PP3739/12/2001 ISSN 0127 - 5127 / RM3.00 / 2001:21(5)

STORM OVER NANYANG

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 1 COVER STORY The Nanyang Takeover Crisis Representing or Opposing Community Interests? by Dr Francis Loh

ow that its EGM is over, NN MCA’s takeover of NNN Nanyang Press Hold- ings Bhd is a fait accom- pli. MCA will probably follow the Prime Minister’s advice and shed part of its Nanyang shares to some ‘strategic partners’. The financial burden of assuming 72% of Nanyang shares alone should persuade MCA’s Huaren Hold- ings Sdn Bhd to do this, and sooner rather than later.

Only 53 per cent of those who voted at the 24 June EGM favoured the takeover. Even so the ‘Gang of Eight’ led by and have declared that they will accept the EGM’s decision. Their road-shows will stop. The party will close ranks. But for how long?

Even if there’s no mud-slinging within MCA, there is still a storm of protest in the Chinese commu- nity against the Nanyang takeo- ver. The protest will not die so quickly but will probably haunt MCA. Indeed ’s slim victory suggests MCA is so split that it will only be a matter of Perennial Consider the party feud that has time before another round of in- Succession Feuds festered in recent years between tra-party feuding occurs with MCA president Dr Ling Liong even higher stakes. Then the MCA has had a very fractious Sik and his deputy, Lim Ah Lek. Nanyang takeover which has past, not always because of Ling’s allies include two vice united Ling’s rivals as never be- substantive differences, but be- presidents, Ka Ting and Dr fore will gift them with a critical cause of fierce contests for top , secretary-gen- issue at the MCA party elections positions (see accompanying eral Dr , Wanita due next year. box). chief, Dr , and

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE

The Uproar Over Nanyang CONTENTS This issue focuses on the MCA’s takeover of Nanyang. In the cover story, Francis Loh locates the controversy within the context of the party’s peren- COVER STORY nial factional feuding and the political ferment that ••• The Nanyang Takeover Crisis 222 has been brewing in recent years. ••• MCA's Fractious Past 999

Of significance is the widespread protest that has FEATURES erupted from groups and individuals, including ••• An Op-press-ive Council pro-BN organisations like the ACCIM. In The Making? 101010 ••• Aliran's ISA Watch 181818 Most heartening has been the stance taken by the ••• Straight From The Heart 212121 Chinese editors and journalists who have categori- •• Straight From The Heart 2121 cally condemned the takeover. Many of the usual ••• Everything For The Truth! 232323 columnists and contributors have stopped writing ••• Tian Chua Writes 252525 for the Chinese dailies involved. ••• A Test Of Faith 262626 ••• What Is Justice All About? 282828 The takeover of Nanyang confirms a trend of de- ••• Our Prayers Have Been Answered 292929 clining press freedom; so what do we make of offi- ••• Our Struggle Is Sacred 323232 cial plans to set up a media council? Anil Netto, in ••• Letter To The Prime Minister 393939 an accompanying feature, suggests that such a coun- ••• Mahathir's Future, cil may end up tightening control over the media Daim And The MCA 404040 rather than promoting media freedom.

The Nanyang issue is also covered in our back cover REGULARS story by Maznah Mohamad, who reviews the re- ••• Current Concerns 121212 cent UMNO general assembly. She discusses the ••• LettersLettersLetters 151515 silence over a missing Daim and asserts that the ••• Thinking Allowed 191919 party leader’s personal survival has overridden everything else. OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS ••• Excerpts From ISA Judgment 242424 Make sure you read the ongoing series of heart-rend- ••• Letter To Home Minister 313131 ing first-person accounts from the families of ISA •• Subscription Form 3838 detainees. Aliran Monthly recently met a few of the ••• Subscription Form 383838 courageous wives and women activists at a ‘Women against ISA’ forum in our office in . Prema Devaraj was on hand to describe the moving ac- counts that touched the hearts of the audience. Have you written to protest the ISA? If you haven’t, make sure you do so now! Published by Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, ALIRANALIRANALIRAN is a Reform Movement dedicated to Penang, . 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.malaysia.net/aliran all above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Angkatan Edaran Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. Lot 6, Jalan Tukang 16/4, Seksyen 16, 40000 Shah Alam, Darul Ehsan.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 3 Penang MCA leader, Dr Sak Cheng well as with UMNO leaders. How- In fact Lim had followed party tra- Lam. Closely linked to Lim are his ever, Lim didn’t expect Fong to be dition. MCA had not, at least not protégé, vice-president Chan MCA’s fourth minister. recently, allocated its ministerial Kong Choy, and Fu Ah Kiow and posts, or top party posts for that others from . At MCA’s 47th AGA, in June 2000, matter, according to the ‘more Ling claimed that his ‘hands were democratic’ principles which What is the basis of this dispute? tied’: there were four vice-presi- Ling was apparently upholding. Essentially it involves succession dents but only two vacant minis- to the party leadership, an issue terial posts. So he considered sen- For example, had that goes back to Ling’s call to iority and popular support in de- polled the highest vote of all the older MCA leaders at the 1998 ciding who to promote. vice-presidents in 1996 and had Annual General Assembly (AGA) been a vice-president since 1990. to vacate their ministerial ap- A year earlier, five candidates had Yet Ling had not recommended pointments and party posts to vied for the four vice-president’s Yap for a ministerial appointment make way for younger figures. posts. Fong had the highest – as a delegate to the 47th AGA When Lim declined to contest the number of votes, followed by pointed out. 1999 general election, it seemed Chua, Ong and Chan. Yap Pian that the two top leaders had Hon, vice-president since 1990, The intra-party differences devel- reached a ‘gentlemen’s agree- came last. So, Ling kept Chua and oped in a peculiar manner in May ment’, which included Chan promoted Fong and Ong, evi- 2000 (see AM, 20, 4). Ling sud- Kong Choy’s replacing Lim as a dently in accordance with the denly announced his resignation federal minister. general assembly’s preference. as a minister, ostensibly to allow Chan to replace him: ‘He (Chan) Two other ministerial positions But this decision apparently was the only vice president with- were then occupied by Ting Chew didn’t honour the ‘gentlemen’s out a ministerial position.’ In the Peh and vice-president Chua Jui agreement’ reached between Ling event, Ling withdrew his resigna- Meng. Ting contested the 1999 and Lim. Lim had stepped down. tion after two weeks’ ‘reflection’. general election but was per- However, someone from Ling’s suaded to step down as minister. team, and not Lim’s protégé, had The feud reared its head again in Being younger than Ting, Chua benefited. early 2001. Lim apparently pres- didn’t think he was due for retire- sured Ling to set a ment. Indeed, some said that date for the latter’s Chua had cast his eyes on the retirement as minis- party presidency. ter. Simultaneously it was proposed But when Dr Mahathir reshuffled that Chan should the cabinet after the November be appointed acting 1999 general election, Ling and deputy president if Chua were re-appointed as min- Lim were to vacate isters while Ong and Fong re- his party position. placed Ting and Lim. There was a prec- edent for this pro- Ong’s promotion was predictable: posal: in 1996 he is Ling’s former political secre- MCA’s presidential tary, his protégé as well as his council had ar- unannounced successor. Ong has ranged for Lim to succeed Lee Kim a reputation for being a capable Undemocratic Criteria Sai as deputy president without administrator and maintains contest, while Ting was promised good rapport with the party rank- Had Ling applied the correct cri- the position of secretary general. and-file, Chinese associations, teria? Was Lim resorting to and the community at large, as cronyism? These decisions were subse-

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 4 quently endorsed by the MCA debacle and de- central committee and touted as posit-taking co-operative scan- evidence of MCA’s ‘culture of dals – that he would divorce MCA smooth succession’. from business.

Maybe Lim meant to invoke this From Honeymoon To ‘culture’ but it looked as if the Disillusionment proposals only provoked demon- strations and counter-demonstra- In the background is the political tions. Ongoing Ling-Lim talks ferment within the Chinese were suspended in February 2001 Malaysian community. The mid- ‘to avert instability’. At any rate, 1990s saw the Chinese commu- the Ling-Lim dispute over party nity rallying behind Barisan succession hardly excited other Nasional and Dr Mahathir MCA factions, let alone the wider would be set on ‘a collision course Mohamad when BN polled 53.2 Chinese community. with the Chinese community per cent of the Chinese popular which might have an adverse ef- vote in 1995 compared to 41.5 per Anti-Ling fect on the BN’. cent in 1990 Factions Unite Chua Jui Meng argued that poli- These past couple of years, how- The Nanyang takeover is a tics and business shouldn’t mix, ever, rumblings of dissatisfaction wholly different episode. The con- that MCA shouldn’t become ‘MCA have re-emerged. troversial takeover has galvanised Sdn Bhd’. Instead MCA should Lim’s faction and other anti-Ling focus on the political management It’s widely believed that the Chi- groups into a formidable force. of the affairs of the nation. nese gave overwhelming support to MCA and Gerakan in the 1999 The ‘Gang of Eight’ now included Never mind that MCA is already general election, allowing MCA to Youth leader, Ong Tee Kiat, who involved in business, and, win 12 seats and Gerakan 3 out of was previously political secretary through Huaren Holdings, owns the 24 Chinese-majority constitu- to , Ling’s old foe; Yap 66.34 million shares of Star Publi- encies, and thus helping BN re- Pian Hon, the former three-term cations. Chua was particularly tain its two-thirds parliamentary vice-president whose popularity concerned that MCA had ‘mort- majority. brought him no ministerial post; gaged’ away its Star Publications deputy Wanita leader, Dr Tan Yee shares, and would be saddled Yet, the situation was more com- Kew; perennial Ling critic Wong with a RM230 million debt to pay plex. In the 6 seats (in the penin- Mook Leong, and others. To eve- for its Nanyang acquisition. sula) having more than 80% Chi- ryone’s surprise Health Minister Never mind that Chua himself is nese voters, BN only polled 45 per Chua Jui Meng, a former Ling as- a trustee of Huaren Management cent of the average popular vote sociate, joined the ‘Gang of Eight’. Sdn Bhd. He was worried that and won just 1 seat while DAP such ‘a huge debt’ would distract captured 53 per cent of the vote The Nanyang takeover had given the MCA from serving the Chinese and 5 seats. In fact BN/MCA’s the anti-Ling group a significant community. Never mind Chua's share of the Chinese vote in the 24 issue to legitimise its challenge. political ambitions. Chinese majority seats declined During their road-show, Lim re- slightly between 1995 and 1999. peatedly declared, ‘It is the duty But all this was heady stuff – no of all party-loving members to en- longer a petty fight by gentlemen Political Ferment sure that the party leadership lis- over an unfulfilled leadership suc- tens to the sentiments and voices cession agreement. At one of the Besides, several new groups and of members and the Chinese com- road-shows, Ling was reminded coalitions emerged before the 1999 munity.’ Should the leadership of the promise he made in 1986 – election. The best known of them fail to do so, he argued, MCA upon becoming president after the was the group of 11 organisations

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 5 which sponsored the ‘17-Point tions endorsed Election Appeal’, or simply Suqiu. the ‘17-Point Ap- peal’. Suqiu included typical ‘Chinese demands’ such as fair and equi- But it was also table economic policies and evident that the multiculturalism as the bases for community was national unity, the development of split between Chinese schools and the improve- pro-BN organi- ment of Chinese new villages. sations like FECAM and But Suqiu also wanted to restore ACCIM (the Fed- The yellow-ribbon protest constitutional democracy, main- eration of Chinese Associations in team of Chinese ministers to meet tain professionalism in the police Malaysia and the Associated Chi- the organisations. He added that force, protect human rights and nese Chambers of Commerce and ‘none of the issues had caused justice, advance the rights of Industry in Malaysia) and organi- any controversy or were rejected women, workers and the indig- sations such as Dong Zong and Jiao by the Cabinet outright’ ( enous peoples, and to provide Zong who thought it opportune to 23 Sept 1999). housing for all. Moreover, Suqiu support a ‘two-coalition system’ wanted the government to curb without specifically endorsing Controversies And corruption, review privatisation Barisan Alternatif. Disappointments policies, protect the environment, repeal the ISA and safeguard press There was a smaller group of Chi- Since November 1999 the politi- freedom. nese organisations that supported cal ferment has taken on other di- BA. And although they endorsed mensions. Such demands were made in the the ’17-Point Appeal’ they sepa- spirit of reformasi. rately launched ‘The People are First, UMNO Youth leaders had the Bosses’ declaration. alleged in August 2000 that an Thus Suqiu created a stir among ACCIM leader, and then Suqiu, the Chinese community. Subse- The implications of these politi- had questioned Malay special quently 2095 (out of an estimated cal developments, not widely no- rights. On Merdeka Day, Dr total of 4000) Chinese organisa- ticed because of the more dramatic Mahathir even likened Suqiu to reformasi, were ‘extremists’, ‘communists of the serious past’, and even the alleged Al- enough to Ma’unah militants. He claimed compel MCA, the Chinese media had ‘sowed Gerakan and misconceptions among moderate SUPP to sup- Chinese’. port Suqiu. In- deed, in Sep- In September 2000, Ling lamely tember 1999, attempted to alleviate Chinese Ling Liong Sik anxieties by claiming that the proudly an- prime minister had not referred to nounced that Suqiu. the Cabinet had consid- But the Chinese community was ered the ‘17- incensed that MCA and BN’s Point Appeal’ other ‘Chinese parties’ which had and ap- supported Suqiu barely a year ago pointed him to now sang a different tune. Many head a special regarded Ling’s advice – ‘Listen Fish-head being fried

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 6 to the PM’, ‘Don’t be extreme in royalty, and the ‘character of our deal’. CAT declared that, ‘It is the your demands’, ‘The PM’s advice leader, Dr Mahathir’ (according to responsibility of every party to is pertinent, mature and borne out a UMNO leader). The result ensure the independence of the of his vast experience in govern- was BN’s stunning defeat in No- media from partisan control or in- ing the country’ (see AM, 20, 7) – vember 2000, which critically lost tervention.’ More than that, CAT to be patronising. BN its two-thirds majority in the insisted that, ‘The MCA as a mem- Kedah State Assembly. ber of the ruling coalition, Barisan The disillusionment grew when Nasional, which has accepted the government insisted on imple- Meanwhile, other controversies Suqiu in principle, should not di- menting the ‘Vision Schools’. De- have emerged. One important con- rectly or indirectly intervene in spite BN’s repeated assurances troversy had to do with the relo- media operations.’ that the objective of Vision Schools cation of SRJK Damansara (C) Pri- is to promote interaction and mary School which many parents The Newspa- unity among children of different and students opposed. This issue per Editors Association urged ethnic backgrounds, the vast ma- once again highlighted long un- MCA to rescind the sale. In pro- jority of the Chinese majority were resolved Chinese concerns over test, some 90 columnists and con- unconvinced that the manner of the construction and expansion of tributors to the , implementation of the ‘Vision Chinese primary and secondary Press, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Schools’ would not change the schools. Another emotional issue Guangming decided to stop writ- character of Chinese schools. surfaced when approximately 500 ing for the dailies. They con- Chinese ‘top scorers’ in the gov- demned the takeover for ‘pushing Many community leaders criti- ernment examinations weren’t through a scheme that runs coun- cised the inadequate consultation admitted to public universities. ter to democratic principles’ and between the government and the which spelled ‘the end of the in- Chinese schools. Some Jiao Zong Consequently the prevalent per- dependence and autonomy of leaders were adamant that the ception in the Chinese community Chinese dailies’. government’s assurances would has it that BN has ignored Chi- end up like past unfulfilled prom- nese requests, not adequately con- What was Ling Liong Sik’s re- ises to Chinese schools. They de- sulted the community, and re- sponse? He repeatedly stated that manded that written clarifications neged on electoral promises. the character and identity of the of the Vision School concept be Along with that is the assessment dailies would not change. He made available for prior and com- that MCA had insufficiently cham- added that MCA would relinquish prehensive discussion. The gov- pioned the rights of the commu- ernment refused. At which point nity. the Chinese educationists pro- posed that the ‘Greater Interaction Takeover Time Programme to Promote Unity’, agreed by all BN parties in the And then came Nanyang. mid-1980s, but shelved due to the recession then, be implemented Dong Jiao Zong and FECAM criti- instead . cised MCA. Surprisingly even ACCIM did so. These three prin- As it turned out, a by-election in cipal Chinese organisations Lunas, Kedah, became a testing joined hundreds of others to es- ground for Chinese voters’ discon- tablish CAT (The Committee of tent over Suqiu’s treatment and the Chinese Organisations Against Vision Schools. That discontent the MCA Takeover of Nanyang joined with Malay voters’ continu- Press). ing dissent over the affair, the government’s CAT refused to accept that the ac- withdrawal of Trengganu’s oil quisition was a ‘purely business “Protect the independence of newspapers”

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 7 management of the papers to Star moralistic policies introduced by Yet there is little information on Publications or other ‘strategic Pas-led Kelantan and its educational, finance, industri- partners’. have also created alarm - despite alisation and investment policies. Pas’ regular assurances that non- As MCA’s EGM split and the con- Muslims would not be discrimi- Disillusioned with the BN/ tinuing protests in the Chinese nated against and its sincere ef- MCA, fearful of PAS, and un- community show, either the MCA forts to reach out to the Chinese sure of what the BA stands for, president is naïve or he considers community. the Chinese community appears the Chinese community to be to have recoiled inwards to pro- naïve. By holding up Star Publi- Second is the uncertainty over tect its current interests - its cations as an example of how what Pas, indeed the BA, stands schools, its businesses and as- MCA would guarantee the ac- for. There is already much anxi- sociations, and of course, its quired newspapers’ independ- ety if not criticism of Pas’ overly media. It would not be surpris- ence, Ling has in fact confirmed moralistic stance over what are ing if the Gang of Eight tries to the protesters’ worst fears. considered personal matters like capitalise on the community’s dress, gambling, the role of uncertainty and disenchant- Conclusion women and other cultural issues. ment. q

The widespread protest against the takeover among the Chinese community can be located within the context of the political ferment that has been occurring. In part, the ferment is related to the eco- nomic uncertainties which char- acterise the current period. But it is also, no doubt, related to the Anwar factor and the growing disillusionment among Malaysians of all ethnic groups with the BN government and Dr Mahathir’s leadership. “Bye-bye MCA” This ferment probably involves one half of the Chinese commu- nity. Of this one half, only a small group openly identifies with the Quick Off The Block Barisan Alternatif, while a larger proportion is drawn to the pros- With the MCA gobbling up two relatively independent Chi- pect of a two-coalition system, nese dailies, independent journalists and contributors have without necessarily endorsing the turned to the Internet in search of media freedom. Within BA. There are at least two reasons weeks, several Chinese news-websites have sprouted and for the ambivalence towards the chalked up thousands of hits. Check them out. BA. 1. Mytianwang - http://www.mytianwang.com/ First, there is a fear of PAS and its agenda of an Islamic state – a fear 2. Berita Generasi - http://www.beritagenerasi.com/ that is only partly due to the http://www.suaram.org/generasi/ propaganda of the BN parties. In- deed, the contradictory state- 3. Freemedia - http://www.freemedia.f2s.com/ ments and often unnecessarily

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 8 MCA’s Fractious Past

group led by , Alex Tan, emerged as the new Lee, Paul Leong, Tan Tiong Hong president and deputy presi- and T.C. Choong, branded also as dent respectively in 1986. the Young Turks for calling for re- forms and democratisation of the In 1990 Lee mounted a chal- party were outwitted by the old lenge against Ling. A no holds guard led by , Lee barred contest was in the off- Siok Yew, Kam Woon Wah and Lee ing when it was averted in the San Choon, who controlled the eleventh hour. In 1996, Lee was party machinery and maintained eased out and replaced by Lim close ties with UMNO. These Ah Lek as MCA’s new deputy Young Turks then left the party to president. n the late 1950s, a join Gerakan. III group of Young This unending series of inter- II Turks led by Dr Lim One of them, Michael , who nal party conflicts, often result- Chong Eu, Too Joon remained behind in the MCA ing in expulsions or resigna- Hing, Yong Pung How, Tan later challenged tions suggest that there is a lack Suan Kok and Ng Ek Teong for the presidency in 1979. Chen of democracy in the party. allied themselves with H.S. lost but took the matter to Court. Through the years, the party Lee and challenged the party Chen too left the party and president has been able to con- stalwarts comprising Ong joined Gerakan. centrate power. Like the Yoke , Tan Siew Sin and UMNO president, the MCA the towkay leaders gathered Between 1983-1985, after Lee president is also vested with around Tun , had resigned as president, a the power to appoint other who was in his waning protracted struggle between act- party leaders to top posts. This years. By 1959 the party was ing president Neo Yee Pan and includes the secretary-general, badly divided and the con- FT chief Tan Koon Swan split the treasurer-general, national or- flict was only overcome party right down the centre. Neo ganising secretary and his when Lim and his allies de- resorted to expulsions and sus- deputy, five other central com- parted from the party (to form pensions of members and even mittee members, the heads of the United Democratic Party, entire branches. Tan filed legal the national-level bureau, and and subsequently with oth- suits and court injunctions. the chairpersons of the 13 state ers, the Parti Gerakan Rakyat There were allegations of phan- liaison committees. Increas- Malaysia). tom members and phantom vot- ingly, the president only con- ers by both sides and an extraor- sults the presidential council In the mid-1960s, one of the dinary general meeting was rather than the central commit- founders of the Youth wing, called in 1984 wherein Tan’s tee or the general assembly Sim Mou Yew, also head of faction emerged victorious. But even when making very impor- the Chinese Schools Teach- Tan did not last long as he was tant decisions, as in this case ers Association, led a group prosecuted and jailed over the involving the RM230 million of radicals out of the party. Pan-El affair. In the wake of this takeover of Nanyang Press crisis, Ling Liong Sik and Lee Holdings Bhd. From 1971-73, yet another Kim Sai, who had allied with F Loh

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 9 MEDIA An Op-press-ive Council In The Making? A Malaysian Media Council may end up stifling press freedom by Anil Netto, joint coordinator Charter 2000

he process of setting up Most respected media councils Internet. a Malaysian Media such as the Press Council of India TTT Council is already and the Australian Press Council With oppressive laws such as the underway. Those of us have two main objectives. The first Printing Presses and Publications spearheading Charter 2000, the objective is to defend media free- Act, the Official Secrets Act, the Se- citizens’ media initiative, should dom from attacks especially from dition Act, and the Internal Secu- be delighted as one of the char- the government. Australia, for rity Act strangling the media, ter’s demands was for the estab- instance, has a Freedom of Infor- what kind of freedom is there left lishment of an independent me- mation Act and there is no licens- to defend? Some might argue that dia council. But instead we are ing system as such or any require- human rights groups supported hesitating, maybe even deeply ment of government approval to the setting up of the Human suspicious. launch a newspaper or other Rights Commission of Malaysia press enterprise. For sure, coun- (Suhakam) despite the country’s The Malaysian Press Institute has tries like India and Australia have oppressive laws, so why can’t already set up a Working Commit- something worth defending. rights groups extend similar sup- tee to study the possibility of set- port for a new Malaysian Media ting up of a Media Council in The second objective of a press Council? Malaysia. This follows a request council would be to regulate the by the Government that the me- media to ensure that journalistic There is a simple difference be- dia, and not the Government, ethics are observed. In this, most tween the two cases. Suhakam should be involved in the forma- press councils are empowered to was set up to uphold human tion of such a body following calls investigate all complaints against rights and not to regulate the work by several parties for the setting the media from aggrieved parties. of human rights groups. up of such a council to tackle is- What Is There To sues related to the media. In contrast, a Malaysian Media Defend? Council would be likely to focus However, the fact that Prime Min- Why wouldn’t such a council be on regulating all media in Malay- ister was effective in Malaysia? First, there sia including alternative and op- named by the Committee to Pro- is hardly any media freedom left position media and independent tect Journalists as one of the Top to defend. With the MCA gobbling journalism. Given the present cli- Ten Enemies of the Press for the up two relatively independent mate and context, it is highly un- third straight year makes us won- Chinese-language newspapers, likely that a Malaysian Media der why his administration Nanyang Siang Pau and China Council would lobby strongly for would even think of setting up of Press (see cover story), political con- greater media freedom, one of the a media council. Why initiate a trol or ownership over the main- two key functions of any press media council when Malaysia’s stream electronic and print media council worth its name. Indeed, a record on media freedom is, shall is now almost complete. Now we Malaysian Media Council would we say, ‘well-known’ the world hear that laws are being drafted be likely to pay lip service to me- over? to control journalism over the dia freedom for several reasons.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 10 Lop-sided rights activists, independent writ- would be from the mainstream Composition ers and respected media critics, media. It is in the interest of the academics and lawyers. These mainstream media not to allow First, the composition of the coun- representatives of the public will independent media room to cil: if the appointments to the be able to articulate demands for flourish simply because inves- Suhakam are any guide, the pro- greater media freedom and pro- tigative and critical journalism posed media council is likely to vide the impetus for the council, from any independent pub- be dominated by pro-establish- in turn, to demand greater free- lisher/competitor would eat ment personalities largely drawn dom of expression from the gov- into the market share and prof- from the major media organisa- ernment. itability of the staid mainstream tions, most of which are govern- media organisations. Hence it is ment-controlled, directly or indi- But going by the Suhakam experi- likely that pro-establishment rectly. ence, this is not likely to happen. council members from the main- The representatives of the public stream media will not take The proposed media council has who would be appointed to the kindly to media or journalists to include a fair number of repre- Malaysian Press Council would that exert even a semblance of sentatives from the alternative and likely be mainly pro-establish- independence from pro-estab- opposition media. It is also essen- ment individuals with dismal lishment reporting. tial to include independent activ- views on media freedom and there ists, academics and legal experts will probably be few critical Another Layer Of to represent the interests of the voices. Control public. Finally, the council itself will In Australia, which has a freer Sycophantic Attitude likely end up as a second layer of press, the press council comprises A second factor that would im- control, as a back up to the 21 members, a third of whom are pede the work of a Malaysian overarching punitive threat of representatives of the public com- Press Council is the prevailing oppressive laws already in place. prising indigenous people’s activ- culture of self-censorship and a It will likely punish journalists ists, teachers, activist lawyers, misguided notion of “develop- and media organisations that academics, legal experts, and so- mental journalism” - a euphe- step beyond the narrow bounda- cial activists. mism for being uncritical and ries of media freedom already in not rocking the boat. Many of place. The respected Press Council of the prominent personalities in India, on the other hand, has eight the media have grown used to Procedures for investigating com- non-media people in its 28-mem- sycophantic behaviour and in- plaints may bypass the usual ju- ber council: three experts in edu- deed many owe their positions dicial procedures, and swift pun- cation, science, law, literature and to the powers-that-be. This doc- ishment could well be imposed on culture and five Members of Par- ile culture is likely to be carried any “culprits” in the eyes of the liament. (The chairman of the In- over into the Malaysian Media pro-establishment council mem- dian Press Council, by convention Council and will dictate the di- bers. a retired Supreme Court judge, rection the council takes i.e. was elected in 1997 as President away from greater media free- For these reasons, Charter 2000 of the World Association of Press dom. will not participate in the setting Councils.) up of the proposed media council Conflict of Interest until such time as the media envi- Because the mainstream media in ronment changes and oppressive Malaysia is so pro-establishment A third factor that would make laws are repealed. Indeed, before and shackled, it is all the more im- it unlikely for the council to call a Media Council can be set up, the portant that the proposed media for greater media freedom is the government will have to demon- council should have at least half likely potential conflict of inter- strate by word and deed that it is its membership made up of non- est among its pro-establishment ready to respect and uphold me- media people such as human personalities most of whom dia freedom. q

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 11 putes involving the media, pro- tect the media from interfer- ence from those with vested interests, and provide access to marginalised groups.

We are however opposed to set- ting up a media council when oppressive laws are still in place. Such a council would be a tooth- less tiger or worse, end up as another official instrument of control over the media. A me- dia council would be meaning- less in the current climate when Malaysians, including Internet A record of Aliran'sAliran'sAliran's stand on current affairs. webmasters, contributors, and columnists, have been detained World Press Freedom dependent publicly owned under the ISA expressing them- Day: A call for greater media with institutionalised selves. Charter2000 calls for media freedom safeguards. their immediate and uncondi- tional release. To mark World Press Freedom We strongly oppose any at- Day 2001, Charter2000, a citi- tempt to further curtail media The government must realise zen’s media initiative, calls on freedom in the country under that greater media freedom the Home Minister to heed the the guise of making existing will not only benefit govern- call of almost a thousand jour- laws “more relevant” to the ment critics. greater freedom nalists who have petitioned Information Technology era. to report eventsgovernment the government to repeal the Ironically, this ominous recent too stand to gain in the long Printing Presses and Publica- hint of tighter control comes at run as the credibility of official tions Act (PPPA). a time when various quarters news agencies and the main- have called for the creation of stream media bound to im- For media freedom to flourish, a media council to enable the prove. Indeed, if ordinary it is not only the PPPA that media to regulate themselves. Malaysians and marginalised needs to be repealed; all other groups find that they are able repressive laws such as the In- Charter2000 supports in prin- to air critical views in the main- ternal Security Act, the Univer- ciple the concept of an stream media, they will be less sity and University Colleges indepedent media council. likely to resort to street dem- Act, the Sedition Act, and the Such a council must be truly in- onstrations and large rallies to Official Secrets Act have to be dependent and similar to those express themselves. abolished. We reiterate our call found in countries such as In- for the enactment of a Free- donesia, the Philippines and Finally, we salute all those jour- dom of Information Act to Thailand. The council should nalists, publications, and web- widen the space for media reflect the views of a broad sites in Malaysia who have not freedom in the country. spectrum of society and its surrendered their conscience members should comprise me- and integrity and continue to At the same time, we call for dia personnel, government and courageously report the news the cessation of abuse and ma- opposition representatives, hu- in these difficult times. nipulation of publicly owned man rights workers, lawyers media (such as Radio Televi- and representatives of the pub- Anil Netto sion Malaysia) by the ruling lic. The media council should Joint Coordinator, Charter2000 coalition. We accountable, in- act on all complaints and dis- 2 May 2000

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 12 Visiting ISA Detainees: cause the police will only allow precedented step of promising SUHAKAM SUHAKAM ‘to meet with the that there will be ‘no more black Must Act Urgently detainees at an appropriate eyes’. time’. When it comes to SUHAKAM’s Let us have the truth, the real attempt to visit the ISA detain- Let us state the issue bluntly. By truth and nothing but the ees, the police, the media and delaying SUHAKAM’s visit, the truth: maybe SUHAKAM itself have police are dragging their feet not been open with the public. and defying an Act of Parliament • Are the detainees safe? which empowers SUHAKAM • Have they been assaulted The police have practically re- to visit places of detention and since their detention? fused to entertain SUHA-KAM’s detainees. The Act does not • Have they been tortured request to visit the ISA detain- leave it to the pleaseure of po- under interrogation? ees. That is what it means when lice to determine whether or • Have they been brutalised the police said that SUHAKAM when SUHAKAM’s right can be while the police tried to will be permitted to visit the de- exercised. ‘turn them over’? tainees ‘at an appropriate time’ to be solely determined by the It is completely unreasonable The longer it takes for an in- police. and unacceptable for the police dependent body to ascertain to claim that SUHAKAM still the truth to these questions, the The mass media have not re- cannot be permitted to visit the stronger will be the public sus- ported critically on this contin- detainees 29 days after their picion that the ISA detainees ued abuse of the civil rights of arrest. cannot be visited and cannot be the ISA detainees. For example, produced in court because they (May 3, 2001) had a Let the police answer plainly: have in fact been brutalised. bold headline, ‘Suhakam gets green light to visit ISA detain- • Why is it still inappropriate As everyone knows, that has ees’ when the rest of its for SUHAKAM to visit the been the experience of former newsreport was about how detainees? ISA detainees, whose docu- meaningless the ‘green light’ • How will SUHAKAM’s visit mented evidence is full of in- was since the ‘date has yet to interfere with or disrupt the stances of harsh and cruel be specified’. police investigations? treatment while they were in • Are the ISA detainees being the hands of the police. interrogated from dawn to dusk without any break for Is this what the police are 29 days? trying to conceal while they • For how long more do they play games over a non-exist- plan to go on interrogating ent ‘green light’ and an inde- the detainees at that pace? terminate ‘appropriate time’ for SUHAKAM to visit the Or are the police reluctant to detainees? permit SUHAKAM’s visit be- cause of other reasons? After Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim received more than a black eye On the one hand, senior police while being placed in the safe officers have proudly said that hands of the police, no one Even the Chairman of there is no safer place for the de- takes the assurances of the po- SUHAKAM, Tan Sri Musa tainees than to be placed in ‘the lice or politicians at face value. Hitam, seemed reluctant to hands of the police’. On the Nor should SUHAKAM. admit to the public that ‘green other hand, Datuk Seri light’ doesn’t mean ‘go’ be- Abdullah Ahmad took the un- SUHAKAM must not accept

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 13 lame explanations from the po- J. Hishamuddin’s judgment prosecution acts on behalf of a lice. If the National Human confirms what the public has police force that has become Rights Commision Act and long suspected. The police less and less willing to justify SUHAKAM’s mission are to should not be allowed to hide its actions. We should remem- have real meaning, Tan Sri the ISA detainees from the ber that the prosecution works Musa and his fellow Commis- Court’s purview. If the police at the behest of a regime that sioners should firmly assert had solid evidence against the has relentlessly sought to ex- SUHAKAM’s legal rights. They detainees in the first place, clude judicial review of ISA must take their own appropri- they would have had no rea- cases. ate steps to visit the ISA detain- son to use the ISA. ees. And they should do so ur- In the past, ISA detainees, in- gently and not at the conven- Malaysians will also welcome cluding Karpal Singh and ience of the police. J. Hishamuddin’s rejection of Datuk James Wong Kim Min, the prosecution’s application were freed by the courts only Aliran Executive Committee for a stay of execution pend- to be re-arrested immediately 7 May 2001 ing an appeal. J. Hishamu- upon leaving the courts – an all ddin’s insistence on an imme- too clear contempt for the Justice Hishamuddin’s diate execution of the court’s court’s intervention in favour Order: Present ISA ruling unambiguously supports of helpless ISA detainees. Detainees In Court the principle that ‘Justice de- layed is justice denied’. Hence, while Malaysians have Together with Malaysians who cause to be encouraged by J. support the rule of law, Aliran However, Malaysians who de- Hishamuddin’s judgment, they heartily welcomes the judg- mand justice for the ISA detain- have no reason to let up on ment of Justice Datuk Hisha- ees cannot prematurely cel- their opposition to the ISA. muddin Mohd Yunus who ebrate J. Hishamuddin’s judg- Oppose all injustices commit- ruled in the Shah Alam Hight ment. The police, their political ted under ISA until all detain- Court on Thursday, 4 May 2001 masters and the prosecution will ees are freed and this despica- that ISA detainees must be not accept this judgment. They ble instrument of authoritarian present in court for hearings will do whatever they can to rule is abolished! on their habeas corpus applica- have the judgment overturned. tions. While presiding over the Aliran Executive Committee habeas corpus applications filed We should not forget that the 7 May 2001 on behalf of Abdul Ghani Harun and N Gobala-krishnan, J. Hishamu-ddin unequivocally ruled that ISA detainees have both a legal right and a consti- tutional right to be protected under the law.

In ruling so, J. Hishamuddin held – against the grain of re- cent legal developments in the country – that the consti- tutional rights of citizens can never be compromised. He upheld the position that the Constitution is the source of all civil and legal rights and must always be zealously re- spected.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 14 So, once more: Who is speaking the truth? Whom to believe?

K Yogasigamany

Good Governance?

New information clearly shows that neither the Sungai Kelau dam nor the Sungai Selangor dam is necessary.

SOS Selangor calls on the Govern- ment to show accountable govern- ance in the light of this informa- tion and urges a moratorium on all dam-building until this can be Letters should be no more than 250 words and must include investigated. the writer's name and address. Pseudonyms may be used. Send letters to : Editor, ALIRAN MONTHLY, 103, Medan Penaga, The current water demand is far 11600 Penang, Malaysia or e-mail to : [email protected] below the 3,000 million litres of Views expressed need not reflect those of Aliran. water per day (mld) predicted for 2001. Real water demand in Feb- Who Is Speaking ing the truth? Whom to believe? ruary 2001 was only 2,670 mld. The Truth? Whom To Believe? Health Minister Chua Jui Meng The difference of 330 mld is suffi- goes to the and tells cient for 590,000 people, roughly People in Malaysia are confused: his audience that Dr Thomas a quarter of the population of KL. Who is speaking the truth: Whom Hoogland has only performed to believe? When two persons about 30 operations; that he has This figure shows a growth of 211 contradict each other, it is obvious not written any scientific papers; mld for Selangor and KL between that one is lying. There have been that KL Hospital has all the facili- 1998 and 2001. Forty per cent of too many of such instances. Let ties to perform the operation on this growth was in non-revenue me narrate a few of them. Anwar, etc. However, Lim Kit water. Siang, the DAP Chairman contra- Utusan Malaysia says the Youth dicts Chua and says that Dr In 1998, the rate of non-revenue leader of the Barisan Alternatif Hoogland has performed over water was 39 per cent. According (BA) would go on holding “street 8,000 operations; that he has pub- to the JKR’s Malaysia Water In- demonstrations” to topple the BN lished 22 scientific papers; writ- dustry Report for that year, a total government. Utusan belongs to ten four books and that he has of 36 per cent was due to leakage, UMNO whose president is Prime spoken at over a hundred confer- leaving three per cent for pilfer- Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, ences. age, hydrant use and other non- who enters the spree and con- revenue sources. demns street demonstration, Now we all know Mahathir is which he crudely changes to against Anwar going to Germany This year, the total non-revenue “street violence”! Ezam gets ar- for the operation. It is not unu- water rose to 42 per cent. If non- rested and charged for sedition sual for someone to twist the facts revenue water had remained con- merely on the strength of the story just to please his master. It is an stant at 39 per cent, the growth in that appeared in the paper owned obligation. But Kit Siang is not demand would be 80.1 mld less by the ruling party. Who is speak- obliged to Dr Hoogland. than it has been.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 15 In November 2000, the World petition that he did receive a di- Constitution provides for loss of Commission on Dams (WCD) rective over the phone that the public office, if the interference is published its report. The result of petition should be struck out is a from a public official. two years work bringing together matter of serious concern for the those in the dam industry and independence of the Malaysian Principles 1 and 2 of the UN Basic those opposed to it, the study calls judiciary. The words ‘directive´ Principles on the Independence of the for a comprehensive review of the and that he was determined “to Judiciary provides that: dam-building process. truly act as a judge and not a ‘yes man´” in the judgement imply that 1 . The independence of the judi- Dams do not live up to the prom- the call must have been from ciary shall be guaranteed by ises made of them. On average, someone superior to him and the the State enshrined in the Con- they cost 56 percent more than an- judge knew the identity of the stitution or the laws of the ticipated. These cost over-runs are caller. It could not possibly have country. It is the duty of all gov- largely due to delays in construc- been a crank call. ernmental and other institu- tion – and the Sungai Selangor tions to respect and observe the dam is already nine months be- I have in the past heard of similar independence of the judiciary. hind schedule. directives being given to judges in other cases. This is the first time 2. The judiciary shall decide mat- In general, water supply dams do in recent years that a judge has ters before it impartially, on the not live up to expectations. The exposed such interference in the basis or facts and in accord- WCD report states that this is course of a judgement. While the ance with the law, without any partly due to an over-estimation judge’s courage and independ- restrictions, improper influences, of demand and an under-estima- ence in the matter are highly com- inducements, pressures, threats or tion of the problems facing the mendable yet the judge should, in interferences, direct or indirect, dam, such as siltation. These are the public interest to promote and from any quarter or for any rea- issues that have been raised in protect judicial independence, re- son. (emphasis added) relation to the Sungai Selangor port the incident and disclose the and Sungai Kelau dams. name of the caller to the compe- Similarly Principle 3(a) of the tent authorities for full investiga- Beijing Statement of Principles of the In order to prevent the construc- tions. Similarly, other judges who Independence of the Judiciary in the tion of two unneeded dams, caus- received similar directives in the LAWASIA Region (signed by 34 ing disruption to the lives of those past, including those who com- Chief Justices in the Asia Pacific in the vicinity, and those living plied with such directives, should region including the then Chief downstream, and to save consum- also come forward and disclose Justice of Malaysia, Tun Eusoff ers and taxpayers over RM4 bil- the instances to the competent Chin) provides that: lion in dam construction costs, authorities. The Chief Justice him- SOS Selangor calls on both the self could initiate such an investi- The Judiciary shall decide Selangor State Government and gation and thereafter call in the matters before it in accordance the Federal Government to declare relevant competent authorities, if with its impartial assessment a moratorium on all dam-build- necessary. Such an initiative will of the facts and its understand- ing in the light of this information. not be seen as an interference in ing of the law without im- the independence of judges. proper influences, direct or in- Sam Hui direct, from any source. SOS Selangor Interference in the independence of the judiciary as an institution Principle 6 of the Beijing Princi- Investigate and/or the independence of indi- ples further provides that: Phone Call vidual judges is a serious matter. It undermines the very essence of In the decision-making proc- The revelation by Justice Datuk the rule of law. In some countries ess, any hierarchical organisation Muhammad Kamil Awang in his the punishment is severe for such of the Judiciary and any differ- judgement in the Likas election interference. In one country the ence in grade or rank shall in no

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 16 way interfere with the duty of the increasingly colour-blind one, is also question its integrity. judge exercising jurisdiction in- now calling them to account. dividually or judges acting col- Three, in his judgement in the lectively to pronounce judgement Thomas Kota Kinabalu High Court yester- in accordance with article 3(a). via e-mail day, Justice Muhammad Kamil The Judiciary, on its part, indi- Awang alluded to “a directive vidually and collectively, shall Another Landmark over the phone that these petitions exercise its functions in ac- Decision should be struck off without a cordance with the Constitution hearing.” This is a grave allega- and the law. (emphasis added) The decision of the Kota Kinabalu tion of tremendous import. It im- High Court to order the Barisan plies interference by outside ele- This means that even a Chief Jus- Nasional leader, Dato Yong Teck ments in the judicial decision- tice cannot interfere in the adjudi- Lee, to vacate his Sabah State As- making process. Who are these cative process of a case before in- sembly seat because he had won elements? Is it the Executive? dividual judges or judges adjudi- it in the 1999 election ‘with the Were other quarters trying to pres- cating collectively in the appellate help of phantom voters’, has great surise the Judge? Does Justice courts. significance for Malaysian poli- Kamil’s disclosure suggest that it tics and Malaysian democracy. is not unusual for the Judiciary to In the light of the above principles be subjected to pressure of this and to restore the full confidence One, it proves that the Parti sort? of the public in the Malaysian ju- Bersatu Sabah (PBS) was right diciary it is imperative that Jus- along in alleging that immigrants Four, whatever the implications, tice Muhammad Kamil Awang’s and phantom voters had played Justice Kamil has shown that the revelation be fully investigated a major role in the 1999 state elec- only way to protect the independ- and the public be informed of the tion. The PBS and a number of ence and integrity of the Judiciary outcome. concerned individuals and is for individual judges “to act groups had conducted detailed, without fear or favour.” By doing Dato’ Param Cumaraswamy comprehensive investigations the right thing, by obeying his UN Special Rapporteur into the phenomenon. A book had conscience, yet another Judge has been published on electoral irregu- scored a victory for truth and jus- Feedback larities in Sabah. Police reports tice. Ten days ago, it was Justice were lodged. The PBS filed a slew Hishamudin. Today, it is Justice I generally agree with Khoo Boo of election petitions. Now, the Kamil. As individual judges Teik’s article “Mahathir’s Faded High Court verdict has vindicated refuse to flinch from moral princi- Vision”(AM 21:2), except for one the PBS. ples in the tasks at hand, the peo- crucial point. The use of the “re- ple will begin to see the Judiciary structuring” agenda for concen- Two, the verdict also exposes the as a beacon of hope. tration of wealth among select Election Commission. It is the re- groups of Malay businesses was sponsibility of the Commission to And indeed, it is when individual not the only the only negative fac- ensure that electoral rolls are men and women in the Judiciary, tor in the NEP exercise and non- clean. The Commission should in the Police, in the public serv- Malays should accept that fact. have weeded out all phantom vot- ices, in the ruling coalition — and Select groups of Chinese allied ei- ers and removed all electoral ir- dare we hope, in the Cabinet — ther to BN parties or directly to regularities — especially since the display courage and honesty in Mahathir and his clique also ben- flaws in the rolls were brought to their work that oppression and efited quite well. So did a small the attention of the Commission injustice will be vanquished in number of Indians. One of the before the 1999 contest. Because this land of ours. main strengths of the patronage of its failure to maintain a clean system was to build support roll in the Likas constituency, peo- Dr. Chandra Muzaffar among key elements in all races. ple will not only doubt the com- Deputy President The general population, and an petence of the Commission but Parti Keadilan Nasional

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 17 ALIRAN’s ISA WATCH AS AT 30 JUNE 2001:

DetaineeDetaineeDetainee Position/Position/Position/ DateDateDate FirstFirstFirst DurationDurationDuration DurationDurationDuration CurrentCurrentCurrent Organisation DetainedDetainedDetained familyfamilyfamily withoutwithoutwithout ofofof StatusStatusStatus visit visit contactcontactcontact detentiondetentiondetention

Tian Chua Vice President, 10 April 23 May 43 days 81 days Sent to KDC keADILan 2 June

Mohd Ezam Head, 10 April 8 May 28 days 81 days Sent to KDC Mohd Noor KeADILan Youth 2 June

Haji Saari Sungib Former President, 10 April 5 May 25 days 81 days Sent to KDC JIM 2 June

Hishamuddin Rais Media columnist 10 April 24 May 44 days 81 days Sent to KDC and Social Activist 2 June

N. Gobalakrishnan Secretary General, 10 April 27 May 47 days 50 days Freed by KeADILan Youth High Court 30 May

Raja Petra Director, Free Anwar 11 April 3 May 22 days 52 days Released Campaign by police 2 June

Abdul Ghani Haroon Central Committee 11 April 27 May 46 days 49 days Freed by Member, High Court KeADILan Youth 30 May

Dr Badrul KeADILan 20 April 4 May 14 days 71 days Sent to KDC Amin Baharom Youth leader 13 June

Lokman Nor Adam Executive Secretary 24 April 8 May 14 days 67 days Sent to KDC KeADILan Youth 13 June

Badaruddin Ismail Suaram activist 26 April 25 May 29 days 41 days Released by police 5 June

KDC - Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping,

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 18 tions. For it appeared that the chair-throwers had moved from the MIC to PPP. Subsequently the party’s leaders matured: they be- gan to take their quarrels to the courts instead.

Then came Kayveas. He intro- duced a whole new approach in getting the PPP into the press. By all accounts he gave the MIC president a good fight in toadyism.

Before you could say kuch kuch hota-hai Kayeas was appointed senator and then deputy minister. The PM must have recognized his potential. An Exemplar? Well there’s also some improve- ment on this score. MIC factions And now the PPP has acquired a ‘At a time when people in other do not resort to fisticuffs and plot of land in a proposed Bandar multi-racial countries are still throw chairs at one another Universiti, in Seri Iskandar (near clawing at each other, Malaysians anymore. But the struggle be- Tronoh), and announced plans to have already advanced’ said Dr tween Ling and the ‘Gang of 8’, launch its own university. This is Mahathir. and the widespread protest no Bollywood joke. Why, Kayeas against the MCA’s takeover of has also given notice, presumably ‘The diversity in the races mak- Nanyang, suggests that there’s to the warring BN parties, that he ing up Malaysia can give the lots of room for improvement. intends to ask for 8 parliamentary country a competitive edge over What about the on-again, off-again and 18 state seats in the next elec- others in the globalisation era’, Malay unity talks between UMNO tion. Either PPP imagines that it Ling Liong Sik remarked. and Pas ? Indeed, what is one to is the party- exemplar, or, this is make of Dr M’s comment – ‘We the latest approach that Kayeas ‘The ISA, far from detracting from are not at war with one another’ - has dreamed up on how to main- efforts to strengthen national unity when asked about his relations tain steady media coverage for had contributed much to making with Daim after the latter’s resig- himself. the country what it is today’, nation from the cabinet ? Q Q Q Q Q added Pak Lah. Q Q Q Q Q An Academic Exercise The occasion was a conference Kuch Kuch Hota-hai held in mid-May to showcase Imagine, ‘there are some RM40 Malaysia as an exemplar of inter- For you non-Hindi speakers, that million worth of unsold books ethnic relations. Many would dis- means ‘something is happening’. authored by local academics col- pute Pak Lah’s rationalization for Yes, something is happening in the lecting dust in the DBP’. That’s the need of the ISA. But Dr M and PPP. It used to be said that the PPP, Pak Lah speaking. Ling are right. There prevails eth- one of the smallest BN parties, got nic harmony in Malaysia. And more media coverage than many The deputy PM was commenting our multi-ethnic make-up could of its bigger BN partners. But it on Education Minister Musa work to our advantage. was not the sort of publicity that Mohamad’s remark that would make Malaysia an exem- Malaysian academics were pub- What about intra-ethnic ties ? plar of inter- or intra-ethnic rela- lishing too few books compared

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 19 to their foreign counterparts. ‘If that you’d have to retire. Once ing phantom voters can be ghastly there’s no market for their books, annointed, you can be twice dis- affairs. Houses can be strangely how can you expect them to keep appointed, if not worse. If you inhabited by non-resident perma- writing ?’ don’t follow the leader closely nent residents. Fully loaded out- enough, you can be damned. If station buses can actually arrive Freedom Under Executive Power in you follow too closely.? on time. This time, No. 1 kept quiet. Malaysia, written by is He’d learned when not to sing a not one of these DBP books. It is Let’s see now. Once when No. 1 tune such as ‘The Call Was Self- too scathing a criticism of the ex- was asked, ‘What kind of a per- dialled’. Safer to stick with the old ecutive and the DBP would not son can best be your annointed favourite, ‘My Way’. have published it. successor, he, with no trace of has decribed Rais’ book as ‘the irony, replied, ‘Someone like me’. But No. 2’s singing lessons were most powerful denunciation of Since then reporters and party just under way. So he sang, ‘The the ISA’. members and investors and eve- Call Was a Hoax’. Tough luck, ryone else have been worried dodo. There was a Call-guy and Asked to comment, Rais said: ‘I about succession problems. Since he was not a Crank. He was then don’t stand by what is studied many Malaysians feel snubbed if No. 1 in the judiciary. academically’. The book ‘was they think the universe isn’t pay- merely an academic exercise’. ing attention to their problems, Question: Why does ‘follow the you could say the whole world leader’ end in a joke? Answer: If all authors were like Rais, it is has been asking, ‘Is there some- Because everyone wants to be his small wonder why Malaysians do one like him?’ own boss, every boss wants his not wish to read, let alone buy aca- own man, and every man wants demic books. On the other hand, Be Insecure No More. End your his own clone ... so every clone if Rais does not stand by his book search. Follow me. becomes a clown. which he spent so many years re- searching and writing, where When an ex-No. 2 was bashed Q Q Q Q Q does he stand ? One wonders how up in prison, No. 1 was not dis- this born-again UMNO leader, turbed by the famous ‘black eye’. Labouring Under who as Semangat 46 deputy But ‘maybe it was self-inflicted’, A Misconception leader condemned Dr M unceas- No. 1 infamously hinted. Too ingly, can now wax eloquent bad, this historical statement Women teachers in Malaysia about the same person ? Maybe had to be erased because there have been cautioned recently by Rais is simply communicating was an Inflict-er who was him- the Education Ministry to plan that he’s being propped. self No. 1 in the police force dur- their pregnancies so that their ing the material time. (Latest, precious deliveries could be ex- Q Q Q Q Q though, the convicted Inflict-er ecuted during school holidays. was out on good behaviour, an This is, the ministry argued, to Send In The Clones interesting reason for keeping avoid interruption to the teach- him in jail for a shorter period ing schedule in schools con- ‘Follow the leader’ is not just than ISA detainees who hadn’t cerned. While the ministry could child’s play. In politics it can be inflicted anything on anyone ... be commended for having risen a most tiresome game to play if except perhaps a defeat in a to the occasion, one is however you’re not the leader. In fact if small town called Lunas). left astounded as to how such a the leader is ‘No. 1’ and you’re marching order could be made to ‘No. 2’, the game could get Then came No. 2’s turn. A High things that involve human chem- rough. Rules can change half- Court judge announced that a istry, mood, biological reaction, way in the game and leave you ‘mystery caller’ had telephoned to and above all, luvvv. Even a coi- resigned to your fate. Horses direct him to strike out an election tus interrruptus could throw the can be changed midstream so petition. Election petitions involv- spanner in the works.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 20 ISA Straight From The Heart Women activists and wives of ISA detainees move audience with heart-rending experiences by Dr Prema Devaraj

ou could have heard a gle came from the Public Records tion of what happens to a person pin drop as each woman Office in London. Rohana intro- when they are arrested. Many in YYY made her presentation. duced us to past women activists, the audience were shocked and Such was the atmos- some of whom were involved in appalled. She explained that the phere at a recent fraternity talk in the trade unions and labour ISA is basically used to silence ALIRAN. The topic was Women movement, others in the anti-co- dissent. She added that it has been Against the ISA. We were privileged lonial movement and later on used not just against communists to have Rohana Ariffin, Irene those who were advocates on edu- (for whom it was initially meant) Xavier, Roslijah Syed (wife of cation for women. We were lucky but also against individuals such Abdul Ghani Haroon) and to see some statistics on the de- as opposition leaders, academics, Vasanthi Ramalingam (wife of N tentions during the Emergency religious leaders, social activists Gobalakrishnan) as our speakers years. What was particularly in- and environmentalists. She said for the night. The room was teresting was that between 1951 that the ISA violates the basic packed and time flew. The speak- and 1953, 17-22% of those de- rights of a person, and contradicts ers were informative, their deliv- tained under the Emergency Or- the constitution. “There are no real ery moving and at times hilarious, dinance were women. charges, the police just quote the Act each in her own way. when they arrest someone under the A Woman Detained ISA” . In addition the judicial re- Women In The Under the ISA view process initially in the Act Struggle For Justice has been removed. A person is Next we heard from an ex-ISA presumed guilty with no recourse The evening began with Dr woman detainee, Irene Xavier, so- to defend herself. “The Home Min- Rohana Ariffin (a long standing cial activist, president of Sahabat ister and the police will never be PRM member, social activist and Wanita. Irene had come from called to account for the arrest.” academic) giving a brief history of Kuala Lumpur for this session. There are no checks and balances the role women have played in the She was detained in 1987 and and a detainee is at the whims and struggle for justice and democracy spent almost a year in the fancies of her interrogators. She in Malaysia. Some of her research Kamunting Detention Centre. She spoke of her own experience of material on women in the strug- gave the audience a frank descrip- being beaten and verbally abused

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 21 by her interrogaters, all of whom public, urging were male. She noted that it was her to be strong more than coincidental that the and to carry on. ISA was used everytime UMNO Despite Ghani’s was in crisis. She finished by call- release, she con- ing for the repeal of the ISA for the tinues to speak simple fact that it is unjust and out against the inhumane. ISA. She ended her talk by call- ISA And The ing on people to Detainee’s Family work together for the abolition of The next two speakers were wives the ISA. of recently released ISA detainees, launchers and grenades, were Abdul Ghani Haroon and N The last speaker of the evening trying to concoct stories about il- Gobalakrishan, and they de- was Vasanthi Ramalingam (wife licit affairs among KeADILan scribed how the ISA affected them of N. Gobalakrishnan), who trav- members and party leaders. De- and their families. Both wives elled from Seberang Jaya for this spite her husband’s release, only saw their husbands after 46 session. She said that much of Vasanthi continues to carry on and 47 days respectively. Both what Roslijah had said also held with the struggle against the ISA. men were subsequently released true for her. She found herself Vasanthi went on to say that peo- by the High Court on 30 May after thrust in a position of having to ple should speak out against the a successful habeas corpus appli- become assertive and outgoing. ISA and urged those present to cation. However the Chief of Po- “Before my husband was arrested I join in the struggle. lice has appealed against the judg- was not interested in politics… but ment. now I speak out to my customers who The underlying theme that come to my shop to buy my cakes… evening was simply this: Women Roslijah Syed (Ghani’s wife) trav- They are so shocked… I don’t care… have always played a role in the elled from Kulim to be present at People must know what is happen- struggle for justice. Although the this session. She recalled how ing! ” She too was in tears as she speakers had all become activ- Ghani was arrested and how the spoke of her children’s anguish, ists through different paths, ISA affected her personally. She of how they did not want to go to their message was the same: the said, “…before this… I did not know school after their father was ar- ISA has to go. It is a bad law and anything about politics and I used to rested, of how their school teach- has been used time and again to scold Ghani for coming home late at ers came and encouraged them to silence dissent - in the colonial night… After his arrest…after see- go back to school and reassured period, through the Emergency ing how the police behave… I under- them about their father. She said and in the years since. The un- stand.” She spoke of the impact of the support from the public had just and inhumane treatment of her husband’s arrest on her five been overwhelming. She too had detainees and the anguish of children. As she relived what she experienced similar obstructive their families is unacceptable. and her children had been and unhelpful encounters with There can be no justification through, she was choked with the police as Roslijah. She said her whatsoever for the ISA. The emotion. With tears in her eyes, bakery was under police surveil- courage and determination she described her children’s con- lance. She described her antics at shown by the speakers was an fusion, pain and frustration at getting rid of them and had the example to all present. It is clear their father’s detention and the crowd in stitches. that anyone can get involved shameful unhelpfulness and har- and take up the quest for justice. assment by the police. However When Gobala was released, he she added that despite their per- was able to tell her about some of The evening ended with a call… sonal anguish and anxiety, they the interrogation techniques. She Let’s get involved. had all emerged stronger. She said was shocked (and the audience Let’s work together. that she has received much sup- too!) to hear that the interrogaters, port from the other wives of the instead of trying to prove the ri- Let’s rid our nation of the ISA. ISA detainees and also from the diculous allegations about rocket The ISA must go! q

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 22 ISA Everything For The Truth!

He has sacrificed his job and the family’s comfort in the struggle to uphold truth.

am Zumrah bt Husni, III wife of Ustaz Dr Badrul II Amin, a former Assist- ant Professor in the Law Faculty of the International Is- lamic University (UIA), Gombak, for 16 years.

Badrul was detained on 20 April 2001 at 2 am under the ISA on the grounds that he was a threat to national security.

I had anticipated his arrest be- the night of 13 June. His habeas to prove any offence. cause, a week earlier, my mother’s corpus case was supposed to have house in Sabak Bernam was been heard the next morning, Ustaz Dr Badrul Amin is well raided by several plainclothes Thursday, 14 June at the Shah known in Malaysia. Throughout police personnel who were look- Alam High Court. I was informed his involvement in missionary ing for him. of this by lawyer Sivarasa that work, he was involved in many morning. programmes directly and indi- Before I was allowed to meet him rectly. He is a community activ- on 4 May, all sorts of questions Sure, I was disappointed as I was ist who exhorts believers and played through my mind. I was not informed about his transfer the community to do good. His especially concerned over his beforehand. At 2.30 pm, an officer missionary approach was very safety and health as I had heard on duty at the Kamunting Deten- effective especially among stu- terrible things from former detain- tion Centre informed me that dents, teenagers and the youth. ees about their ISA experiences. Badrul was already there and had What’s more, he was facilitator arrived at 3.00 am. It was only at for youth and teenage pro- On 28 May, I was allowed to meet 3.30 pm that I received a call from grammes under the auspices of him again. He was unable to tell a police officer informing me that the Youth and Sports Ministry, me anything except that he was he had been sent to Kamunting. then headed by Tan Sri in good condition. I understood Muhyidin Yasin. his situation though it made me What was more disappointing feel somewhat under pressure. was that the five reasons given for Throughout the 16 years of our sending him to Kamunting had marriage, he has never com- Bound For Kamunting no connection whatsoever with plained about his work. He has the allegations hurled by the In- displayed firm commitment to the He was sent to the Kamunting spector General of Police and the Islamic call to prevent sin and to Detention Centre in the middle of local media. They had no evidence uphold the truth.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 23 Anwar's Sacking

Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sack- Judge Mohd Hishamudin ing changed everything. Badrul, who had completed a BA in Bin Mohd Yunus' Judgment Shariah at the Al-Azhar Univer- Shah Alam High Court, 30 May 2001 sity, an MA in Comparative Law at Kent University, England, and EXCERPTS a PhD in Islamic Constitutional Law at Birmingham University, The great English Judge, the officer has; but the Court was so disappointed with our le- Hon. Lord Denning, in his has to know the basic par- gal system that he left his comfort- first Hamlyn Lectures ticulars of what the appli- able UIA job to go down to the called Personal Freedom cant is alleged to have done ground. Explaining the truth spoke of the writ of Habeas and considering the phrase about an Islamic legal system was Corpus. This is what he “prejudicial to the security very important to him. said: of Malaysia" is too general or vague in nature (so also I have never regretted the path he The law says that no man is to are the phrases "prejudicial has taken. As he has said, he be imprisoned except by judg- to the maintenance of essen- couldn’t remain quiet as he knew ment of the King’s courts or tial services of Malaysia” the law and did not want his con- whilst awaiting trial by them. and “prejudicial to the eco- science to be pricked. I am proud This freedom is safeguarded by nomic life of Malaysia”), the of his stand. the famous writ in England, arresting officer must, in his the writ of habeas corpus. affidavit, furnish, not nec- Although he was busy with pro- Whenever any man in Eng- essarily detailed particulars, grammes throughout the country, land is detained against his but some reasonable he has never neglected his duty as will, not by sentence of the amount of particulars not a caring and patient husband and King’s courts, but by anyone only for the purpose of sat- father. The little time he had was else, then he or anyone on his isfying the Court that he used to interact with the children behalf is entitled to apply to has some basis for the ar- and to help me with household any of the judges of the High rest but also to be fair to the chores. He never hesitated to share Court to determine whether his detainee - to enable the de- his thoughts with anyone because, detention is lawful or not. The tainee, who believes that he in principle, he felt obliged to im- court will then, by this writ, is innocent, to defend him- part knowledge to the ignorant. command the gaoler or who- self. ever is detaining him, to bring He has sacrificed his job and the him before the court; and, un- • he shall not be detained family’s comfort in the struggle to less the detention is shown to for more than twenty- uphold truth. I am confident he be lawful, the court will at once four hours except with will be resilient and strong in fac- set him free. the authority of a police ing these trying moments. With Q Q Q Q Q officer of or above the support from family and friends rank of Inspector; and prayers from everyone, I be- The Court is not interested • he shall not be detained lieve what has happened is a trial in detailed information for more than forty-eigh from Allah for us to continue strug- (least of all confidential or hours except with the gling with faith and obedience to secret information), nor is authority of a police of- His will. the Court, at this initial ficer of or above the rank stage, interested in what- of Assistant Superin- Salam Reformasi ever evidence the arresting tendent. Abolish the ISA q

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 24 ISA Tian Chua Writes Despite being isolated, I can feel the momentum and dynamism of your mobilisation.

y sincere thanks to all of Branch sessions. Since the four of MM your efforts and hard us had no opportunity to commu- MMM work since our arrest - a nicate during the 50-odd days, we move that surprises me have a lot of catching up to do. We as I cannot understand why the are able to receive certain books; ISA was necessary to prevent the reading, exercise and talking take April 14 peaceful assembly. up much of our time.

The bombs, rocket launchers story Communication with the outside was of course a lie, which I sup- is still limited. It has been difficult pose the IGP himself does not be- to keep ourselves updated with the lieve. The arrests reflect the inse- news. My two-month detention With a bit more hard work, we curity of the regime. The response had been totally free of newspa- might make this the last batch of both domestic and international pers, TV or radio. I am slowly get- ISA detainees. However, we must shows that the ISA can no longer ting used to this sense of “detach- not forget the campaign against reinforce the culture of fear. ment” from the world. the ISA.

The four of us had been hurried to However, in my quiet and lonely Don’t let the energy die down Kamunting camp on June 2 and nights, I have thought of a lot of even if we are released. The strug- the detention order was read out things to say to all of you. I re- gle has to be sustained for larger to us at about 6pm. At 8.30pm, we ally miss you all. As the ISA reforms. Despite being isolated, I were transported to the camp (ar- rules permits me one letter in can feel the momentum and dy- rived at 11.55pm). To date, we still and one letter out each week namism of your mobilisation. I wonder why such a rush, was it and all correspondence would also feel guilty for not being able due to the habeas corpus of Gobi be going through the censor, I to contribute more. and Ghani? apologise for not being able to write to every individual or or- Well done and take care! With lots Anyway, we are slowly settling ganisation. of love and solidarity. q down in the camp. Currently, Ezam and Saari share a dorm, Please do not worry, I am fine Source: , 15 June 2001 Hisham and I another - the two and cheerful as usual. Nonethe- blocks are next to each other. It less, I really miss everybody and was the same place where Kit do not know how to express my Tian Chua was arrested on Siang, Mat Sabu and others stayed love and appreciation to you all. 10 April 2001. He was held during ‘Ops Lalang’. The atmos- Your continuous campaign has incommunicado for 43 phere here is generally quite re- kept us in high spirits and we days before being allowed laxed compared to our 50-odd are confident that the injustices his first family visit on 23 days of interrogation. would come to an end soon. We May. He began a 2-year de- will just have to wait patiently tention at Kamunting De- We are trying to get some rest and for our freedom - not us alone tention Centre on 2 June. are recovering from the Special but the whole of Malaysia.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 25 ISA A Test Of Faith They think they are inconveniencing us, but it is no burden. by Aliza Jaffar

ree our beloved father. pealed so that other citizens will The ISA has oppressed not be shackled by oppression “F“F“F our father.” Those were and cruelty. the words my children had scrawled on a poster and The ISA has tormented us, sepa- pasted on a wall at home. These rated me from my husband and words expressed the hopes and the children from their father, but sentiments of my children follow- we should be resilient. I was ing my husband Saari Sungib’s forced to become both father and detention on 10 April 2001. They mother. I had to manage all fam- didn’t cry this time, perhaps be- ily matters and take care of the cause it was the second time he children by myself. The initial 60- had been detained under the ISA. day detention period was filled mere slander, I felt very disgrun- with much anxiety. My children The first time was on 12 October tled and outraged. From that mo- and I kept waiting, wondering 1998. At that time I was in critical ment, whatever trust I had in the when we could meet my husband. condition at the Universiti police rapidly vanished. The passing days made us sleep- Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital in less and we also suffered loss of Cheras due to complications in my How could I not feel that way? I appetite. At last, on the 26th day, pregnancy. I was seven months’ know my husband well. I have we were contacted by the police, pregnant with my 7th child. My lived with him for 23 years. He is who told us that I (together with children and I have published a not someone who will do any- my children) could meet my hus- book recounting our experience as thing to jeopardise the nation or band at the Police Contingent an ISA detainee’s family titled “Re- the people’s security. What he has Headquarters (IPK) in Kuala peal the ISA. Abolish Oppression: done all this while is to uphold Lumpur on 5 May 2001. An outpouring of the heart from justice and to struggle to put an the family of a former ISA detainee, end to oppression in Malaysia. The one-hour reunion was pre- the president of JIM (Jemaah Islah When the IGP’s statement was cious although we were observed Malaysia).” splashed in the newspapers, I felt by two police personnel. We didn’t so sure that the ISA was being ma- bother about them because it was In Shock nipulated in the political interest our right to meet him. He is not of certain people. guilty. They don’t have any evi- After my husband was detained dence to convict him. My husband on 10 April 2001, I was in a state Because of that, the wives and must be freed. of shock and my friends quickly families of the other nine detain- rallied at our home or telephoned ees and I were not shaken in our On the 54th day, under confusing me. This brought me some com- faith nor were we afraid. We fully circumstances, my husband and fort. But the next day, when the support the Abolish ISA Move- three of his colleagues were Inspector General of Police made ment and the struggle against op- rushed to Kamunting on the in- a press statement that seemed like pression. The ISA must be re- struction of the Home Affairs

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 26 school and friends of my hus- band’s and mine also write to him. To mark Father’s Day on 17 June, my children mailed him a card.

My husband is actually always at our side - not physically, but his words, his smile, his jokes, his hopes continue to echo in our hearts. He is never far from out thoughts. My love for him is un- diminished because he is my be- loved husband. My loyalty to him Our children will demand accountability for the injustice inflicted on their father remains undivided no matter what happens. I will continue to Minister. It was only after they freedom as human beings has struggle to bring him back to us. had been sent there that the po- been snatched from them. Their lice telephoned to inform me. I was supporters and the people should No Secrets shocked but I had to meet my hus- not be afraid; we should use what band to ascertain the detention freedom we have to reclaim jus- He is a respected leader. As presi- and to seek clarification. tice and dignity as an independ- dent of JIM (an Islamic NGO) for ent citizenry nearly 10 years, he has contrib- A Test of Faith uted a lot especially in human re- While in Kamunting, my husband sources development, which he The first meeting at the will do a PhD programme in Stra- carried out through JIM HRD and Kamunting Detention Centre was tegic Management from the Uni- Akademi Islah (reforms) Malay- very heart-rending for us. We had versity of Malaya. Hopefully, he sia, sponsored by JIM. Missionary missed him terribly. My husband will succeed. Apart from reading work was one of his firm commit- informed me that he would be books and studying Tafsir Al- ments. He was also the founder of held there for two years. My heart Qur’an, he is also revising what the Al-Amin Islamic primary and was shattered, thinking of such a he has learnt before of the Arabic secondary school, the most well- prolonged separation. All the language. known private Islamic school in same, we saw it as a trial from Kuala Lumpur. He is now the Allah to test our faith. We decided The days seem to be passing very Chairman of the Board of Manage- to deal with it positively and quickly now. We wait eagerly for ment of the Al-Amin School. pledged to work hard to free him our visits to him in Kamunting. and his colleagues as soon as pos- Although the separation is ago- After his term of office as JIM presi- sible, apart from praying unceas- nising, it has strengthened our dent ended, he was active in ingly so that Allah will protect us love for each other. They think all keADILan and acted according to from the treachery of those who this will wear us out but it has not the provisions of the party consti- are oppressive and malicious. been a burden at all. The journey tution. There were no secret meet- to Kamunting does not seem very ings as alleged in the grounds for It has been three weeks since my far. It is hard to describe. Only the Kamunting detention orders. husband and his friends were someone who has undergone this Our home address was used for moved to Kamunting on 2 June. experience will know. Such is the correspondence. Media state- He shares a room with Ezam who, power of Allah, the all-knowing. ments were issued to explain since the ISA arrests, has become forthcoming activities. Posters like ‘family’ to us. They can dis- Apart from our weekly family vis- and circulars clearly stated that cuss and exchange experiences its, we can also write to him. Every the programmes involved peace- and aspirations. They have not week, I write at least two letters ful assembly. Should such above- given up hope at all; neither have and my children also send news board efforts in a nation that prac- their spirits sunk although their to their father. Their friends at tises democracy and freedom of

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 27 expression be curbed though the use of the ISA and detention with- out trial? What Is Justice All About?

He is a beloved and respected fa- Aliran is deeply disap- An overwhelming majority ther to the children. Our eldest child, Anfal, 21, has finished pointed by the Federal of Malaysians who remain studying and is now my compan- Court’s ruling that detain- sceptical that the detainees ion and helper. My second child, ees under the Internal Se- are safe and sound had ‘Urwah, 19, is in Year 3 at UTM curity Act (ISA) do not have looked forward expect- along with younger sibling, a constitutional right to be antly to the court, hoping Muthanna, 17, who is just enter- present in court for their that natural justice would ing the same university. Both are habeas corpus proceedings. prevail over legal techni- taking the same course, that is, calities. The Federal Computer Science. The fourth We fail to understand how Court’s decision has child, Zilal is in Form Four and the mere presence of the dashed their hopes. the fifth, Marwah, is in Form Two. two ISA detainees, N The sixth, Muhallab, is in Stand- Gobalakrishnan and Abdul We remain deeply con- ard Six and will be taking the Ghani Haroon, would have cerned about the detain- UPSR examinations soon. We also affected their habeas cor- ees’ physical and mental have an adopted child, Qurratu pus application or the out- well-being. Many ‘Ain, who is in Form Two. Our come of the case. Malaysians are not pre- seventh is two-and-a-half years pared to accept the authori- old. We do a lot of things together, Would their presence in ties’ assurances that the whether it is playing, recreation, court have in any way detainees have not suffered holidaying, mountain-climbing, aborted the prosecution’s either physically or men- camping or organising commu- nity programmes. case or interfered with the tally. court’s proceedings? There How can anyone with so much re- is not even an iota of evi- The only hope now lies in solve to do good for the country be dence to suggest this. SUHAKAM’s ability in dis- accused of jeopardising the nation, charging their statutory be denied trial and the opportunity Why is the government duty and asserting their to defend himself, be separated fighting tooth and nail to statutory powers to visit from his family and the commu- keep the detainees away the detainees and to assure nity? How detrimental for the coun- from public view? Why are the public that they have try that the ISA is still manipulated they ignoring and denying not been harmed. to serve the interests of certain quar- the Human Rights Com- ters. Our children will demand ac- mission’s (SUHAKAM) We call upon Suhakam countability for the injustice in- right of access to the de- chairman Tan Sri Musa flicted on their father because they tainees? Is there something Hitam and his Commis- are the generation that will con- that has to be hidden? sioners to appear at Bukit tinue our struggle; they are the next Aman and demand access generation of leaders, the hope for The entire episode encour- to the detainees. With his our nation’s future. q ages a lot of speculation stature and eminence, and creates unnecessary would the police dare to Saari Sungib was detained on suspicion. Producing the turn him away? 10 April 2001 and sent to the Kamunting Detention Centre detainees in court would on 2 June. He received his first have dispelled all these un- Aliran Executive Committee family visit on 5 May after be- certainties. 16 May 2001 ing incommunicado for 25 days.

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 28 ISA Our Prayers Have Been Answered Together, we must now stand up to oppose the ISA by Roslijah S Syed

Hishamuddin Yunus. It was That day, I telephoned Rudy also a most special birthday every half an hour because present for me, even if I re- only he knew then what had ceived it 10 days too early. happened to my husband. However when Rudy re- Being reunited with my hus- turned to the police station band didn’t come easily. I had with the lawyers, they were to face many obstacles. All told that Ghani was not there. kinds of problems arose. I I felt then that only God knew was always anxious and where he was. How fright- afraid. My health was af- ened I felt. fected. But I am thankful be- cause I was able to face these However, when I recalled my s I write this (on 13 obstacles one by one, calmly husband’s message to me AAA June), my husband, and patiently. about an hour before he was Abdul Ghani detained, I immediately felt My World Came Haroon, has returned that I could pluck up the cour- Crashing Down to me and our children for age to rise above this setback. about two weeks. This article Truly, 11 April 2001 was a day He told me to look after the should have been written ear- I will never forget - a day that children well, to be resilient lier, but I was unable to do so really tested my inner and patient in facing these tri- due to my health problems strength and resolve. I felt my als. He was ready to face all and frequent commuting to world crashing down when risks, including the risk of de- and from Kuala Lumpur to my husband was detained. tention under the harsh ISA. fulfil my responsibility as a The police should have in- wife whose husband had formed me that my husband To me, the allegations made been detained under the ISA, had been detained under the against my husband and the his whereabouts unknown. ISA. But they failed to do so. others were baseless concoc- I got the news from my hus- tions. Where were the Nevertheless, as a Muslim, I band’s friend in , molotov cocktails, grenade give thanks to Allah as, whom I knew only as Rudy. launchers and whatnot? It through his power, my hus- Rudy was with Ghani when was all slander. band and Gobala have been he was arrested at the freed by Justice Datuk Kuching airport. My husband is someone

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 29 highly responsible. After 15 ther insists that the fireworks May), my family and I were years of marriage, I know his are dangerous. Would he then allowed to meet Ghani. But character and behaviour. He be capable of using bombs before we could see him, even displays compassion to- and other explosives? I also there were more obstacles. wards insects! How can he explained to the children that The van we were travelling in even think of hurting people their father was a hero who broke down (at Bukit and destroying the country was willing to make sacrifices Berapit). God only knows the we cherish? for their future. Be proud of state of panic I was in then. your father, I told them. With my brother’s help, I They are persecuting the caught a taxi from Taiping to wrong people. These are he- The next problem I faced was Kuala Lumpur. roes, people who are willing when they asked when they to lay down their lives in the could meet their father. By At about 4.45 pm, we struggle for justice and truth. then, 30 days had passed. I reached our destination. All I feel really proud to have a had run out of good excuses the pining and anxiety van- husband like him. Truly, God to give them. My children ished after we met the person is all-powerful. The truth was wailed that they wanted to whom we all had missed revealed when my husband meet their father. What I did dreadfully. The conversation was freed by Datuk was give them photographs centred on family matters Hishamuddin Yunus. I take of my husband. and the children. Throughout this opportunity to express the reunion, which lasted 1½ my profound thanks to him. What else could I do? hours, we were under sur- Everytime we tried calling veillance by police officers. Missing Their father Bukit Aman, I got a standard reply. I was told to be patient Truly, the ISA is a cruel and When my husband was de- and wait. Like the other oppressive law. It had so cru- tained, the children too were wives, I communicated with elly separated us. We did not downcast. What was the rea- DSP Joon and DSP Phillip. At even know the whereabouts son for his detention, they one point, I was too discour- of the one we loved. wanted to know. They cried aged to phone the two of when they found out that them anymore. One incident I shall not for- their father had been de- get involved my youngest tained for (allegedly) possess- What happened to Vasanthi son, Abdul Rahman Danial. ing explosive devices that (Gobala’s wife) on 8 May also After I had said my prayers, could jeopardise national se- happened to me. Both of us my little child started praying curity. were waiting to meet the ones too. The prayer that came out we were pining for. But we of the mouth of this small I provided a convincing ex- were disappointed. I re- child still makes my tears planation to the children. I mained patient even though flow to this day. Thankfully, told them it was all untrue the tears flowed when I saw the prayers of the children, and that they themselves my children crying when told my mother, our relatives and knew their father better than they could not meet their fa- friends, and my own prayers that. Our children are forbid- ther. have been answered by God. den from playing with fire- crackers and fireworks on After being patient for 45 Although the risk remains, Hari Raya because their fa- days, on the 46th day (27th the experience my family and

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 30 I went through has made us more courageous and not afraid of uncertainty and ALIRAN threats. Instead, we as a fam- On the roster of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations ily will rise to struggle for jus- 103 Medan Penaga, 11600 Penang, Malaysia tice. That is our promise. Tel: +60-4-658 5251 Fax: +60-4-658 5197 Website: http://www.malaysia.net/aliran/ Another moving experience 6 June 2001 is that the bonds of friend- ship which the wives of the Datuk Menteri Dalam Negeri detainees have forged among Aras 13, Block D1, Parcel D ourselves have given me re- Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan newed spirit, courage, and 65202 Putrajaya self-confidence. With their support, I too am brave YB Datuk Abdullah Badawi enough to come forward on RELEASE ALL ISA DETAINEES stage to inform others of what has happened. To everyone, We deplore your recent order that has condemned four Malaysians I say be aware of this harsh (three from Parti KeADILan Nasional and another activist) to two law. Today, it happened to my years incarceration in Kamunting. Their detention under the ISA is a despicable and disgraceful act without any justification. friends and me. Tomorrow, who knows? We are particularly disappointed that you have chosen to ignore Justice Hishamuddin’s recent judgment which described the arrest Let us together pray that our as mala fide, thereby questioning the legality of the arrest and his call other friends will be freed for Parliamentary review of the ISA. quickly. They are not traitors The use of ISA, which violates the constitutional rights of citizens but heroes who desire justice and has led to widespread maltreatment of uncharged and uncon- and truth. This law has been victed citizens, is immoral, cruel and uncivilized. The ISA is repug- used to intimidate us. So let nant to any notion of justice and runs contrary to standards and us together struggle to repeal conceptions of human rights as recognized by all major religions practiced in Malaysia. the ISA. If I, a homemaker, can stand up to oppose this Accordingly, Aliran condemns the latest and continued use of ISA Act, why not you? Stand up to silence lawful dissent and stifle honest criticism. Together with and be counted. q other concerned organizations and individuals in this country, Aliran demands the following:

1 . The BN government should immediately release all ISA detain- Ghani was freed by ees. the High Court on 30 2. Alternatively, the Barisan government should immediately pro- May 2001 after 49 duce all detainees in Court and charge them under specific laws of the country. days in detention. 3. The Barisan government should not use the ISA to re-arrest any Three days earlier, he detainee who is freed by any Court in the country. was allowed a family visit after being in- RELEASE ALL ISA DETAINEES! ABOLISH ISA! communicado for 46 days. Aliran Executive Committee

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 31 ISA Our Struggle Is Sacred There can be no victory without sacrifice Interview with Badaruddin Ismail, better known as Pak Din

cial to the security of Malaysia to a detention cell. iii. may act in a manner prejudi- cial to the security of Malaysia How big was the cell?

How did they take you away and It was 8 feet wide, 9 feet long and where were you taken to? 12 feet high.

I was ordered to follow them to a What was in the cell? Proton Wira without being hand- cuffed. I was handcuffed after en- There was a plywood platform for tering the car. I was then taken to sleeping on that was 2½ feet wide the Jalan Travers police station in and 6 feet long. Besides that, there Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. was a bathroom measuring 2½ feet by 3 feet with a wall of about When and where were you de- What happened after that? 2½ feet high. tained?tained?tained? At the Jalan Travers police sta- What about windows and the I was arrested at about 8.50 am on tion, they formally recorded my temperature in the detention 26 April 2001 at a stall in Medan arrest. From there, I was taken cell?cell?cell? Selera, Taman Melawati, Kuala to an unknown place. My spec- Lumpur while having my morn- tacles were taken away and I The window was about 6 inches ing tea. was instructed to wear dark by 9 inches and food was passed glasses that made it impossible in through it. It was warm in the Who arrested you and how did for me to see anything cell, enough to make one perspire they arrest you? between 6 pm and 9 pm. How far was it from the Jalan I was arrested by ASP Ibrahim Travers police station to the place Could you tell day from night? Omar, who was not in uniform of detention and how long did then. He asked me my name, I con- the journey take? I could, because the light would firmed it and he then told me I enter the room through a thick was being arrested under Section The journey took 30-40 minutes. glass pane fixed to the highest 73 (1) of the Internal Security Act , wall. saying: Can you describe what hap- pened after that? What about medical treatment? a. I (ASP) believe there are grounds to detain you (Pak I was given a detention number Medical treatment was given Din) under Section 8 of the ISA and my name was not used every Friday. The check-up in- (1960) and again after that. I was also given cluded body weight and blood b. I (ASP) believe you (Pak Din): a pail, a blanket, two mugs, a pressure. Other medicine was i. have acted in a manner preju- small water bucket, a tooth- given on request. dicial to the security of Malay- brush, toothpaste, bath soap, sia. washing soap, and two pairs of Were the meals given to you sat- ii. will act in a manner prejudi- blue uniform. I was then taken isfactory?isfactory?isfactory?

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 32 The meals were satisfactory and My sixth sense told me that I The main hindrance is that our on time. would be released by them (police) immediate family (mother, fa- as they had no evidence to detain ther, wife, children and siblings) Did your weight increase or de- me. Still, I was distressed by the will try to discourage us from crease during detention? arrest because our struggle is not continuing the struggle. To the directed at bringing about any- families of our freedom fighters, During the first week, my weight thing detrimental to the people of I urge: allow them to continue dropped by 3 kg, the second week Malaysia. Our struggle is to up- the struggle and give them your by half a kilo and after that it re- hold our rights as Malaysian citi- full support. This struggle is a mained unchanged until I was re- zens, rights that are guaranteed sacred struggle to uphold our leased. All in, I lost 3½ kg. by the Constitution. rights in a democratic nation. It is in the interest of humanity. How many interrogation officers Do you feel any sense of regret What is the point of being an were there and did they intro- over your detention? independent nation when our duce themselves? rights as human beings are vio- I have no regrets about my de- lated? Altogether, there were six people, tention under the ISA because and they did not introduce them- my detention has given true In parting, I would like to say selves nor were they in uniform. meaning to the struggle for jus- “there can be no victory without tice and truth. sacrifice.” q When did they carry out the in- terrogation and for how long? Will you continue your work in opposing human rights abuses? They began the interrogation from Pak Din was released by the the second day. It was carried out I will continue this struggle as police on 5 June 2001 after daily during the daytime (office long as I am able-bodied and I 41 days in detention. He was hours) for 3-6 hours. will continue to urge everyone held incommunicado for 29 to take on the issue of human days before being allowed his Did they torture you physically? rights violations as our common first family visit on 25 May. problem. Pak Din is one of the secre- They didn’t torture me physically. tariat members of Suaram What advice or appeal would you and was previously detained What about mental torture? give to the public? on 24 October 1998 for seven days. On that occasion Solitary confinement and the I appeal to those who love truth he was severely beaten up heavy restriction on my freedom and justice to oppose human and had to receive eight is equivalent to mental torture. rights abuses and make a sacri- stitches on the right of his Separation from my loved ones fice (even risk being arrested by forehead. and isolation from the commu- the authorities) to continue the nity, to me, constituted mental tor- struggle. ture. The condition and the mere fact of my detention was enough to cause great tension in my be- ing. Still, I tried to calm myself to Section 73(1) of the Internal Security Act face each day. Any police officer may without warrant arrest and detain pending enquiries any person in respect of whom he has How long were you detained un- reason to believe:- der the ISA? a) that there are grounds which would justify his detention under Section 8, and I was detained for 40 days, 5 b) that he has acted or is about to act or is likely to act in any hours and 10 minutes. manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia or any part thereof or to the economic life thereof. What are your feelings about your ISA arrest and detention?

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 33 MAHATHIR'S FUTURE, DAIM AND THE MCA Continued from page 40 ning trust from the Malays. Even their own propagan- dists in the NST (20 June, 2001) have run out of good spins and resolved to head- lines such as, “UMNO Gen- eral Assembly: Same Old Bor- ing Rhetoric As UMNO Comes Under Siege”.

No wonder. UMNO’s Gen- Guffawing leaders eral Assembly is really an overrated theatrical perform- rift with the Prime Minister were a classic case of words ance, in its umpteenth run and his exit as UMNO’s pre- not matching deeds, or per- and was never meant to mir- viously unassailable excheq- fect examples of unabashed ror the party’s state of being. uer; the continued haunting doublespeak. Things have to be read be- of Anwar’s imprisonment tween the lines. The real is- and ill-health; the arbitrary Abdullah Badawi’s speech sues that demand to be un- and opaque measures used to was very distinct from covered lurk beneath the sur- pinpoint perpetrators of inter- Mahathir’s, in that the former face. In fact the most nagging nal party corruption; the tried to incorporate the rheto- issues — Mahathir’s future, much rumoured divide be- ric of democracy in persuad- Daim’s absence and the tween the Mahathir and the ing UMNO members to MCA-UMNO business deals Abdullah Badawi camps, the change, while the latter was were abandoned for silent complete abandonment of blunt and dismissed any need resignation. competitive rules for intra- for reforms. The UMNO Youth party advancement, UMNO’s and Wanita Heads appeared UMNO has changed from shaky business foundation amenable for a modicum of being a party that was once and the escalation of rivalries, reforms to happen. smug in its sense of mission petty and substantial, all to one which is directionless. around. In truth they were all Janus- It is true that UMNO has un- faced. While Abdullah dergone a transformation. Instead, true to expectation, claimed that the movement New dynamics are evolving all tensions were kept under must now be more concerned that are making the question wraps and mock conviviality about “human rights, democ- of survival – what, whose was displayed among guf- racy, justice, transparency and how - an important one fawing leaders on stage (a and strong judiciary” he was to reconsider. favourite and recurrent photo non-ambivalent about the distraction in Malaysian ISA. When asked if the ISA Many Explosive Issues newspapers). should be repealed, the an- swer was an uncompromis- Doublespeak The meeting should have been ing “No”. an explosive one given the The first thing to read be- outstanding issues – Daim’s tween the lines: Speeches The head of UMNO Youth,

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 34 Hishamuddin Hussein was it is hard to ignore the sense poned until after the 2004 less clear about what new di- that what is paramount national election. Some of rections he intended the within UMNO is not so much these “pre-emptives” are movement to pursue. But as about securing its future elec- even laughable ones, such as a whole the movement has toral win, than about the per- the call for all members to be not veered from its image as sonal survival of its leader. obedient to the party presi- vanguard of Malay chauvin- dent! istic interests as in the pass- UMNO’s interest in winning The Estranged ing of a resolution to reject future elections happen to be Marriage of Politics outright all of Suqiu’s de- in conflict with the interest of and Business mands. Is that being realistic a leader obsessed with exact- for winning a broad-based ing control over the party. In But apart from what was support when PAS has gone such a conflict, personal badly said at the meeting, it all out to address many of the leadership survival will eas- was what was not said that concerns of the Suqiu? ily overwhelm the party’s first is the more telling indicator of concern. the party’s ill health. Why As for Wanita UMNO, its was the Daim issue totally chief, , stressed What is feared most by the avoided in the gathering? the point till she was blue that leader in this situation is the there was no rivalry whatso- emergence of intra-party ever between the movement challengers. The rhetoric and the upstarts of Puteri spewed out during the pro- UMNO. This denial failed to ceedings was actually meant reveal hints that the chief to distract the ordinary ob- was flustered because Puteri server into believing that the UMNO had really been steal- party was making prepara- ing Wanita’s thunder. tion to “re-popularise” itself for the next election. But the There were sophomoric quar- real answer to the party’s sur- rels over the veracity of mem- vival may never lie with an bership figures (Wanita election four years away but The Daim issue: totally avoided UMNO says Puteri UMNO with what is festering within will only get 20,000 members; it now. The truth is that Dr Mahathir Puteri UMNO says that it cannot afford to overempha- hopes to surprise the party ). The central leadership fear of size the split. About a year There were multiple refrains displacement has caused it to ago, the popular and hard- uttered about working to- use numerous pre-emptive hitting FreeMalaysia website wards capturing the next tactics to stave off potential refuted that there could ever election. But the speakers challengers. In the last gen- be a split between the dy- have kept Malaysian women eral assembly (2000), the Su- namic duo because, “The ties in the dark as to what they preme Council dictated that are so strong, in fact, that intend to do to benefit them. the post of president and vice- breaking them could risk de- president be not contested. stroying both men…A true Personal Survival And just days before the re- conflict between the two Overtakes cent meeting Abdullah could be nothing less than Party Survival Badawi suggested that the mutually assured destruc- Jollity, passion and tears aside next party elections be post- tion… Malaysia’s Butch and

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 35 Sundance will go down, bound to balk at this punch at this time…. It sus- someday, but chances are thought. On the other hand, pects that the bid is a plot to they’ll go down together.” if Daim is indispensable to undermine the party. It claims UMNO’s survival will he be that Mr Quek is in league with The economic pie is getting persuaded by others to rea- the United Malays National smaller and the division of lign himself and enter into Organisation, UMNO... (The spoils is becoming harder to new alliances? Economist, May 20, 1989). apportion. Overstretched public coffers and an angry Nanyang Siang Pau, Later, in 1991, UMNO suc- citizenry have made it diffi- MCA and UMNO cessfully acquired a control- cult to salvage all crony ling stake in Nanyang Press, companies without inviting One other controversial is- through the Renong Group: public backlash. Daim’s deft sue, though seemingly sepa- manoeuvering to prop up rable from the interests of Hume Industries, one of Hong the economy may have en- UMNO, is the fiasco over Leong’s four listed flagship riched a select few but MCA’s takeover of Nanyang companies, said on 28 Febru- Mahathir suffers the flak of Siang Pau. The UMNO Gen- ary that it had acquired for a disenchanted investor and eral Assembly has been al- M$113 million (US$41.9 mil- business class, who are all most oblivious to this con- lion) a 45% stake in Nanyang also competing for govern- troversy. Press, the parent company of ment favours. But, as the the Chinese-language daily website suggests, if the two Although this fight is made Nanyang Siang Pau.… The are “thick as thieves” how out to be an intra-Chinese acquisition, which will be can they bear to incriminate issue, there is an UMNO funded by the issue of 18.62 one another? connection. The fight million new Hume shares, among UMNO, Hume and draws Nanyang into Umno’s But this “split” may be the the MCA goes a long way orbit for the first time. Jaguh real mirror to the future of back to 1989 when MCA Mutiara, a wholly owned unit UMNO. Does it spell the im- was in deep financial trou- of Renong’s Fleet Group, has minent end to the marriage ble with its Multi-Purpose a 23.8% interest in Hume…. of politics (symbolized by Holdings: Analysts say the move is the Mahathir) and business latest in a series designed to (symbolized by Daim)? To its mounting indignation tie Hong Leong more closely and alarm, an attempt is be- to Renong, the main invest- It is most unlikely, because ing made to buy out its vast ment arm of Mahathir’s the survival of UMNO (even business interests. The would- United Malays National Or- in its shell) must still depend be buyer is Mr Quek Leng ganisation (Umno). (Far East- on its well-placed agents to Chan, a Malaysian Chinese ern Economic Review, March control corporations, gener- whose business ambitions ap- 14, 1991). ate patronage and bankroll pear to outweigh any political elections. Can Daim be re- sentiments he may have. He Does UMNO Still placed by an equally adroit has made a bid worth M$1.1 Have Influence cash conjurer? The name of billion ($420m) for Multi-Pur- Over Nanyang? pose Holdings, the investment is frequently noted through arm of the Malaysian Chinese Now if UMNO had control- the rumour mill, but some Association…. The MCA is led Nanyang Siang Pau, factions within the party are resentful of Mr Quek’s tummy through its stake in Hume,

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 36 why has the MCA now been The MCA’s opposition is said to In short, there is also a crony- allowed to take over reflect a prevailing fear in Ma- war going on. We certainly do Nanyang? laysia’s ethnic Chinese commu- not want to get caught in the nity that UMNO is mobilising crossfire or be drawn into the And if Hume and Nanyang its huge resources to seize con- mayhem as pawns. were once linked to UMNO, trol of the country’s independ- why did Mahathir reveal that ent Chinese businesses. Critics Whose Future? “Nanyang has been against say UMNO found a willing us. It has been highlighting partner for such efforts in Hong Given the mounting acrimony the extremists’ views such as Leong, despite the ethnic Chi- within UMNO it is indeed Suqiu’s during the Lunas by- nese background of its compa- premature for the party to election,”? (Malaysiakini, 22 ny’s owners. (Far Eastern Eco- strategise for the next election. June 2001). nomic Review, March 14, Leaders and their cronies 1991). console themselves that the Who, within UMNO, was in- reward for keeping the “mar- volved with Nanyang? And The question to ask is why is riage” intact, despite the why were the stories in the Hong Leong chief, Quek strains, would be a future newspaper now unfavour- Leng Chan, who has been electoral victory. able to Mahathir? linked to UMNO leaders, let- ting go of Nanyang? Remem- And therefore, nobody will When Nanyang gave bad ber that it was Mahathir who use formal meetings such as press to Mahathir, who could relented and allowed Hong the General Assembly as the have allowed this to happen? Leong to remain as an anchor battleground to iron out dif- Was there a “not-so-hidden” bank, against Daim’s origi- ferences, debate controver- hand somewhere that was nal bank merger proposal? So sial issues, pose probing working towards Mahathir’s what is happening here? Is questions or use the rules of and his backers’ downfall? the Hong Leong boss return- democracy to reprimand ing a favour by relinquishing leaders and even oust them The Chinese angst over the Nanyang? by the process of collective, MCA’s takeover of Nanyang transparent and open delib- might be a little misdirected, Another question to ask – is eration. and UMNO’s silence is pe- Mahathir “rewarding” the culiarly strange. Nanyang MCA by patching up old sores Meanwhile, things continue Siang Pau was never an in- over the Multi-Purpose takeo- to boil under the surface and dependent paper. In fact in ver? Whatever it is, there is a by now we are tempted to 1991, it was MCA who lot of quid pro quo horse-trad- conclude that it is the leader fumed over the Hong ing deals going on here among rather than the party that is Leong-UMNO deal when the political business elite of winning the battle for sur- the takeover happened: various ethnic groups. vival. q

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Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 38 ISA

WE DEMAND THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF:

Mohamad Ezam Saari Sungib Dr. Badrul Lokman Tian Chua Hishamuddin Mohd. Nor Amin Bahron Noor Adam Rais Letter To The Prime Minister

21 Jun 2001 They are neither common crimi- or threaten national security? nals nor enemies of the state. They Assalamualaikum warahamatullahi are, in fact, citizens committed to- Malaysia has now entered the wabarakatuh wards safeguarding the nation’s twenty-first century but why is our Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri, wealth against transgressions country still practising laws that and acts of bribery. were inherited from our one-time We, the undersigned, are the colonial masters and detaining its wives and family members of the They are also our husbands and citizen without trial? above-mentioned detainees cur- loving fathers to our children. rently being detained at We, the family members of the Kamunting under the Internal Se- Separating them from us and from above-mentioned detainees, have curity Act. our young children who are still no doubts whatsoever that our in great need of their love is truly loved ones have acted nobly and The detention of the above- a cruel and inhumane act. constitutionally, and that they did mentioned detainees was not violate any laws. Their deten- made without any formal Our husbands are peace-loving tion is criminal and unjust. criminal charge or trial in an people who struggle to uphold the open court. This is an inhu- principles enshrined in Malay- We, therefore, appeal to Dato Seri mane act that violates their sia’s declaration of independence, that our loved ones be immediately fundamental rights. which guarantees that this nation and unconditionally released and will continue to be a democratic be allowed to return to their fami- The above-mentioned detainees nation based on the principles of lies, or, if the government has any are responsible individuals who freedom and justice. proof of their violating any laws, uphold the principle of democ- then charge them in court. racy in this beloved Malaysia of Does fighting to uphold these no- ours. ble principles constitute a crime Signed by:

Puan Bahirah Tajul Aris Puan Aliza Jaffar Mabel Au (Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor’s wife) (Saari Sungib’s wife) (Tian Chua’s fiance) En. Jalaluddin Manaf Puan Zumrah Husni Puan Noor Farahin Ahmad (Hishamuddin Rais’ uncle) (Dr. Badrul Amin Bahron’s wife) (Lokman Noor Adam’s wife)

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 39 POLITICS Mahathir's Future, Daim And The MCA: UMNO avoids crucial issues like the plague by Maznah Mohamad

t its recent General Assembly, UMNO AAA members may have been barking up the wrong tree. They were consumed by the ambition of a 2004 national election victory when their own intra-party election was in disarray. Dr Mahathir continued to talk down to the Malays, implicating that they are lazy, amnesiac, woolly and ungrate- ful, when it is their support UMNO is trying to regain.

UMNO would have done better if it had turned inwards to scrutinize what was wrong with its own internal disorganization and odd style of leadership. Dr Mahathir’s Who will survive? the leader (above)? negative name-calling is a queer way of win- ... or the party (below)?

Continued on page 34

Aliran Monthly 21(5) Page 40