Sarisan NasJonal 148 tive measure they formulate. Neither DAP' 24 should they -look for ethnic motives in ln~u 4 PAS 1 each and every pronouncement of oppo­ sition MPs. Similarly, the DAP as the STATE . main opposition party in Parliament, 299 should try to evolve a more multi-ethnic 37 15 image. The need to move in that direc­ tion has become all the more compelling now since the DAP today is electorally and politically the most significant party in the country, after UMN 0. This P&reelltage of Popular Votes Obtairntd may require a sober, rational reappraisal 11186 of its present approach to politics, and 1!!!. even some of its policies, with the DAP's Barjsan Nasionat 60.54 57.4 ~ ~ition 39.46 42.6 future role in Malaysian society as its rrimary concern. TABLE3 Just as the DAP may want to reflect on the new situation that has emerged, so Pen:entage of Parliamentary Sllets Acquired ..should PAS examine the fundamental 1982 1986 premise upon which it is founded. Will Barun Nasionar 87.7 83.6 it ever be able to realize its potential Oppo511ion 12.3 16,4 of becoming the leader of an alternative coalition of parties to the Barisan as long as it persists with its goal of establish­ Barisan government use its enormous ting actively in the democratic process? ing an Islamic State defined on the basis legislative power? Will it be more account· Will it show more respect for democratic of traditional theology? able in the· next five years than it has norms and principles in the future than Its implications for ethnic polariza­ been in the last five years? Will it review it did in the Sabah episode of 1985 and tion and multi-€thnic polities apart, the and perhaps at least modify some of the 1986? The answers to these questi.ons results of the 1986 General Election, as laws which have hampered and hindered will become evident in the next few I hint~ at the outset of this articleJ must political parties, trade unions, public years, or perhaps in the next few months have disappointed all those who cherish interest societies, student organizations freedom and democracy. How will the and academic associations from participa· • Chandra Muzaffar General Election ALIRAN AND ELECTION '86 ...

N CONTINUING its active involve­ yat Sedar. RADAR will act as a watch­ were launched on 22 July 1986. ment in social education, All RAN dog to monhor the actual practice of par­ Given the particularly biased and dis­ cannot evade the responsibility of liamentary democracy and raise social torted coverage in the news media in ·encouraging the electorate to consi­ consciousness on justice, freedom- and favour of the ruling party at election der carefully the real issues that face equality. time, it was clear that the electorate must )I the nation, and to make an informed Eight_RADAR groups have been estab- · have access to some objective coverage. choice of Parliamentarians. Too often, we lished so far. The lpoh' Radar, the first in Towards this end, ALIRAN produced have MPs who stand for office not the ·country, was formed on 15 June several pamphlets, posters and leaflets for because they want to serve the Rakyat or 1986. Subsequently, five RADAR groups mass distribution. strengthen democracy, but simply in Penang were launched on 20 July The first pamphlet, "VOTER because "d ia-mahu -kerusi! ". 1986. The five are in the following consti· POWER", contains an analysis of the To help stop this rot, Aliran has tuencies: Jelutong, Tanjung, Bukit Bende­ political situation today. The article.com: launched a Citizen's Alert Movement, or ra, Bayan Baru and Bukit Mertajam. Two mends the Barisan government for the RADAR, which is the acronym for Rak- other groups: Petal ing Jay a and Klang; positive developments and criticises the

Aliran Monthly August/September 198~ 6 negative trends and cnaracteristics. It P46 Jelutong is in fact abnormal". Integrity and JUSt argues the case for a strong, responsible Karpal Singh (OAP) responded. policies are the ingredients of good opposition to help parliamentary demo­ Lim Boo Chang (BN) did not respond. government - not a huge majority cracy develop sturdy roots in our P44 Bukit Bendera because "power corrupts and absolute country. Also included in this pamphlet Gooi Hock Seng (DAP) responded. power corrupts absolutely". Further­ are: a "CITIZENS' MANIFESTO" to pre­ Khor Gark Khim (BN) did not res· more, "the money used to provide con· sent the Rakyat's point of v1ew on pond. stituency services comes from the various 1ssues, and, an introductory arti· P47 Bayan Baru Rakyat. It is the Rakyat's money and cle about RADAR. Both L1m Kah Pin (SOP) and Peter therefore all citizens whether they reside Dason (DAP) responded. Lee Jong Ki in opposition constituencieS or in consti· (BN). when given the questionnaire, . tuencies under Barisan representatives are announced in a confident voice, that he entitled to this assistance". could easily answer "all the questions Thirty thousand copies of this leaflet especially the ones on retrenchment!". was printed 10 three ma1or languages. The To date, his promised completed question- demand was so overwhelming that withm naire is nowhere to be found. three days we ran out of copies. Th.rough P45 Tanjung donations from several voters, another Lim Kit Siang (DAP) responded. seven thousand copies were printed in Koh Tsu Koon (BN) dtrected one of Penang. ALIRAN was informed that a-: • his assis~ants to obtain "clarifications" few thousand other copies werE reprinted from All RAN on the questionnaire: elsewhere on the readers' own initiative After the expiry of the July 27 dateline, and expenses. Koh Tsu Koon sent a letter to All RAN Thousands of back copies of the to explain why he could not reply to the All RAN MONTHLY on the ::lecline of questionnaire. Parliament, Corruption and other related P42 Bukit Mertajam issues were also distributed. Thirty thousand cpp1es of this pam· Chian Heng Kai (DAP) responded. A II in all, about eighty thousand phlet was printed in Bahasa, Mandarin Tan Chong Keng's (BN) completed cop1es of pamphlets, posters and leaflets and English. They were distributed in all questionnaire was sent to ALIRAN were distributed throughout the country. the states, including Sabah· and Sarawak. without his signature. The response of the electorate to However, due to our limited resources, Tan Chin Seong (Nasma) did not res­ All RAN's literature, on the whole, was the target aud1ence was mainly in Pulau pond. very encouraging. Many asked for addi· Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Selangor, Another 2000 posters on the theme tiona! copies to distribute on their own. Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johore. "CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN" were However, there were the usual intolerant Around Nomination Day, 3000 pasted in all the major towns. This poster and misguided few who felt that posters in several languages were pasted reminded the voters that political leaders AliRAN should not criticise from the throughout the country. These posters who don't practise what they preach "srdelines but enter the political race called on the voters to "Stop the Rot!" should not be returned to power. track to contest for power'" Again, these and strengthen democrar.y by voting into misguided few have refused to understand Parliament a stronger opposition. tAKAf IAK that ALIRAN hCis every right to criticise constructively from where it stands- for On Nomination Day itself, all the eight 4'tRJifA IlK!# RADAR groups approached the parlia· f All RAN is not interested in the race for mentary candidates in their respective power. If these criticisms hun the Bari· constituencies. All these candidates were san, it is not because All RAN loves them less but that All RAN loves justice, free· given a RADAR questionnaire and they dom, democracy more. All RAN remams were requested ·to return the completed non-partisan! questionnaires to ALl RAN by 29 July The voters have elected opposition 1986. The canf:lidates were required to MPs in seven out of the eight consthuen· state the1r positions on various national cies where there are RADAR groups. Let issues such as retrenchment, corruption, not these opposition MPs feel complacent ethnic polarisation, increasing authori­ for RADAR IS not pro-opposi-tion for tarianism and lack of public accoun· opposition's sake! tability. They were also asked to declare Seven thousand copies of a cartoon However, All RAN welcomes the their financial assets and liabilities to the leaflet, in Bahasa and English, were also increase in opposition representatives 10 voters. w1dely distributed. To date, the fol lowing candidates have Further, in view of the threats. by Sari­ Parliament. But it is of grave concern to replied: san leaders that constituents would be note that while the Barisan won only P90 Petaling Jaya deprived of "development" and vanous 57.4% of the total votes they obtained Both Eng Seng Chai (DAP) and Wong soc1al services if Barisan candidates were 83.6% of the seats in-Parliament; whereas Sai Hon (SOP) responded. not returned to power; and the lies that the Opposition won 42.6% of .the total Lee Phon Yong (BN) did not respond. without a two-third majority we would votes yet obtained only 16.4% of the P93 K lang have a weak government that would re· seats. Only Gabnel Lee (SOP) responded. su t in Instability and chaos, AliRAN Much reform remains to be made. Ng Cheng Kiat (BN), Wee Choo Keong produced another leaflet to counter this More publications to produce. More (OAP) and Azmi Ali (PAS) did not res· Intimidation of voters. awareness-building. More mcbilising of pond. This leaflet argues that "ruling without public opinion. We urge fellow Malaysians P59 1poh a two·th1rd majority is the norm in to contribute generously towards this Only P. Patto (OAPl responded. par iamentary dernocracil.'S. Dictating to cause •

Both Wong Chin Chyc (BN) and Chan the people armccl with a two-third, Teoh Tuan Chee Kok Keong (SOP) did not respond. mdeed four-fifth, majority in Parliament Public Educat ion Bureau

7 Aliran Monthly August/Sepeember 1986 accepted from a developer, 2 luxury con· dominium apartments at Gurney Onve in lieu of a debt calculated by Star reader Leong Chi Kong (letter in the Star dated 22nd May. 1986) to be worth about $1 .2 mollion. o The Penang Municipal Council has yet to Letters impose assessment on the $36 million We welcome letters from readers. Letters can be either in English or Bahasa Malaysia. These letters may be edited for purposes of space and clarity. The views expressed may former College-General land at Kelawei not be those of the Aliran Monthly. Pseudonyms are accepted but all letters should Road. Provisions in the Local Government include the writer's name and address. letters should preferably be typewritten with Act, 1976 stipulates that its Annual Value is double-ipacing; if hand-written, they should be legible. to be 10% of its capital value i.e. $3.6 million. At the current assessment rate of letters should be addressed to the Editor, Aliran Monthly, P .0. Box 1049, Penang, 25%, the revenue would have been Malaysia. $9,000,000 per annum, or a total of $2.7 moll ion for 3 years. Anwar's Bluff voted out of office by democratic means and o With a sum of $3.8 million from these two can rule a country permanently, policies of this sources, the assessment rate in force could nwar Ibrahim' s interview with Malaysian government will certainly not be changed for be lowered by 4%, to 21% per annum. A Business appeared in the Straits Times betterment of society and people. It is because Since the Gerakan is controlling both the (15th June 1986). Among other thmgs he they do not need to change as they will not be Municipal Council and its overseer, the Penang mentioned that he was only interested in the voted out of power. Voters will not have oppor­ State Government, it would have 1 hard time truth. He defended the Prime Minister and tunities to influence government policies for convoncing Penangites to return it to power if ~ other senior ministers by saying that they were progress and prosperity. If •o, is it not that no positive action is taken to rectify the Muni· not involved in the BMF scandal. He admo· democracy is dead? cipal Council's maladministration. So please nished some dissatisfied quartet'$, who according Instilling fear of May 13 event is not only think again and do the needful. to him wanted the PM and other senior unconstructive but also indicates a bankcruptcy ministers implicated in the BMF. of a party. A party for people and for demo­ Che<~h Huck Kim Anwar ought to know that the investigation cracy must not spread fear but condemn those Penang and prosecution with regard to tho BMF who do so. Th11 rule of a party is to ensure a scandal tS still going on and there are many peaceful, free and democratic country which mysterious culprits still on the run. continues to exist for progress and prosperity. Malaysians ought to recall the Watergate The party must uplift a higher standard of • • • scandal. Many top politicians and top govern· living for people. Therefore, in general election, ment servants were ushered into court 10 order they should not waste their time to talk politics to exonerate Nixon in the Watergate scandal. of fear to intimidate voters, but to suggest con­ Many were found to be lying. Many top politi· crete viable political programmes that can solve Dr. Ling's Error cians and government servants soiled their social and political problems, like corruption, credibility as a result. But still Nixon was found poverty, landlessness, housing shortage, inade­ am sure most Malaysians would have been guilty in the scandal. quate social service etc. I surprised at Or. Ling's statement that "the When Anwar during his interview men· Sabah incidence has proven that voters are government believed in participatory demo· tioned that he was merely seeking the truth not frightful of threat. Bombings and violence cracy and not one that asks the people to vote and at the Ame time gave the verdict that the have not prevented Sabahans to vote PBS once every five years and then allow the govern· PM and other senior politicians -re not into power. Let Sabah incidence be our guide. ment to do anything it likes" (Star 27/ 5 /86). involved - then Malaysians who already know Be brave to vote for a party without being While it must be admitted that the present a lot about the BMF scandal can only AY that threatened by politics of fear. We must vote government did start off well, its subsequent he is bluffing. politics of fear out of our country as Sabahans track record under the influence of absolute have done, through a democratic system. power has been disappointing to SIIV the least Sarong Pimpernel considering the following: Kuala Lumpur K.S.Lee o only after maximum agitation by concerned Petaling Jaya bodies and the people at large was govern­ ment's unilateral decision on the "Papan Nuclear Waste Issue" revised and so also the • • • • e e publication of the BMF report. o the request for the submission of the BMF report as a Command Paper in Parliament was denied. Politics of fear is a mockery to An Advice to the Gerakan o onsufficient time was given for the MPs to democracy study the BMF report before debate. he Gerakan has indicated in no uncer· o despite public outcry no action has so far tain terms that it would contest in the henever a ruling party is facing a risk T been taken as regards the call to set up a forthcoming elections under its own banner of losing substantial number of Aats Royal Commission to investigate the $2.6 W ostensibly because of the insufficient allocation in a general election, they tend to adopt a billion BMF Scandal and no investigation tactic of spreading politics of fear. A few of seats. Any adult with average intelligence has so far been undertaken by the Police to can read between the lines, why it is· threaten· politicians like Tan Koon Swan, MCA presi· identify and apprehend any of the culprits. ing to pull out of the Barisan Nasional! dent, have threatened people that erosion of o there has been no response to requests to political rights like May 13 even may happen It was not purely concidental that at its make public the report on the Bakun Dam if oppositions win substantially. They instil annual delegates conference which ended on Project. fear of political and economic instability. June 15, 1986 the resolutions passed induded o the handling of the amendments to the the following:· Constitution in secrecy. The implications of spreading politics of o urging the Government to recover the $2.5 o the handling (or mis-handling) of the poli· fear are very serious. It can mean/imply that billion in the BMF loan scandal, and tically motivated riots in Sabah despite there is no other party than Barisan Nasional o urging the authorities to take action against appeal by the public. who can rule this country and that voters must those involved 10 stock market manipula· These and several other such actions hardly choose between a repeat of May 13 or a ruling tion. support Dr. l ing's view and one can only dis· party. If that is what a general election means, The foreign press has imputed that the miss it as an election gimmick! does gen8fal election has any meaning? culprits are UMNO and MCA personalities, res· Spreading politics of fear is a very irres· pectively. "DEE" ponsible act. It is an act that is against the spirit Dr. lim Keng Yaik probably feels that the Kua1a Lumpur of democracy. Any political party who cannot Gerakan slate is impeccably clean and his deliver goods or fulfill their last election pro­ party's performance, particularly in Penang has mises must be voted out of office. Voters must been excellent. decide a party or parties of their choice to rule Let us hope that he will check his co~ ••• a country under a free and peaceful and demo· placency with the reveh1tio~ below:· cratic atmosphere. If a government cannot be o The Penang Municipal Council recently

Allren Monthly August/September 1986 8 ------~------~----~----~ The Importance of Ethical And Spiritual Values In Our Lives

am more than convinced that there can be I no political solution to all our social ills. Politics may be an important· feature in our quest to eradicate injustice, corruption and other social evils but we can't achieve every­ thing through politics. We must strive hard to moderate this passion towards materialism. When we become increasingly void spiritually we become more insecure mentally and we seek to conquer this instability by increesing our possessions and acquisitions. And when we begin to pamper our materialistic passions without any concern for ethical and spiritual values we lose our huma­ nity. The social turmoil we see around us is a universal phenomenon. It is the product of our materialistic culture. "'!. We must now turn to our religions with more sincerity and dedication to combat the negative influences of. materialism. There may be a lot of rhetoric in the name of religion but there is very little of it in true spirit in our midst. We must not confuse the noise associated with dogmatic quarrels and the passions and fanfare essociated with rituals with true religion. Superficial and sometimes even the negative aspects of our humanity has become more pro­ minent in the guise of spiritual and religious development. Whatever success we achieve through the neglect of our soul is no real success. But this is what exactly we see everywhere today. And this superficial success devoid of a true intellec· tual and spiritual culture is beginning to show signs of disintegration and collapse. Instead of making a mockery of our reli· gions we should earnestly seek to realize our spiritual identity through them. Instead of . arguing which religion is supreme and absolute in every aspect we should dedicate more time to the realization of the truths contained within our respective faiths. Religious bodies and institutions should become more serious and committed in this struggle of bringing about a fundamental change in the outlook of the people towards their own faith. People sbould .strive to make religion an integral part of their lives. And only then will all our struggles and achievements would become meaningful and ;eal.

Rasahugan lpoh

•••

E.P.F. Cheated You!

etween July, 1984 and February, 19S5, B the E.P.F. sold shares which were allo· cated or bought by them at below market price to a $2/· paid up Company known as MAKUWASA SECURITIES SON. BHO. which was incorporated on the 23rd June, 1984. If these shares had been sold at the open market, the E.P.F. would have made a cash profit of $9,920,610.00. This· would have benefited the E.P.F. contributors who are required by law to make monthly contributions to the E.P.F. Instead, the E.P.F. investment panel turned around and sold the shares to MAKUWASA SECURITIES SON. BHO. at the deliberately committed by the E.P.F. Invest­ Panel and Board and MAKUWASA must· be cost the shares were bought~ The E.P.F., ment Panel against the workers and contri· brought to book. therefore, as trustees of billions of dollars butions. Yet, the Mahathir Government is belonging to the workers of this country, silent on the issue! Does Mahathir condone Democratic Action Party is guilty of FRAUD. It is an act of crime such an act? Otherwise, the E.P.F. Investment Perak keuntungan, drviden dan pembayaran bunga. Under Section 3(1) of the 1981 Regula­ Pada tahun 1985, jumlahnya sebanyak $6,000 tions, after dissolution of Parliament, and the r. Lim Kit Siang's allegations of what juta. Tentu saja pengaliran modal keluar negeri rssue of election writ, the Election Commission M must be in the realm of 'phoney deals'. if ini akan meningkat lebih besar jrka lebih ban­ shall publish in the Gazette and in one or more substantiated, must redound to great concern yak pemodal asing dibenarkan masuk ke negeri daily newspapers the date of Nomination. The to the millions of contributors whose life ini. old regulation providing that there should be a savings are at stake. Oleh kerana itu, PSRM membantah kei)'I1U· minimum of seven days between publication of The report, which appeared in a national san Perdana Menteri, Dr. Mahathrr Mohamed the notice and nomination and a mrnimum of daily, interalia, stated that acc::ording to sources hendak membuka pintu seluas-luasnya kepada 14 days between nominatoon and polling has the (then) Secretary-General of the Finance pemodal-pemodol asing untuk bertapak semula been altered and shortened to a minimum of Ministry, Tan Sri Thong Yaw Hong, had de· dalam ekonomi negeri kita. four days between publication of notice and cided that "no additional funds would be given nomination and a minimum of seven days to its portfolio managers (to Invest) for the Hassan Abel. Karim between Nomrnation and Polling. time being". To the right thinking man this, of Setiausaha Agung In 1982, Parliament was dissolved on March course, is poor consolation and hardly consti­ Parta: Sosialis Aakyat Malaysia 29, Nomination on April 7 and Polling on April tutes a mitigati~ factor if indeed staggering 22, involving 23 days from Dissolution to losses had been mcurred in investments touched Polling. upon recently in the Press by the OAP opposi· In the coming general elections, Dissolution tion leader. to Polling could be over in 12 days, with the Some 22 years ago - in May 1964 - in • • • minimum of seven days for campaigning from reply to questions raised by the writer in an Nomination to Polling. English daily, the Board had clarified that its It is most ironrcal that of tha four Prira& "power to invest is governed by the Trustee Just 7 Days From Ministers, Dr. Mahathir who professes to be the Ordinance,1949, and it is fair to say that all most intellectual, someone who is not afraid of investments of the Board may be termed as Nomination To Polling Day arguments, ideas and debate, is the Prime Minis­ ,; gilt-edged". Mindful of the risks run by the con­ ter who is reducing the enttre general elections tributors upon investment of their hard-earned he Prime Minister, Oatuk Seri Or. tampaign into a farce. The people would have money in speculative enterprises, I had posed T Mahathir Moharnad, has set the legal no opportunrty to hear, weigh and choose the question in return what these so-called stage to hold general elections within 7 days between competrng ' parties, candidates and 'gilt-edged' secur.ties were, and indeed how from Nomination Day to Polling Day, making policies. 'gilt-edged' were tney? the coming general elections the most unfair The DAP protests in the strongest possible When was this lrustee Ordinance amended and undemocratic in Malaysian history. terms against the latest emasculation of parlia­ to allow investments in other than gilt-edged The Government gazetted the Elections mentary democracy, where the essence and sub­ securities? (Conduct of Election) Regulations 1986 on 15 stance of democracy is being progressively May 1986 amendmg the 1981 regulations denuded to leave intact the external form and Ng Moon Leong which provided that there should be a mini­ trappings. Penang mum of 14 days of campaigning from Nomina­ The DAP wrll protest against the latest elec­ tion to Polling Day. tions regulations, which had clearly been • • •

Pemodal Asing

alam wawancara dangan Australian Broad­ D casting Corporation, Perdana Menteri, Dr. Mahathir Moham.d mengumumkan bahawa pemodal asing akan dibenarkan melibatkan diri dalam ekonomi negeri ini dengan seluas­ luasnya, tanpa had. Misalnya, pemodal·pemodal asing dibenarkan menceburi industri yang mengeluadtan barangan untuk pasaran dalam negeri. PSRM menganggap pengumurnan Perdana Menteri rtu sebagai satu dasar yang mundur ke belakan9- Matlamat yang patut diusahakan ialah mengwujudkan sebuah ekonomi kebangsaan yang kukuh dan berdikari. Nampaknya, Dr. Ma· hathir ingin lari dari matlamat ini. Tidak lama dahulu, Perdana Menteri ada mengatakan bahawa penjajahan bentuk baru atau neo-kolonialisme merbahaya dan mesti drtentang. Tetapi dengan membenarkan pemo­ dal-pemodal asing menguasai semula ekonomi kita bermakna Or. Mahathir ingin membiarkan neo-kolonialisme 18rus bertapek di negeri ini. Pengumuman Perdana Menteri ini dengan sendirinya menegaskan bahawa Kerajaan Barisan Nesional akan meneruskan dasar ekono­ mi yang dikuasai oleh pemodal-pemodal asing. Kali ini penguasa•n asing itu akan lebih dalam dan meluas. Perlaksanaan dasar membuka pintu seluas­ luasnya kepac:la sHmodal asing akan menimbul­ kan berbagai kesan buruk kepada negara dan rakyat kerana tujuan utama pemodal asing ialah untuk mengaut sabanyak-banyak keuntungan &ri kekayaan hasil bumi dan titik peluh rakyat negeri ini. Malah pada hari ini, negara kita kerugian beribu-t"ibu JUta ringgit yang rnengalir keluar ke negara-oegara kapitalis kaya seperti Amerika Syarikat, Eropa Baret dan Jepun, dalam bentuk OAP protests the ematculation of parliarnenury democracy

Aliran Monthly August/September 1986 10 framed on the directive of the Barisan Nasional recent General Election campaign was not It Is Obvious government, violating the Constitutional gua· restdcted to three days. rantee of independence, impartialitY and demo· The purpose of having a campaign in a t is with no surprise at all, the so-called cratic fairness for the Elections Commission General Election is to allow all political parties ulamaks and the feudal-type state religious and demand that the old regulations should be involved to have a 'clash of ideas, proposals Icouncils, made the greatest noise ever, on restored where there is a minimum of 14 days and programme' and to allow the electorate to Kassim's Hadis: Satu Penilaian Semula. What an for elections campaign from Nomination to determine at their own free will the choices unfortunate lot, the Muslims were and are, to Polling Day. offered to them. be led by these few elites who do not belong to The Elections Commission has also amended In Malaysia, the ruling Barisan Nasional the majority have-nots. the regulations raising the deposit for Parlia· controls the Radio, T.V. and newspapers and Please don't give in Kassim. Not only the rnentary and State Assembly candidate from there is a complete blackout of views that are hadis, even the Our'an with its 6,236 verses and $1,000 and $500 to $5,000 and $3,000 respec­ found critical of the ruling party. even Allah Almighty, were and are being used tively. Although public rallies have been banned, by these .few haves to cheat and to surpress the For the past few months, Barisan Nasional our law enforcers - the Attorney-General majority have·not Muslims, in the various leaders have been openly talking about the and the Police have two sets of rules - The Muslim ways. One of which is through the $5,000 deposit for Parliamentary candidate and Barisan Nasional are allowed to have public hadis. The other, the so-called feudal lords. The $3,000 for State Assembly candidate, which rallies while the Opposition are disallowed to Christians too have their ways. So do the shows that again the Elections Commission had have similar public rallies. On the contrary, Hindus and the Buddhists. violated its constitutional independence by they are harassed even · when conducting The most proper and best thing to do is to kowtowing to the directives of the Barisan indoor ceramahs. put up a progressive-type of goverQrnent of the Nasional Government. What moral justification has the BN Govern· rakyat, for the rakyat and by the rakyat. Theli- ~ The MCA leadership claims that they are no ment to condemn apartheid in South Africa educate them through a progressive education longer 'passengers' on the Barisan Nasional ship, when within its own shores, there is a deliberate system. Not the imperialist·capitalist-feudalist and that they dare to speak up against injustice, and well-planned suppression. of the rights of type. Until and unless, we, the majority have­ inequality, undemocratic practices and un· - Malaysians who disagree with the policies of nots, can do this, there is nothing nice to talk constitutional deeds. Gerakan leaders claim that the BN Government. about except to follow 'butatuli'. In religion, be they dare to be more outspoken than the MCA The -continued contempt, disrespect and the 'Baka' type. leaders,whom they label as 'dumb puppets'. disregard for the legitimate opposition does Where are the voices of MCA and Gerakan not augur well for democracy in this country. B.A. Kedah against this latest undemocratic and un· Malaysians in Peninsular Malaysia should constitutional abuse of power by the Barisan take a lesson from the people of Sabah where Nasional Government to make the Elections they used their votes wisely· ·tO· show the door Commissibn gazette so unfair, undemocratic to the arrogant Harris Salleh and Berjaya • • • and unjust election rules? Government with which Mahathir said he will sink or swim. The Berjaya Government has Lim Kit Siang sunk but Mahathir is still floating around. Secretary-General So much for promises. When Berjaya was The Engineering Profession's Democratic Action Party defeated, Mahathir should have resigned his office as the voters made it clear that sinking ' Integrity is the best remedy for Berjaya and the Barisan Nasional Federal Government. he Malaysian Association of Engineers • • • For democracy to continue to flourish T wishes to publicly draw attention to the in Malaysia, we need a strong opposition in recent criticism of engineers implied by the Parliament to protect the rights of all Malay­ Deputy Minister of local Government and The General Elections sians and to let the Prime Minister and BN Housing, when she singled out building pro· Government know that if they are going to fessionals for the apparent failures of the low The recent statement by our Prime Minister continue riding 'roughshod' over the people, cost flats in Taman Segar, Charas. .We believe that two to three days campaigning for the there is an alternative, they too can be shown that the Board of Engineers is in the best posi· General Elections is sufficient must have come the door as has happened in Sabah. tion to investigate the actual performance of from a man with a disturbed and confuSed the engineers involved and to take the necessary mind. remedial action. We strongly urge the Board to Age must be catching up with him as he Thavanesan act speedily and to make its !indings public so has forgotten his 'look East Policy'. Japan's Klang that the public will be re-assured on the pro· fessional integrity of Malaysian engineers as well as the vigilance of the Board. MAE has always believed that the pro· TcoLS FoR fessional standing of Malaysian engineers -must always be able to withstand public scrutiny and LT s- no one, however senior, must be allowed to endanger the public good and safety ·in any way. We are concerned that there is growing scepticism among the Malaysian public about .. the motives and performance of our pro· • fessionals. Whether it is justified or not, we 0 believe that the governing bodies of each of the • professions must be seen to enforce high pro­ -r.v. 3 0 fessioiUll standards and check speedily any· lapses. The Board must expose any external ---- factors that force engineers to make professional compromises. whether they originate from clients or others. In keeping with the Gov~rnment's clean_and efficient motto, the Board should also state whether corruption in any form has made engin.eers compromise their professional inte· grity. May the public also know the outcome of the probe into consultants acting for foreign \ engineers 'that you announced on 31 October \ 1985? I I - Gurmit Singh K.S. I 'I President I Petaling Jaya

11 Aliran Monthly August/September 1986 REPORT Cartoon Competition Winners ·A I iran 1s happy to announce that a panel of. judges had selected the winners of its Cartoon Competition. The Second Prize was won by K. F. Lee of Kuala Lumpur, while the Third Prize went to Hooi Weng Chee of Nibong Tebal. The Second Prize winner receives $500 cash, while the Third Prize winner gets $250 cash. Apart from this, both winners also get a return air ticket each to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur (win­ ner's choice). and also Aliran's publica­ tions and tapes. The judges felt that no-one achieved a sufficiently high standard to win the First Prhe. Winners of the 10 Consolation Prizes are as follows: Mohd lsa bin Khadi (Kampar); Amat Nasir bin Agale (Masai); Lim Lean Ee (Penang); Choo Pak Cheong (Petaling Jaya); Lim Kok Hwa (a Malay­ sian living in Singapore); Wooi Lok Kuang (Setapak Jaya); Raphael Marian (Tal­ ping); Paul Adolph Form (Penang); Mazlan bin Mashhod (Bota); and Kher Cheng Guan (Kuaia Lumpur). Each of K. f. Lee, Kuala Lumpur : 2nd Prize these winners receive $100 cash, Aliran's publications and tapes. The winning entries were chosen for their conformity to the competition's principal themes, possessing humour or seriousness with an ironic twist, and having originality and creativity. Many of the contestar'lts, according to the judges, had displayed good drawing skills. They, however, lack understanding of social issues and hence social com­ ments in their entries. It is felt that this ;;;:; partly reflects the general lack of critical thinking and exposure to alternative views in Malaysian society. Aliran Cartoon Competition Bureau ~QJ) would also take this opportunity to thank those who did not succeed for their participation in the contest. Their sup· 'F ELECTED, I'LL port is deeply appreciated e BECOME A STILL DO N·O·T Mustafa K Anuar Co-ordinator, TRUST ME? Cartoon Competition Bureau VEGETAR\AN! . Hooi Wang Chee, Nibong Tebal : 3rd Prize

Ali111n Monthly Autust/September 1986 12 EDUCATION Why Education Standards Are Falling . . . Frank ~ -

ducation standards are going present school system. As the Annual new order or is it disorder? Well, is there down. What is plaguing Sports Day nears, qualifying rounds are any difference? the education system? The run off during school time. The few teachers who are conscien­ problems are many. To Come festival time and special school tious enough to poin~ out and protest begin with, has anyone ever events, we have a whole class taking time against such irregularities are accused of thoughtE about how much time students off to indulge in activit ies ranging from not being flexible. The operating word nowadays spend learning in class? It has making 'kutupat' casings to decorating now for guidance for anyone who wishes now become a common practice to get the classroom. In one case recently, Civics to make sense of the whole muddle is students to carry notices around the Week was considered an occasion fit for "flexibility". It can mean anything from school during class hours. Why are tea ­ hanging coloured crepe paper during class requiring one to adopt an attitude of give chers delegating this work to students and hours. The list goes on. This then is the and take in the profession to conniving in not using the services of the office-boy? Alterna:ively, a notice-board displaying the day's ·and forthcoming activities will prevent students from being drawn out of classes and interuptions owing to reading of notices. · TherB is really nothing revolutionary about this idea but it serves to illustrate just how we have done away with a prac­ tice which used to be the norm. The trou­ ble is that teachers tend to take students for granted. Teachers who tell students to carry their exercise books (or personal belongings like bag, flask etc.) for them, for instance, have no qualms about their students missing lessons. If that is bad enough, all too often teachers who do this do not even have the courtesy to ask for permission from the incoming tea­ chers fer the release of the students. Is it expecting too much of a teacher to carry a handful of books by himself? Students moving from one class to another are nabbed by teachers to order food from the canteen. Students are often used for doing odd jobs around the school compound such as carrying earth, planks, rocks or picking rubbish during school hours. They are also co1stantly drawn out of classes to attend prefects', monitors', House and even society meetings when they ought to be learning. Getting students out of classes of con­ duct centralized training programmes in conjunction with the numerous sports activities that take place during the school year is a regu lar feature of the Doing something one is expected to do can invite snide r.emarks from colleagues

13 A1iran Monthly Autust/September 1986 the chaos to the curriculum. The latter is everyone is preoccupied to worry about How much, of this cha;tic state of atmost always the case. Th is laissez-faire any external matters. Abolish lessons: affairs below is communicated· to those attitude to teaching seems to suit many This, I am sure, w ill come next.'' who are· responsible for laying down the teachers since teaching becomes one long Under the new order, it does not polices? Do the headmasters who stand free period! matter that a teacher is happy and teach­ in liaison between the administration and Those who believe that teaching ing wel l in a school. He has to leave that the teaching staff speak up at forums should be done during the teaching hours school because the rule says he has been such as the Headmasters' conference? The set out in the time table are thought of as teaching in it for fifteen years. It does not essence of feedback is that the effect of uncooperative members of the staff. at matter too that a husband and wife are an action is fed back t::> alter that action. best .and freaks at worst. One senior happily teaching in the same school. They Is this being done? Unlikely, because we teacher remarks that he never expected to have got to be split up. That is the new are entangled in our rigidly set-up bureau­ :;e~ tit~ liCiy wh~n uuifi!:J :;umeLhing une is way. The Experts know better ! cratic system in which the Pecking Order is the order. Dr. Edward de Bono: "Hens on a perch have a definite pecking order. Headmasters in general tend to take a do-not-rock-the-boat attitude One hen can peck another without being pecked back. The second hen then pecks the one below her and so on down the expected to do, like going into a class and The new directive on co-curricular line. An order of importance has been teaching would invite snide remarks from activities may look impressive on paper. established and the token peck is oniv a his colleagues. It does not however take the realities of way of reminding others to stick to the established order of things ..... In between The school adm inistration is indiffe­ the situation into account. These factors an animal gets kicked by the animal rent to all the~e goings on since it is are worth considering. above but has a chance to kick the one preoccupied with paper work like churn­ o Are there enough personnel in schools below. At the extremes the top animal ing out charts, graphs, reports filling in to take on the various activities and gets kicked by no one else and the forms, compiling booklets on projects conduct them in such a manner that it bottom animal has no chance to kick any­ and targetted activities and holding nume­ will be . worth the time and money one." rous meetings to work out orders for spent and trouble taken by the stu­ Headmasters in general tend to take a more char.ts, graphs, reports and files on dents in attending these act ivities? do-not-rock-the-boat attitude since many newer and newer "innovations" in the o Why is there preference shown for uniformed brigades by making them of them are hoping to move on to higher system that keep raining down from the positions in the hierarchy and controver­ top. Caught in the craze for change, even compulsory for students? What will be the consequences of such rulings? For sial issues are the last thi!lgs they want to tried and tested procedures and practices bring up. one thing we could end up with a bad are abandoned. It is the day of the The parental body, while generally scout who could have been a good Experts. To qllote from Brian J Ford's being apathet ic in matters concerning debater and conversely we could have i II u ni inating book, The Cult of the education has nevertheless come out in a on our hands a useless scoutmaster Expert, "Planning the future of the train­ barrage of criticisms in the press on such w ho could have been good at teaching ing process takes us into dangerous policies as the one on co -curri~ulum. The ground, part ly because we are very much pupils the art of debating. These are real issues confronting authorities have seldom been receptive to in the lap of fashion, and partly because complaints and suggestions from below. schools. Faced w ith having to carry out Experts tend to sh'{ away from what Years ago, there was an ·outcry from people expect. Whatever else happens, the these activities the headmaster has no option but t o delegate someone to do it. parents about over indulgence in sports to fut ure of schools and training institutes the point of neglecting academics. The The appaling th ing is that it will be w ill centre on ceaseless change ... What is administration's answer was, to redouble taught in the school must be presented carried out! As for the report on these · activities, what is there to prevent a tea­ its efforts on the promotion of sporting differently just when people least expect activities in schools! While education it. There are ways of shock ing people into cher from concocting one that is so · impressive as to warm the hearts of the standards are falling, it is no consolation a frightened fervour of obedience if you to know that in the arena of international give subjects different names, teach them authorities ! ..The Students Counselling Unit in sports, we are unheard of. in different order, take out favourite sub- The teaching community is vociferous when it comes to advancing its sa lary The teaching community is quite vociferous when it comes to advancing claims but quite apathetic in matters con­ its salary claims but quite apathetic in matters concerning education. cerning education. Many teachers at the most are content to sit in -the common room and bewail the pressure of excessive jects and slide in something inexplicable schools- is proving to be a boon for stu­ paper work but few will dare to raise t he in their place. Try never to leave pupils dents - not' so much in aiding them in issue belore their headmasters. Teachers on the· whole look upon themselves as feeling settled, or the fun of Nonscience their problems as in providing a reason begins to wane. Abandon classes: This for them to cut classes since the Unit some kind of glorified factory hands carrying out orders from above. fundamental gambit has had a wide popu­ operates during school hours. It is st range larity amongst Experts with· a penchant that students of yesteryear seem to have The sense of professionalism which for causing the greatest havoc. It pro­ been able to solve their problems, if they carries with it the ability to see through duces a great sense of power and innova­ ha<;l any at all, without resorting to the flaws in the system, the moral courage to tion. The class itself is abandoned and crutch of a student adviser. Even so, is it point them out and the crusading spirit to children are allowed to wander from not proper that t he Unit should function right the wrong is woefully lacking in place to place at will. choosing whatever after school hours so t hat those students them e who are in need of counselling will they like to do at the time, whenever really (FRANK is the pseudonym of our Guest­ they want to do it. This causes such a use the Counsel ling service after school Writer, who is an educationist with 26 years of chaotic upheaval in the day's routine that hours. experience in tM Tt•aching·f'rofessioll}

Aliran Monthly August/September 1986 14 HUMAN FILE Women ••. Victims Of Violence

For the poor there Ia no justice at all

WOMEN IN A CHANGING WORLD/ buckled under her -she was immobi1ised grapher refused to give her the photo· May 1985 No. 19 pub. by: World Council with grief and shock. And then the graphs. saying that they were official of Churches (WCC), Geneva. tears flowed. She clung to the feet of property, she started sobbing loudly. · a police inspector and pleaded with him She told the photographer that she to tell her what had happened. She was needed the photcgraphs to console her told that her daughter had committed younger son who had been away when Excerpt from book: BY OUR LIVES.... suicide. This she could not believe. She his sister had died and wanted to at least WCC,J985 t:oukJ only repeatedly, im;uherently :;etl the photographs of his dead sister. mumble...... "My qaughter would not When she noticed that the photographer haradamma. An illiterate workrng­ have oommitted suicide, she has been was thawing, she slipped some money class woman. Caring, nurturing, murdered." into h1s hands and got the necessary S serving others, happy with her Sharadamma was told that she will pnotographs from him. children ...... everything goes well. have to wait patiently for the due process But with that l"er struggle did not end. Sharadamma's daughter. educated of law, as her son-in-law had been the They made her go from ·one police with difficulty, gets a job as a clerk, first to file a case as a suicide, and there station to another, from government earning 800 rupees a month. A suitable was nothing she could do. She was told office to law court and back to the husband is found and a dowry of 6,000 not to worry anxiously and not to have police station again. Everyone promised rupees is paid. A son is born. Another any fears...... justice would be done. her help - everyone telling her to be happy contented family? No. this is Very soon Sharadamma rea lised that patient - some of them rudely telling not to be. S1aradamma's daughter is if she waited, nothing was going to her off. Yet, she persisted. With some· not happy. She is harassed by her happen - she knew she had to take one's help she wrote to the Home husband for more dowry. Sometimes things into her own hands. A new woman Ministry in Delhi and even to the Prime he beats her and sends her back to her emerged. She gained in herself a new Minister of India...... but all her efforts mother with h s dowry deman<;ls. Shara­ strength. She decided that oome what were of no avail. For the poor there is damma, influenced by the people around may she will see that the criminal who no justice at all is what she has discovered. her, urges her daughter to go back to had murdered her daughter would be she says. her husband - tells her she must adjust, punished. Sharadamma has not given up. She that th1s is the 'ate of women. There were clear indications that her continues to regularly visit the police Sharadamma is now aware that she daughter had been beaten up, killed, station. She has widely publicised her should never have sent her da(.lghter and then hung up on to the shower, story through newspapers, magazines and back to that man. One day. her daughter so as to give t he appearance of a su icide through women's groups. She now has came home from work and she quarrelled by hanging. Everything pointed to a devoted her life to be a source of strength with her husband. Within a few hours, murder. But the voices of the policemen and support to other women who have Sharadamma's daughter was dead ...... investigating the case had been success­ lost their daughters, their sisters ...... on Sharadamma was awakened late in the fully silenced with bribes. A milk boy the altar of greed for more dowry. She night by a police oonstable who took who first said that he had heard a woman works for slum women educating them her to the police station saying that crying out for help, later refused to give of their right to full human dignity. there had been a quarrel between her evidence fearing the dire consequences She needs the solidarity and support of daughter and her husband. But when he was threatened with. Sharadamma other women. she d1d not find her daughter 1n the needed proof that her daughter had Sharadamma who was once a bent police stat1on. and saw all the policemen been murdered. over wo1Tlan, cowed down by tradition. near her daughter's house, she knew Someone suggested to her that she fear, and submissiveness is now a woman something terrible had happened. From go to the local photographer who had upright. She has devoted her whole life, the doorway she saw the body of her been called in by the police to take her whole self to help other women dead daughter laid out neatly on the photographs of the body as it was first to Sl<.lnd upright. and with their support floor on a mat. Sharadamma's knees found for their records. When the photo- to stand upright too e

15 Aliron Monthly August/September 1986 Perkauman Dan Perpaduan Negara Perpaduan AntaraKaum B8berapa Persoalan Bahagian Pertama

sesuatu permasalahan masyarakat tidak bahawa .perpaduan antara kaum dalam asalah perpaduan antara boleh ditinjau semata-mata dari segi masyarakat kita merupakan hasrat yang kaum dalam masyarakat kita fisikal saja. Hakikatnya kerana manusia belum tercapai. sudah dan masih diperkata­ itu sendiri sifatnya bukan semata-mata Walaupun demikian ianya bukanlah kan. Berbagai bentuk per­ berbentuk fisikal. Ia juga rnempunyat sesuatu yang sukar atau mustahil dicapai bincangan telah pun rnen­ keupayaan mental dan emosional yang kerana sifatnya masyarakat kita yang yentuh masalah ini dari berbagai segi. tentunya mempunyai kesan yang dalam majmuk ini. Sifat berbilang kaum dan Boleh dikatakan semua golongan yang terhadap segala tindak tanduk fisikalnya. agarna sesungguhnya bukanlah peng­ mementingkan kesejahteraan awam Oleh itu perlulah kita mempunyai ha1ang kepada perpaduan kaum dalam memberi perhatian yang senus kepada pandangan yang lebih realistik serta masyarakat kita. Sebaliknya ia harus isu perpaduan antara kaum kerana ia rasional terhadap apa yang dimaksudkan diterima sebagai cabaran ke arah perpa­ adalah di antara yang menentukan masa dengan situast perpadu9n antara kaum. duan antara kaum. Pernyataan bahawa depan kita. Jatuh atau bangun kita Sesungguhnya, perpaduan antara kaum perpaduan antara kaum mustahil dicapai sebahagian besarnya bergantung kepada harus juga dilihat sehubungan dengan semata-mata kerana kompleksiti masya­ lemah atau kuatnya perpaduan yang cara kita mempertimbangkan sesuatu isu rakat kita adalah amat tidak rasional dan dicapai. dalam masyarakat. Bila timbul sesuatu ianya mencerminkan ketidakupayaan Walaupun telah ada kegliairahan hal dalam masyarakat, misalnya, bagai­ untuk rnemahami unsur-unsur tertentu terhadap masalah perpaduan antara kaum manakah kita mendekati hal ini? Adakah dalam proses perkembangan masyarakat. masih terdapat beberapa tanda tanya dilihatnya secara rasional tanpa didorong Dalam erti kata lain ianya juga mencer­ yang belum berjawab, dan justeru itu oleh sentimen-sentimen sempit? Dalam minkan ketidakupayaan untuk menyedari perlu diberi penilaian semula berdasarkan erti kata lain adakah diutamakan aspek­ keadaan sebenar dalam masyarakat. realiti yang silam, kenyataan masa k:f'l.l aspik perkauman yang terlibat dalam Suasana yang dapat dilihat sekarang dan aspirasi masa depan. Adakah, misal­ sesuatu isu sambil mengecilkan ataupun bersifat 'ideological' kerana ia bertujuan nya, kita telah mencapai perpaduan mengenep ikan sama sekali faktor-faktor mengekalkan status quo yang sedia ada. antara kaum? Kalau belum apakah lain yang lebih pokok. Soalnya sekarang apakah yang meng­ masalah-masalahnya dan bagaimana harus Dari apa yang dapat diperhatikan halang perpaduan antara kaum yang• kita rnenghadapinya secara waras? lnilah nampaknya kita lebih cenderung untuk telah selarna ini diharap-harapkan? Untuk soalan-soalan yang rnencabar daya fiktr melihat isu-1su sosial yang timbul se­ menjawab soalan ini perlulahkita meneliti mereka yang cintakan kesejahteraan hubungan dengan golongan etnt k ter­ sejarah rnasa lalu, khususnya zaman Masyarakat Malaysia di masa depan. tentu. lsu tidak dilihat sebagai isu secara penjajahan lnggeris, di samping keadaan­ Ada setengah mengatakan yang kita objektif, tetapi sebaliknya dikaitkan keadaan masa kini. Memang tidak dapat sudah pun mencapai perpaduan antara dengan persoalan yang rnelibatkan mana­ dinafikan bahawa dasar-dasar dan kese­ kaum. Afasan mereka berpendapat begini mana kumpulan etnik dalam masyarakat luruhan cara mernerintah pada zaman ialah kerana tidak adanya rusuhan atau­ ktta. Kemiskinan, misalnya, lebih dilihat penjajahan lnggeris tidak menuju ke arah pun keganasan antara kaum seperti sebagai masalah golongan orang Melayu, perpaduan antara kaum. lni mudah yang pernah berlaku beberapa ketika sedangkan pada hakikatnya ia adalah satu difahami kerana tidak ada kuasa penjajah sebelum ini - khususnya peristtwa 13 fenornenon yang berkaitan dengan beber­ yang mementtngkan kesejahteraan mereka Mei, 1969. Dalam erti kata lain. oleh apa kelemahan tertentu dalam struletur yang dijajah. Apa yang diutamakan ialah kerana tidal< adanya pertentangan kaum asas sistem ekonomi dan sosial masyarakat pengekalan kuasa penjajahan. yang perlu secara fisikal mereka ini membuat natijah kita. Justeru ttu kemiskman JUga merupa­ dikekalkan untuk rnemelihara kepen­ bahawa perpaduan antara kaum sudah kan masalah kaum Cina dan India, namun tingan ekonomi pihak penjajah. Maka UJUd dalam masyarakat Malaysia yang ianya lebih serius di kalangan orang-orang kesemua sistem penjajahan mengamalkan majmuk int. Melayu. Ada banyak lagi persoalan yang penindasan (sekurang-kurangnya secara Padangan perpaduan kaum yang mana pendekatannya adalah dan aspek­ psikologi) supaya ttdak timbul kesedaran seperti ini ada kelemahannya kerana aspek perkauman. Jelaslah sekarang yang boleh menamatkan kuasa penjajahan.

Aliren Monthly August/Septem_:ber:..:.._..:..1986:.;;.; ______,_ &_ -~~------~------__~ Walaupun demikian suasana masa kini pihak-pihak pembangkang kerapkali layanan yang sama kepada semua kaum juga turut menghalang perpaduan antara mengeksploitasi sentimen perkauman tanpa dibeza-bezakan. lni juga bererti kaum. Dari satu segi ianya lebih penting untuk mencapai tujuan politik mereka. bahawa setiap rakyat Malaysia mesti dari sejarah masa lalu kerana sekarang lnilah satu daripada kelemahan amalan · diberi peluang yang sama dalarn semua kita s~dah mempunyai kuasa memerintah politik kepartian, lebih-lebih lagi dalam bidang. Akhirnya orang Melayu mestilah dan kerana itu bebas membentuk masya­ masyarakat yang tahap pendidikan sosial­ sanggup menerima kemungkfnan bahawa rakat kita sendiri_ Kita berkuasa menolak nya masih lagi rendah. Dalam persaingan pada satu hari nanti pendekatan yang unsur-unsur sejarah masa lalu yang meng­ di antara parti-parti, yang diutamakan berdasark~m perkauman. dalam bidang halang perpaduan antara kaum. Kalau ialah matlamat politik masing-masing. ekonomi, pelajaran dan lain-lain lagi akan lama kelamaan dihapuskan demi menjaga keutuhan masyarakat Malaysia. Setengah golongan berpendapat Yang menlkmatl aebahaglan beaar darl manfaat bahawa pendekatan yang berasask.an perbezaan kaum dalam beberapa bidang Daaar Ekonoml Baru lalah golongan penlaga perlu dikekalkan buat sementara waktu Bumlputera. untuk mengseimbangkan kedudukan sosio-ekonomi di antara penduduk Bumi­ putera dan bukan Bumiputera. Usahci­ mempertingkatka!l tahap sosio-ekonomi kita tidak bertindak sedemikian tidak ada lni bererti pihak kerajaan dan pem­ kaum Bumiputera supaya selaras dengan sesiapa pun yang boleh dipersalahkan bangkang harus bersama-sama berusaha tahap kaum buAnwar Ibrahim, and UMNO that the book was written and published that include those attitudes and behav1our Executive-Secretary KamaruiLaman (Kip) in a haste, it is quite understandable that received little or no media exposure Bahadun (p. 110). that it possesses some spelling errors. at all. The Musa Dilemma too puts Dr. Maha­ Certain topics wander into several chap­ Oatuk Musa 1s generally painted as a th r at a close range. Here the wher ters, and hence one will find that the person and politician who is relatively analyses and criticises, at times incisively, .. item on Press freedom, for instance. keeps 'liberal', even though he wils party to some of the Prime Minister's policies recurring in certain chapters even though certain dangerous laws in the land like that were seen as questionable. The Look it is ass1gned a place in chapter five. the Internal Security Act and Pnnting East policy, for instance, is largely All this notwiths:anding, catch it before Presses and Pub! ication Act. In addition, perceived as Malaysia's open-arm invita· the ban catches up with it! • we were informed that Musa behaves tion to .the 'marauding Samurais' who in simtlar fashion as many other political 'still stalk lucrative government contracts · Mustafa K Anuar animals in an ethnic-conscious society· with needlessly unfair advantages'. One of

Allr.,. Monthly August/September 1986 18 The New Straits Times and Aliran's Role

CURRENT COMMENT W ith reference to an A record of Aliran's complete press statements article by Zainon Ahmad, enti:led 'Oppo­ sition front at best a weak one' (NST made in the preceding months 1fi/86). we would like to bring to your attention an obvious inaccuracy. Your writer stated that Aliran, together with Business and Politics to assume the post of Chairman of MBSB. other groups like the Chinese Civil Rights Yet it is undesirable and improper for the Committee, is involved in an attempt to B usiness. like most highest Legal Officer of the Crown who is help form a united opposition front. We other spheres of social activity, is bound also the Public Prosecutor to be involved have never been involved in such electoral to be affected by public policies. But that in an active commercial enterprise. The moves. We have always made a clear dis­ is very different from saying that business public has a right to expect the Attorney· tinction between electoral politics and and politics cannot be separated.What General to devote himself exclusively to citizens' politics. At a time liKe this, all Datuk Samy Vellu has done is to justify his constitutional office which is of cen­ citizens shou ld be concerned about the political interference in business. tra l importance in a Parliamentary demo­ future of the country .and the cirection or Just because political interference tn cracy. political development, business ts rampant today, it does not Moreover Tan Sri Abu Talib is bo.und It is as a citizens group concerned mean that it is right. In fact, covert and to f ind himself in a conflict of interest about the political future of the nation overt political interference in business is that we have been cal ling upon t he people one of the causes ot our present econo­ to strengthen democracy. This can be mic stagnation. It has eroded the confi· done by strengthening· the opposition. dence of local and foreign investors in our Hence our call to the people to deny the economy. It has resulted in the making of Barisan a two-third majority. This is to polically-motivated decisions which are curb the Barisan's lack of sensitivity to economically unsound. Equally impor­ the people's problems, its violation of cer­ tant, political interference in business has tain fundamental liberties and democratic also led to the growth of corruption. pnnciples, and its arrogance. nepotism and other such malpractices. However. it must be stressed that this Politicians have used their business con­ stand of ours 1S being communicat~ nections and businessmen have used their direct to the public, without trying to political connections to accumulate play the role of 'electoral middlemen' or wealth at the expense of the people. By 'power-brokers'. Our approach is through JUStifying poI it ical interference in analysis in the press, through articles in business, we are encouraging corruption the Aliran Monthly and through public through · cronytsm - that is corruption talks. Through these avenues, we hope to perpetrated by politicians throu[:lh their convince the people that the rot should business cronies. Corruption through be stopped and democracy strengthened. crony1sm threatens to become one of the This is also the reason why we feel the major diseases in this country. vital and urgent need to set up several Instead of condemning t his trend, Radar groups around the country. It is an Datuk Samy Vellu has condoned a social Tan Sri Abu Talib: Public Prosecutor and new effort to ensure that our politicians - be evi l. If he believes in the Barisan slogan of Chairman of MBSB they in the Government or the Opposi­ a 'clean. efficient and trustworthy govern­ tion - will serve the very people who ment' he should be emphasising the situatron sooner or later in view of the have elected them in the first place. This importance of ethics in both business and wide-ranging commercial activities of is. in essence, to avoid the people from politics. MBSB. The Attorney-General's Chambers being taken for a ride, as has been the may have to offer legal advice to the norm in the past. Chandra Muzaffar Government on the internal affairs of President Finally. we would appreciate very MBSB. Or the Attorney-General may 29 June 1986 much if your paper could put the record have to decide on prosecutions to be straight. brought aga ·nst officers of the Company w~o are involved in business improprie­ Mustafa Kamal Anuar Exco Member ties. 3 July 1986 We hope the Government can let the A Conflict of Interest public know whether there are special reasons why the Attorney-General should I t has been brought act as Chairman of MBSB. If not, then to Al1ran's attention that the present the Attorney-General should revert Chairman of the Board of Malaysia Build­ strictly to his constitutional function in ing Society Bhd. (MBSB) a prominent order to preserve the dignity and autho­ The Death Penalty & the Hanging of financial institution controlled by t he rity of t his great office. Barlow and Chambers Government is Tan Sri Abu Talib bin Othman , the Attorney-General of Malay­ Mo hamad Kadlr There was indecent sia. Exco Member haste in hanging Barlow and Chambers. We assume that Tan Sri Abu Talib has 30 June 1986 The government could have waited for been granted permrssion by the Govern­ the defence to exhaust all judicial avenues (The above letter has not appeared in any news­ ment under General Orders to enable him paper- Editor.) re lated to the pardon.

19 AJirM'I Monthly August/September 1986 While AliRAN regards drug traffic­ of religious controversy. But rei ig1ous · No Reason For Instability king as a loathsome crrme which should controversy is not public disorder. be punished severely, it has always been Controversy is inevitable whenever a There need not be po­ opposed to the death penalty. new idea is introduced especially in reli· litical or economic instability if the ruling The death penalty is not an effective gious doctrines. Controversy should not Bansan Nasional loses its two-third majo­ deterrent. It does not serve any purpose. be suppressed as long as it remains at the rity tn the com1ng General Election. What It has failed to check drug trafficking level of intellectual discussion. To curb is 1mportant is for all political parties, so­ which has in fact become more serious in every controversial new idea is to thwart cial groups and individuals to uphold the spite of the death penalty. intellectual development. electoral verd ct. The government, parti­ The drug menace in the country is In this connection, All RAN is deeply cularly the Pr;me Minister, Datuk Sen Dr. related to depper causes which the disappointed that not a single secular Mahathir Mohamad, as Chairman of the government has not been able to come to intellectual group has come out in Barisan Nasional, has a special responsibi­ grips with. Drug trafficking is a highly defence of saudara Kassim's right to lity to ensure that the WIShes of the organised, lucrative trade linked to express his opinion. One does not have to people expressed through the ballot box certain oowerful interests in business and agree with Kassim's v1ew; All RAN itself are respected,whatever the election result. politics. These vested interests in the drug has reservations about some of his argu­ The Prime Minister has this responsibility trade exist at local and international levels ments. But we would defend his right to because he is, by virtue of his office, the and perpetuate themselves because of evaluate the hadis. If there are serious principal custodian of the democratic corrupt, inept bureaucracies. weaknesses in his work, they should be system. -.: • rectified through debate and analysis. In this connection, Dr. Mahathir Chandra Muzaffar Whatever the weaknesses in Kassim's President Mohamad should realise that it was not 7 July 1986 book, the fact still remains that by main­ because the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) taining a deafening silence right through won by a s1mple majority in last year's the controversy, the intellectual com­ State election that there were bombs and ~ munity has revealed its lack of integrity. riots in Sabah. It was because certain in­ It has betrayed one of the very principles dividuals and groups .in Kota Kinabalu of its existence: the readiness to defend and Kuala Lumpur did not want to Squandering of Public Funds the right of a scholar to pursue the truth accept the electoral verdict. Dr. Mahathir as he sees it. knows who these individuals and-groups T he Prime Minister are. has deliberately misrepresented criticisms Chandra Muzaffar President Dr. Mahathir should not be too per­ of go\lernment companies whic~ are turbed by the prospect of the Barisan running at a loss. 8July 1986 The basic question here is one of public accountability. Has the public been given periodic reports on how these com panes are performing, why some of them are not viable and what steps are being taken to rectify the situation? The Prime Minister must display a higher sense of moral responsibility when dealing w1th public funds. The aim of increasing Bumiputra parti­ cipation in commerce and industry should not be used as a cloak to camou­ flage incompetence, mismanagement and wastage. It does not serve the interest of the Bumiputra community if public funds are squandered. Such funds can be better utilised to improve the well-being of poor Bumiputra farmers and fishermen.

Chani!ra Muzaffar President 8 July 1986

The Ban

It 1s a pity that the Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to ban Kass1m Ahmad's Had is: Satu Penilaian Semula. There is no justification for the ban. The booK ·s not a threat to the nation's security. Neither has it caused public dis· order. It has of course generated quite a bit DAP.'s bid to reduce Barisan's 2/3 majOt'ity .•.. How reel the threat, of instability?

Aliran Monthfy AugustJS.ptember 1986 20 ------~------and professional spheres has been ex­ ceedingly slow. The dependent nature of the economy is one of the reasons. The lack of fluency in Bahasa Malaysia among the elites in these spheres of the economy is another reason. I I Chambers of commerce, trade unions I and professional associations should do more to promote the use of the national I I language in the private sector. • ,'I Third there is some confusion in the I use of terms and even words arising I partly from the absence of a publicly I I acknowledged reference for the use I of standard Bahasa. Aliran feels that I Radio and Television Malaysia (ATM) I should assume the role of the standard-­ bearer of the national language. As an . I A fa

Alnn Monthl A ust 1986 ~------~~------~------21 have an. effective electoral pact without a 'Declaration of Understanding' as was done in the 1969 General Election. If PAS, SDP, PSRM and NasMa are interested in a genuine Declaration of Understanding then they should explore various issues in greater depth and formu­ late a more detailed and comprehensive joint stand. The ideas contained in it should be integrated into their respective party manifestos. · Besides, the 'Declaration of Under­ standing' adopted by the 4 parties yester­ day, while embodying a number of good ideas, also reveals serious flaws. One, while it recognises PAS's "right to Strive for an Islamic State", it merely acknowledges the "freedom of the other parties" that have signed the Declaration. It would have been a lot fairer if it had also recognised the right of the other parties to strive for the establishment of social systems based upon their ideologies. others to an rdeologrcal goal which For those who are fighting injustice Only then would there be equality and may not have the consent of the voter. and corruption in our society are · often recognition of mutual rights. PAS's version of an Islamic State will subjected to · all sorts of pressures. Two; getting all the parties to "uphold not be in the interest of both Muslims fhe real cowards are those who Islam as the ad-Deen" while guaranteeing and non-Muslims. dqre not speak out against scandals freedom of re ligion, is also fraught with This is why instead of adopting a even when they know what is happening. certain dangers. For ad-Deen (a true Declaration of Understanqing which The cowards are those who condone way of life) is a concept that PAS will has obvious shortcomings and serious and sometimes· camouflage corruption interpret in accordance with its conser­ implications, the various opposltton because it suits their own personal vative traditional concept of Islam. parties should stick to a simple electoral interests. The cowards are those who If it comes to power at the head of this pact and aim to deny the . Barisan its cling on to power, position and pres­ 4-party Opposition Front -a possiblility two-third majority. tige even if it means betraying truth, that is included in the Declaration -PAS justice and integrity. may be able to mould society as a whole Chandra Muzaffar I am not surprised that Datuk Samy on the basis of its narrow understanding President, Vellu is not capable of distinguishing of what truth, justice and freedom the cowards from courageous. After mean in its version of the Islamic 'way 15 July 1986 all, he is a leader of a coalition that of life'. treats upright individuals as villians Three, while the Declaration promises and crooked persons as heroes. to set up an independent Constitutional Commission to draw up a new Constitu­ Chandra Muzaffar tion which will ensure "rights and justice Response To Samy Vellu's Hysteria President to all citizens", it has failed to incorpo­ rate an imp'ortant espect of that proposal I t is absurd to say 17 July 1986 made by Aliran at yesterday's meeting. that Aliran has joined hands with PAS Aliran suggested that the Constitution or any other political party. Aliran should be approved by two-thirds of has never hesitated to criticise any ·the voting population in an open referen­ opposition party or personality whenever Boycott of Commonwealth Games dum. Approval of _two-thirds of the they transgress principles which we hold voting population is crucial so that PAS dear. This is why we were prepared to A liran commends the will not be able to impose its version of point out the weaknesses in the PAS- government for its highly principled stand an Islamic state upon the people, if it . SDP-PSRM-Nasma joint declaration. on the question of Malaysia's participa­ Four, it was for the same reason Aliran remains Aliran - an independent tion in the Commonwealth Games to be that AI iran suggested a number of amend­ social movement committed to demo­ held in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is parti­ ments to the Declaration which would cracy. cularly praiseworthy that Malaysia is check a PAS-led grouping in power It is because we are committed to the first Commonwealth member outside from curbing the rights of women and dem9cracy that we want a stronger the African continent to boycott the controlling the freedom of expression, opposition. A liran is not alone in this. Games. the freedom to seek knowledge and the Hundreds of thousands of ordinary By boycotting the Garnes we are freedom to participate fully in politics Malaysians want a stronger opposition reaffirming the fundamental truth that and administration. Unfortunately, none because they are fed up with the scan·. even international sports cannot be of these amendments were incorporated· dais, the corruption, the mismanage- . divorced from ethical considerations. into the Declaration. ment, the authoritarianism and the Aliran hopes that other Commonwealth Though it is very unlikely that a arrogance associated with the Barisan members will also boycott the Games. PAS.Ied front will come to power in the elites. This is why they want to check This is one way of shaming the British coming election, it is important that the Barisan's overwhelming power. government into imposing economic the people remain vigilant to stealthy It takes. a lot of courage to stand sanctions against the South African moves by a certain party to commit up against the might of Barisan power. regime for its apartheid policy.

Alii'JII Monthly August/September 1986 22 At the same time, Aliran calls upon the opposition front be voted into power cited as a illustration of a weak govern­ the Malaystan government to publish so that a revised constitution could be ment. In the Sabah case, it was the the names of Multinational Corporations drawn up. More importantly we had defeated politicians who refused to operating in Malaysia which have trade said that the revised draft constitution accept the voters' verdict and who and financial links with the Pretoria should then be presented to the public engineered the political instability. We regime. The Malaysian government and through a referendum for consent by hope -that the Barisan is not contempla­ people should cease to have any direct two thirds of the voting population. ting the same line of action in the event or indirect relations with such companies. Only then could the new constitution that they obtain a bare majority at the be fully adopted. Such a measure would Elections. Ang Boon Chong have prevented PAS from imposing To constantly harp on this point Exco Member its version of an Islamic state upon the especially with reference to the May people with the help of the other 1969 riots is to use threats and black­ 17 July 1986 signatories to the joint declaration. mail against the electorate. Malaysians (The above statement did not appear in any Although the suggestion for a Con­ must not allow themselves to be in­ newspaper- Edit6r) stitutional Commission and referendum fluenced by political gangsterism. In was accepted, the need for a two-thirds any case it is the responsibility of the consent in the referendum was glaringly Government to apply long-term and omitted. It should thus be noted that short-term solutions to the problem of.. although Raja Datuk Nasron is generous ethnic polarization. This they have A Reply to Raja Datuk Nasron enough to state that any form of govern­ failed te> do, but they have instead ment will have to be decided by the aggravated ethnic polarization by their I t is totally mis­ people through a referendum, the inten­ major policies and the implementation leading and a r1isrepresentation of facts tion of holding such a referendum was process during the last 4 '{ears. In short by Ra1a Datuk Nasron when he says never there to begin with and not until the management of ethnic problems that Aliran President Dr Chandra Muzaf­ such a suggestion was proffered. has nothing to do with the Govern­ far was unfair in making a statement ment's Parliamentary majority - it is on the joint opposition declaration Tong veng Wye simply a question of political will. Exco Member because Dr. Chandra did not attend Finally internal security is said to the full session of the closed door meet­ 17th July 1986 depend on a dominant Barisan govern­ ing between leaders of PAS, SOP, Nasma ment. In fact threats to the nation's and PSRM. (The above Letter did not appear in any security from without and within have For a stan, observers who were newspaper - Editor) always been firmly under control. In invited to attend the session on the this country there is no way that a just joint declaration were allowed only accountable and trustworthy government to participate in the morning half of the can be overthrown. It is the misdeeds meeting. The Iotter half of the meeting and negligence of the ruling party itself was restricted t:> the presence of leaders No Need for 2/3 Majority that have created disi lusionment and of the opposition parties only. It was disaffectiOn towards the government. in this latter half of the session that I ri the run-up to the Consequently a small m.mber of citizens discussions ensued on the finalisation General Elections, various Barisan leaders are prepared to forcibly resist oppression of the declara:ion. Being an observer. have been campaigning for a 2/3 majority by agents of the State as in the Memali Aliran was therefore unable to parti­ in Pari iament on certain spurious grounds. incident. The obvious remedy to this cipate in this. Raja Datuk Nasron's Economic stability has been cited state of affairs is to restore public confi­ statement is therefore a misrepresenta­ as the main reason why the country dence in the Government instead of tion of reality. needs a dominant government majority. merely acquiring more power to do Aliran would have had been ready Actually there is no necessary connection goodness knows what to disgruntled and willing to participate in the full between a dominant government and citizens. session if give'l the opportunity just economic progress. Strong authoritarian Recent experience, especially of the as we were ready and willing to con­ governments like the Marcos regime and BMF scandal, the Memali incident and tribute as· invited observers. We attended the Duvalier dictatorship have often the Sabah crisis, has shown that a lop­ the joint meeti'lg in order to voice our used their power to bankrupt the nation. sided Barisan majority in Pari iament apprehensions against the draft joint In the last 4 years the Barisan has enjoyed results in systematic abuse of power. declaration. Despite having stated a the highest continuous majority in Acton was voicing a human truth in readiness on the· part of the four signa­ Parliament since Merdeka; yet this period his famous dictum that power corrupts, tories to form an alternative government has seen the most horrendous finanCial and absolute power corrupts absolutely. if given the opportunity, the draft scandals and the nadir of economic Now is the time to return to common declaration contained nothing on the decline. Recently the very integrity of sense, to restore effective checks and crucial issue of the running and struc­ top government leaders has come into balances in government administration ture of an alter'lative government. Given doubt. As a result, trust and confidence by voting in a strong Parliamentary the predominance of PAS among the in our whole economic system have Opposition. Hence our call to all voters four signatories of the pact and its fallen to a low ebb among investors, to deny the Barisan the 2/3 majority as avowed object.ve of establishing an both foreign and local. Malaysians are the most effective means of ensuring Islamic state we believed that the omis­ often reminded of the poser on Nixon a responsive and moral government. sion of such a central issue was significant. Would you buy a second-hand car from

Just as the draft joint declaration had this man?' Gan Telk Chee contained noth'ng on the structure of It is also said by some Barisan leaders Hon•• secretary an alternative government it was equally that a strong government majority will silent on the question of referendum. It bring about ethnic harmony among 19 July 1986 was Aliran's suggestion that a Constitu­ the various communities in the country tional Commission be established should and the Sabah riots and bombings are (The abowe statement did not appear in any ~-Editor)

23 Aliren Monthly August/September 1986 that candidates in the commg elections are accountable to their voters. Representatives of Radar groups will query candidates on their stands in regard to various national issues inclu­ ding the human rights situation in the country, retrenchment, polarization, and corruption. As soon as nominations in the various parliamentary constituencies with Radar groups have been finalized representa­ tives of these Radar groups would meet with the respective candidates and pre­ sent them with questionnaires dealing with the major issues that concern the rakyat. Aliran hopes that all candidates will cooperate with Aliran's Radar groups. It is in the interest of the voti"9 public to ensure the success of these Radar groups. This is because these groups serve as channels in the con­ tinuing struggle to uphold public accoun­ tability and parliamentary democracy. Unless the public itself is alert and vigilant its rights and freedorrs cannot be guaranteed.

Hamima Dona Mustafa Assistant Secretary

20 July 1986 The General Election: Thraets, blackmail, bribes, intimidalion.•...• _ by BN?

The General Election Only if the government understands , the distinction between party and State, w hile the public has been inducted would the political system as a whole into an election mood since the middle begin to mature. This distinction is im­ Psychological Intimidation of last year. the short campaign period portant to ensure a fair competition is nevertheless disadvantageous from among the different political parties. A nran wond~rs if the the ordinary voter's point of view. It is to ensure that democratic principles extraordinary publicity given to a mock It does not give the voter enough time are observed in the coming General public order exercise staged by the to find out what the candidates' views Election. Police yesterday has some other motive. are on various issues. Nor does it allow It is odd that a simu lated riot should candidates in large constituencies in Executive Committe be featured as a headline item in the main particular to do adequate constituency news bulletin of the day over Television campaigning. 19 July 1986 Malaysia. News on the public order It is wrong of the Election Commis­ exercise itself lasted more than a couple (T he abov e statement did not appear In any sion to reduce the campaign period so newspaper - Editor) of minutes. This is the second time in the drastically that it has become meaning­ course of the last 10 days that a mock less. It is yet another setback to the public order exercise showing "rioters" practice of democracy. and anti-riot squad police in "battle" Similarly. the continued ban on has been given such unwarranted publi­ public rallies will make it difficult for city. the Opposition to reach out to the Establishment of Radar Groups Independent observers and analysts masses. The Barisan will not be affected may be right in interpreting the publi­ by this ban since it has already begun A nran has rust set city given to the mock exercise as an using the mass-media for its election up another five Radar (Rakyat Sedar attempt to psychologically intimidate campaign. or Citizens' Alert) groups. the voters in view of the coming General In fact. Aliran hopes that the Barisan They are in the following parliamen­ Election. That the intention may be will refrain from exploiting State resour­ tary constituencies: Bayan Baru, Jelutong. psychological intimidation of the voters ces for its election campaign. The Barisan Tanjung, Bukit Bendera, and Bukit gains credence when we bear in mind that must remember that with the dissolution Mertajam. top Barisan leaders have been making of Parliament it IS only a caretaker The conveners of these groups are as statements after statements reminding government. It must behave like one. follows: Bayan Baru - Shah lzron the people of the dangers of a May 13th This means that it must not use Radio Dadameah; Jelutong - Ang Boon Chong; type riot. and Television, the information services. Tanjung - Neoh Gim Bok; Bukit Bendera Aliran considers any aHempt to other government departments and agen­ - Sakinah Hussainisa, and Bukit Mer­ intimidate the voters a violation of cies and all other State facilities for tajam - Ng Sock Nye. the election rules. Voters have a right partisan pu~poses. These Radar groups aim to ensure to decide whom they want to vote

Aliran Monthly August/September 1986 24 for, without being subjected to threats, blackmail, bribes or any other form of pressure. All parties and groups must respect this right of the voter. Psychological intimidation of the £• type we are witnessing is particularly despicable since it exploits people's 2 fears of a riot that the elites were res­ ponsible for. Aliran therefore calls i upon the authorities to cease exploiting the mock public order exercise for narrow partisan purposes.

Chandra Muzaffar President c 21 July 1986 2 .2 -:;; E ~ ~ u .... (The above statement did not appear in any ac CJ 0> 0 c newspaper - Editor) c C' c 0 0 ·;... :, ~ ... oi .0 0 ....0 E IL 0: ..c 0 .. z ~ Radar: Bringing Democracy to The People .. z .::J Cl s:i "'c A !iran has launched 0 .. '-.0 another two RADAR (Citizens' Alert) 0 ~ ~ groups - one, in the Petaling Jaya Par­ 0 liamentary Constituency and the other in the Klang Parliamentary Constituency. -~ The convener of the Petaling Jaya Radar a. group is Aliran Executive Committee Member, Tong Veng Wye. while Denison Jayasuria is the convener of the Klang ac- Radar group. This brings to 8 the toal number () of Radar groups established so far. 5 Radar _groups were set up in Penang en DOD last week. The first Radar group was •...... formed in the lpoh Parliamentary con· II 0 i stituency in the middle of last month. ~ The response to the formation of ::) Radar groups from the general public has been simply overwhelming. It shows en clearly that the Malaysian citizen values public accountability. It also indicates that Malaysians want a parliamentary ac- democracy in which they can partici­ pj'lte actively in the decision-making Ill process. They do not want a political system in which a few politicians usurp a the privilege of determining the destiny of the nation simply by virtue of the ac electoral mandate given to them. Radar groups, therefore. will ensure 0 that democracy is brought down to the level of the ordinary citizen and the local community. Through Radar, citizens will have a say in all the laws and policies which parliament will be formulating. Citizens will be able to act as watchdogs over their MPs. For a start, Radar groups will be submitting a 10-point questionnaire to the candidates in each of the Parlia· mentary constitutencies where these groups have been established. These questionnaires will be handed over to the candidates on nomination day at

26 ______A_ Ji~ran Monthly August/September 19P. the respective nomination centres. The questionnaires will require candidates to state their positions on various issues connected with corruption and financial scandals, public accountability and democracy, retrenchment and the economy, ethnic relations and national unity. Candidates will also be asked to declare their financial assets and ' liabilities to the rakyat. These questionnaries will be made NO. OF TITLE OF BOOK PRICE COPIES COST public on nomination day. Aliran calls upon all the candidates concerned 1. DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY to co-operate with the various Radar h a collection of speeches made by leaders ot groups. The candidates and all the various political partie~ & public interest societies political parties in the country. both in connection with the 3rd Dialogue of in government and in the opposition Concern on Parlicmentary Democracy held in must prove that they value the role July 1985. $3.20 of the citizen as a thinking, caring human.: ­ being in the political process. 2. CABA~AN · CABARAN SEMASA

A book in Bahasa Malaysia dealing with human Chandra Muzaffar rights, democracy, the economy, labour, ethnic President relations, education, moral values and international alTair&. $7.20 23 July 1986 3. PANDANGAN ALIRAN: (The above statement did not appear in any Mcngandungi pendapat, cadangan, analisa dan newspaper - Editor) komen yangjarang tersiar di akhbar·akhbar tempatan. SI O.OO 4. ALIRAN MONTHLY l yc:ar's subscription- 12 iss"Ues• SIO.SO Aliran Submits Questionnaires 2 years' sub·scripdon - 24 is~"Ues• S20.50 To Parliamentary Candidates

A liran Radar (Citizens Alert) groups have handed over a ques· tionnaire dealing with various national issues to Parliamentary candidates in An analysis of broken faith and unkept promhes in major area~ of puhlic life. The about 8 Parliamentary constituencies in talk shows how this has led to a crisis of the country. The col}stituenctes are credibility in the relations between the government a) Tanjung b) Bukit Bendera c) Jelutong and the people. $5.50 d) Sayan Baru e) Bukit Mertajam f) lpoh g) Petaling Jaya and h) Klang. 6. DEVELOPMENT - FOR WHOM? The questionnaire, besides asking can­ A studied criticism ol the authorities for the didates to declare their financial assets wasteful spendine, for obsession with prestig.: and liabilities to the peo:>le, also requests· proJects and for excluding the poorer segment~ them to state their positions on corrup­ of society from mainstream development. The talk deplores the increasini!IY elltistic trend in tion, financial scandals, public accoun· development as a betrayal of the people's dream tabi Iity, democracy, the economy, re­ of a just society. S5.50 trenchments and ethnic polarization. The candidates have until the 29th of 7. CHALLENGF;S FAClNG ASIA July to answer the questionnaire and rne speech outlines the awesome return them to the Aliran Headquarters. challenges faced by Asians today and Aliran hopes that the candidates will suggests ways to deal with them. It identifies the crucial areas that have stood cooperate. It is important that they in the way of progress and good government and state their positions clearly to the people insish that unless effective transformation so that the people will be able to judge first takes place in these areas, no lasting or the candidates. meaningful change can come about. $5.50 Aliran has chosen to submit question­ naires to Parliamentary candidates so 8. MALAYSIA Dl PERSIMPANGAN that both the voters and those who seek J. JALAN -KE ARAH MANA? power, will understand the real meaning Dalam ucapan ini penceramah membangkitkan of public accountability. This is part of beberapa cabaran-<:abaran utama yang dihadapi Aliran's endeavour to strenthen parlia· negera pada ketika ini termasuk masalah kemelesetan ekonomi, rasuah dan pencerobahan ke atas hak mentary democracy in oJr country. asasi manusia. S5.50 Tan Choon Kooi Bank Commission for outstation cheque S0.50 Exco Member

TOTAL 24 July 1986

'•mthly August/September 1986 26 Be Fair To The Voter of psychological intimidation designed to coerce the voter into supporting the An Appeal A s a citizens' move­ Barisan. The voter should not be threa­ ment committed to Parliamentary Demo­ tened in any way, nor should he be corrr cracy, Aliran is deeply concerned about pelled to vote a particular group out of the way in which the voter is being fear. It is also unfair of what is after. all Ali ran treated in this General Election. a 'caretaker government' to bribe voters The voter must be given the .opportu­ with projects, I icences, grants ~nd scholar­ nity to evaluate political parties and their ships. This type of inducement to vote Trust · candidates in a fair and just manner and the Barisan is clearly prohibited in the to exercise his vote without being sub­ election rules. Inducements and allure­ jected to any form of threat, intimidation ments of whatever kind tend to influence he Aliran Trust was launched on or bribe. This is an inalienable right which the voter's capaCity to judge and choose: . T 29-7-85 w ith the signing of the Trust a voter enjoys in a democracy. It is a In this connection, Aliran calls upon Deed by its seven members, three of right that has been grossly violated in this the Chairman of the Barisan Nasional, whom represent AI iran. election campaign. who is now a caretaker Prime Minister, to Since then the Board of Trustees has The biased, one-sided reporting and set the right examp"le. There is no point met four times, the last being on Sunday analysis of the election campaign in most in merely removing the Prime Minister's 13th July, 1986. The meetings are held at. newspapers and over televison, is a denial name plate from his official car. He the AI iran office in Petaling Jaya. -- of the voter's right to know what the should not be using an RMAF helicopter We have had some donations to the issues are and how various political to campaign for Barisan candidates. trust and two members of the public .are parties intend to respond to the many Neither· should he be launching state making small monthly contributions as cliallenges facing the nation. The views projects which are· connected with his well. Total donat ions to date are about of the opposition and the p~ople's official governmental role when he is, $2,400.00 - admittedly not a large sum genuine perceptions of them have· been in fact, campaigning as Barisan Chairman. but yet a begi.nning has been made. All blocked out of the media. Instead, If Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir wants to donors are being supplied with the A I iran Barisan and media propaganda have campaign for the Barisan, he should not Monthly and are also on the mailing list conspired to paint the opposition in the use any faci lity or privilege due to him for Aliran activities. vilest terms. This is most unfair to the · as the Prime Minister of the previous The Board is at present concentrating voters who depend upon the media to government. Dr. Mahathir should realize on raising funds as the priority area of get an accurate picture of what is at that his integrhy and his credibi lity are action. As more donations come in the stake in this election. major issues in this election. He should Board will consider how the funds shou ld Caricaturing opposition parties through not make things worse tor himself and be applied to further the objects of the vulgar, obscene . cartoons in particular is the Barisan. · · AI iran Trust which are "the advancement a downright insult to the intelligence By abusing his position as caretaker of knowledge and social awareness of and decency of the voter. These cartoons Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir has once justice, freedom and solidarity and for prove that there are peop.le in influential again shown utter contempt for both research and educational purposes inci­ positions today who have no sense of the intelligence of the voter and the dental thereto". shame. Electoral competition and demo­ -integrity of the democratic process. At its last meeting the Board drew up cracy have been brought down to a new plans tor fund-raising as well as to get rea­ low level of crudity. C hand ra M uzaffar ders of the Monthly to know more about President At the same time, through constant the Trust. To this end an appeal leaflet references to the May 13th incident will be circulated to all readers in the near 27 July 1986 the voter is being subjected to the sort future. Those of you who would like to donate to the Trust can sent your dona­ tions to: Hon. Treasurer, Aliran Trust, No. 13, Jalan 21/35, Basic Principles 46300 Petaling Jaya. Please cross you cheques or money orders and make them payable to Aliran Trust. ALIRAN Secretary A llran T rust We continue with the 7th instalment on the ~ve series

Women, Family & Environment of the family as the fundamental unit in societY that preserves and pe,rpe- , 27 The emancipa­ tuates eternal spiritual values vital for Announcement tion of women from all those discri­ human civilisation. minatory structures and attitudes, practices and prejudices whicn prevent 29 A conscious As from · 16.8.1986, Aliran's them from fulfilling their rotes as equ-al effort to protect our physical environ­ P.J. Office is no longer in opera­ partners to men seeking to live truly ment and the entire ecological system tion. All enqutnes should be human lives. since the human being )S .a partner of directed to our Penang Office: nature and has a ~ed relationship Tel: 04·830549 ·28 The protection to it...... , .. .r" Thinking Allowed A ctoser look at what people say and do the world over

,ang Street, 10200 Penang. •Jiau Pi nang. Office Phone: 04-830549 ~ 26 _,______.