PP3739/12/2003 ISSN 0127 - 5127 / RM3.00 / 2003:Vol.23No.5

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 1 COVER STORY Who Will Succeed The Successor? Reflections on the Mahathir-Abdullah transition by Khoo Boo Teik

onsider the nervous out- CCC comes of the past two CC UMNO general assem- blies.

June 2002: Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his intention to retire and sent UMNO into an appar- ent fit, for who would succeed Mahathir? Over the past year, that question has been largely an- swered: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Mahathir’s fourth Deputy Prime Minister.

June 2003: Mahathir reaffirmed his plan to retire in October. UMNO was left in suspense when the PM-to-be refused to name his

Three of Mahathir's deputies never made it

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE

Although there has been no contest for the UMNO presidency since 1987, there has been intense jos- CONTENTS tling for other top posts.

In our lead story, Khoo Boo Teik discusses the unre- COVER STORY solved struggle between the president and the party ••• Who Will Succeed The Successor? 222 over succession. In particular, Mahathir’s latest ••• Don't Cry For Me, Malaysia... 404040 annointed successor, Abdullah Badawi, will have to appoint as his new deputy someone from the three vice-presidents, who were once in Anwar’s Wawasan Team. Will Abdullah’s choice also be the FEATURES party’s? There is no guarantee. ••• Seven Burmese Workers Deported 777 Abdullah also inherits other problems as well, which ••• Creative Media For Change 121212 Anil Netto, in the back cover story, elaborates on. ••• Is Secularism Dead In India? 161616 The UMNO president may not have shed many tears ••• Why Freedom Is Good For Us 262626 this time, but future generations of Malaysians might ••• Women And Gender-Based Violence 282828 have to do so. ••• Blood Money 343434 The daunting problems confronting migrant work- ers - which came to light with the deportation of 7 Burmese workers - are highlighted. We take a care- REGULARS ful look at their oppressive wage structure, the bro- ••• Thinking Allowed 191919 ken promises and the pittance that they are forced to live on here. ••• LettersLettersLetters 232323 ••• Current Concerns 303030 Asghar Ali Engineer discusses how the rise of Hindutva in multireligious India increasingly threatens its democracy and the notion of a com- mon citizenship. Another article contributed by a OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS student talks about “Why Freedom is Good for Us”. ••• Subscription Form 383838 There are lessons here for Malaysians. ••• Poem: Here They Come 393939

We carry an interview with Tan Jo Hann of Komas, an alternative media group. Jo Haan explains how alternative media can be used as a creative tool to promote social awareness and reforms. Noraida Endut argues that violence against women should not be seen merely as a women’s problem but should be regarded as a broader human rights issue. Her piece is especially pertinent now in the wake of the Published by recent spate of murder and rape cases. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Penang, Malaysia. Justice, Freedom & Solidarity and listed on the Tel : (04) 658 5251 Fax : (04) 658 5197 roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran welcomes Homepage : http://www.aliran.com all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Percetakan Tujuh Lapan Enam Sdn. Bhd. No. 16, Lengkangan Brunei, 55100 Pudu, Kuala Lumpur.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 3 DPM-to-be although Abdullah had half-promised to do so by the end of 2002.

Thus persists, in a limbo-like state, UMNO’s melodrama of establish- ing the successor’s successor in the post-Mahathir period.

History won’t tell us exactly how UMNO’s melodrama will end but it will help us understand UMNO’s experience of leadership succession, including the ‘disap- pearances’ of three Mahathir deputies – Musa Hitam, Ghafar Baba and Anwar Ibrahim. Tunku's era ended with ‘May 13’ Razak had a short tenure as PM

Tunku To Razak Yet Mahathir’s appointment in a Razaleigh’s claim was stronger way violated the principle of sen- than Musa’s, Razaleigh being the At the beginning of that tortuous iority in UMNO. Of the three Vice- more senior, but Musa had de- experience was a critical transfer Presidents, Ghafar Baba had re- cided not to let the post go uncon- of power in the aftermath of May ceived the highest number of tested. 13, 1969. ‘May 13’ demolished the votes, Razaleigh was second, parameters of Alliance rule, and while Mahathir, readmitted into Technically, Mahathir was unable Tunku Abdul Rahman’s era was UMNO in 1972, had been elected to exercise the leader’s preroga- over. Yet his eventual successor, with the lowest vote. In response, tive to appoint his deputy since Tun Abdul Razak, and select Ghafar resigned from the Cabinet the formal transition from members of the Malay elite main- in protest while Razaleigh bided Hussein to Mahathir would only tained Tunku’s formal leadership his time. take place only after the June 1981 of party, coalition and govern- general assembly. Ideologically, ment and set the precedent for con- Hussein To Mahathir the circumstances supported a stitutional and orderly leadership current of argument that the party transition. Then in mid-1981, Hussein an- should decide who should become nounced his intention to retire, Mahathir’s deputy. Razak had a short tenure as Prime essentially paving the way for Minister. Upon his death in 1976, Mahathir to succeed him. No one That UMNO’s 1981 election was his deputy, Hussein Onn, took disputed Mahathir’s claim on at liberty to select Mahathir’s over power. The Razak-Hussein UMNO’s presidency, and in July deputy effectively opened the way transition made clear that the PM Mahathir became the fourth prime for the party at large to be directly enjoyed the prerogative of ap- minister in what seemed to be a involved in determining leader- pointing his successor. It also es- transition marked by neither cri- ship succession. The 1981 tablished that seniority in UMNO sis nor contention. Razaleigh-Musa battle, therefore, counted, and UMNO’s Deputy set a precedent following which President would become DPM But the resulting vacancy for political succession was no longer and in due course take over from UMNO’s deputy presidency, and the party’s mere endorsement of his predecessor. Operating by the it was understood, deputy pre- the president’s prerogative. principle of the leader’s preroga- miership, led to the first battle be- tive, Hussein chose Mahathir to tween Vice-Presidents Razaleigh Henceforth, political succession be his deputy. and Musa Hitam. Superficially, depended on UMNO’s triennial

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 4 election that became increasingly tation of UMNO’s new rules for bitter because of a growing party elections that no Anwar-Ghafar factionalism. The 1981 Razaleigh- fight actually took place. Anwar Musa contest was followed by the led the Wawasan Team, an alli- 1984 Musa-Razaleigh fight. Both ance of a ‘new generation’ of lead- contests took a heavy toll on ers, namely, Muhammad UMNO’s stability. Muhammad Taib, Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Tun Razak. But in February 1986, Musa sud- denly resigned as DPM and While Anwar made Ghafar’s po- UMNO Deputy President, be- sition untenable, the Wawasan cause of supposedly irreconcil- Team swept Abdullah Badawi able differences with Mahathir. and Sanusi Junid from the Vice- Some quarters in UMNO urged President’s posts. In hindsight, Musa to reconsider. Musa with- the Wawasan Team’s 1993 cam- drew his resignation as UMNO’s paign uncannily duplicated Team deputy president. He argued that Razaleigh: Bypassed four times B’s 1987 initiative – except that the while he had been appointed President was unopposed, and DPM by Mahathir, he had been In the end, UMNO was split, the upstarts were successful. The twice elected deputy president by deregistered in 1988, and recon- outcome was evidence of the abil- the party. stituted without Razaleigh’s fac- ity of the party at large once again tion. to impose its succession prefer- Headed For A Split ence upon the leadership. With these outcomes, Mahathir Faced with this party crisis, and appeared to have recovered the Once again, Mahathir sought to looking ahead to UMNO’s 1987 leader’s prerogative to determine impose the leader’s will. In party election Mahathir picked succession. He seemed to have left UMNO’s 1996 election, Mahathir Ghafar Baba to replace Musa, in- the party at large the dubious could not be challenged because cidentally making it four times privilege of ‘mandating’ what the of a change in party rules. Neither that Razaleigh had been bypassed leader had decided. could Anwar but crucially for deputy premier! That, and Mahathir shifted the burden of the Musa’s falling out with Mahathir But UMNO’s factionalism did not succession question away from prepared the all-out Team A-Team end there. The exclusion of the himself … to Anwar! B struggle from 1987 onwards. Razaleigh camp and the weak- ness of the Musa faction allowed Time, however, was on Anwar’s Now the leaders could only fight new figures to flourish and new side as he set out to spread his for survival, but the party would centres of power to arise. And influence over UMNO. By 1998, it decide the succession. Mahathir since Mahathir had had quintu- was assumed that the Anwar defeated Razaleigh by 761 votes ple coronary by-pass operations camp commanded the loyalty of a to 718. Musa lost to Ghafar by 699 in 1990, seemingly the surest tran- plurality of the delegates to the to 739 (in a contest that included sit to UMNO’s summit was once 1999 General Assembly when the 41 spoilt votes). In defeat, again offered by the deputy’s next party election would be held. Razaleigh and Rais Yatim, re- post! signed their Cabinet positions. In Up to mid-1997, a smooth transi- victory, Mahathir purged the re- Factional Visions tion from Mahathir to Anwar was maining Team B ministers and not an implausible scenario. deputy ministers from his Cabi- But Ghafar’s incumbency did not However, the July 1997 East Asian net, not caring that one minister, inspire awe. Anwar Ibrahim financial crisis wrecked that sce- Abdullah Badawi, came in second moved to challenge Ghafar in nario. As the crisis deepened, among the three Vice-Presidents. 1993 with such a masterly exploi- Mahathir would simply not leave

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 5 office under a cloud. Morever the Lessons stable mechanisms of leadership domestic management of the eco- change within the party. nomic crisis ruptured relations be- There are at least two clear lessons tween ‘No. 1’ and ‘No. 2’. from UMNO’s tormented history These lessons are worth ponder- of leadership transition that led ing on the eve of the Mahathir- On the afternoon of September 2, in 1998 to the sordid Anwar af- Abdullah transition. Mahathir sacked Anwar. In the fair. evening of September 3, UMNO’s Just last month, the pretenders to Supreme Council met, and in the First, there has always been a tus- the post of UMNO Deputy Presi- early hours of September 4 ex- sle between incumbent leaders dent – in alphabetical order: pelled its deputy president. Each trying to force their will upon the Muhammad Muhammad Taib, of these two decisions had a spe- party, and rival leaders hoping to Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Tun cial significance. The PM’s deci- rise via a decision of the party at Razak – had to maintain a sem- sion relied on his control of the large. Those who accept the lead- blance of elite unity by promising state to crush a deputy feared to er’s prerogative to decide his suc- to abide by Abdullah’s choice of have obtained control of the party cessor insist on the need for sta- DPM. Yet everyone suspects the at large. The Mahathir-dominated bility. Those who oppose it speak behind-the-scenes jockeying for Supreme Council’s decision pre- of democratic practice. power is intense. empted any Anwar comeback in UMNO via a Musa-style separa- Thus we have had the strange And Abdullah, UMNO’s ‘Deputy tion between being DPM and be- spectacle of smooth transitions at President without contest’, is hard ing UMNO Deputy President. the level of the prime minister put to offer a deputy for anoint- while we witnessed fiercer and ment ahead of UMNO’s next party From then till 2000, when fiercer fights for the deputy presi- election. That Abdullah was once Abdullah Badawi was elected dent’s position in UMNO. ‘Team B’ while Muhammad, Deputy President without contest, Muhyiddin and Najib were once the party at large had lost its abil- Second, so long as UMNO doesn’t ‘Wawasan Team’ must make one ity to determine succession if its support liberalism and fairer com- wonder, if the going gets rough, preference was opposed to the in- petition in the political system, it whether history will repeat itself tent of the leadership. has no hope of institutionalizing as tragedy or farce. q

The Wawasan Team : Muhammad Muhammad Taib, Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Tun Razak : Who will make it?

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 6 MIGRANT LABOUR Seven Burmese Workers Deported: Strengthen Laws to Protect Migrant Workers’ Rights

liran is dismayed that a AA Butterworth-based com- AAA pany was able to deport seven of its Burmese mi- grant workers even though the Labour Department was in the midst of investigating the firm’s treatment of its migrant workers. The seven were among 25 Bur- mese workers employed by Ban Guan Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, a firm producing garments.

The migrant workers had earlier been enticed to come to Malaysia Ban Guan Manufacturing: 25 Burmese workers employed here to work with the company with a tions for foreign workers’ levies. shows that employers here have guarantee that their total wages If the workers made mistakes in too much power to do what they including overtime would be not sewing the garments, they were like with migrant workers with- less than RM700. often made to pay for the defec- out having to account for their tive garment, thus reducing their actions. To make matters worse, When they arrived in Malaysia, wages even further. the deported workers are believed they were shocked to find out that not to have received their wages their take-home wages in some The company claims that the for May. cases fell below RM100/month. workers were not the skilled work- Others have received take-home ers they had asked for and conse- The quarters provided to these wages in the region of RM100 to quently their productivity was migrant workers - dilapidated RM200. This was due to a host of low. It argues that this is the rea- plank long houses, where they are deductions from the workers’ sala- son the workers were not asked to crammed seven to a room - are in ries, not all of which had been work much overtime. But surely appalling condition, unfit for hu- approved by the Labour Depart- this is not the fault of the workers man habitation. Undergrowth ment as required by law. but the employment agents who surrounds these quarters and all had enticed the workers to come sorts of creatures - reptiles and A huge chunk - 50 percent - is de- over to Malaysia based on fraudu- monkeys - have been known to ducted to repay loans taken to fi- lent guarantees. enter the compound. nance their trip to Malaysia and pay off agents’ fees and air-fare. To deport them to Burma - while a Because of all these complaints, In addition, there are other deduc- Labour Department investigation the Labour Department had com- tions: 10 percent supposedly for into the company’s treatment of menced an investigation recently. Burma’s income tax; and deduc- migrant workers is ongoing - On the morning of Monday, 2 June

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 7 2003.

The Convention aims to prevent and eliminate the exploitation of migrant workers throughout the entire migration process. It also provides binding international standards relating to the treat- ment, welfare and human rights of both documented and undocu- mented migrants, as well as the obligations and responsibilities on the part of sending and receiv- Crammed quarters: seven to a room ing States.

2003, five representatives from dictators. Their officials have Finally, we urge the Government among the migrant workers went failed to protect and assist their to: to lodge an official complaint with nation’s workers despite being the Labour Department in fully aware of the workers’ many 1) investigate how the company Butterworth. An officer assured complaints against their employer. was able to deport the seven them that the Labour Department They also allow employers to de- workers so swiftly despite on- was in the midst of their investi- duct 60 percent of their workers’ going investigations by the gation procedure and would be wages to be remitted to Burma, Labour Department into the issuing a show-cause letter to the leaving workers like those in Ban company company this week. Guan with nothing much to live on. 2) ensure that the company com- But the migrant workers received pensates all 25 workers - in- a rude shock on Tuesday morn- Something is wrong with our cluding those repatriated - for ing, 3 June, when the company Malaysian laws when it fails to their shortfall in wages and ordered seven of the workers, in- protect migrant workers and safe- unauthorised deductions cluding those who had gone to the guard them from exploitative Labour Department, to be returned working and living conditions. 3) ensure that the company or its to Burma. With the assistance of The workers also have little ac- agent compensates the seven enforcement officials, the Immi- cess to effective channels to resolve deported workers for the out- gration Department, and Burmese legitimate grievances against em- standing loans in Burma that embassy officials, the seven work- ployers. they took to finance their jour- ers were swiftly transported to ney here to obtain employment Kuala Lumpur and promptly de- We urge the relevant authorities in Malaysia ported to Burma on Wednesday, 4 to strengthen laws to protect the June. rights of migrant workers and to 4) ensure that all migrant work- come down hard on employers ers receive a take-home wage It is appalling that the employers who regard migrant workers as that is not different from that were able to cancel the workers’ no more than slave labour. paid to Malaysian workers to work permits and get them de- enable them to live in dignity ported even though the Labour The Malaysian government must Department was in the middle of also ratify the International Con- 5) ensure that minimum stand- investigations into the company’s vention on the Protection of the ards are met for the accommo- treatment of its migrant workers. Rights of All Migrant Workers dation provided to migrant and Members of Their Families. workers We are deeply disappointed with This Convention was adopted by the Embassy of Burma, a nation the UN General Assembly in 1990 Aliran Executive Committee now ruled illegally by military and enters into force on 1 July 5 June 2003

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 8 MIGRANT LABOUR Aliran’s Facts “Wrong” Aliran seems to be attacking the Myanmar Employment Agency without having more concrete evidence.

t is commendable to see This is done through the Burmese gives full financial loan to their II Aliran publicise the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. With workers to work in Malaysia. III plights of the seven this information in mind, it is Workers from other source coun- Myanmar workers de- therefore wrong to imply that the tries like Vietnam have to find their ported by their Malaysian em- workers received only RM100 or own finance. The Myanmar Em- ployer in Butterworth. However, RM200 as take home wages. ployment Agency concerned ac- certain facts revealed in your state- tually finds itself in financial dif- ment concerning the wages of mi- The 10% Income Tax is done in ficulty for not being able to collect grant workers are wrong: accordance with Burma’s labour enough funds to send new work- law. The Malaysian Govern- ers to Malaysia. It is changing this “When they arrived in Malaysia, ment’s levy deductible is RM100 system of financing. The percent- they were shocked to find out that per month. age of the workers’ monthly “Fam- their take-home wages in some ily Remittance” too will be re- cases fell below RM100/month. Furthermore, both deductions are duced from 50% to 30%. Others have received take-home calculated based on their basic wages in the region of RM100 to salary, which is RM18 x 26 days Therefore, in this particular case, RM200. This was due to a host of = RM468 per month. If they have it is wrong to say that the “Em- deductions from the workers’ sala- many hours of overtime, they ployment Agency had enticed the ries… A huge chunk - 50 percent should have more money in their workers to come to work in Ma- - is deducted to repay loans taken pockets while in Malaysia. laysia” on false salary promises. to finance their trip to Malaysia The famous RM700 per month and pay off agents’ fees and air- This system of deduction has its salary is actually a guarantee ob- fare. In addition, there are other merits in that it ensures the repa- tained by the Myanmar agency for deductions: 10 percent suppos- triation of their hard-earned their workers after negotiating edly for Burma’s income tax; and money back to Myanmar. But it with the Malaysian employer, and deductions for foreign workers’ has also posed some problems for is stated in their employment con- levies.” the workers once they do not work tracts. It is often the fault of the overtime and their salary falls employers who cannot live up to I would like to clarify that the 50% short of the RM700 promised. their engagement, due to various deduction from their salary is not reasons - one of the main reasons used only to repay loans taken to Aliran seems to be attacking the for subsequent industrial dis- finance their trip to Malaysia and Myanmar Employment Agency putes. Of course, the inability to pay off agents’ fees. If that is the without having more concrete evi- speak each other’s language is case the sum will be too big and is dence. This particular Agency also a main culprit. not justifiable. In actual fact, at involved in this garment factory the beginning, part of this 50% is state-owned. As far as I know, So much for the clarification. Nev- deduction will be given to their its main concern is not to ride on ertheless, it’s true that under the families as monthly family remit- the back of workers to make as present system the balance of tance. Once the loan is paid, the much money as possible like cer- power is tilted in favour of the full sum of the 50% deduction will tain private agencies. Thus far, go to their families in Myanmar. Burma is the only country that still Continued on page 11

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 9 ALIRAN RESPONDS Deductions Galore Someone’s getting rich and it’s not the migrant workers…

Passport - RM 60.00 Malaysian Levy - RM 1,200.00 Visa - RM 19.50 Processing Fee - RM 50.00 Total - RM 1,329.50

This amount is paid over 12 months via a deduc- tion of about RM110/month.

A further 10 Percent Deduction For Income Tax Imposed By Burma The 50 Percent Deduction (about RM230/month) To add salt to injury, there was yet another deduc- tion this time for income tax payable to the Burmese According to the workers we interviewed, the 50 government. It is amazing how the workers, despite percent deduction does not go to the migrant work- their already low take-home salaries, are expected ers’ families until the loans taken to finance the trip to pay monthly income tax to the Burmese Govern- to Malaysia are fully repaid. It takes about 11 ment on top of the US$665 they had already stumped months’ deductions of about RM230/month before out before leaving Burma. the loan of about RM2,500 is settled. Deduction For Security Guard According to the workers, the loan taken in Burma is used to finance the following: These was a monthly RM5 deduction for an old com- pany security guard who was supposed to keep an Air Fare - US $185 eye on the workers' belongings while they were at Agent (incl. visa) - US $450 work. There is no provision under the law allowing Advance to workers - US $ 30 the employer to make such a deduction. Total - US $665 (RM2,527) The Worthless Guarantee Of RM700 Minimum Wage This figure is deducted from the workers’ salaries (basic plus overtime) over about 11 months (about RM230/month) and according to the workers the whole RM230 is used This guarantee is worthless as there appears to be to pay off the loan. According to them, their families nothing to compel the Malaysian employers to re- do not receive any money until the loan is settled. spect the employment contract signed in Burma. This allows unscruplous employers to take advan- Additional RM110 Monthly tage of this loophole and get off scot-free knowing Deduction For Workers’ Levies that they cannot be taken to task.

In addition, the workers say they also have to bear The local authorities tend to say they cannot act be- the following expenses including foreign workers’ cause this matter is not in their jurisdiction as the levies imposed by Malaysia: contract was signed in Burma. It appears that the

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 10 Malaysian authorities, Malaysian employers and does the remaining US$450 per migrant worker end the recruitment agents are all to be blamed because up? all of them probably know that there is no way the RM700 wage can be enforced here in Malaysia. How How was the company able to make these deduc- can the Myanmar Employment Agency give an as- tions wihout the approval of the Malaysian Labour surance to the workers they will be paid RM700 in Department? Malaysia when they jolly well know that there is nothing they can do to compel Malaysian employ- And what is the Labour Department's policy in al- ers to honour that assurance? lowing companyies to make various deductions. Does it warn employers to ensure that workers get a In that sense, the workers were enticed with the so- decent take-home pay? Surely it's about time for the called RM700 guarantee as all the other parties Department to insist on a minimum take-home pay knew there was nothing to ensure compliance in for migrant workers. Malaysia. These are the questions for which we would like This is the crux of the problem. If the workers get the some answers. RM700 they were guaranteed, then they can just about survive in Malaysia with all those heavy de- P.S. In a landmark decision on 20 June 2003, the ductions. High Court in Penang ruled in favour of 52 Indian migrant workers who were similarly duped with But if they are denied the overtime promised, the false promises of a RM750 wage when they were migrant workers are left with a pittance to live on recruited for employment in Malaysia. after all the deductions. And there is nothing any- one here can do to compel the employers to observe When they arrived in Malaysia, they found that the the so-called guarantee made in Burma. employer would only pay them RM350. But what they actually received was less than this after de- Questions, Questions… ductions for levies etc.

It also raises fresh questions as to why the workers Let us hope that this Court decision will deter other have to absorb these heavy expenses (remember the Malaysian employers and their recruitment agents amount is all the more oppressive considering the from enticing migrant workers with similar fraudu- income levels in Burma), when it is the employers lent promises. q (and the recruitment agents!) who benefit from the trafficking of cheap migrant labour. Why can’t the employer pay for these expenses? Why does it cost With input from Joachim Xavier, migrant US$665 for a migrant worker to leave Burma when workers desk officer at the Penang Office for the airfare costs only US$185 and the small cash Human Development advance to the workers is US$30? In whose pockets

Continued from page 9 employer. For example, the workers can be repri- ment and the foreign workers. This begins with a manded and sent back to their country of origin im- provision of good information and public con- mediately without adequate safeguards or compen- sciousness. sation, even though the seed of the labour conflict could be sown by employers who do not respect the That’s what motivates me to write to participate in Malaysian Labour law and the employment con- this debate. tracts. Much has to be done by all parties, including relevant government authorities, to promote better Chia Yong Tai labour relations between the Malaysian manage- 6 June 2003

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 11 MEDIA Creative Media For Change Popular communication and social transformation

An interview with Tan Jo Hann, Community organiser and alternative media practitioner

For more than 20 years, Tan Jo Hann has been or- ganising urban poor com- munities in Kuala Lum- pur. He is also a freelance journalist and a photo- journalist. As an alterna- tive media practitioner, he sees the use of “popular communication” as par- ticularly relevant for em- powering the marginalised in Malay- sian society. He is a founder member of the Southeast Asia Popular Communications Pro- gramme (SEACPCP), a re- gional network of grass- roots movements in the region. He founded as well Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS), an alternative media cen- Aliran Monthly: As both a com- tion flow is controlled and the tre based in Kuala munity organiser and a media mass media is biased towards the Lumpur. Jo Hann is cur- practitioner, how do you make establishment, all the more there rently the elected Presi- each aspect of your work relevant is a need for independent and dent of PERMAS to the other? creative media. (Selangor and Federal Territory Community As- Tan Jo Hann: The most important Creative media is merely a tool for sociation). We spoke to aspect of organising grassroots organising people - to raise aware- him to find out what he communities is to raise their ness about certain issues, to help thought of the role of the awareness and critical thinking them to come to a common analy- about the issues around them, es- sis and understanding about their alternative media in pecially their immediate sur- situation, and to prepare them for Malaysian civil society. roundings, and at the national action. Generally, this is what level. In Malaysia where informa- community organising is all

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 12 about. There is also a cyclical di- organising? mension involved because after each community action, people Jo Hann:Hann:Jo Firstly, I would like to need to evaluate and reflect fur- say that there is no such thing as ther in order to plan follow-up neutral and objective media. No action. In this whole process of matter how one uses it, it will al- community action towards ways represent the interest of the change, a set of tools and lan- user and his/her orientation. guage is needed, and creative popular communications media Now community organising aims fulfil this role. to improve the lifestyle, living con- tle room for participation and ditions, environment, and social For example, to raise awareness drawing out the thoughts and relationships of a certain society. about a certain issue, verbal com- ideas of the target audience. This While business corporations use munication alone is insufficient to way of using creative media con- the media to influence people’s create an impact because not tradicts the idea that we are merely consumption habits and think- many people are used to facilitators drawing out the inher- ing, our purpose is to influence the conceptualisation and can com- ent local knowledge from the peo- people towards change in terms prehend abstract ideas. Most ple. of value systems, attitudes and re- grassroots people have to see these lationships of marginalised com- concepts in action. Creative me- The practice of popular commu- munities for the better. dia help to provide them with an nications has been like a move- experience where they can see, ment. Historically, its genesis can Popular communication and crea- hear and feel the issue clearly. be traced back to the Latin Ameri- tive media provide the essential Creative and culturally relevant can context of the 1970s originat- tools for marginalised people to forms of media are often used for ing from its founding father, gain access to a more independ- this purpose such as traditional Paulo Freire. But over the years, ent and critical source of informa- and popular songs, games and its methodology has been trans- tion. These tools help to build their group dynamics, pictures and formed and contextualised into consciousness to transform their drawings, photographs, VCD different cultural and political set- present situation or at least begin films, and others. tings such as my own experiences to start questioning things that of being a media practitioner in they have taken for granted and AM: Are you unique in using the Southeast Asian context. issues which they normally media in this way? would not have dared to even Sadly, however, in Malaysia, we think about. Jo Hann:Hann:Jo No, this is not a new sci- are still highly dependent on a ence but it is also not usually prac- written or spoken culture. But to- I have colleagues throughout dif- tised. The word “media” is a ge- day the irony is that Malaysia ferent SEA countries such as Thai- neric term referring to vehicles seems to be at the forefront of the land, Philippines, Indonesia, and tools used to perform a cer- powerful multi-media and IT Cambodia and Vietnam who have tain task. Generally, many civil tools. These tools are potentially been using popular communica- society groups in Malaysia would a very powerful force, and if used tion methodologies successfully to use some form of media for their appropriately, can also serve as organise farmers, fisherfolk, indig- work. But whether they are used tools to help transform structures enous peoples, street children, effectively or frequently enough is and minds! But, in the wrong and people living with HIV/ another matter. For instance, I hands, they can become disas- AIDS. Over the years, I have also have often seen social activists or trous for the movement to build a been conducting trainers’ work- developmental workers use crea- more just and humane society. shops for community organisers tive media like posters, photos, or in the region in different sectors, even video films merely as an aid. AM: Can you tell us more about and for many years have been But this is then followed by a long the outcome of using popular contributing towards what could lecture from them thus leaving lit- communication for community be termed as a movement of popu-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 13 lar communications advocates thing can be done? Do you want whether they should be involved and practitioners. to do something about it?’ and in partisan politics. Yes, some so- then lastly, ‘How do you think we cial activists and NGO members AM: How would you compare al- can approach this problem?’ We could be supporting the ruling ternative media with main- ask questions rather than provide political parties or the opposition stream media? the answers, and somehow, some- political parties. where the collective efforts of this Jo Hann: Media is value-laden participatory group process facili- But there are also many who see and embodies a philosophy. If the tated by creative media would their role as helping to monitor the media tools and the practitioners help the people to come to the general election itself, to ensure utilising them have not made an point of what we would call, that either side does not resort to option for the poor and oppressed, ‘Aha!’ fraudulent practices. In my opin- then it is not creative media for ion, NGOs should have their in- people’s development and social AM: What is your evaluation of dependent platform. What this transformation. the state of civil society in Ma- means is that NGOs could work laysia?laysia?laysia? hand in hand with people’s or- Governments, political parties ganisations and community and business marketing bodies Jo Hann:Hann:Jo Malaysia is an economi- groups, to read, understand and have all used various kinds of crea- cally stable country, but it is also analyse the present realities, and tive media to influence people’s a tightly controlled one. Like Sin- then to formulate their demands thoughts to their advantage. In gapore, this stability has culti- to challenge all the contesting po- most cases, they have been very vated a ‘culture of fear’ mentality litical parties. Our role is to be a successful. But in most of these among the majority of our popu- watchdog, making sure all politi- processes, the level of people’s lace so much so that one gets con- cal parties account for their prom- participation is low, and they are fused about what are our basic ises made to the people. We must treated as mere vessels to absorb human rights and the powers of work together with the people to information rather then to partici- the authorities over us. I think the continue monitoring the post-elec- pate in giving their ideas. current health of Malaysian civil tions scenario to see that those society is quite critical. The promises made during the cam- But the form of popular commu- number of people who are in- paign trails are kept and that nications media that we have volved in civil society initiatives elected Members of Parliament or been talking about is about draw- is very small. On top of that, they State Assembly members main- ing out the people’s latent knowl- are segregated and discriminated tain their services to the people for edge; it helps to facilitate the peo- against by the powers-that-be. the next four years! ple to combine their knowledge or Because of the torrents of negative skills and build a body of useful propaganda, social activists are For me, if the general election is knowledge and skills base so that generally looked upon as outcasts held this year, the role of NGOs they can develop critical aware- of society rather than partners in and civil society would be to state ness of their situation. It motivates developing society. their positions and demands. people to take action and develop Grassroots communities, in par- a passion to change their current AM: Some say that social activ- ticular, should present their aspi- realities. ists and NGOs should not be in- rations and views on various is- volved in party politics or in elec- sues to both the ruling govern- Mainstream media generally tell toral politics. What is your view? ment and opposition political par- you, ‘This is what we want to say, ties. For example, the NGO that I take it!’ They are packaged attrac- Jo Hann:Hann:Jo Most social activists in am closely involved with – tively so that people think they be- Malaysia are involved in the gen- Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor lieve in the content. But for alter- eral elections in one way or an- and Wilayah Persekutuan native social media practitioners, other. Firstly, they are all voters so (PERMAS) – advocates the right we say, ‘What do you think is they should be involved in the elec- of the urban poor for permanent happening? Do you think some- tions! But maybe the question is and adequate housing, and will

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 14 state clearly our short-term and long-term demands for all parties National Service: and politicians to consider and Serving The Nation Or The Govt? take note. Then we will continue to monitor their performances af- ter the election, and so forth. Only Aliran is deeply disturbed by the through a three-month stint by then would we be able to see what government’s indecent haste in bringing youths of various ethnic they are really made of! pushing through the National backgrounds physically together. Service Training Bill (2003) dur- AM: What possibilities do you ing the present session of Parlia- These youths, like many of us in ment without giving parliamen- society, are very much the prod- see happening for civil society in tarians and the public sufficient uct of a social environment where the wake of imminent leader- time to debate the proposal, which certain policies, whether in edu- ship changes in the Malaysian has far-reaching implications for cation or culture, are perceived – political landscape? the youths and the nation as a rightly or wrongly – to be unjust whole. and, therefore, divisive. These Jo Hann:Hann:Jo With the forthcoming deep-seated problems cannot be change, I hope that the new lead- Equally serious is the fact that the remedied using a quick-fix ap- ership in the country will be at- findings of four Cabinet sub-com- proach. tuned to the “signs of the times”, mittees on curriculum, finance, and prepare to give way to the logistics and law have not been In addition, the ethnic politics of “waves of reformation” unfold- disclosed for public discussion as mono-ethnic political parties only it should be in a democracy. Need- worsens the situation as it does ing throughout Southeast Asia. It less to say, providing a public plat- not tackle the larger picture con- is inevitable that people’s freedom form for this issue to be discussed cerning national unity and har- and liberation will reign supreme is one of the ways of making citi- mony but only champions the in- eventually. It has been proven so zens feel that they belong to the terests of one ethnic group over in human history over and over country and have a say in its run- others. In such a situation, primi- again, and it is just a matter of ning and its policiy formulations. tive sentiments override patriotism time. It is better that this milieu be and national unity. ushered in rather than forced in. Furthermore, the sudden shift of If the ruling government recog- emphasis from the proposal’s The government also needs to nises the inevitability of social original objective of reinforcing clarify what it means by ‘patriot- transformation and helps facili- national defence to promoting ism’ and ‘national unity’ and in- national integration requires a vite a national debate on these tate this into being, then there thorough rethinking of the entire ideas. In the past, the government would be less social disruption exercise. This would involve in- has been unable to distinguish and tensions between the conflict- depth discussions among civil so- between love for the country and ing forces. ciety groups, concerned individu- loyalty to the BN government, als and government representa- which are two entirely different Nevertheless, our role in civil so- tives so that this project will not things. ciety, especially among the become an exercise in futility and grassroots communities, is to wastage of public funds. We therefore call upon the govern- continue organising and advo- ment to rethink the ‘national serv- cating for our issues, and mak- If the government’s professed con- ice’ project. Instead of dumping re- ing sure that we are not made cern is to arrest the apparent in- sources into a programme of ques- crease in ethnic segregation par- tionable worth, it should tackle use of by irresponsible authori- ticularly among the youths, then the underlying causes of ethnic ties, profit-hungry business sec- it begs the question whether ‘na- disunity in our society in a man- tors, and unprofessional en- tional service’ - which, among ner that is democratic, sober and forcement elements regardless other things, would include mili- holistic, with long-term solutions of whoever comes to power! We tary training - would really serve in mind. will continue to play the role of that purpose. Certainly, ethnic being the watchdogs of society polarisation has underlying Aliran Executive Committee and the agents of change. q causes and cannot be corrected 16 June 2003

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 15 DEMOCRACY Is Secularism Dead In India? Implications for Democracy in a Multi-Religious Society by Asghar Ali Engineer

ecularism had evoked ity over religion. In democracy all Nehruvian model of secularism SS certain controversies in are equal citizens though they and a broad consensus was SSS India from the very be- may not follow the same religion evolved around it. Only the ginning but nevertheless or may not follow any religion at Jansangh, which had a very nar- it was accepted by all baring few all. row political base then rejected exceptions. Since the concept of any concept of secularism and secularism did not exist in India Nehruvian Secularism stood for Hindu Rashtra. However, its equivalent was also not found even Jansangh, while merging in Indian languages. It had to be When the Britishers left and In- into the Janta Party in the post- translated. In Hindi it was trans- dia chose to be a democracy it had emergency period in 1977, ac- lated as dharm nirpekshta and in no recourse but to opt for secular- cepted secularism and Gandhian Urdu it was rendered as la ism as well. Only a secular democ- socialism, and pledged to this ef- diniyyatI. Both these translations racy can ensure equal rights for fect on Gandhiji’s samadhi in were not correct as they implied all citizens. The argument that Delhi. However, for Jansangh it neutrality towards religion and since Pakistan chose to be an Is- was more a tactical move than a being non-religious respectively. lamic nation, then India, too, has principled stand. the right to become a Hindu Even in the west it did not mean Rashtra is not a valid one. Paki- The new avtara of this tradition is being non-religious. It implied stan was primarily a Muslim na- the BJP. Though it continued to neutrality of state towards reli- tion so it could choose to be an swear by secularism nonetheless, gion. The West had ushered in Islamic nation (though a modern it began to promote militant democracy much before India did nation-state and a religious state Hindu nationalism in the mid- and secularism is quite important are anomalous). But this course eighties. One of the members of for democratic functioning and was certainly not available for In- Sangh Parivar the Vishwa Hindu particularly if society as in India dia since it is a multi-religious, Parishad adopted Hindu mili- happens to be multi-religious. A multi-cultural and multi-lingual tancy without any restraint. In the multi-religious society cannot country. post-Minakshipuram conversion function democratically without period the Vishwa Hindu secularism. Thus India rightly chose to be a Parishad came to the forefront and secular country in the sense that got involved in the most militant In a democracy citizenship and the Indian state shall not privilege propaganda of Hindutva. There citizens’ rights are most central. any religion and that followers of were open assaults on the While in a non-secular state reli- the majority religion shall not Nehruvian model of secularism gion becomes central and citizen- have more privileges than the fol- on the grounds that secularism ship becomes secondary. India lowers of minority religions in was a western concept and quite was from the very beginning of its terms of citizenship. It meant also alien to Indian culture. known history a multi-religious that the state shall protect all reli- and multi-cultural society. De- gions equally without any distinc- But for the BJP there were certain mocracy in such a society cannot tion. restraints and it could not reject function without secularism as in secularism openly without draw- democracy citizenship has prior- This came to be known as the ing criticism. So it adopted a new

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 16 tactics; it began to talk of positive Indeed after the horrible Gujarat votes. Mr. Rajiv Gandhi too did secularism and denounced riots, which shamed the country not show any strong commitment Nehruvian secularism as and winning the elections with to secularism. His notorious re- ‘pseudo-secularism’. According two-third majority, the BJP lead- versal of the Shah Bano judge- to the BJP, Nehruvian secularism ers began to say that we will re- ment and laying the foundation was based on what it called ‘ap- peat the Gujarat model in other of Ramjanambhumi and call for peasement of minorities’ and it states of India. Ramrajya on the eve of 1989 par- defined appeasement as allowing liamentary elections, also, deliv- minorities to follow their personal Thus it has become more than ob- ered a great blow to the Nehruvian law and allowing their men to vious that the BJP in principle re- concept of secularism. take four wives. jects secularism and only adopts it tactically while in power as part The Gujarat carnage in February- Hindutva of the NDA alliance. Not only this March 2002 further struck fear in it has been systematically carry- the minds of Congress politicians This assault on Nehruvian secu- ing out campaign for Hindutva and except for a few exceptions, larism, which ultimately meant an politics. Even the Prime Minister the Congress leaders are adopting assault on constitutional secular- Shri Vajpayee is on record to have soft variety of Hindutva. Even ism, became sharper and sharper said in USA that RSS is ‘my soul’ during the Gujarat election cam- with the passage of time. The BJP and RSS, as everyone knows paign in the aftermath of the ultimately adopted what it called stands for Hindu Rashtra. Gujarat carnage, Congress lead- the ‘Hindutva agenda’ and this ers, particularly Mr. Kamalnath agenda, as is well known, in- Congress And who was in charge of elections in cluded abolition of personal laws Soft Hindutva Gujarat, did not allow any Mus- (enforcing common civil code), lim congress leaders like Mohsina Article 370 (special status for It is unfortunate that this aggres- Kidwai or Ahmed Patel to cam- Kashmir) and building the Ram sive propaganda has affected even paign for the Congress. Not only Temple at Ayodhya. Congress, the principal opposi- this, he did not even allow lead- tion party. It has also wilted un- ers like Arjun Singh to campaign Obviously a secular state cannot der pressure and has adopted for election as Arjun Singh has a undertake construction of temples what is being described as softer pro-Muslim image. and mosques. So the BJP’s variety of Hindutva. Even in late Hindutva agenda was a direct eighties and early nineties some However, the soft Hindutva did blow to the Constitutional concept Congress members had begun to not work in favour of the Congress of secularism in India. The BJP talk of secularism being unsuitable and BJP won with two-third ma- government and its other Parivar for India and under pressure from jority in the Gujarat elections. members are openly attacking a aggressive BJP propaganda concept of secularism, for which sought to redefine secularism. Mr. However instead of learning any there was a broad consensus, as Narsimha Rao, the then Prime lesson from the Gujarat defeat the pointed out above. Minister also adopted a policy of Congress leaders now want to play soft Hindutva and even refused the soft Hindutva card in other The BJP was somewhat restrained to take any action while the Babri states like in Madhya Pradesh. at the Centre as it is a coalition Masjid was being demolished. He Even a person like Digvijay Singh government but it had no such was almost under awe of the BJP who has been known for his com- restraint in Gujarat where it was propaganda. mitment to secularism is now play- in power on its own. And it was ing this card and is demanding a in Gujarat that one could under- In fact the Congress commitment ban on cow slaughter throughout stand to what extent it would go to secularism began to weaken in India. He did this to embarrass the if it ever came to power at the Cen- the last phase of Mrs. Indira Gan- BJP and to woo the upper caste tre. Gujarat was often described dhi’s rule when she tried to uti- Hindu voters. as a ‘laboratory of Hindutva’ and lise the VHP for her survival and it became a mini-Hindu Rashtra. to compensate for loss of Muslim The ban on cow slaughter should

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 17 be discussed on its own merit as Gandhiji also maintained. Burma’s Dictators Gandhiji even refused to take up the cow slaughter issue to win Not Serious About Reform over Hindu support for the Khilafat movement. He main- We are appalled to note that the obviously recalcitrant Bur- tained that both the Khilafat Burma’s pro-democracy leader mese junta during his trip to movement and ban on cow and Nobel peace laureate Burma this month - the tenth slaughter should be taken up on Aung San Suu Kyi remains in he has undertaken so far un- their own merits and not to trade detention after being arrested der UN auspices. It is obvious one with the other. Even our Con- by the illegal and illegitimate that Razali has not only mis- stitution in Article 48 says that military junta on 30 May 2003. read the junta but that he “The State shall endeavour to or- Eighteen others were arrested hasn’t a clue as to how to deal ganise agriculture and animal with Aung San Suu Kyi at a with the junta let alone how to husbandry on modern and scien- rally in Monywa, about 600 km make them keep their prom- tific lines and shall, in particular, north of the capital Rangoon. ises. Is the Special Envoy’s in- take steps for preserving the ability to understand and thus breeds, and prohibiting the Aung San Suu Kyi was said to predict the junta’s mindset and slaughter, of cows and calves and have received cuts to her face actions the basis for further other milch and draught cattle.” and shoulder during clashes UN-junta talks? If so, the UN’s between her supporters and approach is indeed on very Thus it will be seen that the Con- government-linked thugs. The shaky ground. stitution also does not talk of ban- military government said four ning cow slaughter on religious people were killed in last As for ASEAN’s constructive grounds but on modern scientific week’s clashes, but the death engagement policy with lines. It is regrettable that leaders toll was horrendous and, ac- Burma, it is a sham. If any- of Nehru’s Congress are indulg- cording to eyewitnesses, more thing, ASEAN has only dis- ing in such sensitive issues just to than 60 people died in the in- credited itself by admitting an win elections. It is certainly weak- cident. unethical and illegitimate gov- ening the commitment to secular- ernment into its ranks. And for ism. It can be said, without fear of Burma observers say the vio- what? Profits for ASEAN com- contradiction, that the Nehruvian lence was actually carefully panies even as the citizens of concept of secularism is as good planned to disrupt the activi- Burma bleed? as dead and we are left with cheap ties of the democracy move- tactics to win elections. It has se- ment and provide a pretext for Instead of toadying up to the rious implications for the future a nationwide crackdown on its Burmese junta and defending of our democracy in a pluralist leaders following the tremen- their actions as being beyond society like India. There is a great dous support she generated. ASEAN reproach yet again, it need to revive the Nehruvian con- The regime also detained seven is time ASEAN took itself and cept of secularism. It can perhaps leaders of Suu Kyi’s party, the its international human rights be done only by a leader of NLD, shut down the party responsibilities seriously. And Nehru’s stature as it requires cour- headquarters and closed col- so too the UN Secretary-Gen- age of conviction and not simply leges indefinitely. eral. It is time substantive sanc- lust for power. q tions were imposed once and These measures indicate the for all upon the junta to end dictators in Burma have never their brutal and illegitimate Dr. Ashgar Ali Engineer is been serious about reform. We rule in Burma. one of India’s foremost Mus- find it difficult to understand lim thinkers. He heads the how the UN Special Envoy Aliran Executive Committee Centre for Study of Society Razali Ismail is going to tackle 5 June 2003 and Secularism in Mumbai.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 18 nounces that the MPAJ presi- dent will be replaced. Eight other council heads were likely to be transferred following a review of their positions and all local authorities in the state are expected to emulate the move by the Subang Jaya Mu- nicipal Council to appoint a deputy council president.

At the point of writing no replace- ment has yet been announced for the MPAJ president. What is re- ally interesting for me in this case is the magnitude of the alleged corruption in our local councils. The Kudus case must surely be the tip of a monumental iceberg. If in one month an officer takes70K, Pure, Clean And • May 26: Kayveas claimed that this adds up a cool 840K a year. Sincere Local Councils? an MPAJ enforcement officer collaborated with tontos (look- The imagination flounders when Of late that persistent scourge, cor- outs) by warning them of im- it considers what upper-level of- ruption, has hit the headlines pending raids by the local ficials can get! And to think that again. Towards the end of May the council the abolition of elected local coun- then deputy minister of housing • May 28: MPAJ enforcement cils in the late 1960s was for mere and local government M. Kayveas head, Abdul Kudus, labels inefficiency and misallocation of did Malaysians a big favour by Kayveas’ charges as ‘unfair’ funds — we citizens do get a raw exposing an egregious corruption and ‘unprofessional’. deal! Non-elected and non-ac- case in the Ampang Jaya Town • May 29: Kayveas insists that countable local authorities have Council (MPAJ). the officer concerned received turned out far worse by any ac- up to RM70,000 monthly for count as the MPAJ affair shows Assuming the unlikely role of a his services and claims pos- with another eight council heads Daredevil of sorts in pursuit of cor- session of a list of Kudus - brib- in Selangor on the chopping rupt local officials Kayveas ers. board. It’s time we put back hounded one Abdul Kudus • May 30: Revelations surface elected members into local coun- Ahmad Kudus until the wretched that Kudus was an undis- cils; they will be at least account- man was suspended by MPAJ charged bankrupt eight years able for their actions every four president Ahmad Kabit, who back. Others chip in to offer years through the ballot box. himself is to be relocated because evidence of malpractices in of the incident. Kayveas for all his MPAJ. Law minister Rais By the way, “kudus” in Malay troubles has been kicked sideways Yatim says he would alert the means “pure, clean and sincere”. to the PM’s department in the re- ACA. A Malay Mail headline In honour of Kayveas, let’s recom- cent cabinet reshuffle. Here his screams “Suspend the cul- mend a new motto for all local corruption-fighting days may be prit”. councils in this country, “Kudus numbered. • June 3: Abdul Kudus gets sus- is gone but long live kudus!” Hang pended for a month pending this slogan up on every local coun- Let’s recall a few facts of the epi- an internal inquiry. cil office wall. Better than hang- sode for the reader (courtesy of the • June 16: Selangor MB ing up faded and overly young- mainstream press): Mohamad Khir Toyo an- ish pictures of MBs and the PM,

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 19 which serves no purpose. Chua, Dr Badrulamin Bahron, of his speeches. In short, Ezam may Q Q Q Q Q Lokman Noor Adam and continue his opposition party ac- Hishamuddin Rais. tivities but these should not include The Incorruptible the struggle to free Anwar. Ezam Once the conviction was secured, Ezam was immediately transferred Ezam also said they tried to con- to the Kajang Prison to start serv- vince him that Anwar was in fact ing his two-year jail sentence, the guilty of all the sexual crimes he first time in the 43-year history of was alleged to have committed and the ISA that a detainee had to si- that the police had all the evidence multaneously serve both an ISA to support these charges. Ezam said detention and a jail term. they went to great lengths to per- suade him to change sides. When Then Ezam realised why they had they failed, they compromised by hurriedly separated him from the agreeing that he remained in the rest for, once he was isolated, Umno opposition as long as he agreed to made its move to try to woo him abandon Anwar. When they failed over. Ezam said he received all sorts to also do this, he was packed off to of approaches from Umno asking Kamunting to start serving his him to switch camps and abandon two-year detention. his “struggle to free Anwar Ibrahim Contrast the Kudus case with that from jail”. In fact, said Ezam, his Ezam said rumours are rife that he of Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, entire initial 60-day detention is in the midst of making a deal KeADILan youth chief, who was under the ISA, before he was sent with Umno. “Why should I do this recently released on bail. A story to Kamunting, was centred on now?” asked Ezam. “If I want to has surfaced that UMNO tried to Anwar Ibrahim and not once was do this, why do this now? I should buy him over. We reproduce faith- he interrogated about his alleged have done it at the early stages of fully below some of Ezam’s alle- “crimes”. my detention. Why should I suffer gations reported by FAC News the two-year detention and the (June 27). Ezam and nine other party leaders OSA conviction where I have al- ready served 10 months of my 16- Speaking to a crowd of about 500 and Reformasi activists were de- month jail term?” supporters at the home of party tained in April 2001 for allegedly president Dr Wan Azizah Wan being a threat to national security. However, the entire 60 days inter- Let the reader judge the veracity Ismail, Ezam said, first they sepa- of the testimony above of a man rated him from the rest of the rogation was on party matters and the police tried to convince Ezam who has been incarcerated as a Reformasi Six so that they could political prisoner since 1998 and to abandon his struggle and rejoin get him alone. Once he was iso- still awaits his fate on an OSA sen- lated from the rest, they worked on Umno. After failing to woo him tence appeal to be heard on July him to try to woo him over. over, the police finally tried to per- 31. One would reason: why suade Ezam to just abandon Anwar would Ezam make such a state- Ezam said he was quite surprised Ibrahim. ment were it not true since it could at the speed his Official Secrets Act well get him into more hot soup. (OSA) trial developed. Ezam was Ezam said the police told him he One cannot but salute the cour- age and stoutheartedness of this then already under Internal Secu- could remain in the National Jus- young man whatever one’s politi- rity Act (ISA) detention in the tice Party and continue to oppose cal stripes. Kamunting Detention Camp to- the government. However, he must gether with Saari Sungib, Tian not mention Anwar’s name in any Q Q Q Q Q

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 20 Puteri Reformasi For The Hustings?

Still on the subject of KeADILan, those who had occasion to attend the wedding of the year – that of Nurul Izzah and Raja Shahrir at Cherok Tok Kun – may think that the party and its platform of reformasi is far from dead. Accord- ing to some estimates some 25,000 guests turned up for the event! The food prepared for 20,000 ran out by early afternoon for an event scheduled to end at dusk.

One event doesn’t make a revolu- tion but I have a strong suspicion that despite all the hype, Puteri UMNO (and certainly UMNO Youth) remain in the shadow of KeADILan youth, who continue to win the hearts and minds of the young Malays. It’s not simply a matter of the unresolved issue of Anwar Ibrahim, who because of his daughter’s marriage, has made a public appearance and resuscitated interest and sympa- thy. It’s rather that UMNO ulti- mately doesn’t strike a cord with young people.

It still has a chronologically ad- would not be the right metaphor Unfriendliest Capital vanced leadership – Mahathir at but would age triumph over Of Crime? 77 and Pak Lah pushing 70 – and beauty in this case? I wonder. this cuts no ice with the youth, With the Canny Ong brutal rape while Puteri UMNO’s head The fact is Nurul Izzah (or and killing hot on everyone’s lips, honcho Azalina is herself due to Puteri reformasi as she is known) Kuala Lumpur and its vicinity wander beyond youthhood very alone can brace a challenge from has emerged in the public eye as soon. Furthermore, UMNO’s out- the whole Puteri UMNO. And the ‘capital of crime’. Almost every moded modus operandi of having there’s Ezam. Whichever way day, one reads or hears of gang old men head the youth wing and you call it, the young would still rape, murder, robbery, you name elderly women head the women’s prefer KeADILan to UMNO. In it, you have it in the capital city! wing is a fatal flaw. the forthcoming elections the BA would do well to capitalise on The police have released the lat- The buzz, although denied by both the Ezam and the Nurul est stats on crime and KL ranks Wan Azizah is that Nurul Izzah factor even if the two young stal- among the regions with the may be slotted for a contest warts of KeADILan don’t or highest number of crimes in 2002 against women’s minister can’t contest. and 2003 (January to May). It Sharizat Abdul Jalil in the com- chalked up 29 cases of rape and ing elections. Beauty and beast Q Q Q Q Q 37 cases of murder in the first

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 21 five months of the year. Last year Thye, no use humming and haw- it had 52 murders and 120 rape ing that the indicators are inap- cases (New Straits Times, July 1). propriate! (See NST, July 1). A big KL falls behind Johor, Sabah and city like KL with its rapid and Selangor, which heads the list, money-seeking denizens will in- with 61 murders and 123 rape variably become unfriendly or cases, but lest you forget, the unsociable. Even Singapore Kelang Valley (which is most of scored better than KL, standing Selangor) is really KL’s hinter- one rung above New York, which land. There’s virtually a seam- stood one rung above KL. less integration of the Kelang Valley and its seediest areas By the way, KL should forget with that of the capital, which about using those tacky “truly itself is fast becoming Se- Asian” commercials to attract langor’s “ghetto”. tourists. Nobody will be attracted to a place where few people are CM Koh finally acted Am I being too harsh? I doubt it. inclined to help others, including Sociologially speaking, it’s inevi- injured persons or even assist thetic grounds of the traffic con- table that a city like KL would be blind people cross the street. gestion that the columbarium also the capital of crime. Flushed would cause in the vicinity dur- as it is with federally endowed Q Q Q Q Q ing the Buddhists All Souls Day funds and by virtue of being the Graveyard- (Cheng Beng). However, the commercial hub and the mecca for By-The-Sea clincher came when the Malay- most job-seekers, including hun- sian Buddhist Association put its dreds of thousands of foreign mi- Now, to Georgetown, Penang, so foot down. grant labour, it is destined to play no one can accuse me of not being that role. even-handed. The problem with No one, said the religious author- Georgetown is not crime but ob- ity, should use Buddhism for com- With a bouyant economy in good tuseness! I refer to the latest flap mercial gains. That sealed it. Pak times, a thriving underworld will (at the point of writing) over some- Lah called for the project to be be a natural outcome and the al- thing called a “columbarium”. I restudied and CM Koh finally de- ternate deliverer of ‘the good life’. guessed from the reports that it cided to suspend the project even But when an economic downturn must be a neologism for “grave- though it had already been previ- occurs (and we’ve had one long yard”. ously approved. spell), it would also be natural that casual workers and the unem- Now this “graveyard” was to be The point has been put across ployed will spill into the informal built by a developer using the styl- that near the stillborn sectors and the underworld of ish name “Stamford Raffles-by columbarium is the graveyard crime. the-Sea Sdn Bhd” for a cool 42 mil- housing the remains of Francis lion bucks. It was to consist of a Light, the British “founder” of A recent survey by a University of humungous nine-storey structure Penang, so what was the harm of California team found KL to be the built around a heritage building the revered Briton sharing the en- unfriendliest city among 23 se- (a former hotel and also school) virons with another 300,000 lected large cities across the globe! and was to house some 300,000 souls? Frankly, I don’t have a prob- On three ‘friendly’ indicators — urns of ashes. lem with that but what most peo- picking up a dropped pen for oth- ple object to is that it’s downright ers, helping an injured person and The building would have distasteful that anyone should helping a blind person cross the dwarfed other heritage buildings think of making big bucks from the road — KL came out the worst. in the vicinity of millionaires’ row dead. (Northam Road) in Georgetown. It’s to be expected, Mr. Lee Lam Many also objected beyond aes- D.L. Daun.Daun.D.L.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 22 Total lack of understanding

Letters must not exceed 250 words and must include the writer's Caucasians in the old and the new world took to the streets to dem- name and address. Pseudonyms may be used. Send letters to : onstrate against the Gulf War? Editor, ALIRAN MONTHLY, 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Penang, And what did the peace-loving Malaysia or e-mail to : [email protected] Views Malaysians do while Caucasians expressed need not reflect those of Aliran. If you are sending expressed their anger about war- by e-mail please include your message in the e-mail body itself. loving leaders? I can only say ‘he We do not open attachments to avoid viruses. who is free of fault shall cast the first stone’. A Caucasian Responds Yet this is only one side of the coin. To Mahathir’s The other is that Dr. M has dem- Let me use this opportunity to set UMNO Speech onstrated his total lack of under- a few things right; neither do Cau- standing of the European or West- casians want to abolish marriage I wrote this letter to the editor of ern or Caucasian culture, if in- nor do they dislike the family, The Star after they had published deed such a thing exists, as there which is demonstrated by virtu- Dr. M’s speech delivered on 19 is a huge difference between let’s ally every government’s tax ben- June and of course they never say German, American and Greek efits for married couples and fami- printed it. I hope that you have a cultures; yet he threw all of these lies. different approach to the opinion in one pot. of people living in Malaysia and Yet Europeans at large are also let the Europeans under attack There are two main points here: not afraid to admit that we all have have their say: Europeans are not Americans or sexuality and that there are many Australians or anything but Eu- forms to live with sexuality, Reading Dr. M’s speech as it was ropeans and the actions of a whether in marriage or a long-term published in The Star, 20 June leader of a state do rarely reflect relationship, or in some cases even 2003, I am shocked, appalled and the attitude of the people of the casual sex. Europeans strongly disgusted. As a European in the country. In other words Europe- believe that sexuality is personal narrowest and as a matter of fact ans are not Americans and Ameri- and decisions concerning it are up the only sense in which the word cans are not G.W. Bush. To the to the adult individual. ought to be used -- in other words contrary European citizens to- a person who was born in Europe gether with Caucasians all over And, yes, most European nations (Caucasian is the term Dr. M was the world often criticise their own have legalised same-gender mar- looking for) -- I feel under attack government; or why do you think riages and relationships, and they and unwelcome in Malaysia. thousands and thousands of did this in order to avoid discrimi-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 23 nation and hatred of people who whether they love it or not, as Dr. can we assume that he will send are different from others. Further M made it so abundantly clear a missile to obliterate Kuala it is totally incorrect to state that that we are not loved by the gov- Lumpur in order to get even with any European nation tolerates or ernment and we are certainly not LAT? accepts incest in any form. If Dr. welcome here, and I hope he real- M was in touch with the Euro- ises that foreign investors will in- Come on, have some sense of hu- pean culture, as he says he is, then terpret his speech in exactly that mour instead of taking it as an he would be aware of the ongoing way. insult. public debate and condemnation of incest, child molesting and Panthera Tunku Yusuf Jewa child abuse. Kota Bharu No Sense Of Humour Finally there is another truly rel- Mahathir Should evant point, the historic element. I was rather amused when a few Seek Anwar's Either Dr. M is rather shaky on his petty UMNO politicians appeared Forgiveness tenses or he is constantly getting on TV to champion the PM and confused about the present and condemn Zunar’s cartoon that the past. It is correct to say that appeared in the Harakah, 16-30 Europe has an imperialistic past; June 2003 when he drew a paral- no European will ever deny it. We lel comparison between khinzir all learn about it in school, and (swine) that brought the problems we also learn to criticise and even of SARS and Mahazir (PM) who condemn it. Today it is regarded created problems for SAR as a rather dark, arrogant and re- (Sekolah Agama Arab). grettable part of European history. We have learned from our past I must say that Malaysia being a mistakes and the consequent un- small country is still being popu- derstanding has shaped our na- lated by some people with small tions and our modern culture. To- minds and conservative thinking day most Europeans are open and lacking sense of humour. To minded and tolerant towards for- them everything is offensive ex- Anwar was loyal to Mahathir eigners. European cities are full of cept to praise (or flatter?) their By the time Mahathir resigns from foreign workers, restaurants and leaders sky-high every time. Per- his ‘life’ job as prime minister, he shops, and we regard this as an haps this is our way of “cari should recall everything that hap- asset to our lifestyle. Yet how do makan”. pened between him and Anwar. you think Caucasians who come Mahathir should know who is a to Malaysia as tourists or in order Political cartoons are very com- loyalist and who is a traitor. He to work and live here feel after this mon in the western countries and should seek forgiveness from speech? people take them with a pinch of Anwar before ‘his last day’ comes salt and being more matured they because everybody knows how Being called aggressive, offensive, simply enjoy a good laugh. Blair loyal Anwar was to him. destructive, immoralistic and the Prime Minister of England Mahathir should realize that the more I can only understand if Cau- has been portrayed as the poodle true enemy now is behind him. casians avoid Malaysia as a holi- of President Bush but he was civi- Taking the smart decision to re- day destination and instead lised enough not to raise any pro- lease Anwar before October will spend their money in countries in test. What about our Malaysian compensate for the fact that he which they are welcome, re- cartoonist LAT? Well, he depicted doesn’t want to say sorry to spected and loved. I could also (NST 17 June 2003) Bush as the Anwar verbally, but it will be understand if Caucasians who are rocket of mass destruction shoot- enough through that action. currently living in Malaysia ing out from the White House. choose to leave the country, Assume that Bush has seen it and Observer

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 24 Time For Change Ashamed Don’t these statements contradict each other? And doesn’t giving My family members and I have I have been telling everyone who the Prime-Ministership to a spe- been voting for the Barisan cares to hear that I am ashamed to cific group of people based on Nasional candidate in Ipoh in all be a Malaysian because it appears their religion constitute discrimi- past general elections. However, that the majority of people pretend nation which is unnatural in a we have decided that it’s time for nothing is wrong. It seems they do democratic framework? Wouldn’t a change and we will now give not value freedom enough to do this lay the ground for future sub- our votes to the opposition, even something about it. jugation of other religions since, if it is a PAS candidate. for Malaysia to remain an Islamic S Y Chew State, the government will have to The reason? What’s the difference Impressed maintain its Muslim Majority sta- between the PAS type of Islamic tus quo? If not, then what kind of moral guidances and that of the I am now studying in the UK and limit are we going to set on the Barisan National? PAS is at least I go on to the Internet and Prime Minister and the rest of the honest and truthful and transpar- Malaysiakini.com almost every government so that this will not ent with its stated aims of imple- day. I personally feel very im- happen? menting Islamic laws and prac- pressed and have great respect for tices and we respect its stand. The those persons who are involved If the Islamic State is to have a non Barisan Nasional, on the other in the campaign for the abolition elected body (ulama council) in- hand, is a hypocrite, making of the ISA, as well as those in- fluencing the government or the promises and pronoucements that volved in the BA parties. I PM, it will be in conflict with de- it does not keep. A very good ex- strongly believe that the coming mocracy. By the way, in a demo- ample is the current so-called election will make a big difference cratic government, shouldn’t “moral cleansing” in Ipoh. to our Malaysian life. there be equal representation of all parties and religions including If the Barisan Nasional govern- Your Admirer atheists? The decree to impose ment is sincere in treating the Hudud on its people, even though citizens with fairness, justice PAS' Islamic State it will be only limited to Muslims, and respect, then it should sack Not Compatible is still undemocratic if the merit the Datuk Bandar of Ipoh for the With Democracy of these laws cannot be ques- blatant violation of human and tioned. Especially if there are vio- moral rights of the people with As a result of PAS' conservative lations of rights and discrimina- his “moral cleansing”. Our fam- Islamic view, KeADILan should tion against its people. For that, ily and relatives plus many act as the counter-weight in up- non-Muslims should not be neighbours and friends can holding BA’s democratic values. barred from criticizing Hudud as cause a substantial loss of votes The Islamic State blueprint still it is only natural for a citizen of a for the Barisan Nasional. At the shows a number of points that are democratic nation to voice out the latest count, we constitute at against democracy in principle. injustices that they see. I sincerely least 120 votes. We hope all hope that most if not all Muslims other citizens will also use their Here is the problem that I have will agree. votes to get the message across with PAS’s statement that “The that we will not tolerate such head of government has to be Finally, I think that PAS should nonsense as the so-called someone who believes in the ide- publish its blueprint as soon as it “moral cleansing” or any other ology of the state. That is only is done, hopefully way before the such stupid rulings and prac- natural and fair” and “the prime general election. This will allow tices. minister, which is reserved for a the people to digest and debate its Muslim”. But at the same time an merits. They should not play the Mark Khoo, Islamic State should be demo- cunning game that UMNO plays. Ex-MCA member, cratic and all its citizens should Ipoh be treated as equal. Ming Hoe

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 25 FREEDOM Why Freedom Is Good For Us For a country to progress, its people must feel free to critique issues and share ideas freely by Caro. L

have attempted many influence: II times to discuss with whether having III Malaysians the neces- the opportunity sity of political freedom, to speak or freedom of thought, and freedom whether having of speech for the well-being of a the chance to nation and of its people. Inevita- live in a strong bly, I always received the follow- economy is a ing argument to counter my theo- ‘cruel choice’ ries: “Malaysia used to be a poor that too many country; Malaysia is multi racial people are un- and unstable; Malaysia needs to fortunately develop and there is no priority forced to take. for political freedom.” No one in its A nation’s underlying issues lead not only to creativity but also right state of to action. In human rights studies, this is mind would called the theory of the ‘bowl of choose freedom of speech over a fight for it all our lives. Basically I rice’ which usually translates into fulfilling meal. would be telling you that freedom a paternalistic type of govern- is worth fighting for because of its ment; in Asia in particular it was Let’s assume now that Malay- inherent goodness. But that referred to as the so-called ‘Asian sia has achieved a level of eco- would not convince many people Values’. In more extreme cases, I nomic development where eve- in Malaysia. was told that ‘democracy’ in gen- rybody is approximately able to eral never proves to be sufficient eat at reasonable levels; why I see other reasons why nownownow is the for economic development and if should the country change and time for many Malaysians to de- given the choice between an eco- why should political freedom be mand for what they deserve, what nomically troubled but demo- increased? they need, what will make their cratic country like the Philippines country the powerful and devel- or a ‘soft-democracy’ but economi- I could answer that by saying oped nation the Prime Minister as- cally strong country like Malay- what French people would usu- pires it to be. sia, most people would choose ally say: ‘because men are sup- Malaysia. posed to be free to think and ex- • Freedom is necessary for de- press their opinions, as long as it velopment:velopment:velopment: Amartya Sen is one At this point, I believe that ‘val- does not disturb the freedom of of the greatest thinkers in con- ues’ as identified by Dr Mahathir other citizens’. temporary Human Rights, do play a role in what people con- and his work on “Develop- sider as ultimately important in For us freedom is vital, to the ex- ment as Freedom’ inspires their life. Perhaps education and treme, it is part of our culture and many citizens in the world to culture have an equally strong our heritage. We grow with it and fight for their rights.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 26 • Freedom is necessary for crea- with the public. A healthy and for the epidemic outbreak. If tivity: tivity: Malaysians are doing buoyant business environ- newspapers had been free to great, they are always doing ment starts with freedom of share real information, and to better. Watching local plays speech and of information. help prevent further infection, has become a real pleasure, for the number of cases would I notice that more and more is- • Freedom is necessary for one’s surely have been limited. sues confronting society are education:education:education: freedom of speech dealt with and shared with the starts with the learning of a Media have a strong role to public: ISA, women mistreat- reflex to always analyse any play in protecting society by ment, corruption etc…they are information one is given, judge providing it with reliable infor- dealt with in a simple, delicate, its acceptability, challenge it mation. For this to happen, subtle and yet sharp manner. and counter it if necessary. journalists must be free to The more people are free to share existing information, address those issues, the more In education, some fields such people must be able to have in they are forced to find solu- as politics, history, religion, their hands the necessary in- tions, to gather in teams, asso- and philosophy are opportu- formation to protect them- ciations, NGOs etc. to solve nities for pupils to start build- selves from disasters that can problems affecting their envi- ing a critical mind. The ability affect their country. This is one ronment. Art has always been to scrutinise and critique all in- of the most fundamental one of the most valuable chan- formation is what has always rights. nels for society to communicate made nations advance. on those issues: paintings, • Finally freedom is inherently plays, musicals are a represen- The great philosophers, scien- good.goodgood I must finish by explain- tation of contemporary evils, tists, mathematicians, histori- ing in a few words why free- and one only has to watch Les ans of our times were those dom is simply good. Origi- Misérables by Victor Hugo to who were inventors. Invention nally, the state was created to understand how the ability to starts with critique, critique protect the people. The state is depict a nation’s underlying starts with freedom of speech. created BY the people FOR the issues leads not only to crea- Networks of discussion and people. The role of the state is tivity but also to action. sharing of ideas are the only to protect its people and the soil in which a great and edu- role of the people is to protect • Freedom is necessary for busi- cated people can build a strong itself FROM the state. ness:ness:ness: freedom of speech is di- and sustainable economy. rectly linked to freedom or in- Only by having in our hands formation. When the informa- the tools to share, communi- tion on business environment • Freedom is necessary to avoid cate and act on our ideas, our can be screened and judged disasters:disasters:disasters: another theory of beliefs can we achieve this bal- reliable by free sources, the risk Amartya Sen is that there was ance of a mutual protection level of doing business in a never a democracy in the world and a mutual benefit. country is decreased. that suffered any famine. That does not mean that there are A people without freedom of Foreign investors coming to no poor or even deviant democ- speech is a people in perma- Malaysia - on whom the coun- racies such as India: it means nent danger of abuse by the try depends heavily in some that in the context of freedom state. q key sectors - need to know that of speech, disasters can be business actors are free to en- avoided. gage in a healthy and ethical Caro. L is a student with in- environment and that, when A ready example is the case of terest in human rights devel- the need arises, they will be SARS in China. The govern- opment in Malaysia. free to obtain legal recourse ment’s refusal to disclose in- and to share the information formation was the main reason

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 27 WOMEN Citizens At Risk: Women And Gender-Based Violence It should be seen as a rights issue not only a women’s issue by Noraida Endut

n the wake of news about the light of a fundamental rights In Malaysia, avenues for getting III a spate of brutal sexual issue for which the state plays a remedies for a breach of Article 5, II assaults and murders of compulsory role to guarantee and where perpetrators are state women in the country re- provide redress. When seen as a agents, are relatively clear and cently, it is perhaps time again to rights issue and not just an issue accessible. On the other hand, ponder on how we should con- that affect only a particular sec- where these rights are being vio- struct issues of violence against tion of the community, violence lated by private citizens, against women for the purpose of finding against women may be more con- women, in public or in the privacy inroads into understanding and, sciously and comprehensively of their homes, legal guarantees hopefully, solving the problem. dealt with. leave a lot to be desired. Violence against women does not only occur in public by strangers, Male violence against women can Victims Mainly Women as in the case of the recently re- be argued to be a breach of the ported rapes. A significant rights to life and personal liberty Although rape, domestic violence number of incidents of violence of citizens and related constitu- and sexual harassment may be occur within the privacy of the tional rights. Article 5 (1) of Ma- perpetrated against victims of all home and the less public spaces laysia’s Federal Constitution pro- sexes, statistics collated by gov- of the workplace and are perpe- vides that no person shall be de- ernmental and non-governmental trated by people known to the vic- prived of her/ his life and per- organizations in Malaysia have tims. Rape by acquaintances and sonal liberty except in accordance shown that victims of these forms family members, domestic vio- with law. Traditionally, these of violence are solely or dispropor- lence and sexual harassment are rights have only been seen as tionately women. Causes of vio- examples of these incidents. rights of individuals not to be lence are deeply rooted in the cul- slain, incapacitated or illegally tural conceptions about gendered Rape, domestic violence and detained by agents of the state in roles of women and men in soci- sexual harassment are forms of a manner not according to law. ety although other factors such as gender-based violence. This re- This view should be extended. alcoholism, drugs, mental health fers to violence that affects They must now also include the and stressful lifestyle may be ar- women, either exclusively or over- rights of citizens to be safe from gued by some researchers to trig- whelmingly and for which the actions of non-state actors, ger or intensify specific acts or in- perpetrators are most prevalently whether or not condoned by the cidents of violence. men or their agents. Rather than state, and the state must assume looking at gender-based violence the responsibility for upholding Rape is an act that uses sexual as a women issue, to be taken up them. Failure to provide such violence to assert power and con- by female advocates at state or guarantees must be constitution- trol. Humiliating and dominat- civil society levels, it is perhaps ally and administratively action- ing the victims become the actor’s more exigent to now consider it in able against the state. primary goal, urged by his feel-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 28 ings of inadequacy and the need ous sectors of society have in- Women are forced to endure har- to reaffirm authority of his self. cluded suggestions for curfews on assment because of their subordi- Because women are seen as more women to accusation that women nate positions within the social powerless, they become easy prey who dress in certain ways invite and economic structures of em- for coping with such feelings. rape. If these reactions are heeded, ployment and the perpetrators are Many women were raped within women’s freedoms under the rel- encouraged to continue with the the context that sees women as evant articles will be further jeop- harassment because of the result- subordinate to men. In the case ardised. ing helplessness of the victims. of rape by family members or peo- Victims lack emotional, social and ple known to the victims, for ex- Domestic violence affects the structural support because blame- ample, female children are seen as physical and mental integrity of the-victim attitude is rife in sexual chattels of their male parents or the female victims. Thus, other harassment cases. As for rape close relatives and female employ- than Article 5, it potentially vio- there is a prevailing, belief that ees are seen to be subservient and lates a series of other accepted only women who dress or act in vulnerable to their male employ- human rights and fundamental certain ways attract harassment ers. Stranger-rapists, on the other liberties of a person. Wife abuse from men and that in such cases, hand, see women as objects to is the most common form of do- the women deserve the treatment. vent their anger and to regain their mestic violence and emanates This makes it an uphill task to sense of power. Stalkers who rape from patriarchal views about the convince the authorities that their victims may have been re- role and expectation of women as sexual harassment is a serious fused previous sexual advances wives. Resulting problems from violation of a citizen’s rights and by those or other women. They violence caused to women in the must be duly dealt with. may have felt that women should homes range from the displace- not have the right of refusal and ment of women and children from A Rights Issue felt justified in punishing them the matrimonial homes to the de- with sexual assaults. All this re- creased productivity of women in Advocacy for issues of gender- flects views about the position of the workplace resulting from their based violence has so far very women in society. physical and/or mental incapaci- much been left to efforts of women tation. These problems deny activists and members of the ad- Rape has tremendous psychoso- women equal and substantive ac- ministration in charge of women’s cial impact on individual victims cess to development. Victims of affairs. Issues are not treated as and members of society. Its detri- abuse lose social and economic public issues that require concep- mental effects on victims are quite opportunities to develop them- tual and structural changes in all well-documented. At a wider selves when they have to give up sectors of government and the level, rape has implications on the friends, relatives, employment wider community. As long as vio- issue of rights of women. When and rightful assets to escape vio- lence against women is seen as a public spaces and, in many cir- lence. They lack bargaining pow- women’s issue as opposed to a cumstances, homes, become un- ers in making decisions about rights issue, legal remedies that safe places for women, they lose their lives because decisions that seek to redress it may continue to personal freedom and the freedom involve dealing with the perpetra- fall short of helping women. of movement. The former is a free- tors of violence will always be dom under Article 5(1) and the underlined by a sense of fear. All Gender-based violence must be latter is guaranteed by Article 9(1) this concerns fundamental rights looked at as a violation of a citi- and (2) of the Constitution. issues. zen’s rights to the enjoyment of Moreover, victim-blaming, a fre- basic human freedoms. The state quent reaction to violence against Sexual harassment also affects must assume responsibility for women is often translated into more women than men. The risk guarding these rights from being opinions and policies about how factor is being female. Incidents womenwomenwomen should behave to prevent of harassment are usually laden rape. Reactions to rape by vari- with issues of gendered power. Continued on page 33

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 29 tal in shaping the pattern of me- dia ownership in the country to- day: there is increasing concentra- tion of media ownership in the hands of a few who are closely aligned or friendly to the ruling elite.

The PPPA has been used to deny the legitimate right of smaller, al- ternative publishers such as Ahmad Lutfi to produce publica- tions that cater to groups that have been neglected by the mainstream media. Media diversity, in other words, has been stifled. A record of Aliran'sAliran'sAliran's stand on current affairs. This press law, combined with the State’s insistence that Malaysia’s Pall Of Gloom Hangs ing credence to accusations of se- mass media should be ‘guided’, Over World Press lective prosecution. has led to some journalists and Freedom Day top editors being - to borrow a new Given the events following the term for an old practice - ‘embed- Concerned Malaysians once ouster of Anwar Ibrahim from ded’ with the State in their daily again observe World Press Free- government and the eroding cred- duties. The result is a kind of jour- dom Day on 3 May not with jubi- ibility of the judiciary in the recent nalism that often sadly skirts im- lation and pride, but with an acute past, many Malaysians wonder portant issues such as social jus- sense of trepidation and appre- whether ‘sedition’ has become a tice and the real truth behind cur- hension. The past year has been convenient tool to clamp down on rent events. marked by various official actions dissent. that have cast gloom over the Events around the world, in par- scope of press freedom. Earlier this year, police raided in- ticular the Anglo-American inva- dependent news portal sion and occupation of Iraq, do not Almost as if to herald this auspi- malaysiakini.com after receiving augur well for press freedom cious occasion, the Kuala Lumpur a complaint from UMNO Youth worldwide. The biased reporting Sessions Court convicted regarding a letter written by a cer- of the invasion by many Western Harakah editor Zulkifli Sulong of tain ‘Petrof’ deemed to be ‘sedi- media organisations has pro- sedition. Harakah is the party tious’. Several servers were seized vided ammunition for some gov- newspaper of the opposition Is- and malaysiakini.com was made ernment leaders in the developing lamic party and had played a a glaring example of what an ‘er- world, Malaysia included, to jus- major role in highligting and re- rant’ critical media organisation tify their strict control over their porting dissent in the reformasi deserves - the sledgehammer treat- own mass media. era. After the 1999 general election, ment. its circulation was slashed from Already, Deputy Information twice a week to twice a month. The Printing Presses and Publi- Minister Zainuddin Maidin has cations Act (PPPA) still remains asserted that press freedom is no What made the court decision in the statute book despite calls longer relevant after these west- even more controversial is that a from civil society groups and pe- ern media organisations aban- similar charge made against a titions by aggrieved journalists for doned journalistic ethics during former opposition leader was the law to be repealed. This op- the invasion of Iraq. But surely, dropped two years ago, thus lend- pressive law has been instrumen- two wrongs don’t make a right.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 30 Proponents of press freedom do homes without warrants in their Can houses be raided when there not only come from the west but continuing nationwide campaign is no one present? Even if some- from the east as well. Just because against smut and pirated VCDs. one was present, there would be certain quarters in the west have We are told that this would take no assurance that personal be- been hypocritical does not mean place if they had reliable informa- longings would be safe. Usually that the important concepts of tion that the number of such VCDs the raiding party comprises a press freedom and freedom of ex- in any particular private home number of personnel who roam pressions - basic human rights warranted such action. the premises at will and it would enshrined under international be well neigh impossible for this law - should be abandoned. While the production and ped- one person to accompany all of dling of pornographic VCDs in them at the same time. What hap- Furthermore, Zam’s argument Malaysian society deserves to be pens if valuable items are stolen? that press freedom in the country condemned, the proposed raiding Besides, giving the police such should be shaped by its own val- of homes by the police without a free hand could lead to all ues and needs is not only falla- search warrants is totally unac- sorts of unnecessary problems. cious but also dangerous. It begs ceptable in a civil society. This Serious questions are being the question: whose (Malaysian) proposal should rightly alarm all asked as to whether this is an values would really shape the Malaysian citizens as it consti- attempt by the government un- proposed journalistic Code of tutes a flagrant invasion of our der some false guise to conduct Conduct and the Media Council, privacy. Any violation of this pri- surveillance of sorts on sections and press freedom? Would these vacy cannot be tolerated and must of the general public. Such at- values be authoritarian in nature be rejected outright We are not a tempts could be aimed at the Op- to protect vested interests or would police state and we must not be- position and those who are con- they serve the interests of the pub- have as one. sidered by the powers-that-be as lic and protect the basic rights of critics and dissidents who could citizens? Equally serious is the fact that this pose a serious threat to the newfound moral crusade could Barisan Nasional. Charter 2000-Aliran calls upon lead to serious abuse of power by the government to repeal all laws the authorities concerned. Who The current moral panic that is that impede press freedom and among common citizens would being magnified by the main- impinge upon the citizens’ right really dare question the police as stream media appears aimed at to access to information. The only to the veracity of their so-called justifying this invasion of privacy. way forward is for the press to be “reliable information” to warrant It would also appear that it is reinstated to its rightful place in such invasion of our privacy? meant to convince the public that society as the guardians and How do we determine the authen- the government is the guardian of watchdogs of the public interest. ticity of these personnel? good morals in our society.

Dr Mustafa K Anuar & Anil Netto There have been numerous cases In short, the public may be hood- Charter2000-Aliran of imposters who passed off as winked into accepting - wittingly 3 May 2003 police officers in full uniform and or otherwise - the government’s commited serious crimes in the green light for the police to raid Of Smut, past. There have been claims of homes. One wonders whether Raiding Homes false evidence having been this campaign against porno- And Social Control planted in such raids to implicate graphic and pirated VCDs - along innocent people who are not eas- with other moralistic measures ily intimidated by the police or to taken in places such as Ipoh and Aliran views with deep concern fix someone because of some po- Johor Baru - is a feeble attempt by the recent declared intention of lice grudge. It is also possible for the government to reclaim the Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee someone with a motive to seek re- moral high ground that was lost Heung to allow its enforcement venge by giving false information in the wake of the reformasi up- officers to conduct raids into to get even. heaval.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 31 If we can launch a campaign such criticising the government over its a sovereign country. That is why as this with so much zeal and vig- lack of transparency and its use our government has rightly taken our so successfully, how is it that of undemocratic laws such as the a public stand against the unjust we are not able to mount a similar ISA? Malaysian citizens have occupation of Palestine by the Is- campaign with as much enthusi- every right to make constructive raeli regime, the invasion of Iraq asm against corruption and abuse criticism in line with their noble or the brutality in Bosnia. Nobody of power by the police? desire to protect our democratic in their wildest dreams has ac- rights. Surely, this should be wel- cused Malaysia of interfering in Executive Committee comed as a patriotic act rather the internal affairs of those coun- 9 June 2003 than branded as treason. tries.

Who’s Tarnishing The Besides, criticising the govern- By the same token, the Malaysian Country’s Image? ment for its shortcomings is part government should be and parcel of the democratic proc- openminded enough to expect ess and must not be construed as similar concern and expressions tarnishing the good name of the of solidarity from citizens of other country. It is crucial that this dis- countries who give moral support tinction should not be blurred. to Malaysians deemed to be vic- tims of human rights violations. Ironically, certain undemocratic or ill-conceived official policies - In speaking out for values and like the ban on holding hands in basic rights, one doesn’t tarnish Ipoh - are more likely to ridicule the image of any country. Rather the country’s image in the eyes of it is the undemocratic actions of a the international community. government or its refusal to speak out against violations in any part When we trample on universal of the world that really tarnishes values such as justice, freedom a country’s image. He must name those who have smeared and compassion, it is natural the good name of Malaysia that this would raise interna- Aliran Executive Committee tional concern. Under the cir- 11 June 2003 Aliran is gravely disturbed by cumstances, it should not sur- deputy premier Abdullah prise us if parliamentarians, Doing National Badawi’s accusation that some civil society groups and indi- Disservice Malaysians have allegedly ‘con- viduals in other countries ex- spired with foreigners to taint the press concern for Malaysians Aliran is appalled by the govern- good name of the country’. whose human rights have been ment’s audacity to incorporate a blatantly violated. Such concern section in its national service bill First of all, we urge Abdullah to is praise-worthy as universal that would empower it to punish name those individuals who have values have no national concerned Malaysians who criti- smeared the good name of Malay- boundaries. cise the nationwide training sia. Sweeping statements like this scheme. can only create unnecessary sus- By contrast, ASEAN should be picion and anxiety especially condemned for its blinkered view, The proposed bill appears to be when the accusation questions which hypocritically overlooks so ‘well protected’ by the govern- one’s loyalty to the country. the gross human rights violations ment that even parliamentarians, in Burma and Aceh. let alone ordinary citizens, are not Equally important, he should immune from prosecution if they clarify what is meant by the The support for universal values criticise the new legislation. ‘shameful’ act of tarnishing the should not be construed as inter- country’s image. Does this mean ference with the internal affairs of Why is this legislation formulated

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 32 to deter criticism? Is it because the government about the national service has been widened to in- new law is so well thought out service proposal. To penalise them clude citizens or permanent resi- that it has no weaknesses? Or are for asking blunt and searching dents between the ages of 16 to 35. there some sinister components in questions – even after the bill is the Bill that, the government fears, passed – is downright undemo- National service is going to drain would invite condemnation from cratic. a large amount of taxpayers’ the public? money and it is only right that the Why is there such a rush to pass government should be made ac- As it is, the bill, draped in secrecy, this Bill without consulting a countable to ordinary people. has already fuelled suspicions wider spectrum of society? Has Their money must be seen to be about its real objective. Needless this business of “instilling patri- properly spent for a cause that to say, this is not an intelligent otism” got anything to do with the would really benefit the people way to instil confidence in the coming general election? In the and the nation. public, much less to promote pa- last general election, some 680,000 triotism. new voters were denied the We call on all parliamentarians - chance to vote as their registra- government and opposition - as It is only natural for a scheme such tions were not processed in time well as concerned citizens and as this - which has serious impli- for the polls. Many of them were civil society groups to urge the cations for the mental, psychologi- believed to be disenchanted with government to rethink this ques- cal and physical health of young the current government. Are these tionable and financially burden- adults - to raise concern among new voters going to be among some project. parents. Parents therefore have those who are earmarked for na- every right to demand vital and tional service - especially since the Aliran Executive Committee adequate information from the targeted age group for national 19 June 2003

Continued from page 29 lence that are unique to Malaysia and adopting new laws. The ju- must be initiated and supported. diciary, on the other hand, must violated by state or non-state ac- Their findings must be made not hide behind the guise of neu- tors. It must ensure that citizens known to the public and relevant trality while actually upholding at risk are provided with effective agencies. This helps in eradicat- patriarchal views in deciding protection from violation of their ing stigma about particular vio- cases involving violence against rights. Citizens, on the other lence so that victims will not be women. It must take into account hand, must be educated to respect hesitant about seeking help from the complex power-structure is- these fundamental rights and not justice agencies. Furthermore, it sues prevalent in society about encroach upon them to the detri- may also serve to inform bodies male-female relationship to be able ment of others. responsible for policy and legis- to decide on the issue of violence lative reforms in their work. in a fair and just manner. Only in All sectors of government must be this way will citizens be able to involved in ensuring that the Agencies responsible for educa- enjoy equal and substantive op- rights are upheld. The problems tion, health, employment, welfare portunities to the fundamental must not be the sole concern of the and belief systems must all play freedoms guaranteed under the criminal justice agencies, after the significant roles. Inter-agency co- Constitution.q fact. Their prevention must be operation is crucial. Proposals considered from the point of view for law reform concerning the spe- of, for instance, early and continu- cific forms of violence must be Noraida Endut teaches ing education about equal respect dealt with in a considered but ex- Law in the Social Work between women and men and pedient manner. The legislature Programme in Universiti about abhorrence of violence. must take upon itself to under- Sains Malaysia. Research into the psychosocial stand the various dynamics of the underpinnings of specific vio- violence in proposing, debating

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 33 HEALTHCARE Blood Money: Bayer, Haemophiliacs, And AIDS

The Govt must ensure that Malaysia does not become a dumping ground for hazardous medical products by Chan Chee Khoon

n May 22, 2003, the haemophiliacs. According to the imported blood products. A New OO New York Times car- South China Morning Post (May Straits Times cutting from late OOO ried an article in which 23, 2003), “the government later 1996 reported Health Ministry Malaysia was men- confirmed that 61 of Hong Kong’s figures of 32 HIV/AIDS cases tioned (along with Taiwan, more than 200 haemophiliacs had (cumulatively, 1985 - June 30, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, been infected with HIV, the virus 1996) arising from blood trans- Indonesia, and Argentina) as that causes AIDS”. fusion or contaminated Factor one of the countries where Cut- VIII. Unfortunately, there was no ter Biological - a Berkeley-based In Japan, haemophiliacs ac- detailed breakdown of these fig- division of the German pharma- counted for the majority of the ures. ceutical giant Bayer - knowingly 4,000 HIV/AIDS cases reported continued to sell Factor VIII (a as of the mid-1990s. In Latin CHI wrote to Dr Ahamad Jusoh, blood clotting medicine for hae- America, at least 700 cases of HIV/ Section of AIDS/STD, and we mophiliacs) which was quite AIDS similarly arose from the use are still awaiting a reply from possibly HIV-contaminated. of contaminated blood products the Health Ministry for an up- This went on for at least a year by haemophiliacs. dated and more detailed break- after a safer, heat-treated alter- down. The Penang Health De- native was available, as the com- Citizens’ Health Initiative (CHI) partment indicates that between pany tried to clear its inventory has tried to ascertain the number (1988 - April 2003), five HIV/ of old stocks. of Malaysian haemophiliacs who AIDS cases (or thirteen, ambigu- were diagnosed as HIV ous because of possible double- Worse, the New York Times arti- seropositives and/or AIDS cases counting) were reported among cle reported that “even after it be- from 1985 onwards. haemophiliacs in the state. Be gan selling the new product, the that as it may, what is clear is company kept making the old Based on a global prevalence of that if the New York Times arti- medicine for several months more. 1:10000, the Haemophilia Soci- cle gave an accurate portrayal of A telex from Cutter to a distribu- ety of Malaysia estimates that what transpired in 1984 with tor suggests one reason behind there may be about 2,000 people Factor VIII, Bayer (Cutter’s) ac- that decision: the company had with haemophilia in Malaysia, tions were criminally culpable. several fixed-price contracts and of whom 1,213 were registered Some HIV/AIDS advocacy believed that the old product with the society as of December groups feel that this is not a pri- would be cheaper to produce”. 2001. The society is aware of 12 ority issue given that haemo- Hong Kong and Taiwan between haemophilia patients who were philiac cases account for less them have recorded about 100 infected with HIV through trans- than 1% among HIV-infected cases of HIV infections among fusions in Malaysia, mostly with persons in Malaysia, and in any

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 34 case, safer Factor VIII and IX are now available. The World In Perspective CHI thinks that there is a bigger issue at stake here: if no action If we could shrink the earth’s parent. is taken against the companies, population to a village of pre- it sends a wrong signal that they cisely 100 people, with all the The following is also some- can get away with dumping existing human ratios remain- thing to ponder... If you woke hazardous products in Malay- ing the same, it would look up this morning with more sia. What is needed instead is a something like the following: health than illness...you are very strong deterrent against more blessed than the million any future temptations to repeat There would be: who will not survive this such criminal actions, with week. other products that they market 57 Asians (or plan to market) in this coun- 21 Europeans If you have never experienced try. Otherwise, we might end up 14 from the Western Hemi- the danger of battle, the lone- as a dumping ground of choice sphere, both north and south liness of imprisonment, the for products that are considered 8 Africans agony of torture, or the pangs too hazardous in countries with of starvation...you are ahead stricter rules and penalties 52 would be female of 500 million people in the against such corporate malfea- 48 would be male world. sance. 70 would be non-white If you can attend a church We urge the Health Ministry to 30 would be white meeting without fear of har- initiate some appropriate actions, assment, arrest, torture, or and if necessary, move to amend 70 would be non-Christian death...you are more blessed the laws so as to deter such prac- 30 would be Christian than three billion people in the tices with appropriately punitive world. sentences. 89 would be heterosexual 11 would be homosexual If you have food in the refrig- With the ongoing negotiations in erator, clothes on your back, a the World Trade Organisation 6 people would possess 59% roof overhead and a place to (WTO) for trade liberalisation, it of the entire world’s wealth sleep... you are richer than is essential that we retain a high and all 6 would be from the 75% of this world. degree of national discretion and United States. adherence to the precautionary 80 would live in substandard If you have money in the bank, principle in order to ensure the housing in your wallet, and spare safety of imported products, and 70 would be unable to read change in a dish someplace ... to protect our environmental 50 would suffer from malnu- you are among the top 8% of health. q trition the world’s wealthy. 1 would be near death; 1 would be near birth If your parents are still alive 1 (yes, only 1) would have a and still married... you are This article is based on an college education very rare, even in the United open letter that was sent to 1 would own a computer States and Canada. the Health Minister on June 6, 2003.2003.6, 6, 2003.2003.6, When one considers our world If you can read this message, from such a compressed per- you are more blessed than Chan Chee Khoon is Co- spective, the need for accept- over two billion people in ordinator, Citizens’ Health ance, understanding and edu- the World that cannot read InitiativeInitiativeInitiative cation becomes glaringly ap- at all.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 35 DON'T CRY FOR ME, MALAYSIA... Continued from page 40

No mention either of the huge projects with questionable eco- nomic returns – the massive edi- fices at Putrajaya, the nation’s new “administrative” capital, for instance. Nothing on how suc- cessful or otherwise the high-tech Multimedia Super Corridor project near Kuala Lumpur has turned out to be - or the state of healthcare, education and afford- able housing. Not to mention the billions of ringgit lost in failed or ill-conceived infrastructure projects.

Mahathir said he was leaving the party in strong shape, and that Anwar's shadow continues to loom over UMNO was evident on the surface at least from the turnout at the assembly UMNO leadership role even be- general election is over for fear that and the adulation. fore party elections in the middle they might be dropped as candi- of next year. dates for the general election. A smooth UMNO leadership suc- Abdullah’s grip on power will cession to current UMNO deputy The top party leaders’ pledges to also largely depend on UMNO’s president, Abdullah Badawi, who respect Abdullah’s choice of performance at the general elec- is also deputy premier, is ex- deputy premier appears to have tion and on whether PAS makes pected. The party’s other top lead- satisfied Mahathir that the ex- any further inroads. ers have also vowed to respect pected jostling for power may be Abdullah’s choice of deputy presi- minimised. But few who have ob- In the post assembly conference, dent (who, by tradition, assumes served UMNO history are as con- Mahathir could not avoid a ques- the deputy prime minister’s post vinced that the leadership tussle tion about the fate of the man - if he lasts that long!). Indeed, will not resume in earnest espe- whose shadow continues to loom Mahathir steps down in October cially after the next general elec- over UMNO: Anwar. in the knowledge that the party tion, expected to be held before the has weathered one of its worst cri- UMNO party elections. Dark The ailing prisoner, who is only ses brought about by the sacking horses lurk - among them former due for release in 2009, is apply- and jailing of his former deputy, Mahathir archrival-turned-ally ing for bail pending the outcome Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and of his appeal into his conviction Defence Minister Najib Razak, for sodomy. The Court of Appeal Dark Horses believed to be favoured by in Kuala Lumpur is scheduled to Mahathir. And will former deputy begin its hearing into his bail ap- But a closer look reveals that heir premier Musa Hitam and former plication on July 14. Hopes of an apparent Abdullah has not had finance minister Daim Zainuddin unexpected early release for to face party elections for the No. play any role behind the scenes? Anwar have risen somewhat af- 2 UMNO post he now holds. He ter six key reformasi activists, was appointed – rather than Some believe that potential chal- most of them second echelon lead- elected – as UMNO deputy presi- lengers for top UMNO posts in the ers of Keadilan, were freed from dent, replacing Anwar. Now party elections will not be willing detention under the Internal Se- Abdullah is set to assume the to show their cards until after the curity Act in June 2003.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 36 The thorniest problem Abdullah eign policy stance especially on ultimate responsibility for the hu- will have to deal with is how to Iraq and Palestine and his ability man rights abuses during his ten- handle the Anwar issue. Both to “thumb his nose” at the big ure, the sacking of top judges in Abdullah and Anwar hail from powers. 1988, the suffering of ISA detain- Penang and if Anwar is freed on ees, the black eye inflicted on bail, Abdullah could be in for a But it’s a pity that the premier’s Anwar, and the exploitation of major headache. comments were not more intelli- migrant workers. gently framed. Instead of criticis- But then again, if Anwar is freed, ing United States’ hegemony in To Mahathir’s credit - and this he PAS would be deprived of the sin- the new world order and point- must share with the vast majority gle biggest issue that enabled it to ing out the perils of neo-liberal of level-headed Malaysians - the ride a wave of outrage among globalisation for developing na- country has been spared any ma- grassroots Malay in the last gen- tions, Mahathir preferred to jor bloodshed and conflict over the eral election, when it made sharp launch a diatribe against the “Eu- last two decades. Also, income lev- inroads into UMNO territory. All ropean race” as a whole. els have risen over the years, mak- the same, early freedom for ing Malaysia one of the most eco- Anwar is likely to boost the oppo- In the process, he ignored the vari- nomically prosperous nations in sition alliance’s hopes in the com- ous shades of public opinion Southeast Asia in terms of per ing polls. within the “European race” such capita GDP. A new Malay mid- as the Franco-German opposition dle-class has emerged. Sweeping to the invasion of Iraq and the Statements wave of anti-war protests in Eu- But for all the progress, the na- rope. His sweeping statements - tions’s wealth is far from evenly Mahathir is also confident his along with the earlier distribution distributed - even after years of scathing remarks about the Euro- to UMNO delegates of U.S. indus- economic policy aimed at “re- peans won’t lead to a loss in new trialist Henry Ford’s anti-semitic structuring society”. Income in- foreign investment in Malaysia. book ‘’The International Jew’’ – equality in Malaysia - as meas- That confidence probably lies in have created unnecessary ill-will, ured by the “gini coefficient” in- the knowledge that the top five which Abdullah will have to re- dicator (where 0 is perfect equal- sources of foreign investments (in pair. ity and 1 is perfect inequality) - terms of applications received in remains high. Jan-Mar 2003) were Japan, the Mahathir also simplistically United States, Singapore, China overlooked the aggression and According to UNDP statistics (including Hong Kong) and Tai- human rights abuses committed cited by Boston University’s wan. They contributed 84 per cent by Asian countries – notably the Project on Human Development, of total foreign investment – so it’s brutal Japanese Occupation of Malaysia’s gini coefficient stood not as if Malaysia is particularly Malaya during the Second World at 0.49 in the year 2002, i.e. higher sensitive to fluctuations in Euro- War, the “Confrontation” with income inequality than in Indo- pean investment. Indonesia in 1962-1966, and In- nesia (0.32), Laos (0.37), India donesia’s invasion of East (0.38), Thailand (0.41) and Phil- Though Mahathir’s anti-Euro- Timor in 1975. ippines (0.46). pean stance may have rankled certain Western leaders and dip- Human Rights For now, Mahathir’s protracted lomats, his comments may have And Inequalities farewell continues until October struck a chord among many when he is finally expected to step Malaysians upset over the Anglo- No one expected Mahathir to down after hosting the summit of American invasion of Iraq and the dwell on human rights issues - the Organisation of Islamic Con- blind eye turned towards the and he did not try to. More than ferences. Plenty of time for plight of the Palestinians under 100 people remain under deten- Malaysians to look back at his 22- Israeli occupation. In that sense, tion without trial. As Prime Min- year tenure, to take stock and to many Malaysians generally sup- ister - and Home Affairs Minister speculate on what the uncertain port Mahathir’s independent for- for many years - he cannot escape post-Mahathir era holds. q

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Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 38 Here they come again Sparkling stars in the sky Here they come again To destroy the innocent passers-by

The child asks her mother What is that thing in the sky? Here They Come Why does it like to make us cry? The mother does not answer She has already gone away with the father To a better place after one dies The child begins to cry

Alone, afraid and hurt Why is the child surrounded by dirt? Bloody bodies lying everywhere Here they come again Nobody able to breathe the foul air Sparkling stars in the sky Nauseating, blasphemous, disgusting Here they come again Not to mention repulsive and disheartening To destroy the innocent passers-by The child is left alone She is crying in a monotonous tone A child looks up in the sky Fear, fear, fear, fear And asks a stranger passing by It has finally found its way here What is that bright shiny thing? The child is hungry and afraid Is it a comet, a meteor, a star? Will someone please give her a loaf of bread Just like the headlights on my father’s car Here they come again The stranger says, run child, run! Sparkling stars in the sky Don’t look left, don’t look right Here they come again Don’t stop running until you’re home THEY HAVE DESTROYED the innocent Close the door and lock it tight passers-by The time has come to say goodbye The time has come to fight and die Bombs, bombs everywhere Schools, mosques and the city square Here they come again Bodies, bodies everywhere Sparkling stars in the sky Schools, mosques and the city square Here they come again Wake up everyone! To destroy the innocent passers-by They have come to save us They have come to take us The child is at home crying To a place long forgotten She keeps asking her mother what’s happening A place with justice, equality and a vision What are those awful sounds? It is the AMERICAN DREAM What is shaking the grounds? It is called OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM The mother holds her child close to her Merely whispers shh, don’t worry, it’ll soon be over Shazwan bin Mustafa Kamal

(This poem is dedicated to all victims of war throughout the world.)

Aliran Monthly : Vol.23(5) Page 39 COVER STORY Don’t Cry For Me, Malaysia… The UMNO president bids farewell, and now his successor has to tackle the problems swept under the carpet by Anil Netto

hen Prime Minister WWW Mahathir Mohamad fi- WW nally bade farewell to his party’s general assem- bly on Saturday, it was with a smile and a wave rather than the tears many had expected once again.

After lambasting the “European race” as colonialist robbers and lashing out at the opposition Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), Mahathir was mobbed by sup- porters belonging to his United Malays National Organisation as delegates were seen dabbing their eyes with handkerchiefs.

For all his rhetoric, Mahathir’s speeches at the party assembly conspicuously avoided touching on pressing domestic issues in- cluding the economic slowdown, ethnic polarisation, the declining human rights situation, income inequalities and the level of money politics and corruption.

And if there is one bitter legacy of the Mahathir years, it is the extent to which the stature of democratic institutions such as Parliament and the Judiciary has dropped over the years as power became concentrated in the hands of the Executive, especially the Prime Minister’s office.

Continued on page 37

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