EDITOR'S MESSAGE

ffn August 1983 our President left his University lecturer's post to devote himself fully to Aliran. About the same time a few other members began working full-time for the society. Co These moves we· •n response to changing circumstances for Aliran's progress had reached a critical point requiring a review of pace and direction. The present issue .of the Journal therefore marks the beginning of a new phase in our movement in the context of the Malaysian situation. s , ' 14 We publish herein a lonk interview with Dr. Chandra Muzaffar on Aliran's future in which he speaks out on, inter alia, commitment and sacrifice for a cause, the changing socio-economic 40 trends, Aliran's part in developing an alternative consciousness and the approach that will be 23 . pursued. Fea The recent"Constitutional amendments, though extremely far-reaching in their effect on our system of government, were not adequately covered by the local Press. These controversial changes are the subject of an important article by Sdra. Azmi Khalid. Apart from the government's 9 Emergency powers, the writer analyses and discusses the full implications of the amendment to 20 s)t JXrticle 66 of the Constitution and consequential amendments to parts of the Eighth Schedule, 28 ~exrMsing the hope that moderation will prevail in a possible constitutio,nal crisis. 48 Communalism in Sri La,nka is an attempt to present some useful viewpoints drawn from the so trials and tribulations of ,the- multi-ethnic experience of a nearby country which has recently 51 undergone a serious crisis in ~ tx nic relations. Readers will probably be struck by the number of , parallels l?e.t'Yeen thell_lJ !,n.d:u~ 57 59 The Bahasa section comprises a single long article, Kebebasan Akademik Dalam 60 Negara yang Membangun, being a paper presented at the Seminar on Academic Freedom and the Role of Academics in Malaysian Universities organized by the Academic Staff Association of 62 U.T.M. in March 1983. The article deals with subjects like the University's perception of its 66 relationship with the government; the decline of University autonomy in Malaysia; and some solutions to the problem at the individual level.

We have reproduced in ftt.11 what \\OS held over from the last issue - the address by Sdr. Anwar Fazal, President of the International Oraanization of Consumer Unions, at the presentation fo him of the Right Livelihood Foundation Award in 1982. He sets out several challenges to the 1 global quality of life which require serious reflection and response. 4 Three titles are reviewed and introduced in the Books Section: Good Work by Schumacher, 33 Towards a Just World by Rajni Kothari and One-dimensional Man by Herbert Marcuse. The first 68 contains a series of lectures by E.F. Schumacher, published posthumously, in which some central ideas in his famous book Small is Beautiful are developed ~d defended. The lectures are on a cluster of Schumacher themes like human-scale technology, appropriate forms of ownership, education and spirituai values. Kothari's Towards a Just World argues the thesis that the global domination of the West for the past 200 years is about to come to an end. He then goes on to "As outline the philosophical basis of an alternative society that may, with commitment, replace the the fight passing epoch. Another interesting literary item is the Nobel lecture delivered by Gabriel himself as Garcia Marquez at the presentation to him of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature last December. try to chan Gan Teilc Chee old which for himself. the new. Ti All subscribers have been sent their Journals. Those who still have himself." not received theirs, please contact the distribution bureau.

,, CONTENTS From Our Readers

y to .ety. Cover Titles GAMBLING AND !d a PUSHING fore lion. 5 Emergency Powers & Constitutional Changes I concur with the view (as 14 Alternative Consciousness expressed by one of your corres- hhe pondents in the Journal of March, 40 Kebebasan Akademik 1mic 1983) that in order to deal with the I be 23 Communalism in Sri Lanka problem of gambling, we need to tackle the root causes rather than Features gambling itself. For example, I often our regret how the banning of chance nges games at school fun fairs has really The 'Wayang Kulit' Debate mt's 9 demoralised the young. It seems to t to 20 'Arms Race' Seminar me that this ruling ha~· on!_ 5uccee- ded in taking away spirit of lule, 28 Human Rights and Rural Development Jh:: fun from such fain -,.id in making it 48 The Economic Decline more difficult for schools to raise the 50 4 th Aliran Merdeka Dinner funds for important projects. This sort of clamp-down, nevertheless, tly 51 A Genuine Basis of National Unity . J r of !() does not really help to improve the 57 Human Rights: World Round-up spiritual and emotional well-being of 59 Poem - 'Apolitical Intellectuals' our youth which is the real issue involved in gambling and many 60 The Solitude of Latin America other human vices. 62 Containing Health Care Costs Incidentally, the Department of Education, Pulau Pinang wants to 66 What the Consumer Movement is about ome ensure that all the schools in have one hundred percent passes in the S.R.P. AND S.P.M. examina- Sdr. Regulars , I tions. At least that is what we tion teachers understand from the current project that all the schools in Penang , the 1 From Our Readers have been directed to carry out. In 4 Aliran Diary this project, which is being carried cher, 33 Current Comment out for the first time, the teachers first have to refer to the previous year's 68 Books tral results of all the students and then n a make a forecast of their likely hip, performance in the corning exami- obal nations. Students, whose results are n to "As an advocate of change, the activist must acknowledge that found to be poor or who are border- , the line cases, will be "pushed" so that the fight for change must also be internalized. He must transform the likely failures will at least pass briel himself as he tries to transform society ... If he does not resolutely ber. and the border-line cases would do try to change himself he will carry with him the corruption of the even much better. ee old which will hamper him in accomplishing the tasks he has set Apart from creating a great for himself Like society, he too is a battlefield between the old and amount of unnecessary work for the the new. To win the battle in society he must first win it within teachers, the whole project is very himself" impractical. It does not take into - Renato Constantino account the numerous factors that might determine the performance of Filipino Thinker students in an examination. Surely,

1 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 besides the effort of the teachers at coming more commercialised espe- tation of the people and to maintain members "pushing", other factors such as cially the big ones which seem to social responsibility and accounta- and provid aptitude, interest, family and social be losing their identity as coopera- bility will fail. In all countries much che background, are also important. tives by their activities, strategies including industrialised countries, the not be use These, nonetheless, do not figure at and actions. Some crafty men have Cooperative Movement acts as a companies all in the "pushing" exercise. In formed cooperatives for their own buffer and checks the exploitative operative fact, insistence on any extra advantage, e.g. to benefit from tendencies of the capitalist system. "pushing" seems to negate the limited taxation, continuous increase Cooperatives in our country have teachers and students as human of share capital without restrictions, made tremendous achievements in beings .. to control and monopolise the Board this regard. Private money lenders I think such a project is a sheer for their own gains. Some very large who had been charging exorbitant waste of our precious God-given Cooperatives have even gone to the rates of interest on loans to wage gifts of time and manpower as well extent of not disclosing enough earners/workers and the middlemen as the nation's hard-earned money. information in the accounts and who had been exploiting the rural ENLI Also, teachers are expected by their reports to their members under the farmers and fishermen have been I was superiors to reach unrealistic targets shield of confidentiality, secrecy and mostly thrown out of business with read in in the game of examination statistics. competition. They disregard the the development of Cooperatives. In What is our education system Cooperative philosophy which sim- the field of housing, Cooperatives Dr. Chan lecturer's coming to - a factory to guarantee ply means openness in activities, so have built houses at prices 100% the turning out of one hundred that there is no exploitation of cheaper - again checking excessive Social Sci Malaysia. percent successes in examination members and the common man. The profiteering of the private sector. a great nee statistics? Cooperative concept was born out of Even in the field of insurance the to change Concerned Teacher exploitation and misery suffered by setting up of a Cooperative insurance to develop Pu/au Pinang_ the common man at the hands of namely M.C.I.S. has ensured that which ha 'i vicious capitalists who had always the private insurance companies give and caring • , maintained secrecy in business for more bonuses to their policy-holders. beings. We ------'{i ro fit e e ring purposes. Very strangely (Unfortunately of late MCIS has CHECK ABUSE OF the Cooperatives in this country, been badly managed). If not for the from our COOPERATIVES particularly the big ones, are being formation of Cooperatives, exploita- of mind influenced by the capitalistic struc- tion of the people would have been to know goaded int We must congratulate and thank ture. Whilst in the West there is on the increase and the few capita- own corn£ the Minister for National and Rural fresh awakening among the people lists would have become richer and are being Developments, Datuk Sanusi Junid, for more disclosures in the accounts richer thereby adversely affecting the does feel for creating an awareness among of listed Companies for the informa- fair distribution of income among still some Cooperative leaders of the impor- tion of shareholders and the general the people. are willin tance of efficient, trustworthy and public , our Cooperatives are trying I would therefore be pleased if of the soc· clean management of the Coopera- to follow the Company style of Datuk Sanusi Junid would instil in trodden. tives. This is evidenced by his con- presentation of accounts and dis- the Cooperative leaders the princi- I belie stant message to Cooperative leaders closures therein. I also note the big ples and the philosophy of Coopera- human re! that the Cooperatives must be -effi- Cooperatives are no longer submitt- tives so that Cooperatives would arisen if ciently and professionally managed. ting budgets to the Annual General remain as a check and balance to sincere lo This he does because he takes the Meetings for the approval of the fight exploitation and profiteering of another. I Cooperative Movement to heart as· general body which is their supreme the private sector and to help the ciate the he himself is an ardent cooperator. authority and some are even shy to Government in its economic policy his desire t He should also be congratulated for publish the minutes of the Annual in narrowing the gap between the through so the establishment of the Institute of General Meetings in their Annual haves and the have-nots. Coopera- Cooperative ;. ..i1tors which is very Report! They want to be more tives should not engage in business timely. This Institute realy means Company-like and commercial in the of the private sector as the objectives business (unlike many other insti- style of management and less coope- of the Cooperatives and private tutions which were started for rative. business are diametrically opposed to form's sake). This happens in Cooperatives each other; one is to exploit and Whilst the awareness of efficient which are managed by professionals profiteer and the other is to kill management is spreading quite stea- and even experienced cooperators. exploitation and encourage fair SUPP dily in the Cooperative Movement, This only means that the philosophy economic distribution. there seems to be a lack among of Cooperation is slowly sinking into I would not have any objection Thank Cooperative leaders, i.e. a growing oblivion. If staunch Cooperative to any Cooperative going into my sub ignorance of the ideology and leaders do not take corrective mea- joint-ventures with private business Together philosophy of Cooperation itself. We sures now, the Cooperative system as provided the projects or schemes are renew my, see these days Cooperatives be- an economic order to check exploi- to the bebefit and advantage of its year. I r ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 2 I \ members and the common man I would like to take this oppor- The symbolic gesture will certain- and provided that their products are tunity to express my feelings about ly serve as a warning to all govern- much cheaper. Cooperatives should Aliran. as a member of the Ma- ments in the Free World that how- not be used as vehicles of the private laysian society, I am glad that a ever powerful they may be in their companies for exploitation of Co- movement like Aliran exists. I am own country, no administration will operative members. deeply convinced that Aliran is be able to escape the wrath of the just what the Malaysian society overwhelming majority of the world's RRC needs, and it is doing a good job of people if it displays a gross inability jolting members of society out of to provide the basic human right of their complacency and ignorance, protection of life or if it demonstra- and making them more aware of tes a blatant disrespect for the funda- issues and problems. At the same mental liberties of its citizens. ENLIGHTENED FIGHT time you are· making people think As the Americans were among the with greater depth about such issues. first people to promote the question I was deeply touched when I Needless to say, I shall support of human rights as a political read in today's ST AR about Aliran and its work always. doctrine, it is apt that President Dr. Chandra's resignation from his Reagan, their leader, should seriously lecturer's post at the School of Sharifah consider cancelling his scheduled Social Sciences in Universiti Sains Kuala Lumpur visit. Going on with the visit will Malaysia. Indeed, I believe there is not only underscore the political a great need for our people generally SOCIAL contradiction that the US has so far to change their way of thinking and CONSCIOUSNESS been famous for but, more impor- to develop permanent spiritual values tant, will undermine the moral which have to do with loving I gladly enclose herewith a cheque leadership position the United States and caring for one another as human for $17 .00 being renewal of my has assumed in the Free World. subscription and order for some beings. We do need to be liberated Although I have never had the from our selfish and apathetic state booklets. It is good to know that - open-mindedness and social opportunity to meet Senator of mind and existence. While it is sad Aquino, I have followed his career to know that men must often be consciousness are alive in Malaysia. I get quite disheartened by some with more than casual interest. goaded into action only when their To my mind, indications suggest that own comfortable positions in society magazines and periodicals that are eagerly read by a lot of Malaysians. had he lived, he would have provided ar-e being threatened, my heart the intelligent and enlightened politi- does feel rather glad that there are So keep up the good work, and God willing your articles will one day be cal leadership so much needed by still some enlightened people who the Philippines. are willing to fight for the cause read by the population at large. of the socially and spiritually down- Notwithstanding any extenuating trodden. Saw Hee Kin circumstances which may surface in I believe that most problems in JohoreBaru the foreseeable future, President Fer- human relationships need not have dinand Marcos stands indicted for arisen if we have an attitude of the needless and insane murder of sincere love and care towards one SENSELESS MURDER Ninoy - a murder perhaps from another. I therefore greatly appre- OF'NINOY' omission but nevertheless arising ciate the gesture of Dr. Chandra in from political expediency since his desire to help reform our society The assassination of former Senator Aquino had been widely through social education. Senator Benigno Ninoy Aquino, regarded as a credible alternative to while robbing the Philippines of a Mr. Marcos and his regime. G.O. leader who comes across as arti- The fact that Senator Aquino was Pulau Pinang. culate, colourful and charismatic, conveniently gunned down in a constitutes a mortal sin of the secure area of Manila airport under gravest magnitude. Nowtwith- the watchful eyes of a trained Swat standing the fact that the official team and that the government had investigation has yet to be comple- used assassination threats to refuse SUPPORT FOR ALIRAN ted, it is appropriate here to call him entry to his own country have upon the United States, as the negated in one stroke all the good Thank you for reminding me that leader of the Free World, to put that the Marcos regime had done for my subscription had expired. across their collective disapproval in his country. Together with this letter, I hereby the strongest terms by cancelling renew my subscription for another President Reagan's proposed visit to B.T Tan year. Philippines scheduled for November. Kuala Lumpur

3 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 r

FRANK & UNBIASED

I have read all the articles of your President published in THE ST AR and I am writing to congratulate him for his frank, sincere and unbiased views of the current poltical state of affairs in this country. We are all aware that the ISA is still in existence and I hope the government realises that this country needs fair, just patriots for the benefit of the whole country irrespective of race, religion or colour. The Penang Study-club heard a talk on "East-West Congratulations again. Malaysia Integration" by Dr. C.N. Phang in late July and in mid-August we had a lecture on "Food Production CH. Lee in Malaysia" by Sdr. Martin Khor of Consumers Associa- 0 Petaling Jaya tion of Penang. The Kuala Lumpur Study-club on the relaf other hand had a talk by Sdr. K.S. Jomo on "Options been in Social Action" in mid-August. noti Under the Public Communication bureau tutio programme, some Aliran members met with represen- in SACRIFICE tatives from Chung Ling Old Boys' School Association in tarian late June and the Rubber Research Institute Staff Union find It must have been a bold decision in mid-July. any s for your President, Dr. Chandra, to The Publications bureau has come out with a State resign from his teaching post to serve book, Lima Persoalan, which is now available on the and the rakyat via Aliran. The rakyat must market. Aliran is also planning to publish a Bahasa form admire such dedication and commit- Malaysia monthly by the beginning of next year. How- modi ment and appreciate his sacrifice. ever this is dependent on the approval of the Home now I am also proud that recently Ministry's KDN people. As for the plan to change the to p1 Tan Sri Dr. Tan proposed that Aliran Quarterly to a monthly, the green light from parli Dr. Chandra be appointed Chairman the same Ministry is yet to be obtained. struc of the National Unity Board. The Fraternity burrnu organised a satay party Judi I am writing to say SY ABAS and on August 12 to bid farewell to former Treasurer rights to humbly record my respect for S. Subramaniam and former Exco member G. Vijaya taking him. May God bless him and his who were scheduled to leave for overseas. Subra and have family abundantly. wife will be in Canada where he will be pursuing his progre doctorate. This get-together was also for our member sh'oul Michael Lim Godfrey Ooi who was transferred to Kuala Lumpur. differ The Merdeka Dinner was held on September natio 9th. 'fhe response from the general public was very econo good. Besides the dinner, the diners also had much food plague for thought - Aliran President Chandra Muzaffar and perio PRSM Chairman Kassim Ahmad talked about the be ev country's economic problems. The Malaysian worker encroa Letters from readers are welcome, in general was given the 'Outstanding Malaysian' award. or un and should be addressed to:-· The Exco experienced a few changes with the depriv departure of Subra and Vijaya to Canada. Their places manag Editor, Aliran Quaterly, were filled after August 18th by Dr. Tan Chee Beng and P.O. Box 1049, Penang, Malaysia. Sdr. Shaharuddin Maaruf. Th To date Aliran's membership stands at 82. whate Pseudonyms are accepted but all letters should include the writer's name and address. been pace -ed. chan · Some

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 4 CONSTITUTION ,

EMERGENCY POWERS & CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES Azmi Khalid

Our nation and people have been Acts making about 1000 specific Any reading of these proposals relatively fortunate in that we have changes have been passed by Parlia- would surely raise various questions been sufficiently imbued with the ment since Independence. The latest and issues pertaining to a 2-tier notions of Supremacy of the Consti- Amendment Bill in 1983 was recent- appellate system, constitutional con- tution and Rule of Law, as enshrined ly passed by both Houses of Parlia- ventions, implications of impasse and in the Rukunegara, so that authori- ment, seeking to effect changes in crises in law-making procedures, tarian or totalitarian systems would matters such as the judicial system, the status and functions of our find it rather difficult to establish composition of the Dewan Rakyat, rulers, numerous constitutional, any strong foothold. Our Federal and the legislative procedure in Parlia- ramifications on federalism as well State Constitutions continue to exist ment and the State Assemblies, as as diverse socio-cultural and political arid function in basically the same well as Article 150 on Emergency concerns. form and manner, except for some powers. modifications becoming necessary The judicial structure is to be EMERGENCY LAWS now and again. We have managed substantively altered by aboliton of It needs to be noted that this to preserve the semblances of a civil appeals to the Privy Council as latest constitutional change to Article parliamentary democracy, federal a culmination to the earlier abolition 150 would constitute the fifth altera- structure; the hallowed independent of appeal on criminal and consti- tion of this single significant provi- Judiciary as well as certain basic tutional matters. The existing sion. Changes had already been seen rights for citizens. However, merely Federal Court would then be re- in 1960, 1963, 1966 ap.d 1981. Since taking comfort in all that we still named Supreme Court (Mahkamah this provision is quite fundamental to have with us cannot be a positive or Agong), to serve as Malaysia's final the supreme character of our Consti- progressive national attitude. We court of appeal on all matters. The tution, a careful study thereof should not deny that we are not composition of the Dewan Rakyat is would surely be in order. Unfor- different from other developing to be increased from the present 154 tw1ately, there does not appear to nations in the political, social or members, but more important, have been much public interest, economic obstacles that we are the process for passing Acts of concern or discussion on this year's plagued with during this crucial Parliament and State Enactments will proposed change. Yet there surely period of nation-building. We need to also see a radical change by virtue of ought to be, since Article 150 can be be ever-vigilant against any potential alterations being proposed respective- implemented even in ways that are encroachments that could, by design ly to Article 66 and relevant sections inconsistent with most other provi- or unwittingly, cause us to lose or be of the Eighth Schedule. Whereas at sions of the Constitution itself. deprived of all that which we have present the Constitution merely When a Proclamation of Emerge- managed to maintain for so long. states that the Yang di Pertuan cy has been issued by the Yang Agong or State Ruler "shall signify di Pertuan Agong, the Parliament The , his assent" to all Bills duly passed by that is then sitting can pass Emergen- whatever the shortcomings that one the respective Federal or State legis- cy Acts "notwithstanding anything may perceive in it, is one such na- latures, the new amendment provides in this Constitution" (Clauses (5) and tional feature and symbol of pride that if such Bills are not assented to (6)), except of course on matters for many Malaysians. It certainly has within 15 days of being presented specified in Clause (6A), namely been amended regularly to keep for assent, the Agong or Ruler "shall Islamic law, Malay custom, native pace with what are deemed as be deemed to have assented to the law or custom in Sarawak and Sabah, changing national needs and wishes. Bill and the Bill shall accordingly religion, citizenship or language. Some 23 Constitution (Amendment) become law". Emergency laws which may be incon-

5 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 sistent with other matters in the THE1981AMENDMENTS concurrently. It is of course very Constitution would not be invalid if rarely that concurrent sittings are The amendments to Article 150 in it is declared therein that "the law held as normal Parliamentary pra- 1981 appeared to ensure that no appears to Parliament to be required ctice in Malaysia. more vexed questions could be rai- by reason of the Emergency". sed. With some deft strokes of his OMINOUS CHANGES IN 1983 neces Examples of such Emergency laws pen, the draftsman made deletions any p passed by Parliament would be the This year's futher changes were and additions to silence further Procla Emergency (Essential Powers) Acts stated to be merely "consequential" questioning in court. He introduced, M of 1964 and 1979 as well as the and a form of tidying up the legal and Parliament approved, a strongly- tional Emergency Powers (Kelantan) Act, machinery, though some commen- worded ouster of jurisdiction of the seem 1977. tators view it as a transfer of Emer- courts so that no court is now gency powers from the Yang di Per- canno Should· Parliament not be sitting permitted to "have jurisdiction to tuan Agong to the Prime Minister. It in Ar when a Proclamation is issued, as entertain or determine any applica- cannot be denied that the Agong's ferre occurred from 15th May 1969 tion, question or proceeding, in role in a Proclamation of Emergency judici until 20th February 1971, then whatever form, on any ground, and the making of Ordinances is but Head Emergency powers can be exer- regarding the validity of ..." Emer- a limited constitutional function on Articl cised by the Executive if "certain gency Proclamations and Ordinances behalf of the Executive. Despite one 'no circumstances exist which render it (Clause (8) (b )). The satisfaction of or two vague judicial pronounce- positi , necessary . . . to take immediate the Yang di Pertuan Agong in issuing ments on this matter, the courts Ruler action" (Clause (2B)). Such powers such Proclamations or Ordinances have generally been of the view that conse can be executed pursuant to the has also been entrenched to the the Agong is required to act upon Ta.kin making of Emergency Ordinances by extent that it "shall be final and advice. This is especially so since funct1 the Yang di Pertuan Agong acting conclusive and shall not be chal- Article 40(1) of the Constitution 150 a! upon Executive advice. Numerous lenged or called in question in any stipulates that he "shall act in with Ordinances were- made during the court on any ground" (Clause (8) accordance with the advice of the Feder 1969-1971 period, including that (a)). Cabinet or of a Minister acting under invoke which established the National the general authority of the need Apart from excluding all courts Operations Council to effectively Cabinet". The latest sweeping of all from intervening in Emergency mat- rule during the absence of Parlia- changes, affecting Clauses (1), (2), doubt ters, the 1981 amendments legitimi- ment. Under such Ordinances, the (2A), (2B), (2C), (3) and (8), appear releva zed the existence of overlapping Yang di Pertuan Agong had similarly to ensure that no further doubt Articl Prociamations "on different grounds made numerous subsidiary Emergen- remains as to the actual consti- or in different circumstances" cy laws called Essential Regulations, tutionai fact that it is the Executive (Clause (2A)). Furthermore, a Procla- one notable example of which was mation can be issued not only when which decides and acts. The Prime ESCAR. "a grave emergency exists whereby Minister himself is now empowered, "if he is satisfied" on the various The various amendments to Arti- the security, or the economic life, or matters, to advise the Yang di cle 150 over the years indicate much public order in the Federation or any Pertuan Agong to issue the various tees fi difficulty . was encountered in the part thereof is threatened" as provi- types of Proclamations and to privil interpretation and application of ded originally in Clause (1 ), but now promulgate Ordinances, and the amen those exceptional laws. Various indi- also "before the actual occurrence Agong "shall then accordingly" do posals viduals, including one-time Sarawak of the (threatening) event ... if the so. Clause (8) which previously an am Chief Minister Stephen Kalong Yang di Pertuan Agong is satisfied conferred immunity from judicial 8th Ningkan, had approached the courts that there is imminent danger of the process to the Agong, has now conse , with grievances pertaining to their occcurrence of such event" according transferred such immunity to the Such diverse rights being denied or viola- to the new Clause (2). The other Prime Minister. the ted by Emergency measures. Malay- significant change was to exclude the questi· sian judges have consistently re- executive power to make Emergency Nonetheless, a meticulous consti- posed iterated that an Emergency Procla- Ordinances only when "both Houses tutional lawyer and legal draftsman privil mation is not challengeable and that of Parliament are sitting concurrent- may still remain unconvinced that all dignitJ Emergency laws are regarded as valid ly" (Clause (2B)), namely only at difficulties have been completely passed those times when "the members of despite contravention of the Cons- resolved in the above 'consequential' Conf~ titution. It was only the Privy each House are respectively assem- and 'incidental' fashion. Taking his Articli Council in London which appeared bled together and carrying out the cue from the changes suggested for Fu: to be of the opinion that aggrieved business of the House" (Clause (9)). the Royal Assent for ordinary legis- tator · individuals can bring actions against The previous restriction in the lative enactments, he might ask why implic the Government which had in actual original Clause (2) had mentioned the same 'deeming' procedure has that fact advised the Yang di Pertuan "when both Houses of Parliament not also been incorporated in this canno Agong on Emergency matters. are sitting", though not necessarily more significant action of pro- issues

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 6 ,ery claiming an Emergency. Despite the role and functions of the Rulers as around the world, has recently are emphasis that the Agong clearly has Malaysia's symbols of national unity. released a voluminous study called pra- to act upon advice, this new formula The Sedition Act is all-embracing in "States of Emergency: Their Impact for Article 150 does not provide this regard; its wide preventive ambit on Human Rights". The ICJ's obser- necessary measures for overcoming does not allow the questioning of vations and conclusions certainly vere any possibility of a refusal to sign a such "sensitive" issues as those merit careful scrutiny for we would ial" Proclamation. mentioned above. Obviously, very then be able to place our own pro- egal More important, the constitu- careful thought has to be given to the blems in the broader context of such Gen- tional status of the Agong would proposals for constitutional change questions which have been found to ner- seem to be raised in issue. One so as to p~event Malaysian society be 'of global importance'. In quite a Per- cannot forget that the Constitution from plunging into a difficult number of situations, the emergency r. It in Article 32(1) has not only con- national crisis. Moderation on all system has become 'the normal ng's ferred absolute immunity from sides will have to be the order of the machinery of government'. Measures ncy judicial process upon the Supreme day . which the constitution provided to but Head of the Federation, but that enable states of exception to be over- on Article 38(4) has also stipulated that A LOOK BACK come have overriden the supreme law 'no law affecting the privileges, itself whilst many crises of a tempo- one Whist numerous questions regar- Gce- position, honours or dignities of the rary nature have been perpetuated. ding the necessity of the latest Yet, many constitutions and urts Rulers shall be passed without the changes can only be suitably answered that consent of the '. constitutional systems have been pru- by the Government and its legal advi- dent enough to provide safety pon Taking the proposed change to the sers, the ordinary citizen may wish to mechapisms that would curb poten- nee function of the Agong under Article pay heed to the words of the Reid tial abuses and save nations from don 150 as well as proposed dispensation Constitutional Commission which in with express Royal Assent for gradually hardening into autocracies. had made its recommendations in There are various mechanisms recom- the Federal and State Bills, one may well 1957. The Reid Report upon which 1der invoke under Article 38(4) the prior mended and some should work well our Constitution is based had sought in any situation, including ours. They the need to consult or obtain the consent to ensure that the wide-ranging are all based on one significant >ing of all Rulers on these matters. No emergency powers could be effective- principle - that the validity of (2), doubt a literal interpretation of the ly controlled by Parliament, such ,ear relevant amendment condition in emergency measures depends not that a Proclamation could have legal only on the existence of a legitimate ubt Article 159(5) may suggest that such operation for only 2 months from isti- consent is unnecessary. None of the emergency and the need for the the date of issuance and Ordinances measures in question but also on tive entrenched provisions in Clause (5) for only 15 days from the date that efforts made to ensure that the ime of Article 159, namely, Article 38 Parliament · first sits. It had been :ed, on the powers of the Conference of measures employed cannot be abused. envisaged that only Parliament, after The more important of those recom- ous Rulers, Article 70 on the precedence serious discussion that the public mendations can be briefly highligh- di of Rulers, and Article 71 on guaran- could also follow, would by resolu- ted as follows : ous tees for the constitutional rights and tion assume the satisfaction and the to privileges of State Rulers, are being responsibility to extend the life of 1. The constitution should clearly the amended by the latest 1983 pro- Emergency Proclamations and laws. state and limit the effects of do posals. It could then be argued that This safeguard against possible exe- states of emergency on legal 1sly an amendment to Article 66 or the cutive abuse was in fact incorporated rights and on the powers of the cial 8th Schedule does not require the in the Constitution at Independence branches of government. IOW consent of the Conference of Rulers. but was removed shortly after in 2. The constitution should enume- the Such an argument appears to miss 1960. Since then, changes to Article rate and define the situations the point that, apart from the 150 indicate that the role of the which justify emergency, espe- question of amendment, any pro- legislature has gradually been- re- cially distinguishing between isti- posed law that directly affects the various types of emergencies. nan placed by Cabinet authority and, privileges, position, honours or ultimately · now, the satisfaction, 3. If the executive has the authori- tall dignities of the Rulers shall not be ty to declare an emergency, tely authority and responsibility of only passed without the consent of the the Prime Minister. approval of the legislature :ial' Conference of Rulers as provided in should be required, preferably his Article 39(4). A LOOK AROUND by an enhanced majority. for Furthermore a political commen- It may also be worth comparing 4. No state of emergency shoul"d gis- tator would assert that socio-cultural our own Emergency laws and situa- have legal force beyond a fixed rhy implications may be so far-reaching tions with those elsewhere. The period of time, whilst each ilas that mere technical interpretation International Commission of Jurists, proclamation should specify its his cannot do justice to closely-linked that highly respected body which own duration. ro- issues like Executive powers and the strives to uphold the Rule of Law 5. Emergency powers should not

7 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 be used to remove judges, alter THE WAY AHEAD? ring for the benefits of social and the judicial structure or restrict Some may regard that the wisdom economic development, has left itself the independence of the judi- of political leaders and the unswer- much time or thought so as to be ciary. ving sincerity of elected representa- able to constantly and responsibly tives in exercising only those powers monitor the vast modern complexi- 6. The legislature should not be ties of government, politics and dissolved during emergency. really necessary for overcoming criti- cal problems are beyond question. administration, such that we are able Judicial ouster notwithstanding, such to leave no opportunity open at 7. The right to take emergency some point or other in the future for measures should be limited by a view is tenable only with the eternal survival and perfect working excesses and abuses to seep in. A the duty not to take measures wiser course of action would then be which threaten the viability of of parliamentary democracy as well as the truly free avenues for expres- to leave no apparent loop-hole a free press, independent trade available at the outset. Emergency unions, professional organisa- sion of popular feelings. Only then powers can and have been grossly tions and popular organisations. could there be sufficient checks on unwarranted and undesired executive misused elsewhere. Does our Con- 8. The termination of a state of excesses. stitution ensure that we will not emergency should automatically Yet we are surely not completely have to undergo the bitter lessons lead to the full restoration of free from some doubts as to whether that others have been forced to suspended rights and freedoms . our young society, feverishly clamou- endure? D

SAVE UPTO 25%

SUBSCRIBE DIRECT

o·NLY $6.00

FOR41SSUES

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 8,

I •, I ~l~ [~e THE 1 WAYANG KULIT' DEBATE Lim Kit Siang ~ble at for A be ole cy of the Constitution! Similarly, outside Parliament, sly "The manner, the frequency, the trivial reasons when the present batch of constitutional amendments I fi• for altering the Constitution reduce this are discussed by those who are knowledgeable, by ot the political leaders inside or outside the Barisan supreme law of the nation to a useless scrap of ns Nasional, by the press, they all focus their attention on to paper. " - Dr. Mahathir in "The Malay Dilemma". the proposed amendments to Article 66 and 150. But in these two days of debate, all the Barisan MPs avoided these two Articles, and even those UMNO MPs who had I do not think there is any other counrty in the always been the first to jump up and speak and are in world which would accept our provision as the habit of breathing 'fire and brimstone' are this time uncommonly and extraordinarily quiet and proposed, where the Royal Assent could be subdued. deemed to have been given when it was never This is a most unhealthy development, highly given! inimical to the growth of a democratic environment and climate, where at least, Members of Parliament should be able to discuss in a frank and honest manner The 1983 Constitution (Amendment) Bill proposes why certain Constitutional amendments are necessary various amendments on the increase of parliamentary in Parliament itself. It is most regrettable therefore that constituencies; a detailed process whereby a Member of everyone is avoiding the most substantive amendments, Parliament convicted of criminal offences would lose everyone is running away from Article 66 and 150, when his qualifications to be a Member of the House; provi- they constitute basic amendments to the system of sions with regard to the Deputy Chairman and Members government with far-reaching consequences. This is of the various Service Commissions; and amendments why I said at the beginning that the two-day debate to Article 66 and 150. resembles more a Wayang Kulit than a Parliamentary I have been following the Parliamentary debate session. In this connection, I wish to refer to what these two days on the Bill, as I wanted to know the the Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir Mohamed, wrote in views and stand of the Barisan MPs, in particular the The Malay Dilemma, his famous book, on Constitutional UMNO MPs, and I find this debate most extraordinary. amendments. This is what he wrote : We seem to be staging a Wayang Ku/it, where we see the shadows but not the substance, as nobody seems to be brave enough to deal with the real substance of the "The manner, the frequency, the trivial amendments. reasons for altering the Constitution reduce The Bill before the House is one of the most this supreme law of the nation to a useless important amendments to be made to the Constitution, scrap of paper. " as for the first time since Merdeka, amendments are proposed which would have grave consequences to the Here I wish to stress that the 'ma,nner' in which system of government in Malaysia. Everybody is irware the present batch of Constitutional amendments have of the great import of this amendment, but everyone is been presented, without giving the real reasons why steering clear of the subject. In the Parliament canteen the Constitution should be amended, has 'reduced or outside this Chamber, when MPs discuss the 1983 this supreme law of the nation to a more useless scrap Constitution Amendment Bill, they do not talk about of paper.' the proposed increase of parliamentary seats, nor do The Prime Minister has moved an amendment to they discuss the proposed amendment to Article 48 to Article 66(5) so as to provide that if for any reason specify the circumstances whereby an MP convicted of whatsoever a Bill is not assented to by the Yang di- criminal offence would lose his seat. What they all Pertuan Agong within fifteen days of its being presented discuss is the purpose, reason and consequences of the tG him, he shall be deemed to have assented to the Bill proposed amendments to Article 66 and Article 150 and the Bill shall accordingly become law.

9 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 It is very clear that the legislative process involves I fully agree with the Constitutional position the passage of the Bills by the two Houses of Parliament that in a constitutional monarchy, the Royal Assent and their receiving the Royal Assent by the Yang diPer- cannot be withheld, but the Royal Assent must be tuan Agong. But with this amendment, a major change is given before the perfection of the legislative process. being made where, in certain circumstances, the Royal There are here two separate matters: one whether Assent is not necessary but would be presumed to have the Royal Assent can be assumed to be given after 15 been given. days of its presentation, and whether the Royal Assent From constitutional theory, the Royal Assent is is a necessary and inseparable part of the legislative pro- an integral part of the legislative process, and is needed cess which could not be assumed. to perfect the legislative process, to transform bills into Some Barisan Nasional MPs had hinted that they laws. Without the Royal Assent, a Bill that has been support the constitutional amendments because this is passed by tht two Houses of Parliament has not yet in line with the Barisan Nasional Government's emphasis become law. on efficiency and speed, implying that the IS-day When the Malaysian Constitution was drafted, the assumption of Royal Assent is good for efficiency and Reid Commission's recommendations made it very clear speed. that the Royal Assent is an integral and inseparable part This amendment has nothing to do with efficiency of the legislative process, and that it is the convention or speedy executive action, but involves the fundamental to be accepted that the Royal Assent cannot be with- question as to whether the Royal Assent, which may not held when advised by the Cabinet. be withheld, is still nonetheless necessary before the Here I wish to refer to an article on 'The Consti- perfection of the legislative process. If the answer is in tutional Position of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong' in the the negative, then one day we may reach a position book, The Constitution of Malaysia - Its Development: where there would be a Constitutional amendment to 1955-1977 edited by Tun Mohamed Suffian, H.P. Lee provide that if for any reason a Bill which the Executive and F.A. Trindade, where on page 110, on the subject of presented to Parliament is not passed within 15 days of Assent, the writer wrote: such presentation, it shall be deemed to have been "Assent: For a Bill to become law it is passed by Parliament, on the grounds of ensuring 'effi- necessary that it be passed by both Houses cient and speedy' administration! of Parliament, and be assented to by the This is unthinkable. The Royal Assent must be Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Yang di-Pertuan given before a bill becomes law. I do not understand Agong signifies his assent to a Bill by causing why the proposed amendment to Article 66 is necessary, the Public Seal to be afjvced to the, Bill. An when it is very clear from our Constitution that the air of unreality su"ounds the assent of the Royal Assent cannot be withheld, and if the Royal Yang di-Pertuan Agong because the assent Assent is withheld and the legislative process is blocked, can never be withheld. This aspect of the there are adequate provisions in the Constitution to deal Constitution was severely criticized by Mr. with this problem. If we do away with the need for a Justice Abdul Hamid in his note of dissent Royal Assent, it may be construed as a step forward to the proposals of the Reid Commission from the viewpoint of republican philosophy, but it where he said: is clearly a major alteration of the system of government 'If this article is allowed to remain in the we have had since 1957. draft as it stands the ·Yang di Pertuan Agong Part IV of the Malaysian Constitution, makes pro- will have no choice in the matter of assent. vision for the election of the Yang di Pertuan Agong by He shall be bound to assent to the Bill pass- the Conference of Rulers as well as for his removal by ed by the two Houses. In other words a the Conference of Rulers. Furthermore, Article 33 Bill passed by the two Houses shall become also provides for the appointment of a Timbalan Yang law. If this is the intention, it is far better di-Pertuan Agong with powers to exercise functions of to approach this subject direct by saying the Yang di Pertuan Agong. Thus, Article 33(1) stipulates: ... .. that a Bill passed by the two Houses shall become law. No mention of assent "33( 1 ). There shall be a Deputy Supreme is necessary at all. But if assent is to be Head of the Federation (to be called the mentioned the Constitution should give Timbalan Yang di Pertuan Agong) who shall the power to the Yang di Pertuan Agong exercise the functions and have the privileges to accord assent or to withhold assent. In of the Yang di Pertuan Agong during any all constitutions the power to accord assent vacancy in the office of the Yang di Pertuan goes with the power to withhold assent. ' Agong and during any period during which Nevertheless, it does not seem possible for the Yang di Pertuan Agong is unable to the Yang di Pertuan Agong to withhold exercise the functions of his office owing to assent to a Bill passed by both Houses of illness, absence from the Federation or for Parliament." any other cause, but the Timbalan Yang di

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 10 position Pertuan Agong shall not exercise those func- If this is the case, then Members of Parliament al Assent tions during any inability or absence of the would be liable for the offence of sedition, as MPs must be Yang di Pertuan Agong which is expected have been stripped of the privilege of parliamentary ocess. to be less than fifteen days, unless the immunity in matters of the four 'sensitive' issues. Prob- e whether Timbalan Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied ably the Speaker should make a ruling whether the De- n after 15 that it is necessary or expedient to exercise wan Rakyat is embarking on a course of sedition. ~al Assent such functions. " I hold that this amendment to Article 66 is a very slative pro- important and fundamental amendment, and probably Thus, the circumstances described by the Prime no other amendment in our constitutional history is as that they Minister where for any reason whatsoever a Bill is not important as this in terms of its implications for our use this is assented to by the Yang di Pertuan Agong within fifteen system of government since Merdeka in 1957. Why is s emphasis days of its being presented, is already provided for by this amendment being dealt with in the Parliamentary e 15-day Article 33(1) where the Timbalan Yang di Pertuan debate as if it does not exist? I know that what I said ciency and Agong is empowered to give the Royal Assent instead. here with regard to Article 66 and even 150 would be In view of the fact that there are existing constitu- confined to Parliament, for I understand that the press tional provisions to deal with the situation described by has been directed not to report any speeches or debates the Prime Minister, this House should be given a true on the amendments to Article 66 and 150. This directive picture as to why the present amendment is being sought. itself calls for an explanation from the Prime Minister! I do not think there is any other country in the Article 150 of the Constitution is concerned with er is in world which would accept our provision as proposed, the Proclamation of Emergency. My colleague, the MP a position where the Royal Assent could be deemed to have been for Kepong, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw, had spoken of the ndment to given when it was never given! abuses of this provision in the past and present, as even Executive This would make it more imperative for the Go- now, there are four Proclamations of Emergency which 15 days of vernment to explain clearly - even though Barisan MPs are all in force, as if without four Proclamations of have been do not need explanations - to the people why the Cons- Emergency, there can be no peace, harmony and secu- · g 'effi- titution is being amended in this fashion, with such great rity in the country. This is an abuse of emergency po- changes to the distribution of powers, when there are wers. We must ask why Proclamations of Emergency t must be already existing provisions in the Constitution for the made at a time to deal with circumstances which do understand Timbalan Yang di Pertuan Agong to give the Royal not exist any more, should still be in force. There is necessary, Assent if for any reason the Yang di Pertuan the 1966 Proclamation of Emergency to topple Stephen n that the Agong could not give the Assent. Kalong Ningkan, then SNAP leader, as Sarawak Chief the Royal In 1971, the Constitution was amended to entrench Minister; the 1963 Indonesian Confrontation Proclama- is blocked, certain issues making them 'sensitive' issues, which could tion of Emergency; the 1969 May 13 Proclamation of ·on to deal not be questioned or challenged. Anyone challenging or Emergency; and the 1977 Proclamation of Emergency need for a questioning these 'entrenched' issues, namely Bahasa to topple the PAS government of Kelantan. All these p forward Malaysia, citizenship, Malay Special Rights and Part IV four Proclamations of Emergency are still in force , hy, but it of the Constitution on the position of the Rulers, would although the circumstances which gave rise to the ovemment be commiting the offence of sedition. Proclamations have long ceased to exist. Why? The amendment proposed to Article 150 woulc makes pro- Why is this amendment being dealt with in the involve a grave shift of constitutional power. The presen Agong by Article 150( 1) of the Constitution reads: removal by Parlimentary debate as if it does not exist? Article 33 I know that what I said here with regard to "150(1). If the Yang di Pertuan Agong is balan Yang Article 66 and even 150 would be confined satisfied that a grave emergency exists ctions of to Parliament, for I understand that the press whereby the security, or the economic life, has been directed not to report any speeches or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a or debates on the amendments to Article 66 Proclamation of Emergency making therein and 150. a declaration to that effect. "

However, in excluding the need for the Royal Now it is proposed to amend this Article whe1 A"~""t ;n ~eTt:lin circumstances, aren't we taking an the words "Yang di Pertuan Agong' is substituted t 4 , "- ~- - -' -- •l..n+ +t-..., .,m,.ntlecl Article 1 ~ part thereof is threatened, he shall advise the Pertuan Agong must also be personally satisfied that Yang di Pertuan Agong accordingly and the a grave emergency exists before issuing a Proclamation Fort, Yang di Pertuan Agong shall then issue a of Emergency. devel, Proclamation of Emergency making therein Now , with the proposed amendment to Article a declaration to that effect. " 150(1 ), the 'satisfaction' that a grave emergency exists and Why is this arrtendement sought, for surely, there to warrant a Proclamation of Emergency attributed amen must be reasons before Constitutional amendments are to the Yang di Pertuan Agong would be shifted to the nothi made. Prime Minister, which constitutes a major change. This intro The words, 'If the Yang di Pertuan Agong is satis- amendment to Article 150(1), together with the amend- signi fied' in the existing Article 150 is capable of two inter- ment to Article 150(2) on th Proclamation of Emer- pretations. Firstly, that it is the Yang di Pertuan Agong gency before the actual occurrence of the event which himself who must be 'satisfied' that a grave emergency threatens the security, or the economic life, or public exists before a Proclamation of Emergency is issued. order of the Federation or any part thereof, if the Prime The second interpretation is that the Yang di Pertuan Minister, replacing the Yang di Pertuan Agong, is so of ili Agong's 'satisfaction' is not a personal, subjective one, satisfied that there is imminent danger of the occurrence insert but 'satisfied as advised by the Executive.' Once the of such event, must also be seen in the light of recent State Executive is satisfied that there is a grave emergency Constitutional changes. amen situation and advises the Yang di Pertuan Agong, the In 1979, the Privy Council in the case of Teh tion, Yang di Pertuan Agong shall issue a Proclamation of Cheng Poh alias Char Meh v. The Public Prosecutor Emergency. ruled that the Essential (Security Cases) (Amendment) If we follow the case of N. Madhavan Nair v. Regulations 1975, made by the Yang di Pertuan Agong ( 1975) we can get the Govern- under the Proclamation of Emergency of 1969 and the ment's interpretation of 'If the Yang di Pertuan Agong is Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 1969 were satisfied', as the first one. That case, which challenges null and void. As a result, Parliament was summoned the legality of the "Emergency Ordinances made under into emergency meeting to amend the Constitution to the Proclamation of Emergency of 1969, revolves ratify the emergency laws, together with the inclusion around the Emergency Ordinance No. 1 which was of a new clause in Artcle 150(8) which made the exer- missing. The then Prime Minister, Tun Razak, has made cise of the powers of proclaiming emergency non-justici- an affidavit, which said: able. Thus Article 150(8) now provides that the 'satisfaction' of the Yang di Pertuan Agong to proclaim "9. I refer to paragraph 12 of the affidavit Emergency shall not be challenged or called in ques- of M. Madhavan Nair and state that owing tion in any court on any ground; and that no court to the grave emergency threatening the secu- should have jurisdiction to entertain or determine rity of the country during the 'May 13' any application, question or proceeding, in whatever incident, I personally presented the said does form on any ground, regarding the validity Procla- 'Ordinance to His Majesty the Yang di Per- Assen mations of Emergency. tuan Agong at Istana Negara for his conside- only Now, with the present batch of amendments, the ration and approval. Having considered the after said Ordinance and after being satisfied that transfer of the powers and functions in Article 150 from rnent immediate action was required for securing the Yang di Pertuan Agong to the Prime Minister would day similarly make the Prime Minister's 'satisfaction' that a public safety, the defence of Malaysia, the grave emergency exists or there is imminent danger to maintenance of public order and of supplies warrant the issue of a Proclamation of Emergency and services essential to the life of the com- 'non-justiciable', and above the law, regardless of munity, His Majesty the Yang di Pertuan whether the Prime Minister had acted in mala fide or for Agong approved the promulgation of the any other wrongful reason. This has grave implications, said Ordinance accordingly. Immediate rnent, not only with regard to Constitutional powers, but also a"angements was then made to print and reaso to the people who may have to suffer under such emer- publish the said Ordinance in the Govern- as at Q gency conditions. I am indeed amazed that such a far- ment Gazette." i~ b~~ reaching amendment has been virtually overlooked. s1gmf1 Another important amendment is with regard to It is very clear from Tun Razak's affidavit that the changes sought for Schedule 8 of the Constitution the Yang diPertuan Agong must be 'satisfied' personally, on 'Provisions to be inserted in State Constitution', to and not merely 'satisfied as advised by the Cabinet', extend the 15-day rule on Royal Assent to the State for the Yang di Pertuan Agong had to 'consider and Governments, so that if a Bill passed by a Legislative approve' the proposed Ordinanq;:. If the Yang di Per- Assembly of a State is not assented to within fifteen tuan Agong has to be personally satisfied before he days of its being presented to the Ruler, he shall be approves the promulgation and signs the Emergency deemed to have assented to it and the Bill shall accor- neutr Ordinance under Article 150(2), surely the Yang di dingly become law.

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 12 I tisfied that dent for the future, where the real reasons for introdu- :oclamation For the sake of a healthy democratic cing a particular piece of legislation are not disclosed to development, we should be able to discuss fully Parliament. to Article and frankly the reasons for these constitutional This has happened before. When Local Govern- ~ency exists ment elections were suspended, the Government gave as attributed amendments, and not as at present, to pretend the reason the Indonesian Confrontation, when it was ifted to the nothing important or substantive is being their fear that the Opposition wQuld sweep the local :hange. This introduced, when the public at large know that government elections, and control the Municipal and the amend- significant constitutional changes are being made. local authorities. ,n of Erner- Again, when the Constitution was amended to event which proclaim Kuala Lumpur as a Federal Territory, the real e, or public reason was not disclosed, namely to ensure that the if the Prime It is clear that the mere amendment to Schedule 8 of the Federal Constitution would not be sufficient to Selangor state would not fall into Opposition control. I.gong, is so insert the 15-day Deemed Royal Assent Rule in the Parliament must not degenerate into a Wayang ~ occurrence Kulit. )lt of recent State Constitutions. The State Constitutions have to be amended separately by the various State Assemblies. The points I have raised are very pertinent Consti- This is clear from Article 71(4) of the Constitu- tutional matters to which I hope the Prime Minister case of Teh tion, which provides: will give adequate replies when winding up the debate. : Prosecutor As for the other amendments to the Constitution, as i\mendment) "71(4). If any time the Constitution of any my other comrades have spoken on them, I will not rtuan Agong State does not contain the provisions set out speak on them. 969 and the in Part I of the Eight Schedule, with or I conclude in urging the Prime Minister to give 1969 were without the modifications allowed under serious replies to the points I have raised in the interest s summoned Qause 5 (hereinafter refe"ed to as 'the of a healthy parliamentary democracy. :istitution to essential provisions') or provisions substan- he inclusion tially to the same effect, or contains pro- (After the Second Reading of the Constitution Amend- 1de the exer- visions inconsistent with the essential ment Bill, Um Kit Siang proposed that the Bill be y non-justici- provisions, Parliament may, notwithstanding referred to a Select Committee): anything in this Constitution, by law make I am proposing that the Constitution Amendment es that the provision for giving effect in that State to Bill be referred to a Select Committee after Second : to proclaim the essential provisions or for removing the Reading, for three reasons: lled in ques- inconsistent provisions. " Firstly, the Prime Minister has not given any hat no court serious or satisfactory reply to the points raised with 1r determine This means that the amendment to Schedule 8 regard to the need to amend Article 66, especially on in whatever does not automatically insert the 15-day Deemed Royal whether the exclusion of the need for Royal Assent in idity Procla- Assent rule into the various State Constitutions. It is certain circumstances constitutes a questioning or chal- only after the State Constitutions are not amended lenging of the sovereignty of Rulers, one of the four ndments, the after the amendment to the Eight Schedule that Parlia- subjects entrenched as 'sensitive' and not permissible. icle 150 from ment would have to pass a law to give effect to the 15- The Prime Minister merely made a highly politicised inister would day Deemed Royal Assent Rule. speech disregarding the constitutional and legal aspects 1ction' that a I want to ask what would happen if at State level, and implications. mt danger to this 15-day beemed Royal Assent Rule does not receive Secondly, the same applies to Article 150. Apart f Emergency the Royal Assent - for clearly a constitutional crisis from politiking, the Prime Minister had not replied to regardless of would be involved. the constitutional and legal issues raised in connection 'lla fide or for For the sake of a healthy democratic develop- with the proposed amendment. implications, ment, we should be able to discuss fully and franldy the Thirdly, the manner the 1983 Constitution wers, but also reasons for these constitutional amendments, and not Amendment Bill is introduced and debated is most ler such emer- as at present, to pretend nothing important or substantive unhealthy, and bodes ill for future parliamentary at such a far- is being introduced, when the public at large know that development. D rlooked. significant constitutional changes are being made. ,jth regard to It will not raise the standing or dignity of the • Constitution House if we continue in this fashion, to avoid discus- Lim Kit Siang is the Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary- istitu tion', to sion of really important and substantive issues, its merit General and MP for Kata Me/aka. to the State and demerits, for this example may become the prece- a Legislative within fifteen The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of great moral crisis, maintain their ,, he shall be ll shall accor- neutrality. - Dante

13 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 Let me h: describing Alli INTERVIEW Aliran as an i in mind. It is its values, its : dangerous to that one is as: leads, as 'a c, rise to a fee of ownership why, as the sophers alw, ALTERNATIVE devotion sho tions and ind the eternal, justice, freec CONSCIOUSNESS unity, comp Ultimate Sot - God itself - us to corn~ altruistic strul . In th~s wide ranging interview with the Editor of the Aliran Quarterly, It is this c Ahran President, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar begins by explaining why he resigned that guides from Universiti Sains Malaysia. He then talks about the importance of sacrifice mission in and commitment, the undercurrents at work in Malaysian society, the role of each human Aliran in developing an alternative consciousness, both locally and interna- most of us do tionally, and the type of approach that is necessary in the struggle to achieve tance of this 1 an alternative social order. human being1 bondage of speeches to prepare. On the average, envy, of gree Why was it necessary to resign there is a talk or forum every week. It was obvious that sooner or outer shackle from the University when all along The problem is further complicated later I would have to choose. tation, dom · The purpose you had been combining Aliran work by the diversity of groups that one Between career and commit- enable the h with University duties? has to talk to - from students to ment I knew how I would his humanit unionists, to adherents of different choose. It was a choice between religions, to women and senior of his spirit a chore and a cause. which he a Aliran's work has multiplied mani- citizens. Fourth , for a few years being can Ii fold in the last two years. First, there now, I have also been attending provide us with the intellectual peace and u are the administrative tasks I have to conferences and seminars overseas. ballast any social movement must whole purpo attend to - coordinating the activit- Often there are papers to write. have. For without a strong intel- Aliran is ties of the various bureaus in Aliran, These meetings abroad are directly towards tha making sure that Executive Commit- linked to Aliran's own struggle for lectual foundation - especially for from the tee decisions are implemented, justice since they are almost always a movement which seeks to articu- light, is participating in meetings, replying to concerned with issues such as late an alternative social philosophy invitations and queries, writing to development, religion, the state and - Aliran will become a mere reaction measures th countless individuals and organisa- human rights. Finally, I set aside to the existing order, a channel for time goes o ney towards tions, answering phone calls, enter- some time on a regular basis for meaningless pontification. taining visitors. Second, and more serious writing and for serious You can see from the range important, I spend quite a bit of time reading. Reading has been my great of activities that one is involved in writing articles and essays for the passion since I was very young. that Aliran is a fulltime endeavour. Many clos Quarterly and our other publications. Without the knowledge acquired It would not have been possible for concern ab Every month, there are also press through my reading, it would have me to fulfil my role in Aliran and cussions of statements to prepare. Third, there been much more difficult for me to carry out my obligations to the noble the co1 are talks and forums in which I contribute effectively to the formu- University at the same time. It was going to m· participate in Penang, KL and lation of ideas on the various issues obvious that sooner or later I would substantial · sometimes other places in the coun- with which Aliran is associated have to choose. Between career and try. This takes up a lot of time today. Similarly, it is the serious commitment I knew how I would since there is not only the travelling writings which we will continue to choose. It was a choice between a There is to do but also the summaries of produce in the future that will chore and a cause. of income

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 14 Let me hasten to add that by standard of living to some extent. nationalist movements of Asia and describing Aliran as 'a cause', it is not But it is not going to be all that . Africa - who gave up comfort and Aliran as an institution that one has difficult. My wife earns a fairly wealth in pursuit of their ideals. In in mind. It is what Aliran stands for ; good salary. I'll be able to earn some Europe the intellectual ferment of its values, its ideals, its struggle. It is money through my writings in the 19th Century produced selfless dangerous to make an institution regional and international magazines souls who, in spite of their privileged that one is associated with, that one and through participation in some positions, were prepared to suffer leads, as 'a cause'. For it could give research projects. pain and ostracization because of the rise to a feeling of possessiveness, However, what is more important beliefs they held, the causes they of ownership, if you like. This is is the way one lives. Our needs as were committed to. why, as the great spiritual philo- human beings are few. We must keep sophers always emphasize, one's it that way. Most of us are unable to devotion should transcend institu- limit our wants, our materialistic tions and individuals. It is love for desires. Consequently, however much In a sense, my resignation is the eternal, universal values of we earn it is just not enough. an oblique expression of my justice, freedom, truth, equality, This is why it is crucial that all abhorrence of such fraudulence. unity, compassion and for the of us learn to live in a simple, mode- If that message has got home, Ultimate Source of these values rate manner. We must ensure that then it has served some - God itself - which should inspire our children have a sense of restraint, purpose. us to commit ourselves to an that they are not inducted into altruistic struggle. conspicuous consumption. We must It is this concept of commitment show them through example that that guides my life's mission. My luxury and extravagance, pomp and mission in life is the mission of style are inimical to our social well- One observes that in the post- each human being - except that being. It goes without saying that colonial societies of the Third World most of us do not realize the impor- this advice is meant for the "haves", many of those who are opposed to tance of this mission. It is to liberate those in the middle and upper the elites in power are seldom willing to sacrifice their time, their energy human beings from both our inner classes. bondage of fear, of prejudice, of and their money for the ideals that envy, of greed, of selfishness and our they so passionately profess! There is outer shackles of oppression, exploi- undoubtedly a pronounced degree of ~ sooner or Do you then see your resigna- hypocrisy among these self-styled choose. tation, dominance and divisiveness. The purpose of this liberation is to tion as an act that is relevant to crusaders, these champions of the commit- others, within and without Aliran? oppressed and exploited. Their owri ould enable the human being to discover his humanity which is the essence life-styles often expose their insin- ice between of his spirit and to create a society in cerity, th(lir hollowness. It is a pity that Malaysia too has its fair share which he and every other human I do not think it is necessary for being can live truly human lives in of such frauds . others, whether they are in Aliran In a sense, my resignation is an intellectual peace and unity. This is surely the or not, to resign from their job! It oblique expression of my abhorrence vement must whole purpose of our existence. was because of the demands of my of such fraudulence. If that message strong intel- Aliran is therefore a channel particular role in Aliran that I chose has got home, then it has served specially for towards that end. My resignation to quit the University. some purpose. ks to articu- from the University, seen in that Nonetheless, one hopes that a 1 philosophy light, is merely one of many decision like this will compel others mere reaction measures that will be necessary as to appreciate the significance of channel for time goes on to help us in our jour- sacrifice in any great struggle for It has been said that while on. ney towards this noble purpose. justice. There has to be a willingness sacrifice and commitment may have [11 the range to give up status and comfort, to some meaning in other societies, in a 1s involved in undergo a ~ertain degree of suffering country like Malaysia where there is ~e endeavour. Many close friends have expressed if one wants to achieve meaningful so little appreciation of ideals and r possible for concern about the financial reper- change in society. This is the lesson idealism, they count for nothing. In m Aliran and cussions of your decision, however that history teaches us. other words, all one's efforts may be ions to the noble the commitment. How are you Of course, nothing can surpass the futile. time. It was going to manage after giving up a sacrifices of those illustrious sacral later I would substantial income? personalities - prophets, saints, ~n career and mystics - whose glorious deeds have To start with, we should not strive :iow I would not lost their lustre through the for a certain ideal because of the :e between a There is no denying that the loss passage of time. Them are others too reward it brings. If we have such an of income will affect my family's - leaders and intellectuals in the attitude, we are bound to be frustra-

15 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 ted. For even morally pure causes with the non-Malay majority that '"1/ ment stri\ have not borne fruit within the life- Are you suggesting that as the feels neglected by government industriali time of a particular individual or situation unfolds, Aliran and its policies. Consequently, ethnic our urban movement. The important thing is to ideas will become more relevant? approaches to economic challenges ethnic ba work in .one's own modest way may become even more pronounced. that ther towards the creation of an ethical But the disadvantaged majority interests t environment where spiritual values within the non-Malay community will By the will flourish - as I mentioned a while Aliran advocates change. Aliran realize after some time that the ment's con ago. espouses an alternative social order, ethnic approach will not solve their developme Having said that, I must point out a new society. There is no doubt that problems. Even now this truth is more curbi that it is not entirely true that sacri- as Malaysians begin to feel the need beginning to dawn upon groups freedom tl fice and commitment have no place for a new society, Aliran's ideas will among plantation workers, tin- further dir in our society. We forget that Islamic assume greater significance. mining labourers, operators of small various di reformers in the early part of the This is bound to happen. As in some sc century, Malay school teachers and the economic decline affects the lives superficial, journalists in the forties and fifties, of individuals - especially individuals disadvantai in the middle echelons - they are and other groups right through the Among the Malay poor there to identify going to think much more about period of early Malay , is a growing awareness that In the n sacrificed quite . a bit of comfort in their future and the future of the certain otl the struggle for Merdeka. In the nation. I believe a more serious mood their interests are different developmer end, the country obtained constitu- could materialize if unemployment from those of the Malay rich. the pace of tional independence. Their services becomes a major problem for Unfortunately this ~wareness is community to the nation have been recognised segments of the middle-class. More being channelled through dichotomy by posterity. important, the rapid social mobility religious bodies which have major ideol Even today, there are individuals that the . expanding middle-class little understanding of the it will be and groups in Malaysia who have enjoyed in the early seventies is dynamics of the economic logical clea-.: chosen to set aside position and starting to slow down. A slower situation. ty with all power because they believe in rate of mobility, particularly in a and stabili defending human rights, in fighting society which has in the past generation corruption and communalism. The provided so much prosperity to the fluent in fact that freedom has not been lost middle and upper classes,will ahnost dichotomiz.i entirely, the fact that there is some certainly give rise to a more critical businesses and employees in the Bumiputras public ·support for issues involving consciousness among hitherto lower echelons of the public services. bound to , social justice shows that their uncaring, unthinking individuals and Among the Malay poor there is a tive reactio struggle has had its reward. Why groups. growing awareness that their interests could affi should we see reward merely in Within the Malay community the are different from those of the Malay alignments. expansion of its middle and upper rich. Unfortunately this awareness is terms of recognition from the state What all classes will create the sort of schisms being channelled through religious or the ability of a group to get into sian societ, that did not exist before. This is bodies which have little under- power? powerful u inevitable as more groups and cliques standing of the dynamics of the In the ultimate analysis however, currents at clamour for the limited patronage, economic situation. it is the way in which the social tually give the limited largesse that the state situation develops that determines While it would be naive to expect change. dispenses in view of the economic whether sacrifice and commitment the disadvantaged and non- It is in s have been worthwhile or not. Way decline. At the same time, competi- Malays to come together in a movement < tion for political office and political back in the fifties and sixties when common cause for at least another with raising perks will become more intense with decade or two, one should not ignore Bertrand Russell was in the forefront crucial. of the "Ban the Bomb" movement, the emergence of many new con- the fact that Malay and non-Malay many dismissed him as a crank. tenders who cannot be easily workers in the public sector, in spite Today the peace movement in accommodated. In a time of econo- of the pulls and pressures of com- Europe has emerged as the most mic recession, political power holds munalism, are adopting a united What rol powerful social movement the world ,; much more attraction than at any- stand on certain issues. There is a sciousness 1 has known since the end of the time before for it is after all the key common rejection, for instance, of event of a Second World War. The expansion that opens up the money vaults. privatization. Similarly, there is some of the nuclear arsenal, nuclear Among the non-Malays too, it is scepticism among both Malay and 'accidents', military expenditure and very likely that the close relation- non-Malay workers of the govern- Aliran's the very real possibility of a nuclear ship of some business elites with the ment's emphasis upon productivity would be t war that'll wipe out the human race state will create antagonistic feelings which they feel will not benefit the situation have all contributed to the new among others who have been left labour in any significant way. It is people will 8 consciousness. out. They may seek out alliances quite conceivable that as the govern- of alterna ti

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 16

' majority that ment strives vigorously for capitalist It will be our task to develop no grinding poverty among the government industrialization a la South Korea consciousness around this alternative masses, it would be foolish for ly, ethnic our urban workers, whatever their concept of the social order. More instance to talk of peasants and ic challenges ethnic backgrounds, will discover than that, we must cultivate a sincere workers uniting to overthrow the , pronounced. that there are certain common commitment to that alternative. oppressors. In that sense, Aliran ged majority interests that they have to defend. Only then will we be in a position to has a social philosophy that is more mmunity will By the same token, the govern- help encourage actual democratic cognizant of Malaysian socio- E' that the ment's concept of, and approach to, action to bring about that economic realities. Though our t solve their development will inevitably lead· to alternative. concept of change emphasizes the this truth is more curbs and controls. The relative Needless to say, in social change transfer of economic and political freedom that we enjoy today will be of this sort various groups will be power to the majority, we do not further diminished. This could bring involved, separately and collectively. negate the role of the middle-class various dissident elements together Aliran has no illusions about its role. nor deny it the right to earn what in some sort of temporary, perhaps We'll be just .one of many endea- is legitimate from the utilization superficial, coalition. Segments of the vours. However, we hope to make of its skills, its education, its enter- disadvantaged majority may be able our own modest contribution in prise. It is a progressive evolution to identify with such a move. certain crucial aspects of the process of society towards greater equality In the midst of all this, there are towards change. and freedom through the actuali- certain other religious and cultural First, the strong spiritual basis to zation of a set of spiritual values developments which will also hasten our philosophy allows us to commu- that we aim for. We do not believe, the pace of change. Within the Malay nicate with religious groups, especial- unlike the communists, in sacrificing community, the Islamic-secular ly Islamic ones, without losing our any generation for some glorious dichotomy threatens to become a links to the so-called "secular" tomorrow. Unlike the communists, major ideological cleavage. If it does, organisations, for our interpretation we should not ignore the cost of it will be the first significant ideo- of the role of spiritual values in human lives in achieving social logical cleavage within the communi- social transformation is modern and change. For in our philosophy ty with all its repercussions for order progressive. This ability to maintain the human being is sacred. It is for and stability. Among the younger ties with both tendencies in our all these reasons that I feel our generation of non-Malays who are social system is an asset since by concept of change will have a fluent in Bahasa, the continuous itself neither of them is capable broader appeal, that it is more suited dichotomization of society into of bringing about change. to our environment. yees in the Bumiputras and non-Bumiputras is Fourth, it is not just in relation to lie services. bound to produce even more neg- Malaysia; even from a global point of r there is a tive reactions in the future which view our philosophy takes into ir interests could affect present political We do not negate the role account the changing realities of the of the Malay alignments. of the middle-class nor deny world situation. This is important What all this shows is that Malay- for ideas will succeed in the local it the right to earn what is setting only if they make sense in sian society is in flux. There are legitimate from the u tilization powerful under-currents and cross- the larger international milieu to currents at work which must even- of its skills, its education, which we belong. This again is tually give birth to a major social its enterprise. another contribution we can make to change. meaningful social change. It is in situations like this that a While we realize that the accumu- movement concerned with thinking, lation of capital on a global scale with raising social awareness becomes Second, Aliran is one of the few by the centres of capitalism is a crucial. genuinely multi-ethnic organisations major cause of our problems, we are around in terms of its philosophy, also aware that there are other equal- policies, public positions, member- ly crucial challenges generated by the What role will Aliran as a con- ship and leadership. This again is a state system itself, by the type of sciousness movement play in the great advantage for as society gets technology that has developed over event of a major social change? more and more polarized along the decades, by the very nature of ethnic lines, a multi-ethnic move- industrialization and industrial socie- ment which can provide a common ties. By injecting these ideas into our perspective based upon shared values analysis of the Malaysian situation, Aliran's greatest contribution will be perceived as a vital necessity we can at least warn others of the would be to interpret and analyse in holding various communal forces pitfalls inherent in certain patterns the situation in such a manner that together. of social change. people will become aware of the type Third, when a soc~ty has a sub- Finally, in any movement towards of alternative that is most viable. stantial middle-class, when there is major change, it is not unusual for an

17 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 elite to separate means from ends the environment; promotes consume- tive basis so that there will be no help prepare and to legitimize its centralization of rism; and accelerates arms expansion. domination of man over man? In destiny. Deve power and control over freedom and Once we grant that these chal- order to do this we should perhaps familiar the1 participation. Both these tendencies lenges transcend ideological boun- develop technology that can be environment are dangerous. Both these tendencies daries, that they confront civilisation democratically controlled, that to the blosso lead eventually to the destruction of as a whole, we have to look deeper fosters a community spirit, that is humanity. the very ideals of a revolutionary for their causes. If, for instance, in harmony with Nature. Such a The rnomi movement. As a group that has people are not able to participate tecchnology would also perhaps of developm1 always stressed the importance of reduce the problem of alienation, of tive, we real choosing moral means towards moral conformism. It would certainly have from the c ends, Aliran can in the event of an impact upon the nature of work. models. But t change persuade all concerned to In fact, work will no longer be By changing the nature of work, not be exagi preserve the ethical basis of the defined by the market. It will male-female relations will also under- transforrnatio struggle for justice. Similarly, as an instead be defined by the go a significant transformation. If, enable the ht organisation that is genuinely for instance, work includes any , purpose of man's existence. spiritual will democratic - we provide as much endeavour that contributes towards the knowled1 information as possible to members, the realization of common spiritual that comes f policies and plans are discussed ,values, then the degradation of house lectual tradit openly, there is widespread consul- work and voluntary work will end. West. To be n tations on issues, programmes are actively in decisions which affect In fact, work will no longer be equality (whi formulated and implemented in a their lives, one should perhaps evolve defined by the market. It will instead spiritual goali completely decentralized manner - small or medium-sized communities be defined by the purpose of man's absorb ideas Aliran will do its best to ensure that that exercise jurisdiction over all existence. philosophy tl An indeed, a non-ideological any movement for change remains those economic, political and cul- deeply on 1 participatory, remains orientated tural issues that are now left to inquiry into the challenges of our in the eco towards popular involvement. bureaucrats and politicians. Perhaps times will finally convince us of the spheres. the community, and not the mono- need to link development and moder- The alterru lithic nation, should once again nization to those great questions of then, is not d become the basic unit of existence. life, of man's purpose, of the It is a creati1 You have referred to a global How should the economy be orga- meaning of all human endeavour. For assimilating a significance in the type of alternative nised to support such a unit? if man has a transcendental goal (as discarding all philosophy that Aliran advocates. Shouldn't we manage economic all religions believe) then the purpose whatever sour, But why is such an alternative resources and organise economic of existence is the realization of those necessary? activities on an egalitarian, coopera- eternal, spiritual values which would Does Mab stand Aliran's To start with, let us make it clear that by 'an alternative' we mean an alternative to both the capitalist and socialist models with all their There are variations. Even within The need for such an alternative is understands t borne out by the challenges of our phy. This is 1 age. The sort of development and ever pltilosopl modernization which both systems is Islam or C are associated with (powerful bureau- individuals at and ernotiom cracies on the one hand and huge corporations on the other) creates with varying Besides, our large-scale faceless communities; strengthens the position of political, has not been economic, technological and intellec- and detail. It tual elites; generates or reinforces of becornin1 a period of y class dichotomies; negates and nulli- that are worn fies participation by ordinary human beings; increases waste and corrup- However, tion; induces the masses into cultural many Malay conformism; aggravates ethnic newspapers relations; degrades women; destroys Interest in Aliran Publications. know aspect! through the 1

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 18 re will be no help prepare him for his spiritual over man? In destiny. Development, to return to a should perhaps familiar theme, must create the that can be environment that is most conducive trolled, that to the blossoming of man's spiritual spirit , that is humanity. ature. Such a The moment we see the purpose also perhaps of development from this perspec- f alienation, of tive, we realize how different it is , certainly have from the capitalist and socialist ture of work. models. But these differences should ture of work, not be exaggerated. For the social will also under- transformation that is necessary to sformation. If, enable the human being to be truly includes any spiritual will only be possible with ibutes towards the knowledge of social structures mon spiritual that comes from the modern intel- elation of house lectual tradition pioneered by the work will end. West. To be more specific, to achieve no longer be equality (which is one of the great . It will instead spiritual goals of man), one has to Hope more Malaysians commit themselves to Aliran 's cause . rpose of man's absorb ideas from socialism, the public issues. This is why our role and the like. Sections of the public philosophy that has reflected most as a social critic is important. People will be able to identify more easily non-ideological deeply on man-man relationships llenges of our see us as a group that is rational, that with these media than with our in the economic and political is sensible, that is courageous and publications. Dissemination of ideas vince us of the spheres. ent and moder- committed. We would be happier if could then be more effective. The alternative that Aliran seeks, they also understood our role as an t questions of then, is not dogmatic or doctrinaire. se, of the articulator of an alternative social It is a creative, intellectual process, order. endeavour. For assimilating all that is useful and Finally, what are Aliran's hopes dental goal ( as discarding all that is useless from for the immediate future? en the purpose whatever source. Would Aliran for its part try to · ation of those strengthen its public image as a s which would propagator of an alternative con- First, we hope that the relative sciousness? Does Malaysian society under- freedom we have will not only con- stand Aliran's goal of an alternative? tinue but will also increase and As far as newspapers go, we have expand. An ethical movement like limited access. Can you imagine how ours committed to moral principles much better it would be if we had a will not be able to serve humankind There are individuals who do. column in one of the leading news- if repression becomes the order of Even within Aliran not everyone papers to explain our alternative the day. · understands this alternative philoso- philosophy? Second, the Malaysian public has phy. This is nothing unusual. What- In the absence of opportunities given us a lot of support and encou- ever philosophy you take, whether it of that sort, we'll have to do more ragement. We hope that this support is Islam or Christianity or Marxism, serious writing. We have to produce will grow in the years to come. We individuals at different intellectual books and pamphlets dealing with will be most happy if our public and emotional levels understand it specific aspects of our alternative buy our books, pamphlets and tapes with varying degrees of profundity. philosophy. We've not done that. We and subscribe to our quarterly. They Besides, our alternative philosophy have to stimulate public thinking on could even donate direct to Aliran. has not been worked out in depth issues like 'Women in an Alternative Third, we hope more and more and detail. It is in an early process Society' or 'The home in an Alter- Malaysians will commit themselves of becoming. It'll evolve over native Society' or even 'Security in openly to the cause that Aliran a period of years, as all philosophies an Alternative Society'. upholds. It is a cause that all human that are worthwhile must. At the same time, some of the beings who cherish justice, freedom, However, there is no doubt that new areas of social education that we unity and dignity should commit many Malaysians who read the are now planning will enhance themselves to. newspapers and our publications popular understanding of the alter- For in the success of this cause - know aspects of Aliran's alternative native. We are going into music, the cause of the human individual through the comments we make on drama, . paintings, children's stories - lies the future of the human being.

19 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 1 ARMS RACE' SEMINAR Rajendran Deveraj

An Arms Race Seminar organised presentation of working papers to- groups of nation-states in the expan- by Aliran was held on 23rd July at gether with lively floor participation sion or improvement of military the Dewan Sri Pinang, Pulau Pinang. helped make the seminar a capacity for the potential or actual The day-long Seminar saw the pre- memorable occasion. use of force , as a means of resolving sentation of the following working However on the part of political political disputes. The Arms Race papers: parties and the public, there was immediately brings to mind super- general feeling that such a topic had power rivalry; however this is but 1. The Arms Race: Its Causes and little practical significance. The poor one manifestation of the problem. its development - Dr. Francis coverage that this seminar received Localized military confrontations in Loh Kok Wah in the Press was an indication of this regions all over the world is a less 2. The Arms Race in relation to feeling. Debate and discussion on obvious but equally alarming the Superpowers - Datuk Senu issues of global importance are consi- development. Abdul Rahman dered by many Malaysians to be of 3. Effects of the Arms Race on low priority. We continue to be a the Third World - Saudara people who see little, think even less Gan Teik Chee and seldom voice opinions on crucial The current stockpile of issues. some 50,000 nuclear 4. Arms Race in relation to To end the A The Arms Race refers to the warheads by the US and Malaysia - Dr. Jomo Kwame rivalry between two-nation states or Sundram the USSR is capable of 5. The Arms Race: A personal destroying our civilization missile silos a view - Saudara Khoo Kay Jin many times over. defence syste damage to o 6. Some economic implications of property min· the Arms Race - Saudara S. gence of this n Subramaniam Superpower rivalry and deploy- the possibilit breaking out 7. Arms Race and the question of ment of nuclear-weapon systems is Security - Tan Sri Dr. Tan since 1945 has been a great cause of In the eve Chee Khoon concern. The current stockpile of we would see towards milita 8. The Possibility of a Nuclear some 50,000 nuclear warheads by Holocaust - Saudara Mustafar the US and the USSR is capable of Although this in North A K. Anuar destroying our civilization many Europe, the p times over. In the past, mutual 9. War and Peace: Transformation of allied bases assured destruction (MAD) was the of Man and Society - Dr. found all over Chandra Muuffar cornerstone of the nuclear arms race. People argued that a nuclear war ruled out. T 10. Of the new peace ferment: could not be fought for there would fusion, comm First World-Third World Inter- be only mutual destruction. Thus shortage of play - Prof. Herbert Feith MAD people advised targetting cities supplies could tion of the hu The seminar was open to individuals and industries so that the damage caused by a nuclear war would be Apart from representing various organisations bility of a n and to the members of Aliran. The unacceptable to either side. This unacceptable damage it was believed Race also repr would deter the occurrence of a cation of reso nuclear war. However in recent expenditure We continue to be a times, a new school of thought has US$500 billio people who see little, emerged, giving rise to the notion lion US doll amount of mo think even less and seldom that nuclear wars can be lost or won. Nuclear use theorists (NUTS) believe race could be voice opinions on crucial general living that nations must prepare to fight would apply t issues. and win a nuclear war . This would The Arms Race & Superpowers mean striking first at the opponent's it is particulad - DatukSenu

ALIRAN QUARTE RLY VOL. 3 N o. 3 20 ture in other vital sectors lags far behind. In India, for example, expenditure per solider is $7,000/- against $13/- on education and $5/- on health. The misallocation of resources is not merely in terms of money. There the expan- is also an immoral waste of man- of military power resources especially in the ial or actual Third World. Some of the most s of resolving talented people are drawn into the Arms Race military sector especially in technical mind super- fields leading to great shortages of this is but such skills in the civilian sector. he problem. Misallocation of resources as a result ontations in of the Arms Race is one of the main rld is a less · reasons why there are insufficient y alarming resources available to rid the world of hunger and malnutrition. The Arms Race through the gross misallocation of resources has led to the growth of the military- e of industrial complex. More arms means more profits for industries, more To end the Arms Race, we have to work towards peace. and research funds for the scientists and more jobs for regions which house of arms-producing plants. The military- .ation missile silos and the building of a industrial complex wields tremen- defence system that will make dous power, as a whole network of damage to one's own people and In most Third World economic dependency develops property minimal. With the emer- Nations, the majority of around the military sector. This leads gence of this new school of thought, the people live without to powerful lobbies being created and deploy- the possibility of a nuclear war basic amenities. Yet particularly in countries where arms breaking out is much greater. on systems military expenditure of manufacturing is an important In the event of a nuclear war, industry. The military-industrial com- great cause of Third World Nations as stockpile of we would see nuclear missiles fired plex thrives on the Arms Race compared to total world warheads by towards military and civilian targets. and the powerful lobbies that it is capable of Although this could be concentrated military expenditure creates will strive for the main- tion many in North America, USSR and continues to rise. tainence of the Arms Race. past, mutual Europe, the possibility of bombing To end the Arms Race, we have AD) was the of allied bases and of nuclear reactors to work towards peace. Peace can ear arms race. found all over the world cannot be only be attained by eliminating the nuclear war ruled out. The human loss, con- World Nations. In most Third World underlying causes of war. The major there would fusion, communication breakdown, Nations, the majority of the people cause of war is the desire of a few uction. Thus shortage of foods and medical live without basic amenities. Yet nations to dominate and control the getting cities supplies could truly mark the extinc- military expenditure of Third World rest of the world through economic, the damage tion of the human race. Nations as compared to total world technological and military might. ar would be Apart from increasing the possi- military expenditure continues to Imperialism is thus the major cause r side. This bility of a nuclear war, the Arms rise. From 6.3% of total world of today's wars and to bring about was believed Race also represents a gross misallo- military expenditure in 1965, the peace and thus the end ot the Arms rrence of a cation of resources. World military Third World Nations accounted for Race, we will have to put an end to •r in recent expenditure in 1980 exceeded 15.3% of World military expenditure imperialism. hought has US$500 billion i.e. more than a mil- in 1979. Closer to home, Malaysian Imperialism of the capitalist states the notion lion US dollars a minute. This vast military expenditure grew by 197% has its origins in powerful vested ost or won. amount of money, spent on the arms from 1969 to 1978. It is clear that interests which revolve around the [ TS) believe race could be used towards improving increasing proportions of the military-industrial complex, while lrare to fight general living standards. While this national revenue of many Third imperialism of the Socialist states has :. This would would apply to mankind as a whole, World countries are directed towards its origins in a bureaucratic and te opponent's it is particularly important for Third military expenditure, while expendi- technological elite. Both these groups

21 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 certain strata and the majority of powers. At the same time, there must the population have no real role in be an endeavour to forge some form When people do not count development, there is bound to be of World Confederation will have the as human beings, human political repression so that the executive and judicial authority to life begins to lose its inequities of wealth and power settle inter-state disputes. In this value. The cheapening will not be effectively challenged. To way, the excessive power of the nation-state which in itself is a The corn of human life is what war give strength to this repression, there has to be a significant military and stumbling-block to peace will be the minority is all about. police presence. Likewise, in Third severely curtailed. Sinhalese in World socialist states, the centraliza- got into th tion of economic and political power after years has given rise to the growth of an the last we are interested in the maintenance elite which has no aversion to using The people should be told Tamil riots of the military orientation of their the harshest methods available to in no uncertain terms that and other respective economies and will maintain its position. Again, it feels it is an illusion to believe sparked off continue to expand their military more secure if it has the support of that their security depends government might. arms to control popular dissent. on armaments. War should ratist guer · The type of industrialized socie- Malaysia inte Conditions of war are lodged in be presented as great ties that have developed in the West the domestic structures of societies, a special relev tends to create a psychological mood both developed and developing. Thus evil which has brought state of o that makes it easier to accommodate in order to achieve peace there has immense misery to therefore · wars. These are mass societies where to be a wholistic transformation of humankind. particular h~n beings are digits or commodi- society itself. Societies must not possible soui ties. When people do not count as only be autonomous and self-reliant inter-ethnic r human beings, human life begins to but must also develop the type of .HISTORI lose its value. The cneapening of technology and organisation which In the ultimate analysis the root human life is what war is all about. will minimize alienation. There must of peace lies in the human conscious- The s· There is another aspect to it. The be equalization of access to political, ness. This is why there is a need to people of modern, industrialized state - what- economic and cultural power so that achieve a total change in man's having arri ever its ideology - is a highly bureau- a classless society will evolve with attitudes and values especially in of Indo-Ary cratized, routinized state. It is based maximum grass-roots participation in relation to war and peace. The 5th B.C. ce entirely on superficial, external governance. In such a society bureau- family, the school, the community, the spread o relations. There is no inner unity, no cratic dominance will be reduced the media and every other agent of these groups deeper alienation. In alienated drastically to allow for fraternal socialization should be mobilized for political ce societies of this sort, war provides human ties to develop through this purpose. The·danger of the Arms became the a relief from the meaninglessness of medium-sized communities based Race should be constantly empha- early centuri life. It generates an artificial upon co-operation and compassion. sized. The people should be told landed from enthusiasm. However justice and equality at in no uncertain terms that it is an (an area no In Third World countries on the the national level alone are not illusion to believe that their security and secured other hand the type of developrpent enough to bring about peace. There depends on armaments. War should From the that many of them are pursuing must also be meaningful regional be presented as a great evil which has century the makes it imperative that they cooperation to protect and preserve brought immense misery to human- parts of the strengthen their armed forces. In the independence of small nations. kind. Indeed we must help develop a Tamil territo capitalist-oriented societies where Regional solidarity will check the popular psychology that rejects few hundred economic prosperity is confined to overwhelming strength of the super- violence. D in a kingdo Thus was e unstable divi eventually led foreign powe In the 1 guese arrived Portuguese Let us develop the resources of our land, call forth its power, build up all its institutions, and see guese were , whether we in our day and generation may not perform something to be remembered. who in tum - Daniel Webster power in 171 colonial rule a series of r introduction tions and D

'ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 22 me, there must ge some form n will have the COMMUNALISM IN SRI LANKA authority to Gan Teik Chee loutes. In this power of the itself is a The communal problem between (SLFP) at the head of a populist eace will be the minority Tamils and the majority coalition. Sinhalese in Sri Lanka has recently The new government made Sin- 2!'t :;j(} mllm got into the news headlines again ',t; :J) 4-!;,mllflil hala the sole official language with after years of quiet simmering. In reasonable use of Tamil. Unfortu- the last week of July 1983, anti- nately owing to Sinhalese pressure, e told Tamil riots broke out in Colombo the Pact of July 1957 between s that and other towns in the South, Bandaranaike and Chelvanayagam elieve sparked off by the killing of 13 (the Tamil leader) substantially clepends government soldiers by Tamil sepa- meeting Tamil minority grievances should ratist guerrillas in Jaffna. For us in was unilaterally abrogated. State Malaysia inter-ethnic conflict have a support was instituted for the eat special relevance owing to the uneasy Buddhist faith and Sinhala culture. :ght state of our plural society. It is Further, the State took up a positive therefore instructive to examine this role in economic development and particular ethnic situation as a equalization. The Tamils, alienated possible source of useful insights into by such policies, bitterly opposed inter-ethnic relations in general. the SLFP government. Under the HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Federal Party they continued to demand 50/50 i.e. equal numbers an conscious- The Sinhalas are the original for Sinhalese and the combined e is a need to people of the island of Ceylon, minorities in Parliament. Subsequent- ge in man's having arrived in a migration wave ly the demand was reduced to a especially in of lndo-Aryah groups during the federal government with wide auto- 5th B.C. century. After 200 B.C. ~ O>Si1>0arn~ peace . The Ds,~-s..,,.""»*ffl /ND/AN nomy for the Tamil provinces. In e community, the spread of Buddhism among all mh1r..i1H111,M OCEAN 1964, the Sirima-Shastri Pact was ~ Sim:l!M Bm!,~!'b other agent of these groups laid the basis for the ~ ¥i<1Titff'flt!ir.dus signed by the respective Prime political centralization of what e mobilized for ~ * lro..~at. Ministers of Ceylon and India pro- er of the Arms became the Sinhala people. In the viding for the grant of Ceylonese antly empha- early centuries A.D. the Tamils citizenship 'to 300,000 Indian Tamils ould be told landed from the South Indian coast in 1948. and Indian citizenship, subject to s that it is an (an area now called Tamil Nadu) The United National Party (UNP) repatriation, to 525,000 Indian their security and secured the North by settlement. comprising Sinhala nationalist and Tamils. s. War should From the beginning of the 13th several communal groups formed the By 1965 an economic crisis broke evil which has century the Northern and Eastern first government. Within six months out with large-scale unemployment, ry to human- parts of the island were held as citizenship laws were passed which inflation, shortage of consumer help develop a Tamil territories and for the next disenfranchised virtually all the goods and the failure of State econo- that rejects few hundred years the Tamils thrived Indian Tamils i.e. Tamil labourers mic enterprises. In the 1965 elections in a kingdom called . brought over from India by the the UNP was returned to power with Thus was established a politically British colonialists. The government D.S. Senanayake as Prime Minister. unstable division of the island that actually represented only the top In March 1965 Senanayake and eventually led to the interference of strata of the population - the Chelvanayagam reached a pact to foreign powers.· English-educated Westernized elite make Tamil the language of adminis- In the 15th century the Portu- group. An increasing population tration and of the law Courts in the guese arrived and Ceylon came under coupled with the fall in export Northern and Eastern provinces. It Portuguese rule. By 1665 the Portu- prices of rubber and tea soon caused was agreed that District Councils for ns, and see guese were replaced by the Dutch economic difficulties. Also the each administrative district would who in turn gave way to British expanded school system had pro- be established to be vested with iel Webster power in 1796. After a century of duced a large number of educated powers over subjects chosen by colonial rule, the British launched Sinhalese youths without employ- mutual consent. Finally, priority was a series of reforms that led to the ment. In 1956 the UNP was swept to be given to Tamils resident within introduction of democratic institu- out of office by S.W.R.D. Bandara- the Northern and Eastern provinces tions and finally to Independence naike's Sri Lanka Freedom Party in the granting of land in these

23 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 I. elections owing to tension generated TAMIL GRIEVANCES replaced by The main grievances of the during the campaign, serious com- The main grievances of the Tamils policy which Tamils relate to language, munal riots broke out resulting in relate to language, employment balanced stude hundreds of people fleeing their employment opportunities, opportunities, admission into Univer- in ethnic and homes to become refugees. However Ta · admission into Universities, sities, land policies in the Northern In 1978 another new Constitu- and Eastern provinces and the lack of enter Universit land policies in the Northern tion was promulgated, adopting the political participation. The language jobs abroad and Eastern provinces and the Presidential System, with the Presi- issue has been considerably defused ployed, thus b lack ofpolitical participation. dent as Head of State as well as in 1978 with the recognition of nal resentment Chief Executive, on the French Tamil as a second majority. model. Mr. Jayawardene became the in the Northern and Eastern pro- The devel provinces. Subsequently the District first President. Sinhalese and Tamil vinces and its use in the Courts of successive gove Councils agreed under the Pact were were recognized as national languages these provinces. On the other hand, have neglected not set up as the Prime Minister with Sinhalese as the official lan- unemployment remains a serious North and Ea could not muster adequate political guage. Tamil was also accepted as the problem among the Tamils especially setting up of S support for this policy, but the other At the same provisions were respected. ment policies Meanwhile the government en- of Sinhalese couraged private . enterprise and which are regar attempted to expand agricultural homelands oft production resulting in inflation, All the a social inequality and unemployment vances are link becoming rampant. In 1970 the plaint that the SLFP in coalition with Marxist share of politi parties won a landslide victory. and that the Si Mrs. Bandaranaike as Prime Minister repeatedly bro extended nationalization while land the Tamil leade reform and some egalitarian measures of minority righ were adopted. However such policies still did not touch the basic econo- THEMAJORI mic problems. Unemployed Sinhala- For nearly educated youth launched an unsuc- ployment has b cessful insurrection in 1971. to the Sinhala In the 1972 Constitution, Ceylon ~ . ~ colonial rules became the Republic of Sri Lanka Tamil refugees a"iving at Jaffna. encourage rur with a President in place of the wanted to keep Governor-General. All existing con- language of the Courts in North the youth. Under British colonial tied down to stitutional restraints on the Legisla- and East. The District Councils rule their traditional avenue of Also the main ture were removed and Buddhism referred to in the Senanayake- employment had been the public ment, the civil was given the 'foremost place' in Chelvanayagam Pact were set up service. Proficiency in the English tion sector, w the nation. However, the economic but little real powers were assigned language was the passport for entry. the more loy decline could not be arrested. By to them by the President. But, the With the introduction of Sinhala as Indian Tamils. 1977 unemployment had risen to TULF, claiming to represent the the official language in 19 56, the most all the Si 1 million in a work force of 7 mil- majority of the Tamils, stepped up advantage of an English-medium large numbers lion. The Tamils continued in fierce its campaign for a separate State. A education disappeared and in fresh present-day vie resentment of the government guerilla group sprang up in Tamil recruitment Sinhala-educated youths discrimination. especially after the omission from Provinces calling itself the Tigers predominated. Consequently, there the British con the 1972 Constitution of S.29 of movement. The Tigers were partly are now fewer opportunities for into tea and the 1947 Consitution annulling any successful in enforcing a boycott Tamils to rise to the top positions marginalizing law which provided for restrictions of the 1983 Municipal elections in the civil service. try. They al against any community or conferred in the Northern provinces. In July Similarly, with the introduction 1 million Indi advantages on persons of any com- 1983 riots broke out in Colombo of Sinhala and Tamil as media of workers, furthe munity. In 1976 the Tamil United and other Southern towns when instruction, the Universities ceased economy. The Liberation Front was formed to several Sinhalese soldiers were killed to be dominated by Tamils. For consumer good contest the 1977 elections on a by Tamil querrillas in the Jaffna many years during the operation of destroyed local separatist platform and obtained 17 Peninsula. Parliament then banned medium-wise 'standardization' there again aggravati, seats, mostly in the North. UNP separatism as a political objective but was a drastic reduction of the intake the country. I under J .F. Jayawardene won the the TULF has declared it will not of Tamil students into the Universi- the Sinhala yo elections handsomely. Soon after the change its policies. ties. This quota device has now been language probl

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 24 s replaced by a regional weightage lucrative jobs are open to those among Sinhalas. They will also have •s of the Tamils policy which has resulted in a more fluent in English. It was such deep- to bear in mind that, unlike the employment balanced student composition both seated frustration among the Sinhala Tamils, the Sinhala culture has only on into Univer- in ethnic and socio-economic terms. youths with some education that led one home i.e. Sri Lanka. the Northern However Tamil youths who fail to to the insurrection of 1971. Over ELITE COMMUNALISM and the lack of enter University are unable to find 1,200 were killed in the up-rising . The language jobs abroad and join the unem- and about 18,000 spent several years From a broader perspective it can erably defused ployed, thus breeding more commu- in detention without trial. be seen that the main grievances ecognition of nal resentment against the Sinhala The population pressure lies main- of the Ceylon Tamils are also ex- tional language majority. ly in the Southern half of Sri Lanka perienced by the other ethnic groups. Eastern pro- The development policies of which are the areas inhabited by the Basically there is no conflict of the Courts of successive governments in Sri Lanka Sinhalas. Over the past few cen- interests between the majority of the other hand, have neglected the Tamil-dominated turies it was the Sinhala areas that Sinhala and Ceylon Tamil people in North and East, especially in the have received migrants. Moors, · the villages and even in the factories. setting up of State-owned industries. Malays, Indian Tamils and Ceylon The overall policies of successive Sri At the same time the land settle- Tamils have all settled in the Lankan governments since Indepen- ment policies have led to the influx Southern half of the island where dence have not been discriminatory of Sinhalese peasants into areas they number over 2 million today. against the masses on an ethnic basis. which are regarded as the traditional Some Sinhala groups therefore main- For the root causes of communal homelands of the Tamils. tain that settlement in the Tamil conflict, one has to look at the pro- All the above-mentioned grie- North is only an appropriate redressal blems of the elites i.e. the competi- vances are linked to the basic com- measure. tion for elite positions. plaint that the Tamils have had no There is fierce pressure for well- share of political power since 1956 paid jobs e.g. in the professions like and that the Sinhala government has For the root causes of doctors, engineers and accoun- repeatedly broken promises made to communal conflict, one has to tants. The entry into the Govern- the Tamil leaders for the protection look at the problems of the ment administrative and clerical of minority rights. services is also subject to serious elites i.e. the competion for competition among the educated THE MAJORilY POSITION elite positions. youth. This competition is acutely For nearly three decades unem- felt at the point of admission into ployment has been a severe hardship the Universities. Standardization to the Sinhala rural populace. Under Unemployment, lack of educa- according to language media there- colonial rules the British did not tional facilities, landlessness, and fore has been detrimental to the encourage rural education_: they political favouritism are as much as Tamil youth who feel they are wanted to keep the Sinhala peasantry a problem of Sinhala peasants as of discriminated against because of their 'tish colonial tied down to agricultural pursuits. Jaffna youths, Unfortunately, the race. 1 avenue of Also the main source of employ- Tamil people, especially those in Elite competition is aggravated by n the public ment, the civil service and the planta- Jaffna, are not aware of the fears and a situation of low, faltering growth the English . tion sector, were easily filled with grievances of the Sinhalas whom they in the Sri Lankan economy especially ort for entry. the more loyal Ceylon Tamil and regard as the 'favoured community'. in those sectors which generate of Sinhala as Indian Tamils. Consequently in al- Above all else, the Sinhala people demand for services requiring a high in 1956, the most all the Sinhala villages there are have a basic psychological fear that level of educational attainment. In 'sh-medium large number.s of unemployed youth, they may become a minority in Sri such a context, protests are spear- and in fresh present-day victims of the colonial Lanka itself. They are aware of the headed by that segment of the cated youths discrimination. In the hill country proximity of South India with its minority community which largely , uently, there the British converted the best lands more than 60 million Tamils. The provided the manpower for the rtunities for into tea and rubber plantations, fears of cultural and politcal domina- modern sector i.e. the Ceylon Tamil top positions marginalizing the Kandyan peasan- tion have long historical antece- community. A socially mobile mino- try. They also brought in over dents and thus assume contemporary rity found itself debarred owing to introduction 1 million Indian Tamils as plantation credibility. In a sense the Sinhala political change from entering sectors as media of workers, further burdening the rural people are a minority in the larger , of the economy which it had tradi- rsities ceased economy. The flooding of British geo-political region of Tamil Nadu tionally dominated. Only the upper Tamils. For consumer goods into the local market and Sri Lanka. There is a historical 5% of the community who had the destroyed local skills and enterprises, consciousness of having been subject aptitude and opportunity to proceed again aggtavating unemployment in to invasions from South India and to to higher education have been the country. In the private sector, Tamil pressure from the North. The affected but still the problem is the Sinhala youths have to face a Tamil people will have to take into acute. Obviously a community that now been language problem in that the more account this deep-rooted anxiety suddenly experienced a removal of

25 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 The seed same status as Christianity. The traced bac: ordinary people's way of life, the introdt especially that of the Sinhala com- and the sv munity, was being threatened by instruction Westemization and modernization. Tamil. The There arose a strong sense of grie- in the two vance among the masses who wanted to the rise .to shape their new country according consciousne to their own languages, religions and group. Rei cultures. During the mid-1950s the ferences be1 Sinhala groups mounted pressure for Christians 1 a change of character in the nation. and Sinhala The MEP Coalition of S.W.R.D. strength. I Bandaranaike came to power on the factor in crest of this populist tide, marking society. the thrust of the rural middle class Separatis against the Western-oriented urban cal objectiv, elite. The Sinhala peasantry domina- especially i: ted in this thrust and their success of violence unfortunately led to the relegation support. of the Tamil language, culture and Vaddukod religion to second place. expectatio Arson-hit Tamil home in Colombo suburb. Youth in Separatism is an explosive upward social mobility will react ding 1/2 of the Tamil population. campaigns strongly to such change. The remaining 85 % of the population political objective anywhere in racial di~i However, creating the conditions will be confined to 2/3 of the land the world, especially if and Sinha~ 1983 Muni , for freer access to elite positions in area, an explosive socio-economic accompanied with talk of around the general will not solve the problems situation on the island. The 400 mile violence and recourse to foreign of employment and economic pro- communal frontier would also be a zone of support. the separat ductivity among both Sinhalas and continuing friction. Such are the numbers o Tamils. For the mass of the educated implications of the Tamil separatist the frame youth, the approach to a solution is claim. In the years 1956-1965, the the same i.e. through a rapid expan- solution is For the TULF leadership separa- Tamils, Christians and urban capi- of 'second sion of the economy together with tism has been a political strategy to talists saw their privileges reduced. a change in the structure of job movement obtain widespread Tamil support The (Sinhala) Official Language Act interests o expectations which will facilitate the for redressing of the grievances gave an advantage to Sinhalas to ever the Ti absorption of the young workforce of the Tamil people. But in enter the civil service. Though this police in J into new lucrative employment. Of the 1977 Elections their votes Act was qualified by provisions for tion worse course the psychological dimension came largely from the Northern the reasonable use of Tamil in educa- police bru , of the problem cannot be ignored province, particularly the Jaffna tion and administration, militant the rnilita either. Government policies have peninsula. The Moors and Malays in Sinhala prevented Banda- for counte created conditons which the Tamil the East and North-West coast have ranaike from implementing adequate of July 19 minorities see as a special set of switched over to the larger national measures. The Bandaranaike-Chelva- disabilities that were adopted to as the cul parties. The Tamil plantation wor- nayagam Pact of July 1957 was violence o discriminate against them. kers and the Indian Tamils generally similarly abrogated by Bandaranaike suffering do not favour separation. In fact the under Sinhala political pressure. Al- citizens, COMMUNAL POLITICS AND Plantaion Union leader is now a though the demand from important SEPARATISM Colombo Minister in the national Cabinet public service appointments to be vinces. Ov If Tamil Eelam is established as as a representative of the Ceylon reserved for Sinhala Buddhists was advocacy envisaged by the TULF, an inter- Workers Congress. not conceded by the government, in CO\lnter 11 national frontier of about 400 miles At the time of Independence the practice ethnic considerations came leaders h would run across Ceylon from Sinhala and Tamil languages were in to influence recruitment into the inflammato Puttalam in the West coast to Pottu- an inferior position compared to public service. Ceylon Tamils who vil in the East coast. The Tamil State English - the Sinhala and Tamil earlier had the advantage for such would have 1/3 of Sri Lanka's land educated were virtually second-class appointments began to feel the President i area and 2/5 of the coast for about citizens. Similarly Buddhism, Hin- effects of the unofficial discrimi- contains· 15% of the total population, inclu- duism and Islam were not given the nation.

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 26 The seeds of communalism can be ranks and to lead by example. He Schools should be desegregated ~ianity. The traced back to the schools, with will have to affirm that he is Presi- wherever possible to avoid children ~y of life, the introduction of free education dent of all the people, not the growing up in isolation from other ~inhala com- and the switch in the medium of Sinhalas alone, and must therefore communities. Both the Tamil and eatened by instruction from English to Sinhala/ hold the scales evenly among all Sinhala medium of instruction odernization. Tamil. The education of the masses citizens. This was in fact the message should be made available within the ense of grie- in the two indigenous languages led of the Buddhist Maha Nayake of the same school. The curriculum and 1 who wanted to the rise of social and political Asgiriya Chapter to him in August school texts may be planned with ry according consciousness within each linguistic 1977. the aim of fostering an awareness of religions and group. Religious and cultural dif- APPROACHES TO SOLUTION Sri Lanka's cultural diversity and id-1950s the ferences between Christians and non- the movement towards a synthesis I pressure for Christians melted away while Tamil The basic problem is that sinee of cultures. Many religious groups the nation. and Sinhala communalism gained in the compartmentalization of colonial have also stressed that the values of of S.W.R.D. strength, Race became a divisive rule there has been little cultural sharing and service rather than ower on the factor in the larger Sri l.ankan interaction between Sinhalas and competition and individual achieve- ide, marking society. Tamils in Sri Lanka. For example, ment should be encouraged and there are few translations of the middle class Separatism is an explosive politi- transmitted to Sri l.ankan school ·ented urban outstanding literary classics from one cal objective anywhere in the world, children. national language to the other. try domina- especially if accompanied with talk Similarly, poor coverage is given in their success of violence and recourse to foreign RELIGION AND HARMONY the mass-media of cultural develop- he relegation support. The TULF had, since the ments of the other community. A The President Mr. Jayawardene, culture and Vaddukoddai Declaration of Separa- serious attempt is at last being made has insisted he shall rule according to tism in 1976, created unrealistic to generate a Sinhala-Tamil bilin- the Buddhist concept of reighteous- expectations in the minds of Tamil gualism with the support of non- ness of Dharmista. But there is a Youth in the North. Their election need for greater sensitivity among osive governmental organizations including campaigns had the effect of sowing some religious bodies. The Muslims Sinhala leaders to the just demands ywhere in racial disharmony between Tamils and Indian Tamils are also affected of the minorities. Above all they if and Sinhalas. The boycott of the by the cultural compartmentaliza- need t6 perceive the real issues lk of 1983 Municipal elections and events tion. It is now recognized that Sri behind the communal bickering and around the campaign further fuelled to foreign l.ankan society must encourage the to affum minority rights without communal tension. Unfortunately participation of these minorities of fear or favour. Conversely, the mino- the separatist crusade had led large over 1 million each, compared to the rity community must be prepared to numbers of Tamils in the North to 2 million Ceylon Tamils, in the co-operate in seeking fundamental the frame of mind that even a violent nation's civic life. At the same time remedies by peaceful means. 6-1965, the solution is preferable to the position the influence of Western ideas and of In the quest for national unity, a urban capi- of 'second-class citizens'. The Tigers modern technology cannot be mass engagement of all the religious ges reduced. movement has thus damaged the real ignored. Perhaps the healthiest groups would be of significant 1 nguage Act interests of the Tamil masses. When- approach is to attempt a cultural impact. Without the activation of the Sinhalas to ever the Tigers clash with the armed synthesis by providing the setting human awareness towards a lasting Though this police in Jaffna, the communal situa- favourable to the emergence of a ethnic harmony, structural and poli- rovisions for tion worsens. Similarly, in cases of compendious Sri Lankan culture. tical solutions tend to be temporary · in educa- police brutality against the Tigers, on, militant The fundamental human rights in effect. Racism. is basically a form the militant youths win sympathy of collective selfishness: one does ented Banda- of all ethnic groups will have to be for counter-violence. The incidents not empathize with injustice towards ing adequate safeguarded, not just by entrench- of July 1983 can therefore be seen another race because one does not aike-Chelva- ment in the Constitution but in the as the culmination of provocative identify with them. Fortunately, in y 1957 was violence on both sides resulting in emotional acceptance of the various andaranaike ethnic minorities within the frame- Sri Lanka the immediate task of suffering and loss of lives to innocent consolidating sympathetic friendly pressure. Al- citizens, particularly to Tamils in work of a multi-racial and multi- m important religious nation. In this quest the relations among religious leaders at Colombo and the Southern pro- the middle-level has been achieved. ments to be vinces. Over the years the explicit political leadership of the Sinhala ddhists was advocacy of Eelam and provocative people have a special responsibility. In fact some religious groups vernment, in co1,1nter propaganda by Sinhala At the same time, a serious attempt have been moved by the present ations came leaders have brought about an will have to be made to integrate the tribulations to get closer to the ideal •nt into the inflammatory atmosphere. Indian Tamil citizens into the rural of spiritual equality among all human Tamils who landscape i.e. by incorporating both beings. In doing so they are essen- age for such On the other hand the Sri l.ankan Tamil labourers and Sinhala peasants tially fulfilling the original message o feel the President is of course duty-bound to into the development process and of -striving for other-centredness in cial discrimi- contain Sinhala extremism in his own local government activities. the service of one's neighbours.

27 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 that la comma coul.d n sold.

HUMAN RIGHTS trition, E are not Indonesia the rur appears t AND less even are still n portion RURAL DEVELOPMENT 1980, 52. Chandra Muzaffar in Penins potable have sani time, it 1 paper presented by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, at the 9th WCOTP Asian and South Pacific Regional Conference at in Malays rla Lumpur on 4th August 1983. Philippine, hardly an. ment of independe The only National Workers certain · we look at various international "the right to work, to free choice 1981). ents on human rights, we of employment, to just and favour- There is no need to emphasise CAUSES .d be impressed by the wide able conditions of work and to that there is hardly a single country Why is ! of rights they bestow upon protection against unemployment..." in the entire Asian and Pacific region beings in relation to the and "the right to a standard of living that observes all these rights. Even in such desM .opmental process. To start with, adequate for the health and well- 'developed' Japan the majority of the world rural wor are certain general rights being of himself and of his family workers do not enjoy "just and tion? It i• ·died in the Universal Declara- including food, clothing, housing and favourable conditions of work". The of Human Rights. Articles 19, medical care and necessary social rural sector, though stable and such an depth in nd 21 for instance affirm that services, and the right to security ... " secure, does not command as much Asia-Pacifi ·one has "The right to freedom (Ibid, Paul Williams). significance as it should in national different c pinion and expression", "free- policy. In China, on the other hand, More specifically, the Interna- are quite of assembly and association", the rural economy is vital to national tional Labour Organisation's conven- rural econ right to take part in the govern- development but there is no freedom tion 141 emphasises that, "it shall be not apply of his country directly or of expression, no free choice of an objective of national policy may, an a gh freely chosen representa- employment, no independent organi- concerning rural development to analyse so and "the right of equal access sations of rural workers. The rest of !lblic service in his country". facilitate the establishment and of rural u growth on a voluntary basis, of Asia and the Pacific present an even turn is n iPaul Williams, (ed.), "Interna- more dismal picture. Countries like Bill of Human Rights", 1981 ). strong and independent organizations developme of rural workers as an effective Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and rural areas. means of ensuring the participation Indonesia face formidable challenges. Colonia er, articles 22, 23 and 25 or rural workers... in economic and A vast majority of their rural folk are is an imp~ tim that everyone has "The social development and in the without some of the basic necessities was unde to social security and is entitled of life like housing, medical care, benefits resulting thereform." (See became a 1 alization.... of the economic, "Rural Development and Human clean water, electricity and so on. that land and cultural rights indispen- Rights in Southeast Asia", Interna- Many of the rural villages do not sold. Indi~ have proper schools, to say nothing for his dignity and the free tional Commission of Jurists and the as such. pment of his personality", Consumers Association of Penang, of adequate toilet facilities! Malnu- Malaysia it

N QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 28 It was under colonial rule that land became a market commodity. Before that land could not be bought and sold.

trition, hunger and even starvation are not uncommon in Indian and Indonesian villages. By comparison, the rural situation in Malaysia appears to be a lot better. Nonethe- less even here certain social services are still not available to a substantial portion of the rural population. In 1980, 52.8% of the rural community in did not have potable water while 55.3% did not have sanitary latrines. At the same time, it must be borne in mind that Confere nee at in Malaysia, unlike Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, there is hardly any scope for the establish- ment of rural workers organisations Facilities that the state provides actually belong to the people. independent of government control. I for instance was held in the name of After the colonial era, the inde- The only exception would be the Sultans. Sultans, chieftains and the pendent states of Asia and Pacific National Union of Plantation tillers had rights to the land but the committed what we now realize was Workers (NUPW) which enjoys a taxes levied were in relation to t;he a catastrophic blunder. Fascinated by certain degree of autonomy. produce, not the value, of the land. the industralization of the West and to emphasise CAUSES With the introduction of the buying the Soviet Union, these states chose single country and selling of land, many farmers to emphasise heavy industries in their Why is the rural population in Pacific region were compelled to vacate their development programmes at the cost rights. Even in such desperate straits in this part of farming areas. In other parts of Asia, of food production. They saw indus- the world? Why are the rights of i majority of where compensatory lands were not trialization as the magic wand which )Y "just and rural workers given so little atten- provided by the colonial overlord would transform their economies. Jf work". The tion? It is not possible to discuss the forced acquisition of land and Thus, India embarked upon the stable and such an important issue in great soaring land prices created a dis- building of steel mills and blast nand as much depth in this short essay. Besides, the possessed and dislocated peasantry. furnaces (which were of course Asia-Pacific region covers so many 1ld in national unncessary) without paying much different countries with histories that 1e other hand, Equally serious in its implications attention to glaring inequities in the are quite varied. What is true cif the ital to national was the colonial policy of requiring agrarian sector. Similarly, China rural economy of one country may is no freedom farmers to grow cash crops for the which took the socialist road to not apply to another. Be that as it ·ee choice of colonial economy. This happened on development in 1949 gave utmost may, an attempt will be made to endent organi- a large scale in India, Indonesia and importance to huge engineering pro- analyse some of the general causes rs. The rest of the Philippines. Cash crops took jects without first strengthening its of rural underdevelopment which in farmers away from . subsistence agricultural base. It was only towards resent an even turn is responsible for the under- Countries like farming. They were no longer the end of the fifties that China development of human rights in the growing food for their own realized her mistake and ceased to , India and rural areas. ble challenges. stomachs. In the process, they lost imitate the Soviet Union. Colonialism, it should be obvious, their earlier self-sufficiency and r rural folk are is an important historical cause. It NEGLECT 1sic necessities became dependent upon the colonial was under colonial rule that land The consequence of the down- medical care, economy for many of their needs. became a market commodity. Before Their economic well-being - whether grading of food production and of y and so on. that land could not be bought and the rural economy as a whole was the Hages do not they were growing sugar or coffee sold. Individuals did not own land or indigo - was now determined by inevitable neglect of farmers, fisher- :> say nothing as such. All land in Peninsular men, artisans, and the like. · Their ilities! Malnu- the international market controlled Malaysia in the pre-coloniai period by \he colonial powers. needs were put aside - except when

29 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 it came to elections -while govern- elite gets stronger and stronger and ments kept themselves busy organi- is able to enjoy not only economic Colonialism, wrong priorities, sing private or public capital for but also political rights, the majority the inability to resolve massive industrialization. Though the become weaker and weaker and situation has changed for the better surrender whatever little political underlying causes, and finally in some cases, many Asian and power they had exercised arising centralization and bureaucrati- Pacific countries continue to be from their earlier economic zation are therefore the major guilty of giving low priority to the independence. factors responsible for the rural sector. The root of the pro- This inequitious development has present underdevelopment in blem, it must be stressed, is their other adverse effects upon the rural distorted notion of modernization economy. It promotes the practice the rural sectors of various and development. As we have tried of bonded labour. Peasants are countries in Asia and the to show, both capitalist and socialist compelled to sell their time and Pacific. societies suffer from this malady. labour to big landlords in payment of debts contracted earlier. It also urban businessmen building commer- encourages share-cropping whereby a cial offices, hotels, supermarkets or Productivity may increase but " peasant producer is forced ( often even middle and upper class houses a rural elite also emerges by only verbal contract) to give the in the cities. Needless to say, this is landowner a fixed share in kind of separated by a growing income what contributes to the exploitation the product, in exchange for access gap from the majority of the and impoverishment of the rural to his landholding." (See Chandra de farmers. This happens because population. Fonseka, Human Rights and Rural situation per agricultural modernisation is Development" in Rural Development SOCIALIST PROBLEMS not develop initiated before there are any and Human Rights in Southeast In . socialist states, on the other lation of serious structural reforms. Asia). More important, widening hand, ownership of land and control people are · disparities as a result of superficial over the market may be more equi- they do n modernisation converts a lot of table but there are other problems amenities of Even when the rural sector tenant farmers into wage labourers. which challenge the well-being of the separated fr receives aid and assistance from This means that a peasant sells peasantry. Because socialist econo- their destinie governments, there is often an utter his labour the value of which is mies are centrally-planned and gap, when inability to resolve the underlying much greater than that represented bureaucratically-structured, rural role in shapin causes of rural underdevelopment. by his wage to his employer. This producers have very little authority can we expe This is particularly true of many of form of exploitation is widespread over their own economic activities. involved in d the capitalist states. Thinking that in the Philippines and Sri Lanka. All Agricultural communes in China or human beings increasing productivity is the solu- this of course increases indebted- Vietnam tend to give too much Besides ili tion, they introduce high-yielding ness. The peasant - either bonded power to the party officials who are often the seedlings, import fertilisers, purchase labourer, share-cropper or wage manage them. Consequently the terate too. machinery, build irrigation works, labourer - becomes a victim of high peasants become mere wage earners injustice do without any real concern for such interest rates charged by landlords,- in centralized agrarian bureaucracies. exploitation questions as who owns how much rich farmers, middlemen, millers and It is not surprising that this leads to a chances are land, who controls marketing, who shopkeepers. decline in productivity since these how to resp dominates the credit system. In the What is worse , rural banks often rural workers know that they cannot organise and end productivity may increase but a established to overcome indebtedness really determine how much is and their ange rural elite also emerges separated by become yet another impediment to produced, how it should be sold, cracy with i a growing income gap from the the progress of the rural poor. By how the surplus should be utilised regulations o majority of the farmers. This happens providing credit facilities and by and so on. Bureaucratic control and order to regi · because agricultural modernisation is encouraging savings, peasant deposits dominance of this sort in the agricul- or whom on initiated before there are any serious are mobilised and transferred by tural sector is in fact quite wide- one has to se structural reforms. Thus only the rural banks to urban areas "where spread. It explains why many would put better-off farmers will be able to take almost invariably the opportunities socialist states are plagued with persevering ~ advantage of expensive machinery for earning higher profits are much problems of motivation, initiative Most pea · and fertilisers. They will become better than in the rural sector where and enterprise on the part of workers even get tot richer while the poorer farmers these savings and deposits are especially in agricultural occupations. to officialdo owning two or three acres, unable to generated". Again, this happens Colonialism, wrong priorities, the powerlessness cope with the increased expenditure, because in a capitalist system how inability to resolve underlying causes, wealth and po sell off their meagre holdings and where one invests is influenced and finally centralization and bureau- mand the to those who can afford. As a result to a considerable extent by one's cratization are therefore the major them from co agricultural wealth becomes more profit margin. Thus the savings of factors responsible for the present protest. They d more concentrated. So while an rural dwellers could well be lent to underdevelopment in the rural

LIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 30 " analysis, see Chandra Muzaffar, "Protector?", 19 79 ). Most govern- orities, ment leaders in Asia and the Pacific - as in many other places - would finally never allow the people to realize ,aucrati- that the facilities that the state provides actually belong to the people. Aid is the people's right; the government's responsibility. This is ~E'.:' why very few leaders have ever ous discouraged the people from 'feeling e grateful' for all the handouts they receive.

,g commer- For if a person is not aware ' arkets or of what is due to him as a ass houses human being how can he be say, this is In dire poverty, how do people defend their rights as human beings? counted upon to exercise his , ploitation the rural sectors of various countries in Asia matter, they have no right to seek right of free speech and and the Pacific. As long as this answers to even their own miseries. association? This is why one situation persists, human rights will They choose to keep quiet, to suffer of the most urgent challenges not develop among the rural popu- in silence. This is the 'culture of before us is to change peasant the other lation of this region. For when silence' of the poor and powerless. nd control people are in dire poverty, when It is a culture which embodies a perceptions ofgovernment ore equi- they do not possess the basic whole range of attitudes or orien- and the obligations of the r problems amenities of life, when they are tations which by and large emphasise State. ing of the separated from those who control their inferiority, which depreciate ·st econo- their destinies by an ever-widening their self-image. (See Oscar Lewis, ned and gap, when they are not given any "The Children of Sanchez", 1966) Indeed, handouts is one of the rural role in shaping their own future, how It is a culture pervaded by feelings of ways by which this psychological authority can we expect them to be actively docility, submissiveness, even servili- relationship between leaders and led activities. involved in defending their rights as ty. The feudal, authoritarian tradi- is maintained. Actual physical facili- China or human beings? tions of many Asian societies - ties and various forms of social too much Besides the poor and powerless buttressed by myth and folklore - services alsp help to persuade the cials who are often the ignorant and the illi- further reinforce these negative atti- rural community that it should ently the terate too. They may be aware of the tudes among the rural masses. remain grateful. At the same time, ge earners injustice done to them, of the those rural elites who have benefitted eaucracies. exploitation of their labour. But the ERRONEOUS VIEW most from the State make sure that leads to a chances are that thy would not know Given this culture of silence it is the ordinary peasants continue to be ·nee these how to respond effectively, how to easy to explain why the rural poor dependent upon them and do not ey cannot organise and mobilise their energy view government aid as something · challenge the system in any way. If much is and their anger. The complex bureau- for which they should be grateful. all these do not work, there are be sold, cracy with its countless rules and They do not see it as their entitle- always laws which are capable of utilised regulations on what one has to do in ment, as their right. There is no crushing any peasant individual or ontrol and order to register a simple complaint understanding of the connection group brave enough to pursue its he agricul- or whom one has to see and when between government aid and the rights. ·te wide- one has to see him to obtain redress taxes people pay - taxes which are And yet if peasants are prevented y many would put off the most patient, possible because of the sweat and from realizing that it is their right to ued with persevering peasant. toil of the people themselves. Conse- expect justice, freedom and equality initiative Most peasants however do not quently the government - especially because they are human beings, of workers even get to the stage of complaining if it provides a lot of subsidies - is there is no hope for the growth of cupations. to officialdom. Their poverty and perceived as a generous benefactor, human rights in the rural areas. For rities, the powerlessness in relation to the genuinely concerned about the wel- if a person is not aware of what is wealth and power of those who com- fare of the poor. The government due to him as a human being how mand the system tend to inhibit would of course want to perpetuate can he be counted upon to exercise them from considering any form of this erroneous view of its position his right of free speech and asso- protest. They feel that they do not in regard to the people. ( For fuller ciation? This is why one of the most

31 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 urgent challenges before us is to to engage in non-violent action aimed change peasant perceptions of at changing the existing social order. Rural teachers must show their government and the obligations of Others have chosen to support analysis of the actual situation the State. groups dedicated to armed how the peasantry can exercise The most direct way of doing this revolution. (Brilliantly articulated in is by introducing ideas of human "Moving Heaven and Earth", Com- democratic control over the rights culled from various human mission on the Churches Participa- means of production and yet rights documents. However, ideas by tion in Development, World Council preserve individual initiative themselves will not make any impact of Churches and the Philippine and autonomy. unless they are related to concrete Ecumenical Writing Group, Manila). situations. If these situations are First, they should disseminate know- part of the actual experience of the INVOLVEMENT ledge of the alternative social order. rural community, human rights For teachers in Asia and the They should explain in simple, clear education will become even more Pacific the work of human rights terms how the rural community effective. groups affords a great opportunity would be organised in a more just What this means is that human for committed involvement in the and humane society. Titls will require rights groups should not only take struggle of ordinary people for some understanding of production, up cases on behalf of the rural poor justice and dignity. Since teachers marketing and credit apart from but also use -the related episodes to in rural areas in particular still com- insights on how to enhance political develop further the awareness of the mand a lot of respect, their active and administrative participation and individuals involved. In the process participation in human rights move- how to encourage creative, cultural of critical reflection, both the ments will have a tremendous impact involvement on the part of the rural poor and the human rights upon the rest of society. It is a pity community as a whole. More speci- groups will become more conscious therefore that segments of the rural fically, rural teachers must show of what the struggle for justice and teaching comunity in a number of through their analysis of the actual freedom entails. · Asian countries are cooperating situation how the peasantry can Even now there are a number of closely with what are essentially exercise democratic control over the human rights groups doing excellent oppressive regimes violently opposed means of production and yet work among the rural communities to human rights. The hope lies in the preserve individual initiative and of Asia and the Pacific. There is for others who are aware that rural autonomy. instance the Civil Liberties Union of development has no meaning unless Second, teachers must also the Philippines. A similar organisa- it is linked to the question of human emphasise - as is their duty - the tion exists in Thailand. In Indonesia, rights. importance of lofty spiritual values there is the Legal Aid Institute Indeed, it is not inconceivable particularly among those who are in Foundation. India has a number of that in the coming decades the the forefront of the struggle for such outfits, one of them being the teacher who really cares for the freedom and justice. History is a sad Human Rights Institute of human being will have no choice tale of men who after coming to Lucknow. ( Refer to "Rural Develop- but to comit himself wholeheartedly power through trial and tribulation, ment and Human Rights in South to the cause of human rights. For as in the end succumb to the very vices Asia Conclusions and Recommenda- we have already observed in the case which they had condemned in their tions", International Commission of of the Philippines, the struggle for predecessors. Perhaps the assimila- Jurists and Human Rights Institute, human rights among certain groups tion of values such as honesty and India). The Bar Council of Malaysia at least is now directed towards the integrity is best accomplished has just established its first legal aid total libelation of the human being through real experiences accumu- clinic in a rural area - in Bayan through a wholistic transformation lated in the endeavour to create a Lepas in Penang. (See Cecil Rajendra, of society. Teachers serving in rural more ethical order. Teachers can "Free Legal Advisory Centre areas in certain parts of the Philip- inspire others involved in the effort /Rural}" in voice of the Penang Bar, pines have begun to realize that by through their own example and by November 1982). remammg mere spectators of a providing intellectual guidance to The older, better-known legal aid momentous social drama that is them as they reflect critically on vital movements like the ones in Indonesia unfolding in their land, they are in moral issues. and India, have been fighting abuses fact providing indirect support to an There is then a great deal to be against tenants and wage labourers unjust regime. done. Of course teachers by them- and at the same time informing the Instead of just watching the selves will not be able to move poor of their legal rights and ways of spectacle, teachers in the Philippines heaven and earth. But at least they obtaining redressal. In the Philippines and elsewhere in Asia and the Pacific can, as an ethical thinker once put it human rights groups have even can help expedite the process by in another context, "put up the sail, helped to organise the unorganised fulfilling two vitally needed roles can catch it." ( From Good Work, peasantry. Some of them have begun which are integral to their profession. E.F. Schumacher, 1979).D

ALI RAN QUARTERL V VOL. 3 No. 3 32 OW their ituation CURRENT COMMENT exercise r the Aliran 's complete statements to the Press made during the preceding quarter. dyet iative

ate know- deterioration of the human rights poverty. Indeed, it is this policy that cial order. BAHAI EXECUTIONS situation in Iran. A revolution in is partly responsible for the increa- ple, clear the name of freedom to remove the sing disparities between the rich and ommunity shackles of oppression has now the poor in various sectors of the more just 'm writing in response to a denied not only freedom- but life economy. [Jletter by S.J. of K.luang regard- itself to critics and opponents of the ill require Third, the government should ing executions of Bahais in Iran. Khomeini regime. stop viewing economic problems in roduction, That Aliran (apart from Government This only serves to smear the good ethnic perspectives. The bulk of our part from and others) has been quiet on the socio-economic challenges have very Bahai executions is not really true. name of a religion that is associated ce political with mercy and compassion! little to do with ethnicity. Dispari- .pation and We had referred to this issue ties within communities for instance are far more serious than disparities e, cultural indirectly in criticisms by Aliran Mustafa K. Anuar officials of the human rights situa- Secretary between communities. Besides, the rt of the tion in Iran on several occasions. ethnic approach has failed to resolve ore speci- the economic difficulties of the This Bahai persecution is part of 21st June, 1983 ust show majority of Bumiputras. Even in the a larger scheme of executions. And endeavour to create a Bumiputra the actual it has become quite widespread commercial and industrial class, all antry can since former President Bani-Sadr that the government has succeeded in ol over the was forced out of office on June 20, doing is to incubate a number of 1981. and yet ECONOMIC POLICY wealthy Bumiputras. But an entre- iative and At least 2,444 executions have preneurial class as such has yet to been carried out since the Revolu- emerge within the Bumiputra com- tion, according to Amnesty Inter- IN THE NINETIES munity. What is sad is that the whole ust also national. These include members of exercise has generated a lot of tluty - the the Mujuhideen-e-Khalq, members of frustrations among a segment of non- tual values the Tudeh Party, members of the 11 liran hopes that the govern- Bumiputras who feel left out. This is OT ment will rectify some of the bound to get worse with the emer- who are in Kurdish Democratic Party, those described as monarchists and those major weaknesses in its economic gence of a new generation of non- truggle for allegedly collaborating with Iraq and philosophy when it reviews the New Bumiputras deeply-rooted in the ry is a sad , apart from those executed Economic Policy (NEP) and various Malaysian ethos. coming to for drug and sexual offences, etc. Malaysia Plans in the next few For these reasons, Aliran calls years. ribulation, upon the government to tackle the The Bahais in Iran were charged First, it must cease to regard economic challenges of the post- very vices with Zionism and espionage on powerful foreign corporations, big nineties on the basis of different ed in their behalf of Israel partly because the local businesses and a dominant principles. First, resources should be Bahai headquarters is in Israel. The bureaucracy as the vital forces directed towards food production, e assimila- Bahai international community has nesty and behind economic development. It is the growth of internal trade, the refuted this and has asked for the this approach that leads to the creation of local industries and the complished establishment of an independent concentration of wealth and power establishment of an autonomous accumu- body to investigate the allegations. in the hands of a few. It also makes scientific and technological base. The o create a Whether there's any basis or not us unnecessarily dependent upon aim should be the evolution of chers can in the allegation of espionage, the foreign investments, foreign techno- medium-sized, egalitarian communi- logy and foreign markets. This in the effort fact remains that a number of Bahais ties where wealth and opportunities - like others - have been executed turn increases our vulnerability to are equitably distributed. Second, le and by without being charged or tried. In global recession. · the government should address itself idance to some instances, the executions assu- Second, the government must directly to problems arising from lly on vital med the characteristics of religious abandon the policy of refusing to uneconomic holdings, an unjust persecution. Indeed, as a religious attack the root causes of poverty and marketing system, elitist control over minority the Bahais are not recog- deprivation. Hitherto, it has tried to basic resources, the presence of deal to be nised in the Iranian Constitution. improve incomes of the poor through monopolies, the power of gigantic by them- indirect means by expanding educa- corporations and a lop-sided wage Aliran condemns executions and tional opportunities, creating new to move persecution of any religious group structure. It is only when these jobs, modernising agriculture and problems are resolved in the interest least they anywhere - just as it condemns any establishing huge land schemes. attempt to persecute people who of the majority that disparities can nee put it These programmes have succeeded in be reduced. Third, the government p the sail, profess ideologies that are different raising the standard of living of only from one's own political beliefs. should adopt a non-ethnic approach od Work, certain groups among the poor. to development where opportunities In conclusion, we would like to They have, however, failed to release , would be made available to all guided note that there has been a rapid the majority from the clutches of by justice and compassion. In the

33 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 government, ultimate analysis it is one's position active part in the formulation of the variety, the citizen will eventually subsidy. Its as a human being - and not one's Rukunegara, the fifth principle of get a single, stereotyped presentation the leading Jal ethnic status - that should deter- · which urges all Malaysians to observe of world affairs determined by the Japan Br~ mine reward and recognition. "a high standard of morality in both Bernama's interest and orientation. Indeed, es our personal and public life". This will undoubtedly promote a over foreign Executive Committee After considering all these factors, distorted view of the world within is more akin 22nd June, 1983. Aliran feels that it cannot forsake Malaysian society. like the Sovie its responsibility to the nation and Third, it is futile to deny that various East E therefore calls upon Tan Sri Ghazali making Bernama the sole distributor democracy sh Shafie to resign as the Minister of of foreign news is a form of censor- such a system Foreign Affairs. As human beings ship. Indeed, one begins to wonder The mul · we are all liable to make mistakes. whether this isn't the thin end of the controls that MINISTER'S MORAL When a mistake has public import, wedge which will sooner or later years makes we must be prepared to accept its encourage Bernama to assume the approach 198 RESPONSIBILITY moral consequences. For Aliran role of the sole distributor of Malay- yet have a which upholds belief in God as its sian news to the outside world. will tell peop first principle, silence on such a Fourth, it is quite clear that it is how to act. fJ_he findings of the inquest into crucial ethical issue would amount going to be an inefficient, costly the Cessna crash at Janda Baik, to a betrayal of its conscience. method of distributing news. For Pahang in January1982 have raised If Tan Sri Ghazali decides to while it does not guarantee lower relinquish office out of a concern for an ethical question of immense prices for local subscribers, it 4th July, 1983 significance which no Malaysian who ethical principles, it is quite likely promises to increase bureaucratic cherishes justice and morality can that people will continue to hold costs since Bernama intends "to hire afford to ignore. in high regard his past services to between 25 to 30 reporters and If the coroner is right, it is clear the country. appoint an editor to run the new that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, foreign news service". This is yet EXPLO Tan Sri Ghazali Shafie, was respon- Executive Committee another example of unnecessary sible for ·the accident which caused 27th June, 1983. bureaucratic expansion. The expen- the deaths of his co-pilot and ADC. diture for this will have to be borne SELAN The coroner found that it was the by the tax payer. //1iran exp Finally, Aliran wonders why there negligence of Tan Sri Ghazali who O'Tthe inh "was the pilot at all material times" is any need at all to impose this new control upon foreign news. Has there contract work which led to the crash. CONSEQUENCES OF Empat Estate. When a national leader is held been any instance of foreign news received direct b-y local subscribers in this day an responsible for acting in a manner BERNAMA MONOPOLY this nature can which had caused the deaths of two whose dissemination has threatened public order or violated public very noses of human beings, the implications for their actually the high office that he occupies /l liran expresses deep concern morals? As we know, our newspapers exercise a great deal of self- suspicion is are only too obvious. In many other OT at the move to appo1nt Berna- rampant and countries, Ministers have been known ma as the sole distributor of news censorship. Besides, these interna- tional agencies that are the main content to l to resign at once when a major from all foreign news agencies in the long as there is mishap or tragedy occurs in an area country with effect from May 1, suppliers of foreign news do not The explo1 under their charge. There have been 1984. advocate ideological positions which Empat is remi numerous instances in the last decade Though it will still be possible to are very different from that of our System not of Ministers in Japan, South Korea, get the full services of any inter- government. slavery in the The Malaysian public should India, Turkey and Austria quitting national agency through Bernama on compliments ~ in the wake of some railway accident request and for a payment, it is realise the dangers inherent in publicising th or air crash. It shows a willinl{ness obvious that free and fair access to making Bernama the sole distributor Institute of So to assume full responsibility for the foreign news would be severely of foreign news, particularly because for its role in actions of others under their juris- limited. of Bernama's own record in news pertaining to diction even when there is no direct, Control of the flow of foreign reporting. It is undoubtedly true, that hardly personal involvement on their part. news has certain serious conse- whatever Bemama's constitutional importance h They do not even wait for a commis- quences fo Malaysian society as a status, that our national news agency tragedy whic sion of inquiry to establish the cause whole. First, it impinges upon the has been basically a government conscience of ~ of the tragedy. It is this sort of moral right of a citizen in a democracy to news agency. Aliran can quote book, The episode response that one expects of leaders make up his own mind about events chapter and verse to show how of three social with integrity especially when loss of in the world on the basis of the full Bernama has disregarded views from to do with thl human lives has been involved. facts available. It is up to him to other sectors of society on impor- workers. The rl In Tan Sri Ghazali's case, the need accept or reject any piece of informa- tant issues, however sane or rational with red ident for a moral response is all the greater tion supplied without the interven- they may be, if these views do not less persons, because the direct, personal element tion of a national news agency which conform to government thinking. security and 111 of responsibility is apparent. A court decides what he should know about When a national news agency acts exploitation in of law has found certain facts the world. in this manner, one is justified in tional situatioq relating to his responsibility. It is Second, it will have an adverse expressing serious misgivings about are long workil equally important to bear in mind effect upon the thinking of a citizen its power over the flow of foreign the denial of that he is a member of a government about the international situation. At news into the country. and the absence that has pledged to lead by example. the moment, a citizen has access to This is why Aliran is somewhat It is time se It is a government that constantly news and features about economic amused by the reference to Kyodo to the plight of emphasises the vital role of moral trends, political happenings and news agency as a national agency way of helpin values in nation-building. Tan Sri social events originating from diffe- that apparently practises a similar predicament i Ghazali himself is after all one of rent foreign agencies with varying system. Kyodo is actually a coopera- approval of those individuals who played an emphases and slants. By denying this tive news agency that receives no

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 34 government, private or foreign their applications are found to be in workers are paid only 60% the wages "ill eventually subsidy. Its membership comprises line with the requirements of the they would be entitled to receive if i presentation the leading Japanese newspapers and law. In the meanwhile, laws should they were treated as regular workers. termined by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation. be introduced to ensure them the In addition to this, contract workers i orientation. Indeed, establishing a monopoly same protection, rights and privi- will not receive EPF or SOCSO, part v promote a over foreign news is a practice that leges that every Malaysian worker of the benefits that regular workers world within is more akin to communist states enjoys. are entitled to. Furthermore, because like the Soviet Union, China and the The second has to do with of the temporary nature of the job, to deny that various East Ew:opean republics. No migrant labourers who are virtually contract workers can be hired and >le distributor democracy should be associated with helpless in the face of exploitation fired at will without the management ,rm of censor- such a system of control. because of their foreign status. having to worry about suitable ns to wonder The multitude of curbs and Aliran is not for bringing in foreign conditions of dismissal. This new hin end of the controls that have emerged in recent workers of this sort, but the reality system is a manifestation of manage- oner or later years makes one wonder as we is that we already have them in our ment's constant desire to maximise > assume the approach 1984, whether we may midst. The decent thing would be to profits. ~tor of Malay- yet have a Ministry of Truth that provide adequate protection under Secondly the use of contract ! world. will tell people what to think and the law for this group of workers labour is an attempt to disrupt clear that it is how to act. against possible abuses at the hands union activities. The decision to use ficient, costly of their employers. Malaysians are contract labour came shortly after 1g news. For Mustafa K. Anuar generally displeased when our the majority of workers had decided arantee lower Secretary workers are mistreated j n foreign to become members of the union. 1bscri hers, it 4th July, 1983. lands. Therefore we should not do Contract workers would have greater bureaucratic unto others what we don't want difficulty in obtaining membership as tends "to hire others to do unto us. compared to regular workers. In reporters and Third, the System of contract addition to this the temporary nature run the new labour which draws its workers from of the job makes it very easy for . This is yet EXPLOITATION AT both the categories mentioned above management to victimise contract unnecessary should be abolished completely. workers who become actively in- t. The expen- In the last analysis, the well-being volved in union activities. •e to be borne SELANCAR EMPAT and welfare of each and every worker This entire episode again serves rests with the government. Through to emphasise the weakness of the iers why there a Jiran expresses its abhorence of c:TT the inhumane treatment of humane labour laws and strict codes labour position in this country. 1pose this new against violation of human rights, we Despite the already low wages in the ews. Has there contract workers at the Selanchar Empat Estate. It is scandalous that hope that much of what took place textile industry, factory owners and foreign news at Selancar Empat Estate will be management work unceasingly :al subscribers in this day and age, exploitation of this nature can still happen under the avoided in future. towards earning excessive profits by 1as threatened very noses. of the authorities without In a sense, Felda cannot be com- trying to reduce wages even further. :>lated public pletely absolved from blame just as Management feels it necessary to ,ur newspapers their actually being aware of it. Our ' suspicion is that the practice is quite a headmaster can hardly deny further erode the rights of workers lea! of self- responsibility for the unhygenic food by the use of unscrupulous tactics, these interna- rampant and that there are people content to look the other way as served by the canteen contractor despite the existence of a vast array are the main in his school. of laws aimed at curtailing the rights news do not long as there is no hue and cry. The exploitation in Selancar of workers. ositions which Empat is reminiscent of the Kangani Ang Boon Chong ALIRAN calls on the authorities 111 that of our System not unlike the plantation Exco Member to make a full investigation and to put a stop to these unjust practises. slavery in the U.S.A. While Aliran 14th July, 1983. ,ublic should compliments Star Publications for The problem should be nipped in inherent in publicising the expose and the the bud. Adequate laws should be ole distributor Institute of Social Analysis (INSAN) drawn up to protect the rights of ularly because for its role in revealing certain facts the workers. cord in news pertaining to the incident, we regret CONTRACT LABOUR In addition to this ALIRAN calls ,ubtedly true, that hardly any leader of national for punitive laws to be devised and constitutional importance has commented on the hile the labour department enforced against managements that d news agency tragedy which should shock the continues its investigation on persist in exploiting and eroding the ii government conscience of the nation. W of foreign the denial of employment benefits Firstly the system of contract and the absence of a steady job. labour serves to exploit workers in ARTICLE 150 is somewhat It is time serious attention is paid a heavy handed manner. Contract a Jiran views with great concern ice to Kyodo to the plight of stateless persons. One workers are paid a flat rate much c:TT the proposal to amend article tional agency way of helping them out of their below that received by regular 150 of the Malaysian Constitution. ises a similar predicament is by not delaying the workers. At MWE Weaving Mills The proposed amendment is now illy a coopera- approval of their citizenship once Sdn. Bhd. for example, the contract being debated by Parliament. t receives no

35 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 The amendment provides that if quarter. It is simply not possible to To begin with our national leaders ruptcy. the Prime Minister is satisfied that a prevent an ambitious Prime Minister must set the example by reducing, It is grave emergency exists he shall in the future from emerging as a where possible, their overseas trips. danger in advise the Yang di Pertuan Agong 'supremo' after the proclamation of In this connection, Aliran wonders Aliran ca who shall in accordance with such an emergency. whether it is necessary for the Prime economic advice, issue a Proclamation of The proposed amendment then is Minister and Depty Prime Minister to causes o1 Emergency. It also provides that if a grim reminder of how rapidly the visit South Korea and Japan res- depth an the Prime Minister is satisfied that executive has accumulated immense pectively when they have already long-term there is imminent danger of the powers over the last decade. A been to both these countries in the leaders fo occurrence of an event which threa- leadership that claims to be liberal course of the last 1 ½ years. If it is a tens the security, or the economic should do its utmost to arrest this question of promoting trade and life, or public order in the Federation disastrous trend. Otherwise, an over- investments as part of an on-going 12 Augus1 or any part thereof, he can advise whelmingly dominant Executive will economic relationship, there is no the Yang di Pertuan Agong to in no time eliminate whatever little reason why Trade Commissioners proclaim an Emergency before the freedom is left. and Trade offices abroad connot do actual occurrence of the event. It is with this potential danger in the job. The amendment further states mind that Aliran appeals to the Just as it is important to reduce R that the satisfaction of the Prime government to restore the restrained, travelling allowances, so it is vital to Minister is final and cannot be balanced approach to the declaration cut down on public expenditure in IN challenged or called in question in of an emergency contained in the others areas. However, this does not any court on any ground. Parliament original 1957 Constitution. This mean that one should reduce budge- fl liran is not required to ratify the procla- means that it is Parliament that tary allocations for the purchase of OT Prim mation of emergency. Neither is it should be satisfied that an emergency drugs for the chronically ill or for rent rise o allowed to question the wisdom of situation exists. If Parliament is the supply of free meals for poor society, es the proclamation of emergency. sitting, its approval has to be sought pupils or for the construction of low- ding politi• In a sense, all the above provisions before an Emergency can come into cost houses. Cutbacks in public ' This sty; have existed since 1981 except that force. If it is not sitting, the Execu- expenditure should not result in needs to now the Prime Minister - not the tive can issue an Emergency greater suffering for the poor and easily lead Yang di Pertuan Agong - has to be Ordinance. The Constitution should disadvantaged majority. anxiety, s~ satisfied that an emergency exists or further provide that a Proclamation The government should instead social unrei is likely to exist. of Emergency shall have validity only decentralize public administration Sporadi Aliran had opposed the 1981 for a duration of two months after and encourage local authorities to tion is gem amendment to Article 150 on the which Parliament should consider manage some of the socio-economic mongering ground that it gave overwhelming whether the period should be programmes presently undertaken by main sow: powers to the Executive since it is extended or not. At the same time an a variety of state agencies. At the either hidd the Cabinet that advises the Yang di Emergency Ordinance issued by the same time, certain functions asso- This is, Pertuan Agong. By substituting Executive shall cease to have ciated with revenue collection and plays a ve 'Prime Minister' for 'Yang di Pertuan force 15 days after the date both law enforcement can be borne only permi Agong' executive discretion has Houses are first sitting. Equally directly by local authorities. This people wi become even more explicit and abso- important it should be possible to will also bring about a reduction in squashing 1 lute. For now it is the Prime question in court the proclamation personnel. A decentralized approach silence is CE Minister, the nation's chief executive, of the Emergency, Emergency can save the state some money since The pre who has the prerogative to decide Ordinances and all other acts and bureaucratic centralization often be commit whether there should be an emer- decisions conceived and implemented leads to heavy public expenditure. people anc gency or not. Even his Cabinet is during the period of the Emergency. Apart from decentralizing admi- that, if lll1 not given a say! He - and he alone - In addition to all these safeguards, nistration, the government should favourite 1 can decide. the Constitution should state expli- also try to plug those holes through suspicion. It is obvious that by vesting so citly that there shall be no enactment which public funds are constantly tively, th1 much power with the Prime Minister, of emergency laws inconsistent with drained. Corruption is the biggest of controlled the collective role of the Cabinet as the provisions on fundamental these holes. There should be a more powerful V4 the body that advises the Yang di liberties. earnest effort to curb organised, • The B1 Pertuan Agong has been severely Only through such measures will corporate corruption involving the scandal in circumscribed. At the same time, we be able to protect the sanctity 'bigwigs' in business and politics. In a case of ii legislative supremacy continues to be and integrity of democratic values this way, billions of ringgit could be event that derogated. The judiciary has no right and processes. saved - much more than what we speculation to review executive action. The 1983 would be able to save by cutting ,; The SP! amendment makes a further mockery Chandra Muzaffar down on electricity consumption or constructio of the concept of checks and President switching off air-conditioners early in ter's resi< balances which is the cornerstone of 2nd August, 1983. government offices. example o any political system that cherishes Reducing public expenditure has informatio1 freedom and human dignity. become a matter of urgent necessity the general Indeed the proposed amendment in view of our alarming national to know - more than even the 1981 amend- debt. Both internal and external spent. ment - opens the way to political debts together are now in the vicinity It is ho , abuse. For the Prime Minister is, in REDUCING PUBLIC of 50 billion. What is particularly bility of the ultimate analysis, a political shocking is the rapid increase in the other even personality very much involved in rate of debt accumulation in the last accountabi the conflicts and compromises of EXPENDITURE 2 or 3 years. One begins to wonder people. Th party politics. There is no constitu- fl liran is pleased to observe that whether we are moving in the way towar tional mechanism for ensuring that OT the government is trying to cut direction of Mexico - one of the bility apar he will not use his emergency powers down on unnecessary travelling ex- most heavily indebted states in the unfounded against his political foes from any penditure within the public services. world which is verging on bank- In the

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 36

, ------· -- I tional leaders ruptcy. rative for a democratic country shores of many but the most by reducing, It is because of this inherent to allow its citizens to gain access popular and deter~ined of foreign verseas trips. danger in the economic situation that to information before they make publishers. In other cases the an wonders Aliran calls upon the government's decisions that affect their daily ordinary reader or !!Ubscriber himself or the Prime economic planners to analyse the lives and society as a whole. has to undergo the hardship of the e Minister to causes of the present recession in In a "liberal, open and demo- bureaucratic process of applying for ii Japan res- depth and to suggest fundamental, cratic Malaysia", this basic need permission to import the publica- !have already long-term solutions to our political and right of the people cannot be tions. In a society where public , ntries in the leaders for their consideration. neglec~d. Or else, it might even- campaigns have to be conducted to ears. If it is a tually be rumoured that Malaysia instil the reading habit, would not g trade and Executi ve Committee is practising a liberal, open and this legislative move be a backward an on-going 12 August 1983 democratic system. step? there is no If it is thought that this latest Mustafa K. Anuar move will restrain inaccurate and Secretary biased reporting on Malaysian matters in foreign publications, then t to reduce RUMOURS & 26th August, 1983 such retaliation against a minority it is vital to of such culprits would only cause penditure in INFORMATION us ourselves to become the losers this does not ultimately. The liberal image and educe budge- fl liran shares the concern of the more open system of government FURTHER PRESS that borrows the positive values from purchase of c:::71 Prime Minister over the appa- ly ill or for rent rise of rumour-mongering in our abroad which our leaders have been als for poor society, especially in matters regar- CONTROL impressing upon the outside world ction of low- ding political leaders. as well as citizens would then suffer in public · This style of getting "information" fl liran views with serious a serious setback. A better reaction t result in needs to be checked for it could c:::71 concern the immeasur- would indeed be to answer untruth e poor and easily lead to unnecessary ill-feeling, able and far-reaching negative impli- with truth, as has already been done anxiety, suspicion and possibly, even cations of the proposals contained on a number of occasions. ould instead social unrest. in the Control Of Imported Publi- No nation has ever succeeded in ministration Sporadic or slow flow of informa- cations (Amendment) Bill which was bettering itself without learning uthorities to tion is generally the cause of rumour- tabled at the last session of the from others around the world. A cio-economic mongering in a society where the Dewan Rakyat. Though reports indi- developing society like Malaysia ndertaken by main sources of information are cate that those proposals would be valiantly striving to uphold self- cies. At the either hidden, muzzled or misleading. subjected to some redrafting, we reliance in an interdependent world ctions asso- This is where freedom of the press strongly believe that there ought to cannot but encourage its people llection and plays a very important role in not be a comprehensive re-thinking by to actively benefit from a free and be borne only permitting the press to feed the the relevant authorities of the untold full access to the wealth of ideas orities. This people with information but also dangers to Malaysian society that and wisdom both inside and from reduction in squashing unfounded rumours. Here, would be caused by added curbs on outside the country. ed approach silence is certainly not golden. the individual freedom of thought money since The press in this context should and conscience which depends on a Azmi bin Khalid tion often be committed towards informing the free flow of knowledge and Exco Member enditure. people and trying to explain events information. izing admi- that, if unattended to, would be a It is strange that existing legis- 26th August, 1983 ent should favourite target of speculation and lation is not regarded as sufficient oles through suspicion. To play this role effec- to combat the entry into our l~d constantly tively, the press should not be of publications deemed prejudicial e biggest of controlled by the government or by to the national interests. The present d be a more powerful vested interests. Control of Imported Publications THE ASSASSINATION organised, ' The Bank Bumiputra Finance Act has even accorded 'absolute dis- volving the scandal in Hong Kong recently is cretion' upon the Minister to take OF BENIGNO AQUINO politics. In a case of ill-explained and ill-exposed necessary action against importation git could be event that had invited rumours and of 'prejudicial publications'. The fls a movement concerned with 1an what we speculation. Internal Security Act itself already c:::71 human rights based on our by cutting The speculations over the "re- empowers him to prohibit the concept of development and nation- umption or construction" of the Prime Minis- 'sale, issue, circulation or possession' hood, Aliran strongly condemns the ners early in ter's residence is also another of subversive publications or recent assassination of Benigno example of complete and detailed materials considered 'prejudicial to Aquino, the Filipino opposition enditure has information being kept away from the national interest, public order or leader. nt necessity the general public which has a right security'. The necessary deterrents In the Philippines and in the ng national to know how its money is being have been expressly included in the Asean region, Aquino had won d external spent. form of fines and imprisonment. ls widespread respect as a symbol of the vicinity It is hoped that improved availa- it then necessary to further deter legitimate dissent and of opposition particularly bility of ·information on this and and inhibit foreign publishers from to authoritarianism. His tragic death rease in the other events would lead to greater making available to Malaysians the illustrates graphically the plight of n in the last accountability of our leaders to the wealth of information, knowledge dissent and dissenters in the Third s to wonder people. This would also go a long and ideas to which the rest of the World. Owing to the peculiar cir- ng in the way towards increasing their credi- world has access? cumstances of Aquino's assassina- one of the bility apart from dashing allegedly The proposed new requirement tion, the Filipino government cannot tates in the unfounded rumours. of deposits for import licences could be exonerated in any way from on bank- In the final analysis, it is impe- well cause the withdrawal from our responsibility for his death.

37 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 Aliran is convinced that Aquino's open public discussion, Aliran sub- life. An official residence which runs great courage and commitment will mits the following arguments against into millions of ringgit would indeed TI remain a source of inspiration for moving into the new residence. These signify callous insensitivity to the freedom fighters everywhere in the are views which have been formu- sufferings of those who cannot even Third World and particularly in lated through serious deliberation afford a decent shelter. f the Asean countries whose citizens and reflection. Seventh, there is undoubtedly a share a deep interest in the destiny First, since the nation is facing dire need to eradicate the widely PAI of the Filipino people. the most serious economic challenge prevalent psychology in our society in its history, it is only right and that assumes that those with power Gan Teik Chee proper that public spending is con- and status must live in style and Assistant Secretary fined to what is absolutely essential · grandeur. It would be sad if the for the well-being of the people respect and dignity due to high 26th August, 1983 as a whole. office is dependent on how much C7~1 Second, since using public revenue pomp and luxury it can command. Parliamen for the maintenance of elite By rejecting such a superficial notion It is q affluence and extravagance is one of of what status implies - through the cutive, es the main causes of O\.lr economic rejection of an extraordinarily expen· not regar, PRIME MINISTER'S decline, it would be commendable if sive official residence - the public a Parliam the Prime Minister registers his would be setting the tone for a diffe- dimensior. NEW RESIDENCE disapproval of such abuse of power rent view of power and position mentary c and privilege by refusing to move which emphasises the dignity that The u~ into his new residence. It would give comes with integrity, ability, sacri- on matte _[/_t is heartening to observe that fice and service. · the Prime Minister has asked so much meaning to the nation's tance m austerity drive. Finally, like the above argument scandal 1 the public to express their views on providing such leadership whether he should move into his new Third, about status and the importance of episode s residence or not. This is what one to the austerity drive is all the more style, all the other points which not playi1 expects of a government that pro- vital since the Prime Minister himself have been made on behalf of the leading p1 fesses "openness". has pledged to lead by example. Prime Minister's official residence do denial of , Formal public reaction however There is no better way of doing this not seem to have much merit. It is MPs to II has been very muted. Except for a than by demonstrating to the nation wrong for instance to suggest that a - an es handful of social groups and a couple that simplicity, frugality and modera- huge house with sprawling grounds Parliamen· of individuals, the rest of the public tion are proven values of the nation's is necessary to entertain thousands that Parli have chosen to discuss "the PM's foremost leader. of guests. There are other places - as an eJ house" among themselves without Fourth, only by practising - like Parliament House or Rumah articulatio adopting public stances. This is an rather than preaching - these lofty Malaysia - which can be used for Likewise, unhealthy sign in a democracy for ethical principles would the govern- such purposes. Size and space are not through P it leads to the type of speculation ment convince the people that ours the outstanding attributes of the time for which could be damaging to the is a trustworthy administration. And homes of chief executives in many sion. Wh~ leadership itself. indeed, the onus upon the govern- lands. Rather, it is the character and sometimei In this connection, it is significant ment to establish its trustworthiness tradition associated with them that the natur, that the recent UMNO General is great since the promise to provide are often cherished. is very lit Assembly openly requested the a 'clean, efficient and trustworthy of the ac· administration' was the very basis Of course, it will be argued that This had Prime Minister to move into his new now that the elaborate renovations residence. As members of the public, of the election campaign which nection v resulted in its present overwhelming have taken place, there is no choice tional am, UMNO delegates are entitled to power. but for the Prime Minister to move express their sentiments. It is how- very char; in. Fortunately, the Prime Minister system. ever . wrong to regard UMNO's Fifth, the government is also does not think this way; otherwise endorsement as the "green light" committed to the inculcation of The de he would not have asked the public been bro, that the Prime Minister needs. For universally-valid Islamic values in the to decide. UMNO delegates are only a part of community. Surely simplicity and factors. . the public. Besides, the house is not moderation are important Islamic Alternative uses for the renovated legislative being built with UMNO funds. house can always be found. If what Nasional values. Early Islamic history shows majority Neither is it the residence of the that the meaning of simplicity or were once majestic palaces in other UMNO President. Let it be reiterated countries can be used as hospitals, Second, t moderation is not necessarily condi- of the Ei that since the house is being built tioned by the social environment. rehabilitation centres, welfare homes, by public funds for the Prime Minis- hostels or even as government Parliamenl The Prophet Muhammad, for is borne ter of the entire nation, it is the instance, lived in stark simplicity offices, there is no reason why our approval of the public as a whole Federal Territory authorities cannot constituti, with enough for his basic needs, even the last fe · which the Prime Minister must seek when the community he ruled was find some other publicly beneficial as legitimate endorsement. purpose for the house. Execut growing in prosperity. This was also checked The mechanism for expressing true of illustrious Caliphs like Abu After all, the Prime Minister some of , public opinion in cases like this is an Bakar, Umar and Ali. There is, in himself has been quite unhappy rules of P, independent referendum which is other words, a certain concept of with the exorbitant cost of the reno- periods sl preceded by a public debate that will living which leaders must observe vation, as indicated in his interview if they sincerely believe in the first, seco1 explore the pros and cons of the on July 16th. That should at least ordinary validity of Islamic values. question before the nation.· Suffi- persuade him and all of us to re- viewed in cient time and opportunity must be Sixth, even if the social context appraise the entire project. an offenc given for thorough analysis and is taken into account, ostentatious evaluation so that the public can living among the elites would be Chandra Muzaffar make up its mind in the best tradi- morally indefensible when a sub- President tions of a genuine referendum. stantial segment of society is still As part of our contribution to deprived of the basic necessities of 29th August, 1983

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 38 - which runs ting of Parliamentary proceedings. A The act itself is an indication of uld indeed THE NEED FOR Private Member's motion for debate how uncivilized and barbaric inter- ity to the should be allowed by the Speaker national behaviour can become if it is not even REFORMS TO as long as it has the express support divorced from ethical principles. of 15 other MPs. By the same token, There is an urgent need to make ubtedly a adjournment speeches should be ethical values the cornerstone of the widely PARLIAMENTARY allowed as long as 15 other MPs are both national affairs and interna- our society present. tional relationships. This recent act "th power PRACTICES Quite apart from all this, there is of inhumanity exposes the weakness style and a real need to give much more of a system that separates means sad if the emphasis to Parliamentary commit- from ends. Unfortunately non- e to high (/he recent session of Parliament communist systems too although ._, has underscored the need for tees. If certain matters are referred to ow much such committees then at least MPs professing ethical values are often command. Parliamentary reform. would be able to check Executive guilty of disregarding these values icial notion It is quite apparent that the Exe- actions. In this connection, a Par- when their interests, be they political rough the cutive, especially the Cabinet, does ·1y expen- liamentary Committee on the consti- or economic, are at stake. not regard Parliamentary debate and tution should be set up. Any amend- Despite the world-wide condem- the public a Parliamentary opposition as vital ment to the constitution which nation that it has brought upon for a diffe- dimensions of the system of Parlia- the Executive may propose will have itself, the Soviet Union has declined 1d position mentary democracy itserf. to be submitted first to this commit- to accept responsibility and persits lignity that The unwillingness to allow debate tee for deliberati n before it is in making vague statements and ility, sacri- on matters of great public impor- references to the incident. To regret tance like the Bank Bumiputra formulated as a bill and presented to Parliament. To strengthen Parliamen- the loss of life aboard the airplane e argument scandal and the Selancar Empat tary democracy, the Chairman of is itself clearly insufficient. Aliran 1>0rtance of episode suggests that Parliament is this Committee should be from the therefore demands an apology and a ints which not playing its role as the nation's Opposition. Similarly, the chairman full explanation of all events leading ~alf of the leading public forum. , Similarly, the of some of the other Parliamentary up to this tragedy. esidence do denial of opportunities to opposition Committees especially the Public There is little that the Soviet merit. It is MPs to make adjournment speeches Accounts Committee should also Union can do to make amends for Jgest that a - an established institution in a be from the Opposition as is the its wanton behaviour, but at the very g grounds Parliamentary democracy - shows practice in certain other Parliamen- least it should welcome suggestions thousands that Parliament is not performing tary democracties. that an independent international ~r places - as an effective channel for the· Finally, the importance of inquiry be carried out and be pre- or Rumah articulation of public grievances. reforms directed at checking Execu- pared to pay full compensation to used for Likewise, important Bills are rushed tive dominance cannot be over- families of the victims as well as to tace are not through Parliament without allowing emphasized for the destruction of punish those responsible. tes of the time for proper debate and discus- Parliamentary democracy is often Aliran is disheartened to note that es in many sion. What is worse, the public is due to the accumulation and con- locally as well as internationally, aracter and sometimes kept in the dark about centration of power with the there is a great inability on the part them that the nature of these Bills and there Executive. of various quarters to respond to is very little coverage in the media injustice on the basis of injustice of the actual debate in Parliament. Chandra Muzoffor President alone. Very often the motive for This had happened recently in con- response • appears to be vested nection with two crucial consittu- 29 August 1983 interests rather than an ethical base tional amendments which affect the which would demand an appropriate r to move very character of our governmental e Minister response irrespective of the ties that system. one has with the offending party. 1; otherwise The derogation of Parliament has the public The arrogant display of destructive been brought about by two major DOWNING OF SOUTH might on the part of the Soviet factors. First, the overwhelming Union must be throughly condemned renovated legislative power of the ruling Barisan by all quarters professing to value d. If what Nasional which has a four-fifth KOREAN AIRLINER peace and justice. · majority in the Dewan Rakyat. es in other In the last few weeks, prospects hospitals, Second, the ever-increasing strength fl liran is appalled at the utterly of the Executive at the expense of inhuman act of shooting from have brightened with regard to rare homes, OT missile talks and trade, and the government Parliament and the Judiciary which the skies the unarmed, commercial is borne out by various laws and possibility of getting detente back on 'n why our KAL Boeing 7 4 7 over Sakhalin track. Aliran sincerely urges that this ties cannot constitutional amendments made in island. There can be no excuse the last few years. thawing of East-West relationship beneficial whatsoever on the part of the Soviet shall continue and that all encoura- Executive dominance can be authorities for this callous and checked through modifications to ging East-West trends be allowed to despicable act. Violation of Soviet further develop and mature. e Minister some of the written and unwritten air space alone cannot warrant unhappy rules of Parliamentary practice. Time such an action, and even if warnings f the reno- periods should be specified for the had been given and disobeyed it is Rojendron Devoroj is interview first, second and third readings of all unimaginable why the violating Exco Member Id at least ordinary bills. Bills should be pre- commercial plane could not have us to re- viewed in the media and it should be been forced to land or escorted out 6 Sept., 1983. an offence to ban or restrict repor- of Soviet airspace.

dro Muzaffor President

39 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 KEBEBASAN AKADEMIK Chandra Muzaffar

Kertaskerja di Seminar Persatuan kepada peraturan-peraturan kaki- fakta-fakta dapat diperbanyakkan Kakitangan Akademik Universiti tangan akademik yang diumumkan dan ini mungkin membantu semua Teknologi Malaysia (PKAUTM) oleh Kerajaan pada November 1977. pihak, terutamanya pemerintah, bertemakan "Kebebasan Akademik PERANAN menyusun dasar-dasar yang lebih dan Peranan Ahli Akademik di berkesan. Perundi ngan (consultancy), Universiti-Universiti Tempatan" pada Piagam Universiti menegaskan perkhidmatan lanjutan (extension dan mem 26hb Mac 1983 di UTM. beberapa pnns1p yang penting services) dan kegiatan-kegiatan sede- alternatif ya Kebebasan akademik dalam kon- tentang sifat dan peranan Universiti. mi kian rupa adalah saluran-saluran pada masala teks negara yang membangun tidak "The University", mengikut Piagam yang membolehkan golongan-golon- Ketiga, bisa dibincang tanpa mengkaji tersebut, "is essentially an institution gan tertentu menikmati manfaat rakyat da hubungan antara universiti dan peme- of learning, a community of students daripada pengetahuan yang dihasil- penglibatan rintah. Hubungan ini merupakan 'inti and scholars. Its first commitment is kan oleh sarjana-sarjana universiti. dalam pengu masalah'. the pursuit of knowledge and truth". Selain daripada itu, sarjana-sarjana masyarakat Dari satu sudut, hubungan Matlamat ini dapat dicapai melalui juga dapat menilaikan polisi-polisi pada keselu universiti-pemerintah boleh disifat- dua jenis kegiatan - (a) "The dan pelaksanaannya berdasarkan ra kyat jelata kan sebagai 'dilemma' yang serius research activities of its academic perspektif-perspektif yang rasional yang menyen bagi kedua-dua pihak. Sebenarnya, stafF' dan (b) "Its function as a dan saintifik terutamanya jika adalah benar dilemma ini dapat dihuraikan dalam teaching institution". Kegiatan- mereka tidak terikat pada sesuatu bentuk yang lain - iaitu dilemma kegiatan ini pula diberi keterangan pihak tertentu. Akhir sekali, univer- lah ~erana dalam hubungan antara cendekiawan yang lebih lanjut. "These activities s1t1 melalui kegiatan-kegiatannya, sosial dan m bertindak dan kekuasaan. Dilemma ini wujud [research} extend the frontiers of dapat mempertingkatkan lagi kese- se biasa dika sepanjang sejarah manusia dari zaman knowledge, enlarge awareness and daran sosial rakyat. grasp of the natural and social world Sarjana-sarja Aristotle dalam hubungannya dengan Meninggikan kesedaran sosial Alexander dan Kung Fu-Tzu dalam in which men live and contribute kan latar adalah penting bagi negara-negara di mereka dan hubungannya dengan Duke of Lu to the enrichment and betterment of Dunia Ketiga atas beberapa sebab. adalah antara sehingga zaman moden dalam human life. Research should also Pertama, sebagai negara-negara yang boleh bergera hubungan antara Maynard Keynes enhance the religious and spiritual pernah dijajah kesedaran sosial yang kat. Oleh it dan perbendaharaan di England dan life of the community". Di samping itu, fungsi pengajarannya bermakna wujud di kalangan kumpulan-kumpu- memperluaska antara Mohammed Heykal dan lan yang berpengaruh masih memper- pemerintah Mesir pada satu masa bahawa, "A University trains taan untuk students in the methods of scientific lihatkan unsur-unsur pemikiran ehwal negar~ dahulu. kolonial. Sebahagian besar daripada Analisa saya tentang dilemma ini inquiry, the tools of research particu- makna kepadl rakyat tidak sedar tentang tradisi- dibahagikan pada 3 peringkat. Per- lar to the area of study and develops basan' dan ' tradisi agama dan budaya mereka tama, persepsi Universiti tentang professional skills. It exposes them to pan rakyat ki . dan bagaimana ini dapat digunakan kedudukannya dalam hubungan a wide range of different theories dalam usaha menyusun semula AUTONOMI dengan pemerintah dan masyarakat. and ideas, stimulates the develop- masyarakat-masyarakat mereka. Penyertaa Kedua, faktor-faktor yang bertang- ment of an open but critical mind Universiti-universiti di Malaysia dan gungjawab atas merosotnya autonomi and establishes the ability to evaluate natif, asas- negara-negara yang lain di Dunia universiti di Dunia Ketiga amnya dan and discriminate among conflicting menilaikan, Ketiga dapat menjalankan penyelidi- di Malaysia khasnya. Ketiga, bebe- views in the process of ascertaining melatih, men kan dalam soal -soal yang bersabit rapa penyelesaian-penyelesaian the truth". yelidikan dan dengan agama dan budaya agar terhadap dilemma yang menghadapi Dengan memain peranannya tan Universit · asas-asas rohaniah yang kukuh kita itu. dalam bidang penyelidikan dan autonomi. P pengajaran, Universiti dapat men- dibina dalam usaha membangunkan menekankan PERSEPSI UNIVERSITI yurnbang pada masyarakat. lni negara-negara yang mundur. autonomi, un Contoh yang paling baik tentang bermakna bahawa peranan kemasya- Kedua, satu kesedaran baru perlu fungsinya se persepsi ilmiahwan-ilmiahwan - atau rakatan Universiti tidak bercanggah juga kerana kita masih bergantung tinggi serta sebahagian daripada komuniti ilmiah- sama sekali dengan kedudukannya pada contoh-contoh dan pengalaman- nya terha · wan - akan kedudukan Universiti sebagai institusi ilmu. Malah, sum- pengalaman pembangunan ekonomi piagam U di Malaysia ialah Piagam Universiti bangan universiti pada masyarakat yang kurang sesuai dari segi kehen- bahawa kami:i yang diisytiharkan pada bulan Januari terbukti dalam beberapa hal. Univer- dak-kehendak Dunia Ketiga. Univer- pada undang tahun 1978. Piagam ini digubalkan siti melatih bakal pentadbir, guru, siti adalah institusi yang paling layak sarjana-sarjan· oleh beberapa ilmiahwan daripada eksekutif, profesyenal dansebagainya. untuk mengkaji latar-belakang dan istimewa di si lima-lima universiti sebagai reaksi Melalui penyelidikan, maklumat dan keadaan sosial sesuatu masyarakat

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 40 Yang dimaksudkan dengan auto- jawab Universiti adalah kepada nomi ialah keadaan di mana komuni- masyarakat dalam ertikata yang Piagam Universiti 19 78 ti Universiti adalah "free to pursue luas. menekankan bahawa hanya the objective truth by not being Sepertimana dijelaskan oleh melalui autonomi, universiti denied access to the necessary publi- piagam, "Jn serving the commu- dapat memenuhi fungsinya cations, information or data required nity and the general welfare, the University shall not be swayed by sebagai institusi pengajian tinggi for academic study and research; free to independently decide direc- powerful economic or political rbanyakkan serta menemui tanggungjawab- antu semua tions of research and study which forces. The Fmancial dependence pemerintah, nya terhadap masyarakat. can be justified as academically of the University upon the state yang lebih worthwhile and socially meaningful; as the executor of the community's msultancy ), free to share with the community the finances shall not entail its sub- (extension results of their study and the fruits servience to, nor the control of its dan membentuk model-model giatan sede- of their research whether through academic life by, the state. It is to alternatif yang benar-benar ditujukan uran-sal uran publication or through established the community that the University pada masalah-masalah kita. 1ngan-golon- forums of debate and discussion; has its final obligation and the Ketiga, melalui kesedaran sosial, ti manfaat free from pressures seeking to State or government of the day ang dihasil- rakyat dapat memahami kenapa subjugate the Universily to parti- must be distinguished from the penglibatan dan penyertaan mereka I universiti. cular vested interests or to compro- community as a whole. This dis- dalam pengurusan dan pentadbiran 'jana-sarjana mise in any way the integrity of tinction is not alien to the intellec- masyarakat perlu. Di Dunia Ketiga polisi-polisi scholarship to some specificed ends. tual traditions of the country. berdasarkan pada keseluruhannya, penyertaan All such pressures, whether from Scholars within the Islamic world, ng rasional rakyat jelata dalam hal ehwal awam business corporations, political for example, have tried consistently 1anya jika yang menyentuh kepentingan mereka groups or any other partisan interests to maintain their independence from ada sesuatu adalah benar-benar terbatas. lni ada- must be rejected as having no legiti- the court, which represented the kali, univer- lah kerana kumpulan-kumpulan mate grounds to enter within the State of those times. Moreover, the aling layak sarjana-sarjana mempunyai hak satu sektor dalam masyarakat. parti. lakang dan istimewa di sisi undang-undang. Dengan lain perkataan, tanggung- masyarakat

41 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 to make explicit their theoretical tion; the right of access to necessary berdasarkan kedudukan sebuah framework and methodological prin- publications and data required for negara yang sedang membangun, latarbelakang Eropah. ciples': Dalam pengajaran, mereka study and research; the right to pemerintah tida k memberi pertim- mesti ''give unprejudiced considera- teach without hindrance - that is bangan yang wajar kepada usaha Perkemba1 tion to all major points of views on the right to determine the courses yang ikhlas itu. Sebaliknya, da lam kurun 16 , any particular subject without any to be taught as well as their content lima tahun yang lalu autonomi perkembanga bias and provide students with in accordance with well-established universiti dan kebebasan akademik Eropah. Kel, accurate and fair exposition of academic standards; the right of free terus merosot - sehingga idea-idea pada tukang- conflicting viewpoints; provide criti- discussion and freedom of opinion; seperti 'autonomi' dan 'kebebasan saudagar, al cal assessments of the different the right to freely publish in any akademik' jarang diucapkan di kalan- penulis dan positions or viewpoints, indicating recognised organ, within the country gan ahli a~ademik sendiri ! di luar kekua gan bangsaw, their relative merits from an intel- as well as internationally, the right to MEROSOTNYA AUTONOMI lectual and scholarly point of view; be evaluated for career development gereja, menja encourage students to pursue their only on the basis of professional Apakah bukti-bukti yang menun- kuasa merek, own independent thought and standards of teaching and research". jukkan bahawa autonomi universiti tanah. Tetapi evaluation on the subject and provide Hak-hak akademik ini diiringi oleh telah merosot? Lazimnya, Akta Uni- menengah ia them with readings by both advo- hak-hak yang lain yang ada pada versiti dan Kolej Universiti (AU KU) Dengan ke cates as well as critics of the various warganegara sebagai warganegara. disebutkan sebagai bukti kawalan mereka dap conflicting . views" (University Antaranya ialah hak bersuara, hak pemerintah terhadap Universiti. lni mereka. Men memang benar. Tetapi AUKU cuma Charter). berpegang pada pendapat yang ber- ole~ golongi· Apa yang di utamakan di sini beza dan hak menyertai persatuan, membenarkan pemerintah menguasai pequangan ialah "academic objectivity". Tetapi secara rela hati. Dalam hubungan ini, majlis-majlis Universiti dan menentu- di Eropah be academic objectivity tidak bererti Piagam Universiti menekankan kan beberapa perlantikan penting. bebas' untu bahawa, "the teacher is to have no bahawa seorang ahli akademik ber- Apa yang sedang berlaku jauh lebih ruang masya opinion of his own or that he must hak memain peranan yang cergas dahsyat. Secara tidak langsung Ke- pada kuasa 9 be neutral vis-a-vis -all the positions dalam politik kepartian samada menterian Pelajaran dan Jabatan Per- tah. Ruan~ discussed. In applying the standards sebagai calon pilihanraya ataupun khidmatan Awam dapat menentukan membolehka of judgment from the discipline, sebagai pemimpin parti. Mengikut corak perkembangan Universiti sains, kumpu dalam beberapa bidang. Perlantikan Un iversiti-un certain views may be shown to be piagam, "Political participation is in in fact totally untenable even though no way contradictory to the acade- kakitangan akademik, kenaikan gan bantuan they merit discussion. Observing the mic role. As it is possible for other pangkat, pengesahan jawatan, cuti menengah. canons of objectivity is not at all professionals to fulfil the duties of persidangan luar, cuti sabbatikal serta Oleh kera inconsistent with having and defen- their profession while at the same kursus baru, jabatan baru, universiti kan kebeba ding some particular point of view time meeting their responsibilities as baru - semuanya dipastikan atau ekonominya 'autonomi which is held to be the most convin- citizens in a democratic society, so is sekurang-kurangnya dipengaruhi oleh did ikan' 'ha cing, given the evidence" ( University it possible for an academic to do the pemerintah politik dan birokrasi. Charter). · same': Kecuali isi kursus - dalam senarai nya diutara dan kumpul Sungguh pun, Piagam Universiti hak-hak akademik - yang belum Untuk memberi perlindungan disentuh oleh pihak yang berkuasa! juga menikm 1978 mengandungi beberapa hujjah- yang lebih sempurna kepada "aca- Tetapi ini juga tidak begitu tepat pada keaza hujjah yang rasional lagi matang demic objectivity", seorang pe~sya- jika kita memikir tentang kursus iaitu kump rah harus membezakan peranannya tentang peranan Universiti, autono- minya, tanggungjawab dan hak tamaddun Islam. sebagai pensyarah daripada peranan- Penguasaan pemerintah terhadap peranan sosialnya yang lain. lni sarjana dan kebebasan akademik universiti adalah akibat daripada Sekiranya, termasuk peranannya sebagai seorang beberapa proses-proses sosial. Saya warganegara yang berkecimpung akan mengkaji faktor-faktor umum keduduka dalam hal ehwal awam. Sebagai guru dalam konteks negara-negara yang rohaniah dia tidak harus menggunakan hubun- sedang membangun sebelum mem- pembangu gannya dengan pelajar-pelajar "to Elit Dunia Ketiga kurang senang dengan idea autonomi universiti bincang faktor-faktor yang khusus modenisas advance some private, personal or pada negara kita. political interest that is i"elevant to kerana tidak mahu dicabar, usaha me the academic pursuit" (University tidak mahu digugat. Ini KEMEROSOTAN: FAKTOR- semasa un FAKTOR UMUM Charter). menunjukkan bahawa matlamat Sejajar dengan tanggungjawab- autonomi Universiti, sekiranya Adalah jelas bahawa autonomi pendidika tanggungjawab, komuniti akademi k Universiti. sepertimana juga dengan berubah. B juga mempunyai beberapa hak wujud di Dunia Ketiga, autonomi akhbar dan kumpulan- tertentu, menurut Piagam Universiti. bergantung pada kebaikan kumpulan sosial, bergantung pada elit, tetapi Kebebasan akademik sebagai hak, kepimpin. asas-asas sosial (social bases) tertentu. yang baik misalnya, merangkumi hak "to Untuk memahami perkara ini harus sasaranny undertake research without obstruc- kita menghuraikan secara ringkas

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 42 '

kan sebuah membangun, latarbelakang universiti moden di kelas menengah - mempertahankan soal orientasi Universiti, matlamat- mberi pertim- Eropah. kebebasan. nya, pengambilan kakitangannya, ,epada usaha Perkembangan Universiti sejak Di kebanyakan negara Dunia pengambilan pelajar-pelajarnya, pem- iknya, dalam kurun 16 atau 17 dibantu oleh Ketiga tidak ada ruang bebas, bentukan jabatan-jabatan sampai ke lu autonomi perkembangan kelas menengah di tidak ada kelas menengah bebas, struktur kursus-kursus sekalipun. san akademik Eropah. Kelas ini yang terdiri dari- tidak ada institusi-institusi yang Harus ditegaskan di sini bahawa ngga idea-idea pada tukang-tukang mahir, saudagar- benar-benar 'autonomous'. Kum- pembangunan dan modenisasi sebagai n 'kebebasan saudagar, ahli-ahli sains, penulis- pulan-kumpulan yang mempunyai matlamat-matlamat umum tidak pkan di kalan- penulis dan pelukis-pelukis wujud keupayaan wujud sebagai kumpulan- dibantah saya. Yang dikritik ialah 1ri ! di luar kekuasaan pemerintah. Golon- kumpulan bebas sebelum zaman jenis pembangunan, jenis modenisasi. gan bangsawan, yang disokong oleh kolonial telah hilang sama sekali Pembangunan yang dikaitkan dengan NOMI gereja, menjadi pemerintah. Sumber darjat dan martabat mereka akibat wujudnya beberapa kumpulan-kum- yang menun- kuasa mereka pada ketika itu ialah daripada dasar-dasar kolonial. ltulah pulan elit yang mengawal dan ::,mi universiti tanah. Tetapi sumber kekuatan kelas sebabnya golongan yang memimpin menguasai modal, ilmu dan kema- ya , Akta Uni- menengah ialah modal perdagangan. perjuangan kemerdekaan, yang akhir- hiran - pembangunan inilah yang ~rsiti (AUKU) Dengan kekuatan ekonomi 1ni nya mendirikan pem~rintahan, dapat mengancam kebebasan akademik. lni ukti kawalan mereka dapat menuntut hak-hak menguasai hampir-hampir setiap adalah kerana pembangunan yang Universiti . lni ), mereka. Mereka tidak mahu dikawal · bidang masyarakat. ditujukan pada pengeluaran elit AUKU cuma oleh golongan bangsawan. Melalui Penguasaan menyeluruh pemerin- (elite production) tidak bisa meng- ~ah menguasai perjuangan mereka, kelas menengah tah membawa kesan-kesan yang galakkan penyertaan, penglibatan, dan menentu- di Eropah berjaya membentuk 'ruang buruk pada institusi-institusi yang kebebasan dan sebagainya yang pasti ikan penting. bebas' untuk diri mereka - iaitu memerlukan autonomi untuk berge- mencabar kedudukan elit. lni sebe- ku jauh lebih ruang masyarakat yang bebas dari- rak dengan berkesan . Memang, ada narnya membongkarkan sifatnya langsung Ke- pada kuasa dan kekuasaan pemerin- pemimpin-pemimpin Dunia Ketiga pengajian tinggi dewasa ini yang, n Jabatan Per- tah. Ruang bebas inilah yang - umpamanya Jawarhar Lal Nehru mengikut Daniel Bell, has been t menentukan membolehkan persatuan-persatuan dari India - yang menghargai auto- burdened with the task of becoming ) Universiti sains, kumpulan-kumpulan sastra dan nomi Universiti. Bel iau cuba a gatekeeper - perhaps I the only g. Perlantikan Universiti-universiti bertumbuh den- menggalakkan konsep kebebasan gatekeeper to significant place and k, kenaikan gan bantuan kewangan daripada kelas akademik.(Lihat Michael Brecher privilege in society".( Lihat Daniel jawatan, cuti menengah. "Nehru - A Political Biography", Bell, "The Scholar Cornered", dalam abbatikal serta Oleh kerana kelas menengah ingin- 1959 ). Tetapi kebanya kan el it American Scholar Vol. 37 No. 3 aru, universiti kan kebebasan demi kepentingan Dunia Ketiga kurang senang dengan 1968). pastikan atau ekonomi nya, konsep-konsep seperti idea autonomi universiti kerana tidak :iengaruh i oleh 'autonomi bagi institusi-institusi pen- mahu dicabar, tidak mahu digugat. an birokrasi. didikan' 'hak pendidik' dan sebagai- lni menunjukkan bahawa auto- dalam senarai nya diutarakan. Namun, kelas-kelas nomi Universiti, sekiranya wujud di yang belum dan kumpulan-kumpulan yang lain Dunia Ketiga, bergantung pada Kuasa yang dipegang oleh ang berkuasa ! juga menikmati sedikit manfaat dari- kebaikan kepimpin sedangkan di birokrat harus kita menganggap begitu tepat pada keazaman saudagar-saudagar - Eropah Barat asas-asas sosiallah yang sebagai halangan besar kepada ntang kursus iaitu kumpulan terpenting dalam menjaminkannya. Ada kalanya seorang pemimpin autonomi universiti. Birokrat tah terhadap berhasrat mengekal kan autonomi mewakili satu proses sosial yang bat daripada Sekiranya, keinsafan tentang universiti tetapi keadaan sosial tidak amat berbahaya - iaitu , sosial. Saya mengizinkannya. Pembangunan dan pemusatan kuasa. faktor umum kedudukan kita sebagai insan modenisasi matlamat-matlamat ~-negara yang rohaniah adalah matlamat setiap negara baru - 'mewajarkan ' ~belum mem- pembangunan kita dan penguasaan pemerintah terhadap yang khusus modenisasi diertikan sebagai Universiti. lni \ldalah kerana univer- usaha mempergunakan ilmu sitilah badan yang menghasilkan Modenisasi , dalam konteks pem- (TOR- pengurus dan profesyenal, eksekutif bangunan ini, hanya mengutamakan semasa untuk mencapai dan banker yang diperlukan oleh teknik-tekn ik. Teknik yang meru- m atlamat ini, sudah pasti corak proses modenisasi. Pemerintah yang pakan cara atau pendekatan, akhir- iNa autonomi pendidikan universiti juga akan menjadi penggerak proses ini ber- nya menjadi matlamat. lni digambar- juga dengan berubah. Bukan pengeluaran pendapat bahawa demi kepentingan kan dengan jelasnya dalam kedudu- n kumpulan- elit, tetapi penghasilan manusia negara mereka harus mengarahkan kan 'pengurusan' sebagai satu mata ~antung pada Universiti dalam usaha mencapai pelajaran universiti yang begitu popu- ~ses) tertentu. yang baik akan menjadi matlamat nasional yang 'mulia' itu. lar, walhal ia hanya satu jenis teknik. Kara ini harus sasarannya. lni yang membuka jalan kepada Akibat daripada proses mendewa- ecara ringkas campur-tangan pemerintah dalam dewakan teknik, manusia yang harus

43 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 syarikat-sy; menjadi matlamat utama modeni- gannya dan juga kerana kecende- nya. lni yang menimbulkan konflik anal isa-anai sasi terpaksa diketepikan. Manusia rungan ekonomi sektor swasta. ltulah antara birokrat dan ahli akademik kong teoi hilang maknanya. Manusia dipisah- sebabnya kegiatan-kegia~an sebuah - satu fenomena yang berlaku sistem eko1 kan daripada tujuan hidupnya, Universiti moden seperti penyelidi- dibeberapa negara Dunia Ketiga. mengugah rnatlamat penciptaannya. (Lihat Ali kan, terutamanya dalam bidang sains Selain daripada soal kuasa, gup bekerj: Sharjati "Civilization and Moderniza- asli, yang menelan perbelanjaan yang perselisihan antara dua golongan ini nya juga di tion" dalam Readings in Islam banyak terpaksa diuruskan oleh diakibatkan oleh dua faktor. Per- yang boleh No. 9, 1980). ltulah sebabnya, pemerintah. Makin lama, makin kuat tama, dalam masyarakat di mana kelemahan Universiti dan kursus-kursus yang genggaman pemerintah. Dan Univer- tidak ada kumpulan-kumpulan yang dikaji langi diajar kita tidak bertujuan memupuk siti pula, makin lama makin lemah bebas dengan ertikata yang benar, kat-syarika1 keinsafan di kalangan pelajar-pelajar autonominya. Lebih hebat perkem- birokrat menganggap golongan aka- Kedudul tentang kedudukan mereka sebagai bangan Universiti, lagi teruk peng- demik dengan nilai-nilai autonomi dalam gelar insan rohaniah. gantungannya terhadap pemerintah. dan kebebasan mereka sebagai golon- tandatanya. Sekiranya, keinsafan tentang ke- Golongan yang menentukan gan yang suka 'menderhaka'. Kedua Eropah Bar dudukan kita sebagai insan. rohan.iah bahawa pihak yang mengawal wang dari segi pangkat atau taraf sosial, membiayai adalah matlamat pembangunan kita harus mengawal pelajaran juga bia- birokrat di India, Pakistan, Bangla- benar-benar dan modenisasi diertikan sebagai sanya terdiri daripada birokrat- desh, Malaysia dan Singapura (bekas autonomi c usaha mempergunakan ii mu semasa birokrat. Walaupun ahli-ahli politik negara-negara jajahan British) segi, adalah untuk mencapai matlamat ini, sudah yang bertanggungjawab atas . dasar- memandang pada golongan akademik universiti n pasti corak pendidikan universiti juga dasar umum, golongan birokratlah sebagai golongan yang cuba menan- pada kawa akan berubah. Bukan pengeluaran yang melaksanakannya. Merekalah di ngi kedudukannya. Bagi ahli-ahli dak bebas c elit, tetapi penghasilan manusia yang yang menduduki majlis-majlis Univer- akademik pula, birokrat tidak harus Kebebasan baik akan menjadi sasarannya. Pen- siti. Merekalah yang memberi arahan menduduki pangkat yang sama kera- ada kecacat guasaan teknik akan dikeduakan kepada Universiti-universiti tentang na mereka, kononnya, kurang ber- pada penerapan nilai-nilai kemanu- perkembangan jabatan, kenaikan pengetahuan jika dibandingkan den- siaan. Dan kebebasan - kebebasan pangkat, gaji dan sebagainya. gan komuniti ilmiahwan. Persaingan Kuasa yang dipegang oleh biro- untuk bertul is, untuk mengkaji. ini mungkin mendorong satu pihak Harus dite untuk menyebarkan kebenaran - krat - sepertimana juga dengan terus mengawal dan menguasai pihak akan wujud sebagai nilai utama. kawalan kewangan pemerintah, kon- yang lain. walaupun Pembangunan dan modenisasi yang sep modenisasi dan ketiadaan ruang Setakat ini, kita telah membin- perlantika berteraskan manusia dan nilai-nilai bebas - harus kita menganggap cang rintangan-rintangan yang diha- adalah be, rohaniah inilah yang dapat mem- sebagai halangan besar kepada auto- dapi Universiti oleh kerana pemerin- kriteria iln bantu kita ke arah autonomi univer- nomi universiti. Birokrat mewakili tah. Tetapi di Dunia Ketiga bukan menafikan siti dan kebebasan akademik. satu proses sosial yang amat ber- pemerintah semata-mata yang bahaya - iaitu pemusatan kuasa . perlantika; Tetapi, yang sedang berlaku ada- menyinggung autonomi Universiti. Pemusatan kuasa bermakna bahawa memenuhi lah sebal iknya. Oleh kerana Pasaran (market) membawa kesan- hak untuk membuat keputusan Universiti adalah saluran utama kesan yang kurang sihat pada akademik. dalam usaha mencapai pembangunan {decision-making right) yang ada kedudukan Universiti. Faktor ini dan modenisasi tertentu, pemerintah pada Universiti akan dirampas sedikit lebih ketara di negara-negara mengambil alih pentadbirannya demi sedikit oleh birokrat atas nama kapitalis di Dunia Ketiga. Kehendak- secara langsung atau tidak langsung keseragaman, kecekapan dan ke- kehendak pasaran yang mempastikan t idak dapat melalui kuasa kewangannya. Di beresan. perkembangan Universiti. Kepopula- negara-negar Lazimnya, birokrat yang berkuasa Dunia Ketiga kebanyakan universiti ran kursus dipengaruhi oleh keadaan autonomi L itu akan terus memperluaskan kuasa- dibiayai oleh awam. Yang mengawal pasaran. Begitu juga, kebolehan Uni- akademik a sumber-sumber kewangan awam ini, versiti mengekalkan tenaga akade- sektor swas1 sepertimana kita sedia maklum, miknya bergantung pada daya penarik monolithic. adalah pemerintah. Pemerintah pasaran. lni pula mempengaruhi gan-kepentir di mana-mana pun menggunakan mutu pengajaran. mungkin be kuasa ini untuk menentukan bahawa Apa yang benar ialah mereka Pengaruh pasaran yang tersirat kea daa n tert yang tidak diketahui umum terdapat Universiti mematuhi kehendak- tidak sanggup dikritik kerana inilah yang di bidang-bidar,g yang lain. Kadang-• kehendaknya. lni berlaku di negara- takut kritikan yang sah itu yang biasan• negara Barat juga. Tetapi di Barat, kala syarikat-syarikat swasta mem- firma, yay akan mengurangkan sokongan ada beberapa Un iversiti-universiti beri bantuan kepada jurusan-jurusan perseoranga1 yang dibiayai oleh swasta . orangramai yang tidak diberi pengajian tertentu agar sarjana-sar- mempertaha peluang menilaikan jan, melalui penyelidikan mereka, dua, oleh ke Di Dunia Ketiga, sektor swasta, memperkuatkan kedudukan sistem zaan penda pada keseluruhannya, tidak mampu pemerintahan mereka. kapitalis. (Lihat Noam Ozomsky, dangan telal rnengendali kan Universiti-universiti. "The Function of the University in lam masyan lni adalah kerana kelemahan kewan- a Time of Crisis", 1973). Ataupun,

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 44 syarikat-syarikat yang mahukan sarjana menyuarakan idea-idea yang faktor yang lain yang lebih khusus lkan konflik anal isa-anal isa tertentu yang menyo- bertentangan dengan kepentingan pada Malaysia. lni tidak bermakna Ii akademik. kong teori-teori kapitalis tentang syarikat-syarikat yang membantu bahawa situasi yang hampir-hampir ang berlaku sistem ekonomi dan politik mungkin Universiti beliau, sudah mula diteri- sama tidak wujud di tempat yang nia Ketiga. mengugah sarjana-sarjana yang sang- ma umum sebagai hak yang sah. lain. I kuasa, gup bekerja untuk mereka. Adakala- Dengan lain perkataan, suasana Sepertimana diketahui umum, golongan ini nya juga di rnana tema-tema tertentu kemasyarakatan (social atmosphere) Dasar Ekonomi Baru {DEB) mem- faktor. Per- yang boleh mendedahkan kelemahan- menjamin hidupnya autonomi uni- bawa kesan-kesan tertentu pada kat di mana kelemahan sistem kapitalis tidak versiti dan kebebasan akademik di Universiti-universiti di Tanah Air. mpulan yang dikaji langsung atas kehendak syari- Barat. Walaupun dari segi · pandangan yang benar, kat-syarikat yang berpengaruh . Di kebanyakan negara Dunia khalayak ramai, pengambilan pelajar- 1,olongan aka- Kedudukan dan kuasa swasta Ketiga bukan sahaja tidak wujud pelajar mengikut quota adalah unsur llai autonomi dalam gelanggang ilmu menimbulkan suasana yang sesuai ; bahkan peme- yang paling panting dalam hubungan sebagai golon- tandatanya. Apakah negara-negara rintah sendiri menjaga kepentingan- DEB dan Universiti, pengambilan [haka'. Kedua Eropah Barat di mana swasta mampu kepentingan swasta dengan mempas- kakitangan akademik juga adalah ~ taraf sosial, membiayai pengurusan Universiti tikan bahawa kursus-kursus yang satu langkah yang membawa impli- ·stan, Bangla- benar-benar f!lendukung konsep diajar memenuhi kehendak-kehendak kasi yang serius pada autonomi apura {bekas autonomi dan kebebasan? Dari satu pasaran. universiti. n British) segi, adalah benar bahawa universiti- Sesudah kita mengkaji pemerin- Pengambilan ahli-ahli akademik universiti mereka hanya bebas dari- an akademik tah dan pasaran kita mendapati yang mengutamakan pemohon- pada kawalan pemeriritah tetapi ti- cuba menan- bahawa ada satu faktor lagi yang pemohon dari kaum Melayu adalah dak bebas daripada pengaruh pasaran. Bagi ahli-ahli menyekat kebebasan akademik yang tindakan yang selaras dengan matla- Kebebasan akademik.,· mereka juga it tidak harus telah disebut tetapi belum dihuraikan. mat DEB yang bertujuan menambah · ada kecacatannya. Na~un demi kian, ng sama kera- Elit-elit di Dunia Ketiga samada di bilangan orang Melayu di bidang kurang ber- sektor awam atau sektor swasta profesyenal dan bidang-bidang yang dingkan den- memandang pada ahli-ahli akademik lain seperti perdagangan dan perin- an. Persaingan sebagai 'bakal pengkritik' (potential dustrian. Begitu juga, kita dapat berhujjah bahawa perlantikan lebih g satu pihak Barus ditegaskan bahawa critics). Dari segi kenyataan, ini enguasai pihak ramai anggota-anggota kaum Melayu walaupun sebahagian daripada mungkin tidak benar kerana ramai juga sarjana yang suka menjadi sebagai Dekan, Timbalan Dekan, elah membin- perlantikan-perlantikan ini pengikut, bukan pengkritik, regim Profesor, Profesor Madya dan n yang diha- adalah berasaskan pada kriteria- yang memerintah. Oleh kerana kriti- sebagainya adalah untuk mempasti- ana pemerin- kriteria ilmiah kita tidak dapat kan dan tegoran tidak dilayani kan bahawa kaum itu diwakili Ketiga bukan menafikan bahawa perlantikan- oleh pemerintah dan elit-elit yang di peringkat atasan dalam hieraki Universiti supaya dapat menyelia mata yang perlantikan yang lain tidak lain sukar sekal i bagi Universiti- i Universiti. universiti mengamalkan autonomi perlaksanaan DEB. Dalam hubungan bawa kesan- memenuhi norma-norma atau kebebasan. Sebaliknya, elit- ini, harus ditegaskan bahawa walau- sihat pada akademik. el it cuba mengabui mata rakyat pun sebahagian daripada perlantikan- Faktor ini tentang peranan ahli-ahli akademik perlantikan ini adalah berasaskan negara-negara dengan hujjah-hujjah yang palsu pada kriteria-kriteria ilmiah kita a. Kehendak- belaka. Umpamanya, mereka sering tidak dapat menafikan bahawa 1 mempastikan tidak dapat kita menafikan bahawa berhujjah bahawa kebebasan akade- perlantikan-perlantikan yang lain ,iti. Kepopula- negara-negara itu lebih setia pada mik adalah idea dari Barat atau tidak memenuhi . norma-norma akademik. lni bermakna bahawa oleh keadaan autonomi universiti dan kebebasan kebebasan akademik adalah berten- pertimbangan-pertimbangan etnik tebolehan Uni- akademik atas dua sebab. Pertama, tangan dengan kepentingan rakyat enaga akade- sektor swasta bukannya badan yang atau autonomi universiti akan daya penarik monolithic. Ada beberapa kepentin- mengancam keselamatan negara. Apa mempengaruhi gan-kepentingan yang beranika dan yang benar ialah mereka tidak mungkin bercanggah dalam keadaan- sanggup dikritik kerana takut kriti- Pada keseluruhannya, yang tersirat kan yang sah itu akan mengurangkan keadaan tertentu. Keadaan pluralisti k golongan berpendidikan kita mum terdapat inilah yang membolehkan Universiti sokongan orangramai yang tidak lain. Kadang-· yang biasanya dibantu oleh beberapa diberi peluang menilaikan pemerin- bersikap pasifjika dibandingkan swasta mem- firma, yayasan, pertubuhan dan tahan mereka. dengan golongan yang sama di urusan-jurusan perseorangan yang berbeza, terus negara-negara lain di Dunia r sarjana-sar- mempertahankan keutuhannya. Ke- KEMEROSOTAN:FAKTOR- Ketiga yang telah lama kan mereka, FAKTOR KHUSUS dua, oleh kerana tradisi-tradisi perbe- mengamalkan sistem demokrasi dukan sistem ~ zaan pendapat, percanggahan pan- Selain daripada enam faktor berparlimen. rzm Owmsky, dangan telah lama berakar-umbi da- umum yang kena-mengena dengan 1 University in lam masyarakat barat. Hak seorang keadaan di negara kita, ada beberapa 3). Ataupun,

45 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 mengatasi kelayakan-kelayakan inte- demik dan keutuhan universiti, dalam dua bidang. Pertama, dalam mempertahankan nilai-nilai profes- lektual. seolah-olah mereka tidak mempedu- ra golonga yen ( Lihat karangan saya "The Apakah kesan-kesannya terhadap li kan masalah-masalah ini. Tidak ada (Lihat S.H. Decline of Professionalism" dalam autonomi universiti dan kebebasan penglibatan (commitment), kesung- Developing buku Aliran Speaks, 1981) mereka akademik? Pengenepian norma- guhan (earnestness) dan keazaman Penyertaa di peringkat universiti. Kedua, dalam norma ilmiah akibat daripada ukuran- (determination) dalam memperta- miahwan dal memperjuangkan nilai-nilai rohaniah ukuran etnik yang dirumuskan oleh hankan autonomi universiti. lni katan, saya yang terjelma dalam persoalan- pemeri~tah boleh disifatkan sebagai adalah salah satu daripada sebabnya mereka mem persoalan yang konkrit di peringkat satu tindakan yang menghakiskan pemerintah dapat mengikis dan dan keadilan masyarakat. - autonomi universiti. Lagi pun, peni- menghakiskan hak-hak akademik adalah kera Tentang nilai-nilai profesyen, au- laian yang berdasarkan kriteria- tanpa bantahan yang serius daripada batan meru tonomi universiti dan kebebasan kriteria ilmiah semata-mata yang komuniti ilmiahwan. akademik adalah lunas-lunas profes- tidak dicampuradukan dengan per- Kurangnya penglibatan dalam soal ~en _kita . Begitu juga, taraf yang timbangan-pertimbangan di luar autonomi universiti mungkin mencer- tingg1 dalam pengajaran dan penye- garis-garis pengajaran, penyelidikan minkan satu sikap yang . lumrah lidikan mesti dipelihara, walau apa dan tingkahlaku, adalah salah satu di peringkat golongan yang berpen- pun cabaran-cabaran yang mengha- daripada hak akademik - seperti~ didikan (intelligentsia) di negara dapi kita. Saya percaya bahawa mana dihuraikan sebelum ini. kita. Pada keseluruhannya, golongan Apa yang di berpendidikan kita bersikap pasif sekiranya kita menumpukan perha- Selain daripada apa yang dise- jika dibandingkan dengan golongan tian pada nilai-nilai profesyen, suruhanjaya butkan di atas, pendekatan etnik yang sama di negara-negara lain di 'penyakit' yang berleluasa di kampus- 'autonom yang membelakangkan faktor-faktor Dunia Ketiga yang telah lama men- . kampus akan kendur sedikit. Penya- oleh Parlim profesyenal, telah mengakibatkan sa- gamal kan sistem demokrasi berparli- kit yang dimaksudkan ialah keasyi- terus padaR tu m~cam penggantungan terhadap men. Ada beberapa sebab yang kan, kesibukan kita dengan soal-soal pemen_ntah: Pemerintah dianggap ahlinya me bertanggungjawab atas keadaan ini jawatan, kenaikan pangkat, kenaikan sebaga1 pellndung. ( Lihat buku saya yang tidak dapat kita bincang di sini . gaji dan sebagainya. Menduduki 'Protector?"). Pemerinfah tidak bo- Tetapi, jelaslah bahawa hanya jawatan pentadbiran yang tinggi - leh dicabar kerana dia adalah peme- segelintir daripada golongan ber- sesuatu yang tidak digemari oleh ahli- rentah . Pemerintah tidak boleh pendidikan kita yang terlibat ahli akademik di tempat-tempat yang dipersoal kan secara terbuka. Soal dalam soal-soal seperti kebebasan lain - menjadi matlamat hidup benar dan palsu, hak dan batil tidak keadilan dan perpaduan. Yang lai~ sebahagian daripada pensyarah-pen- diberi pertimbangan yang wajar, seki- menjadi penonton. Nisbah penonton- syarah kita ! ranya pemerintah yang terlibat Perjuangan di peringkat masyara- Dengan m peserta di kalangan mereka yang tentang peri dalam sesuatu persengketaan. terdidik, pada hemat tidak kat pula - lebih-lebih lagi jika saya, dapat mengata Dalam keadaan sedemikian, pen- jauh berbeza daripada nisbah penon- perjuangan itu suci dan ikhlas - langan kita syarah~pensyarah yang menganggap ton - peserta dalam komuniti memerlukan pengorbanan yang ban- pemerintah pemenntah sebagai pelindung ilmiahwan. yak. Lebih ramai sarjana-sarjana mereka melihat Universiti sebagai harus tulis dalam akhbar dan majal- sekatan terhada PENYELESAIAN basan universi tambahan (extension) pada peme- lah dan menyertai forum dan seminar sudkan saya ial rintah. Dari segi psikologi, mereka Berdasarkan apa yang di perkata- yang ditujukan pada khalayak ramai. peri kemanusiaa melihat diri sendiri sebagai kaki- kan tadi, adalah nyata bahawa Sama penting ialah penyertaan mere- tisnya, akan tangan perkhidmatan sivil. Mereka sebarang penyelesaian yang berkesan k_a dala~ persatuan-persatuan yang yang aktif mahukan komuniti ilmiahwan men- mesti bermula daripada individu. t1dak tenkat pada pemerintah (Non- ya keadilan dan I< yokong dan mematuhi setiap dasar llmiahwan-ilmiahwan kita mesti governmental organisation). Persa- kita tidak eng dan setiap peraturan pemerintah. sedar tentan tanggungjawab mereka tuan-persatuan ini yang menceburkan yang salah, m Rakan-rakan mereka yang membuk- diri dalam persoalan-persoalan benar. lnilah s tikan sikap yang lebih bebas kemasyarakatan yang berkaitan den- lektual. Sepe d!pandang serong dan ada kalanya gan pengguna, alam sekitar, kebuda- oleh Paul Bara d1capkan sebagai anasir-anasir yang yaan, wanita, hak asasi manusia, Menduduki jawatan thus in essen tidak setia pada negara. Adalah nyata perpaduan, pembangunan dan seba- person whose c bahawa dalam suasana ini auton,omi pentadbiran yang tinggi - gai nya telah mula menarik minat to analyse, a universiti dan kebebasan akademik sesuatu yang tidak digemari orangramai dalam dasawarsa-dasa- overcome the tidak bisa subur. · ahli-ahli akademik warsa tujuh puluhan dan lapan oleh di way to the at~ lni sebenarnya berkaitan dengan tempat-tempat yang lain - puluhan. Mereka memerlukan sum- satu sikap yang leluas di kampus- more humane, menjadi matlamat hidup bangan yang jujur daripada komuniti kampus dalam beberapa tahun kebe- akademik. Parti-parti politik juga social order': l~kangan ini. Sekiranya kita kaji sebahagian daripada pensyarah- (walaupun ada halangan bersifat "The Commi s1kap sebahagian besar daripada pensyarah kita! undang-undang) mendahagakan idea- lectuals", da pensyarah-pensyarah kepada soal-soal idea yang lebih bernas yang boleh 1969). yang bersabit dengan kebebasan aka- dihulurkan oleh sarjana-sarjana anta- Tetapi kein mata tidak m

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 46 Ima, dalam lai profes- ra golongan-golongan yang lain. merlukan reformasi-reformasi pada perundingan yang meluas akan raya "The (Lihat S.H. Alatas, "Intellectuals in sistem universiti juga. Sebagai diadakan dengan pensyarah, pelajar im" dalam Developing Societies", 19 77). langkah pertama, persatuan-persa- dan pentadbir. ·sekiranya ada dasar- H) mereka Penyertaan dan penglibatan il- tuan kakitangan akademik harus dasar awam yang telah diluluskan :ldua, dalam miahwan dalam soal-soal kemasyara- menerima piagam universiti 1978 Parlimen yang harus dilaksanakan ai rohaniah katan, saya yakin, akan mendorong dengan beberapa modifikasi. Selepas oleh Universiti, Suruhanjaya akan persoalan- mereka memperjuangkan kebebasan itu, kita mesti berusaha memujuk menentukan bahawa ini dilakukan li peringkat dan keadilan dengan lebih gigih. lni majlis-majlis universiti dan Kerajaan - asal sahaja dasar-dasar tersebut adalah kerana penyertaan dan pengli- Malaysia menerima piagam itu seba- tidak bertentangan dengan Piagam ifesyen, au- batan merupakan satu pengalaman gai naskah yang memaktubkan Universiti. kebebasan yang murni yang dapat memper- konsep peranan komuniti akademi k, Tugas yang ketiga dan terakhir mas profes- tingkatkan keinsafan kita, perike- hubungannya dengan masyarakat dan yang berkaitan dengan tugas kedua taraf yang manusiaan kita. pemerintah dan sebagainya. Di sam- adalah tentang kewangan. Adalah dan penye- ping itu, orangramai patut diberi- ketara bahawa Suruhanjaya yang walau apa tahu tentang piagam universiti. Satu bebas, yang menyeliakan universiti- ng mengha- kempen mesti diadakan untuk men- universiti yang berautonomi mesti ya bahawa Apa yang dibayangkan ialah capai matlamat ini. mengawal wangnya sendiri. lni ber- Jkan perha- makna bahawa pengurusan universiti- profesyen, suruhanjaya yang bebas dan Selain daripada memperkenalkan piagam, satu idea yang terkandung universiti akan dibiayai dari tabong 1 di kampus- 'autonomous', yang didirikan dalam piagam harus menerima per- kewangan awam yang dikendalikan likit. Penya- oleh Parlimen dan melaporkan hatian khusus. Dalam bahagian 111 oleh Suruhanjaya Universiti. Mem- alah keasyi- terus pada Parliinen. Ahli- bebaskan universiti daripada mani- ian soal-soal piagam universiti dicadangkan penu- ahlinya mesti terdiri daripada buhan sebuah suruhanjaya Univer- pulasi pemerintah atau golongan- at, kenaikan golongan yang· lain melalui tubuhnya Menduduki orang awam yang terkenal siti. ( Lihat University Charter). Apa yang dibayangkan ialah suruhanjaya tabong kewangan awam yang tidak ng tinggi - tetapi tidak terlibat dalam dikawal oleh mana-mana pihak, ari oleh ahli- yang bebas dan 'autonomous', yang pemerin tahan. merupakan langkah yang penting tempat yang didirikan oleh Parlimen dan mela- dalam memperjuangkan autonomi 3maf hidup porkan terus pada Parlimen. Ahli- unjversiti dan kemerdekaan akade- nsyarah-pen- ahlinya mesti terdiri daripada orang awam yang terkenal tetapi tidak mi k. Sebenarnya ini bukan satu syor Dengan menyedarkan ilmiahwan yang baru. Konsepnya tidak begitu

47 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 for moden native rou which will THE ECONOMIC DECLINE not begun 1 Chandra Muzaffar If an diture has extravagam the Prime : elite extrav are exampl1 Summary of a speech by Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, Aliran President, on "The Economic Decline" at the Fourth one case ol Aliran Merdeka Dinner at Z30 p.m, Friday, 9th September 1983, at the Fortuna Restaurant, Anson Road, Penang. to light. Thus of the cau: developme11 all these yei Though the prices of most commodities as well as Apart from our dependency, the other serious The< manufactured products have improved in the first quarter shortcoming in the economy is its obvious bias towards Poverty is i of 1983, it would be naive of us to believe that this will the middle and upper classes. On a proportional basis, to make en, lead to a sustained economic recovery. For the world most of the benefits of economic growth and expansion problem as economy upon which we are so dependent has yet to have gone to a minority at the apex rather than to the tain their r resolve the underlying causes of the present recession. majority at the bottom. It has been estimated for instance between th And the root problem is an international economic system that the "haves" have gained three times as much from year, about whose production, consumption and distribution are public investments in education, health, utilities and other electronics, dominated and directed by the interests of a minority. social overheads compared to the "have-nots" in our industries. ~ This means that even' if there are some improvements society. This explains the ever-widening disparities in in the tin-m through reduced interest rates in the United States, less incomes and opportunities between the rich and the is some ret1 trade protectionism and more investments, the world poor. When the vast majority of people are economically job freeze o economy will continue to experience serious difficulties. weak the society as a whole will not have the internal through a s In fact, economists are already predicting another round resilience, the inherent strength to withstand economic areas are slo of inflation in the United States. challenges from outside. If, on the other hand, our As a This is why Malaysia should not pin its hopes upon economic prosperity was more evenly spread out, we forced to b< the world economy alone. Instead, we should ask why we would have been able to overcome the more adverse total natio11 are so vulnerable to global recession. We should try to effects of recession with greater ease. ringgit. Of c remedy the weaknesses within our .own economy. It is not just the concept of development; the actual consolation Our concept of development is surely a major cause workings of the economy have also contributed to our tion of ext1 of our economic decline. We have created one of the most decline. The bureaucracy has become huge and unwieldy. last three y1 dependent economics in the world. In 1980, for instance, There is a great deal of duplication of activities among is perhaps 60% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) came from government agencies. This is one of the main reasons why economic d1 exports. For Thailand, on the other hand, it was only public expenditure has increased by leaps and bounds. What · 25%, Indonesia 31 %, Japan 1~ and the United States Between 1977 and 1981, it went up by 133%. In this things first. 10%. This is why when there was less buying of our connection it must be noted that military expenditure in equitably a coi:nmodities by the industrialized countries in 1982, our 1981 was 193% higher than in 1972 ! fulfil the ba revenue decreased drastically. Revenue from_ tin was While public spending has increased manifold, To start w down by 15%, oil palm by 16% and rubber by 1 %. connection it must be noted that military expenditure in requirement Similarly, revenue from the export of textiles decreased 1981 was 193% higher than in 1972! own pharmi by 17.3%in 1981. decent hous To make it worse, we are very dependent upon While public spending has increased manifold, efficiency and productivity have declined dramatically. try to evoh imports. In 1982, we spent 2.3 billion ringgit buying all will benefit · sorts of food from abroad. Every year, we spend The present government is concerned about this but 200 million ringgit buying medicines from outside. Our unless ability and excellence are given due consideration lndust imports alone accounted for 54% of total expenditure in in recruitment and promotion it is doubtful if there will There shou 1982. be much change. machines ar Our dependency however goes beyond the import- What is even more regrettable, some of the projects tion. Simila export situation. Our commerce is very dependent upon of the government will only further increase public mini-cement foreign banking, insurance and shipping. Our industrializa- expenditure unnecessarily. These are projects whose cater more tion is very dependent upon foreign investments and economic value to the masses is highly debatable. The Indeed sma technology. There is extensive cultural dependence upon aerobus, the Penang bridge, the Malaysian cat, huge resources an outside sources. There is intellectual dependence upon office complexes in Kuala Lumpur are some of the by side witl foreign models. examples. It is not true that these projects are essential is a great de

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 48 for modernisation and industrialization. There are alter- to our export commodities like rubber, palm-oil, timber native routes to modernization and industrialization and tin. For such industries to grow, it is vital that scienti- which will bring direct benefits to the poor that we have fic research is stepped up. Only through a strong scientific not begun to explore. base which stimulates innovation and creative adaptation If anything, the problem of massive public expen- of technics can we become truly independent and diture has been made even more complicated by elite autonomous. extravagance, wastage and corruption. The renovations to While all this is relevant to certain aspects of the the Prime Minister's proposed residence is an instance of economic challenge that confronts us, there are other elite extravagance. Kuantan port and the Selangor Arch dimensions which require other responses. Waste and are examples of wastage. The Bank Rakyat episode is but extravagance will have to be checked through an effec- t the Fourth one case of corruption invoving the elites that has come tive system of supervision. Corruption will have to be ·oad , Penang. to light. fought by an independent anti-corruption agency and an Thus it is apparent that global recession is only one unfettered Press. At the same time a pervasive, dominant of the causes of our economic decline. Our concept of bureaucracy will have to give way to democratically- development and ,the way we have worked the economy oriented institutions and arrangements which emphasize all these years are equally responsible. people's participation and 'grass-roots' decision-making. ther serious The consequences of this decline are horrendous. Of course none of these ideas would be possible bias towards Poverty is increasing as those with meagre means struggle unless there are fundamental reforms to the existing social jtional basis, to make ends meet. Unemployment is becoming a serious system. How can we, for instance, produce and distribute ld expansion problem as various industries retrench workers 'to main- food equitably unless the marketing and credit system is than to the tain their margin of profits. It has been estimated that changed in the interest of the majority, unless there is a for instance between the middle of 1982 and the beginning of this significant transformation of the system of land owner- · much from year, about 8,000 people lost their jobs in electrical, ship itself? Similarly, how can we even think of grass- ·es and other electronics, woodwork, textiles, printing and other ots" in our roots decision-making, unless the political system is industries. Since 1980, 10,000 workers have been laid off altered 'in such a way that actual power is exercised by isparities in in the tin-mining industry. Even at executive levels, there eh and the ordinary people? is some retrenchment. Within the bureaucracy there is a This is why we must be prepared to introduce •conomically job freeze of sorts. Local business is, on the whole, going the internal fundamental reforms guided by spiritual values and ethical through a sluggish period. Foreign investments in certain ideals that all of us can identify with. These values and ,d economic areas are slow in coming. hand, our ideals must find expression in the content of specific As a result of all this, the government has been policies and institutions. For instance, giving and sharing, ~d out, we forced to borrow heavily to keep the economy going. Our loving and caring, which are highly cherished values in all ~ore adverse total national debt is now in the region of 50 billion our religions and cultures will only be possible if we have ringgit. Of course most of this is domestic but that is little policies which equalize access to wealth, power and t; the actual consolation when it is realized that the rate of accumula- knowledge. uted to our tion of external debts has been dramatically rapid in the What these policies are, how they can be evolved ~d unwieldy. last three years. Indeed in the long run, the debt situation and why they are so important to us at this juncture of iities among is perhaps the most dangerous consequence of our our history is something that must be discussed and reasons why economic decline. deliberated by all sectors of society. lh a democracy such and bounds. What then is the solution? We must begin with first discussion should be encouraged,. especially at a time •3%. In this things first. We must try to produce and distribute as when we are facing serious economic problems. Since nenditure in equitably as possible those goods and services which there are no easy solutions, no one should assume hat he fulfil the basic needs of the majority of the population. has all the answers. That would be sheer arrogance. • manifold, To start with, we should be producing all our food Leaders must be prepared to listen to other views on the penditure in requirements. We should also develop systematically our economy which are different from theirs. They should not own pharmaceutical industry. We should be able to build regard criticism with contempt, and dissent with distrust. a manifold, decent houses for the poor and disadvantaged. We should Indeed this is the time for a leadership that is genuinely try to evolve an efficient public transport system which patriotic to invite ideas from all and sundry. For what is h amatically. I' ut this but will benefit the many. at stake is the future of our nation and the future of our onsideration Industrialization should be related to basic needs. children. if there will There should be manufacturing plants turning out It is with the interests of the nation in mind that machines and tools that are required for food produc- Aliran therefore calls upon the government to initiate a the projects tion. Similarly low-cost, medium-sized brickworks and national conference on the economy to which workers' ease public mini-cement factories should be established since they representatives, employers, government planners, ·ects whose cater more effectively for the needs of the majority. academics, consumer associations, societies concerned with development, political parties, civic groups and atable. The Indeed small and medium-sized industries using local others would be invited. The purpose of this non-partisan, n car, huge resources and expertise should be developed further, side all-embracing conference would be to assess the economic ome of the by side with the big industries. In this connection there are essential is a great deal of potential for developing industries linked situation and formulate guidelines for the future. O

49 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 4TH ALIRAN MERDEKA DINNER Goh Kim Chuan

The Fourth Annual Merdeka Dinner was held on 9th September, 1983 at Fortuna Restaurant, Penang approximately a week after the nation celebrated her 26th Merdeka anniversary. Aliran joined all Malay- sians in celebrating the political independence which we achieved from the British 26 years ago. The generation that was born in the year of Independence is now a generation Over of adults and this in some ways 'Without F, reflects the growth and maturity and Dr. Sa of the nation as a whole. However, consciousn the joys of the 26th anniversary of Dr. Merdeka were tainted with sadness abovementi because far from being independent we have become a nation that is very The Outstanding Malaysian: The Malaysian Worker. dependent on the Oijtside world in most areas of life. The world econo- for alternative development and "although they produce the nation's mic situation is affecting the Malay- economic structures were discussed wealth, they remain poor; though The fol sian economy very seriously and has in the President's speech (see below). they constitute the majority of the Dr. Kua' caused far-reaching implications to In the light of the serious economic population, they receive a negligible published the country and its people, especially situation facing the country, Aliran proportion of the nation's income. newspapers the workers. It is not surprising, chose the Malaysian Worker to They build houses, which they then, that the theme for the dinner receive its "Outstanding Malaysian" cannot afford to buy, and though was the 'Economic Decline'. The award for 1983. Invariably, it is the producing much of the food supply, The pan underlying causes of such decline, workers who suffer most from an they remain hungry..... " Unity and being our dependence on world economic recession and they are the The dinner was attended by more by Tan Sri market forces and foreign models first to fall victim to economic ills. than 900 people from all races and quite enco walks of life, the biggest ever atten- of economic development; the The citation read by Dr. Francis Loh out issues t dance at Aliran's Annual Dinner. This effects of the recession on working focused on the unfortunate lot of in otticia large attendance certainly shows the class Malaysian; as well as the options Malaysian workers of all races who problem, Ii growing support that Aliran is differences getting from the public. In spite these corn of the rain that night, their spirit blem in was not dampened and they stayed through th right to the end of the dinner. published However, because of such a big Seng, Chair crowd, there was some incon- Schools' venience caused to our guests entitled: ' 1 particularly with regard to seating tional Un arrangements. In this connection opinion, h1 Aliran sincerely apologies to those principled who were inconvenienced in one cracy is a way or another and whose reserved tion to the seats were taken by others. We unity whi certainly hope and will see to it that from this p1 such things will not occur again next The ext year. To all our friends and suppor- nalism in ters, Aliran would like to express its clear and gratitude. We look forward to your ...... the worker suffers most. a communi continued support in future years. that even

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 50 A GENUINE BASIS OF NATIONAL UNITY Kua Kia Song

Over four days in April 1983, a discussion was held by 'tan Sri Dr. Tan Chee Khoon in his newspaper column 'Without Fear or Favour' with the participation of Professor Syed Husin Ali, Dr. Tan Chee Beng, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar and Dr. Sanusi Osman. The topics discussed included colonialism, the Merdeka Agreement, communal politics and class consciousness. Dr. Kua Kia Song's contribution is a critique of various views put forward by two of the panelists on the abovementioned topics.

the nation's panel seem to have missed that as regards the question of citizenship or; though The following is a reproduction of principle. It is somewhat ironical, was the cunning ploy of the colonial ·ority of the Dr. Kua 's comments which was therefore, that their too eager power to undermine the anti-colonial a negligible published in one of the local attempts to emphasise "the primacy movement which was demanding the on 's income. newspapers. of class" should have led them to more fundamental rights of self- which they look upon the just demands of the determi nation and representative and though non-Malay communities to their own democracy. Consequent upon the ',food supply, The panel discussion on 'National culture, language and education as outflanking of the anti-colonial Unity and Ethnic Relations' hosted mere "cultu.ral revivalism" or as the movement by the colonial power, the

51 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 .. ___,,,,

Similarly, society have more or less accepted make the first move in adjusting to culture, multi-culture has long them Ireland the Merdeka Agreement, what we see the local setting". replaced the earlier mono-Malay tic civil rigt today is the progressive institutionali- culture". Dr. Tan Chee Beng not only population tl sation of "the communal problem", Nonetheless, as the World Con- shares this view with Dr. Chandra, Dr. Tan Chee and those issues "that have been t but he attributes "the non-Malay ference on Cultural Policies has settled" continue to impede the path population forgetting the historical declared, even if our country was "The people to national unity. For example, the continuity of Malay civilisation in once populated by a relatively homo- the same rac< question of Islam and Malay identity this land" to the colonial experience: geneous culture with a negligible language and may have been settled but the policy minority of a different culture, there selves apart. on lslamisation continues to keep "During the colonial period, the would still be a need for cultural di[[erences OJ Malaysians guessing. This is because Straits Chinese were already loyal to policies, other factors I constitutional matters, government the country, Malaya. But because of " ... that will protect, stimulate, and policy and implementation are con- the presence of colonialism, their enrich each people's identity and This is a v stantly being made and unmade. It loyalty was directed towards the cultural heritage, and establish sentation of is surely instructive that Malaysians, colonial power. It may therefore be absolute respect for and appreciation Ireland, one including Tan Sri Dr. Tan Chee said that the colonial experience of cultural minorities and other of the British 1 Khoon, have (ever since the Tunku's resulted in a section of the non- cultures of the world': would see as v recent pronouncement) just realised Malay population forgetting the population th that we are a secufar state! historical continuity of Malay civi- CLASS AND DEMOCRACY mainly of Ca1 While the panel decried the role of lisation in this land': Members of the panel, not appre- mi nated aQMalacca Sultanlte and the continuity the cultural rights of peoples. Thus If the panel n of the Malay Sultanate system but identity could not be defined solely the demands of a people - Pales- identify the cla in terms of ". neither can anyone deny the legiti- tinians, Eritreans, the Moro people, lism, they mu In contrast, Dr. Chandra constant- mate existence of the other ethnic Malays in , Kampucheans, economistic bli1 ly stresses that national integration groups and their contribution to Afghanis, etc. - are all legitimate Thus the sol will have to take into account the national construction. Malaysia was demands recognised universally. It is nal problems 1 "historical realities" of the Malay formed according to the 195 7 completely undemocratic to deny a mi I lenarian as C political system : Constitution: in terms of a political people their right on the basis that - "the holisti "Non-Malay opposition leaders do system, we are no longer a feudal the same right is claimed by the man himself" - not want to accept the fact that kingdom, but a country founded on upper classes in their community. recognition anc there was an established Malay polity Constitutional Monarchy; in terms of Incidentally, it is the same denial of non-Malays h'. in this region with a language, the system of administration, those inalienable rights of a people religion.culture of its own... It is legislation and economy, it is that has prompted, for example, promote and de what endows legitimacy upon the lxzsically a continuation of the apologetics for Vietnam's occupation culture and ed1 constitutional position of Malay and British and not the Malay system; of Kampuchea on the ground of the to equal oppor Islam. This is why non-Malays must and in terms of the system of "nobler" aim of liberation. mic and politica

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 52 . has long Similarly, the question in Nor- state religion as well as the guarantee zono-Malay thern Ireland is also about democra- of the freedom of belief have been tic civil rights for the Republican ALIRAN'S RESPONSE settled, not the question of lslarni- population there and not as Tan Sri zation. It is in fact out of my Vorld Con- Dr. Tan Chee Khoon maintains. - Dr. Tan Chee Beng concern that the question of lslami- Jlicies has zation, in the words of Dr. Kua, ,untry was "The people ( of N. Ireland) are of "continues to keep Malaysians vely homo- the same race, they speak the same I agree with Dr . Kua's comment guessing" that I consider this part negligible language arid yet they tear them- that our "communal problem" has of the "Agreement" as of signifi- lture, there selves apart. All because of the been institutionalized. In fact during cance on present-day ethnic or cultural differences of religion. So there are the interview, I stressed the need to relations. other factors (besides language) .. . " do away with the bumiputra/non- If this issue had not been settled 1ulate, and bumiputra ideology which has its then, I am sure there may be even entity and This is a very unfortunate repre- roots in the "Merdeka Agreement" more pressure to make this country sentation of the war in northern establish and indeed one can further trace this an Islamic state and the non-Muslims Ireland, one which some members ppreciation to the colonial era. Contrary to what may even lose the sacred principle of and other of the British government themselves Dr. Kua attempts to pertray, the "freedom of belief' to safeguard would see as wrong. The Republican members of the panel did point out their democratic right. If full lslami- population there may be made up that our "communal problem" is also zation, especially the exclusivist :v mainly of Catholics who are discri - a legacy of colonialism even though aspects, is implemented either by the minated against in housing, not appre- we might not have discussed all present or the future government, I education, jobs, etc., but there are rn a stand aspects of this. We avoided repeating am afraid the state of ethnic relations also Protestant Republicans. The ights of the each other's points. For example, will be worse. I hope that most "troubles" in Ireland have now gone d the argu- while the other members mentioned Malaysians will continue to uphold on for 800 years only because British m of "the the weakness of the "Merdeka the principle of the freedom of imperialism, in order to protect her s an econo- Agreement", I pointed out that belief while the more radical Muslims interests there, has propped up a e problem : "certain issues agreed upon have should realize that full lslamization "Loyalist" (Protestant) sector in great significance upon ethnic without regard to the feeling of the and inequa- Ulster. It is precisely because some 1refront; on relations today". By great signifi- non-Muslims will only cause dis- Protestants recognise the democratic linguistic cance I mean that the issues have unity in Malaysia. i principle and injustice involved that ies are pro- tremendous positive and negative On citizenship, one should not they sympathise with the Republican r.fy the de- effects on present-day ethnic merely say that this question was cause. The founder or the Republi- rnd middle relations. "the cunning ploy of the colonial can movement in Ireland, Wolfe Here I would like to question the power. .. " We should note that there Tone, was himself a Protestant! The way Dr. Kua presents quotations. were Malays who were not in favour er classes in Irish Question is thus not without His quotation is: " ... the compromise of granting full citizenship to Chinese have taken lessons for us. made at that time were short-term and Indians. Even today, there are e of these The point is, and it has been measures. But I do think that certain people who feel that stricter condi- Jportunistic proven in many other cases, it is not issues agreed upon have great signifi- tions should have been imposed on f the panel a matter of looking for one cause of cance upon ethnic relations today ... the question of citizenship. Yet one significance communal conflict (e.g. language or At least tho;e issues hav·e been cannot deny that granting full democratic religion) or "multi-factorial" causes. settled." This is rather misleading citizenship to these . non-Malays is , to "class" It is the simple recognition of the because the last sentence in the important to national integration. 1ey concern basic democratic rights of a people. quotation is actually taken from the Dr. Kua does not seem to disagree oples. Thus If the panel members are trying to sixth paragraph after the first part of on this point. 1le - Pales- identify the class basis of communa- the quotation. Furthermore I did not On Malay special privileges, I did oro people, lism, they must first discard their use the words "those issues". I used not say that it is good. On the mpucheans, economistic bi inkers. the words "that issue" to refer to contrary, I pointed out that the NEP I legitimate Thus the solution to our commu- the Islamic issue I was discussing. has fully made use of this provision ersal ly. It is nal problems is not necessarily as Let me quote verbatim this part and it has negative effects on ethnic : to deny a millenarian as Dr. Chandra makes out of my comment in The Star: "In relations. One should note that e basis that view of the present Islamic revival, if prior to Independence, the British 1ed by the - "the holistic transformation ... of Islam was not specified as the state had already recognized the "special :ommunity. man himself" - it is as simple as the religion we would probably have position" of the Malays. Thus at the ,e denial of recognition and declaration that the more problems over this issue. At time of Independence, "may be it of a people non-Malays have the right to least that issue has been settled. At was inevitable" that this question r example, promote and develop their language, the same time freedom of belief is was a crucial issue. Nevertheless, I occupation culture and education, and the right guaranteed." I refer only to the made it quite clear that if we wish to Jund of the to equal opportunities in the econo- fact that the position of Islam as a achieve integration, this issue will 1. mic and political spheres.

53 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 eventually have to be reexamined. loyal to the British government. Mr. Lim (Dr. Kua?) and myself "national c On language, I think it is proper One should distinguish loyalty to a probably disagree on are the definition o that Malay was made the national government from loyalty to the approach to issues as national inte- culture as na language . This is because it is (at land. My aim here is merely to give gration, national culture and others. causes much least the colloquial Malay) the a reason for the failure to recognize On the question of national Malays about lingua franca of the region and the historical continuity of Malay integration, for example, I agree that own cultures. historically it has been the major civilization. There are of course Malay should be the national the various language of the region. I shall return other reasons. For example, some language and that Malay should be culture is the to this point later. non-Malays feel that it is necessary the medium of instruction in govern- national cultu~ National cult MULTI-ETHNIC to deny this historical fact so that ment schools. I do not see this as a the non-Malays can have equal form of cultural oppression of the ethnic cultur I do not disagree with Dr. Kua's rights with the Malays. This is a noil.-Malays as long as their right to ethnic and sh assertion that "constitutional false conception just like it is wrong learn their mother-tongues is that will eve matters, government policy and for some Malays to think that if respected. Thus I am very concerned cultures. It sh , implementation are constantly being they accept cultural pluralism, they with the question of POL (Pupils' of assimilatio made and unmade". The Internal will somehow lose out to the Chinese Own Language) clas~s in our should not inv Security Act and the University and and Indians. Recognition of histori- schools. It is through these classes ethnic culture Colleges Act, for example, are cal and social facts enables us to that the non-Malay students have the not conceived attempts to restr~ct the democratic have a clearer picture of our society. opportunity to learn their mother- lead to greater rights of Malaysians. While Dr. Kua It cannot and should not be the tongues in government schools. It is then there is seems unhappy with my comments basis of any form of oppression. regretable that these classes have promotion. S in The Star on the issues of citizen- The main disagreement of Dr. Kua never been run efficiently. As long a concept of ship, special Malay rights, national seems to be that the members of the as POL classes are not run satisfac- will lead to cul language and religion , he does not panel did not stress the "democratic torily, I disagree with the conversion Where there outline his disagr~ement with my rights for the non-Malays". This is of Chinese-medium primary schools all Malaysians points. He is essentially unhappy that only partially true, but surely in to Malay-medium schools. As for oppose it. Ho the members of the panel did not criticizing the communal approach of Chinese private schools, it is the same time be emphasize the institutionalization of government policies (such as the legitimate right of the Chinese question of · "second-class citizenship". Even then NEP, and the question of quotas), the Malaysians to have them. However, regretable tha this is not quite true since we had members of the panel were speaking the leaders of such schools should Malaysians (b pointed out emphatically that out for the "democratic rights" of view the position and the contribu- Malays) often communal policies must go if we aim all Malaysians. I am sure most of the tion of the schools in the Malaysian demands" wi to achieve integration. Apparently, instances of injustice which Dr. Kua context. For example, other than the of national · Dr. Kua is more concerned with the has in mind are largely linked to the Chinese language, the teaching of Malays think interest of non-Malays while the communal approach to socio- Malay and English should be perspective an members of the panel were more economic problems. What we did not emphasized too. sians solely concerned with all Malaysians. perspective, emphasize are those aspects of LANGUAGE w Furthermore, any stand on cultural greater intere human rights violations which are Now on the question of national democracy which does not take into not linked to ethnicity. But to be national integr consideration the multi-ethnic language again, some Chinese feel fair, Dr. Kua should understand that that Mandarin should be regarded as As to the context in Malaysia is not realistic. the content of our answers are very policies, this We need to uphold all aspects of an official language. This thinking is much guided by the questions asked, unreasonable and is not in the spirit the nature of democracy but we should not see and ·the theme of the discussion our society, th things from the perspective of any of national integration. If Mandarin was "nationa unity and ethnic policies may particular only. We is made an official language, so relations". either disadv should also be concerned with the should all other languages in I fully agree with Dr. Kua that Malays or to question of national integration. Malaysia. But then what is the "the non-Malays have the right to meaning and function of a national general. As Dr. On the question of colonial promote and develop their language, language? While Bahasa Malaysia is government po experience and a section of non- culture and education, and the right the national language, no other and remade. Malay population forgetting about to equal opportunities in the languages in Malaysia should ever importance is the historical continuity of Malay economic and political spheres". I be considered as "not Malaysian" identify not o civilization, Dr. Kua agrees that this also agree with the general principles or inferior. Any attempt to treat oppression bu is partly true, but I refute Dr. Kua's outlined in the Universal Declaration non-Malay languages as "foreign injustice as attempt to portray me as saying that of Human Rights as well as the 1982 languages" should be regarded as policies and pr the presence of the colonial power World Conference on Cultural cultural oppression and should be diet basic hum· diverted non-Malay loyalty from Policies which Mr. Lim Fong Seng's challenged. tution has set Malaya. In fact the Straits Chinese letter to The Star mentions. We The concern and confusion over liberties of a leaders were also loyal to Malaya should certainly object to any form the cultural identities of the non- uphold the b even though most of them were of cultural oppression. But what Malays is intensified by the issue of should also, ·

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 54 1) and myself "national culture". The official Syed Husin Ali, reexamine some ranee of what is meant by historical on are the definition over-emphasizes Malay of the issues "and if necessary reality. This reality does not mean s national inte- culture as national culture and this formulate something else that may the Malacca Sultanate! But the exis- re and others. causes much anxiety among the non- be better for national unity". All tence of Sultans today derives from of national Malays about the position of their Malaysians should strive for social a certain historical background. Simi- le, 1 agree that own cultures. The main problem in consciousness and stand up for larly the concept of 'historical the national the various definitions of national social justice and democracy. reality' was ne_ver associated with the ay should be culture is the failure to distinguish a pre-colonial economy and adminis- tion in govern- national culture from ethnic cultures. tration. Rather the position of the t see this as a National culture should transcend ALIRAN'S RESPONSE and Islam in the ession of the ethnic cultures. It should be inter- 1957 Constitution were the result their right to ethnic and should not be seen as one - Dr. of historical influence. Apparently er-tongues is that will eventually replace ethnic Chandra those who prepared the above- cultures. It should not be a strategy men tiohed Memorandum are still yery concerned Dr. Kua's commentary (critique) of assimilation and its promotion confused over the background to the POL (Pupils' is a good example of the shallow should not involve the suppression of 1957 Constitution as they give the s in our thinking and superflc' l analysis that ethnic cultures. If national culture is impression that this Constitution has these classes exists among our 'intellectuals'. I not conceived in a way which will no connection with the nation's dents have the would like to try and explain several lead to greater interethnic solidarity, history and culture. their mother- matters raised by him. l schools. It is then there is no justification for its From what has been discussed classes have promotion. Surely we cannot accept HISTORICAL FACT above, it is obvious that Dr. Kua •ntly. As long a concept of national culture which It appears that Dr. Kua chooses views the Merdeka Agreement from a t run satisfac- will lead to cultural oppression. not to understand this simple ques- narrow perspective. To me the conversion Where there is cultural oppre~sion, tion. That is why he has put a wrong position of the Malay language in the · ary schools all Malaysians should be united to interpretation on my remarks regar- 1957 Constitution is appropriate not ools. As for oppose it. However, we should at the ding historical influence upon the because of a bargain among the same time be concerned with the development of our society. Alliance elites but because of the role question of integration too. It is To simplify my point, we would of Malay as a lingua franca in the m. However, regretable that certain sections of ask him why is Bahasa Melayu evolution of our society and this was ools should Malaysians (both Malays and non- (Malaysia) accepted by all quarters the stand of the progressive groups the contribu- Malays) often champion certain "just including Lim Fong Seng (Chairman too as shown by their people's con- the Malaysian demands" without any consideration of United Chinese Schools Commit- stitution which was drawn up by ther than the of national integration. As long as tees Association) as our national Malay and non-Malay leaders from teaching of Malays think solely from the Malay language? ls this simply because of PUTERAand AMCJA in 1947. perspective and the Chinese Malay- should be Malay policical power? Has this come Is Dr. K11a aware that non-Malay sians solely from the Chinese about through a colonial plot? Or is leaders and members of AMCJA perspective, we can never achieve it not a fact that the Malay language (all-Malaya Council for Joint greater interethnic solidarity, and has long been the lingua franca Action), a 100% anti-colonial body of national national integration. Chinese feel among the different communities in which was appealing for 'more regarded as As to the call for having cultural the Malay archipelago. Isn't this fundamental rights of self-determina- ·s thinking is policies, this may be useful but given what is meant by historical fact? Can tion and representative democracy' in the spirit the nature of communal politics in we deny this historical fact? accepted the position of Bahasa If Mandarin our society, the formulation of such What is wrong for us to appeal to Melayu as the national language and policies may even turn out to be the non-Malays who are seeking sole official language? Is Dr. Kua either disadvantageous to the non- 'equal status' for their mother aware that this group upheld the Malays or to ethnic relations in tongue to understand this fact? concept of 'Melayu' as the citizen- of a national general. As Dr. Kua has mentioned, From the viewpoint of social role ship for all Malayan peoples? 1 Malaysia is government policies have been made and cultural usage, can we equate Please, Dr. Kua, examine history- , no other and remade. What is of crucial the position of Chinese or Tamil with in depth before entering the arena should ever importance is for all Malaysians to that of the Malay language? The non- of debate. identify not only forms of cultural Malay languages were never the Malaysian" NON-MALAY RIGHTS pt to treat oppression but also any form of lingua franca among the ordinary as "foreign injustice as well as undemocratic people here because they originated Dr. Kua's shallow thinking is regarded as policies and practices which contra- and developed outside the social clearly shown in his comments on should be dict basic human rights. Our Consti- history of this region. non-Malay rights. Is it true that tution has set out the fundamental In this connection it is clear that non-Malay rights are threatened, that fusion over liberties of all Malaysians. Let us the recent Memorandum of the non-Malays have become 'second of the non- uphold the basic principles but we Chinese Associations to the Ministry class citizens', owing to the existence the issue of should also, in the words of Prof. of Culture displays a certain igno- of the Malay language as the sole

55 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 official language and Islam as the laid down in various Declarations of Malays. official religion? the United Nations and United EMPHASIS ON CLASS We would be entitled to con- Nations Educational, Science and Finally, it must be said that clude that the non-Malays have Cultural Organisation. The minority Dr. Kua's criticisms of the panel's lost their cultural integrity only if cultural rights that is put forward by emphasis on class are not correct. they are prohibited from speaking these international bodies do not In the discussion, I stressed that the their mother tongue, prohibited from mean that each language and each abolition of class divisions will not learning their own language, culture found in a multi-ethnic guarantee the growth of close prohibited from practising their society must be given the same communal ties. Class consciousness religion, prohibited from following status. 'The same status' denotes sometimes exists independently of their customs and so on. that there shall be no disparity communal influence. This is why between one language and another As I have explained on many ethnic rights and ethnic issues in tenns of usage in the school occasions, the languages and should also be considered separately system or in radio and television pro- religions of the non-Malay communi- from class. grammes. This is impossible to ties are legitimate elements in our Nevertheless some connection achieve and certainly cannot be national culture. That is why I have between the class situation and carried out in practice. But cultural defended the concept of POL ethnic sentiments cannot be denied. rights in the sense of the right to use (Pupil's Own Language) in our Ethnic sentiments are commonly a particular language or to practice a national school system and that is used to blinker us to class differences why I accept the religion, customs, particular religion in the context of a that prevail in each community. It clothes and food of the . non-Malays wider society would 'be a more is such a technique that enables as practices that enrich the diversity realistic concept. communal elites to keep themselves BASIC of our national culture. I do not see And this is the interpretation that in power. As long as 'communal how the acceptance of a common is applied by international bodies rights' are played up, the people will language can retard , the growth of like Amnesty International which continue to live in ignorance of their other languages. It would be diffe- uphold basic human rights in their rights as human beings. Basic rights, rent if I advocate one language, one efforts to defend minority cultural especially political and economic religion and one culture! We must rights. rights, may surpass cultural rights in distinguish a culture that is based Furthennore minority rights are importance. on common values from the concept not confined to cultural rights. It is To make men aware of their of 'one culture'. For example, the truly amazing that Dr. Kua has humanity, to move the spirit of concept of 'one culture' may compel ignored my views and those of my mankind that men shall willingly tion, de all communities to accept one type friends in the recent panel discussion cooperate and unite with one company co of dress as a . But in on national unity organized by another, we need a transfonnation of on the dist · a concept based on common values, Dr. Tan Chee Khoon stressing the mankind. Without this transfonna- diversity of dress will be accepted infant form importance of equal treatment for tion, which must be accompanied in the provided that it reflects values of all ethnic groups. I hold finnly to and influenced by a transformation modesty and purity? announceme the belief that a just society is one of the social structure, any struggle about its dis Under this concept found in the that does not discriminate among for the rights of this community-- policy, it is respective cultures in this country, a its members on the basis of blood or that community will become a rately inte national dress would not be and race. This means that each non- communal conflict. That is the seed and routinel enforced; on the contrary it would Malay must be allowed, even encou- and origin of communalism. That is accused of n develop with the evolution of time. raged, to take an active part in why communal problems cannot be It is such cultural freedom that is nation-buil!ing on a par with the resolved without a total change. D

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. A New 1 - John F. Kennedy. Political Kil/i is part of the campaign to executions w book include

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 56 HUMAN RIGHTS e said that r the panel's not correct. ssed that the ons will not of close eonsciousness endently of

1 ·s is why hnic issues ed separately WORLD ROUND-UP AzmiK.halid connection tuation and t be denied. commonly ss differences mmunity. It that enables about 20 countries since 1980 and include 'regimes of exception,' i.e. themselves BASIC HUMAN NEEDS 'communal studies on the mass liquidation of regimes that have overthrown, and political opponents in countries not merely suspended, the previous e people will A million signatures are expected ranging from Kampuchea and Indo- constitutional order, and have ance of their to be collected for submission to the nesia to Guatemala and Uganda. assumed legislative and executive Basic rights, World Health Organisation (WHO) as According to the book, "[t]hese powers analogous to those under a ii economic well as to Nestle, the world's largest killings flout the absolute principle formal state of emergency. The ral rights in producer of infant formula. This is that governments must protect their selected studies range from the part of a campaign by infant nutri- citizens against arbitrary deprivation emergency experiences of Malaysia are of their tion groups led by INFACT, the U.S. of life, which cannot be abandoned and India to Turkey and Uruguay. e spirit of based Infant Formula Action Coali- under any circumstances, however The report observes that this all willingly tion, demanding that the Nestle grave. These ... are crimes for which problem "is of global importance" with one company comply with WHO's code governments and . their agents are because "at any given time in recent formation of on the distribution and marketing of responsible under national and inter- history a considerable part of huma- transforma- infant formula products to mothers national law. Their accountability is nity has been living under a state of ccompanied in the Third World. Despite not diminished by opposition groups emergency." They are encountered sformation announcements by the company committing similar abhorrent acts ... with surprising frequency throughout any struggle about its distribution and marketing It is the duty of governments not to the world and there exists a dis- community- policy, it is alleged to have inaccu- become a commit or condone political killings, turbing tendency for a state of rately interpreted the WHO code but to take all legislative, executive emergency to become perpetual or to t is the seed and routinely violated it, and is and judicial measures to ensure that effect far-reaching authoritarian ism. That is accused of not yet having established those responsible are brought to changes in the ordinary legal norms. s cannot be a monitoring system to ensure change. D justice." This may even reach such a limit compliance. The 1 million signatures that people become so accustomed are said to be symbolic of the million to the emergency regime, to the infants who are expected to die this ST ATES OF EMERGENCY point that it has become the normal year as a result of consuming ill- machinery of government. The prepared infant formula. The International Commission of report recommends strongly that Jurists has recently released a 477- limitations should be placed on ilosophies POLITICAL KILLINGS page report entitled "States of emergency powers. Such limitations hood in an Emergency: Their Impact On Human need to be based on the exceedingly Rights" based upon a study of more important principle that the validity A New 131-page book entitled than 15 countries as well as question- of emergency measures depends not . Kennedy. Political Killings By Governments naires circulated to 158 governments . only on the existence of a legitimate is part of the Amnesty International The report covers different kinds of emergency and the need for such campaign to combat extrajudicial emergency under different regimes in measures, but also on the efforts executions wherever they occur. The various regions. The term 'state of made to ensure that the measures book includes reported incidents in emergency' was interpreted widely to employed will not be abused.

57 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 improvements the human rights requested early retirement. Under INDONESIA - STATEMENT ON record still falls far short of universal- the Act, the military authorities have PROFESSIONAL FREEDOM ly-recognised standards. There have formed a Council on Higher Educa- indeed been fewer new political tion wielding an absolute monopoly arrests in recent years and 9 long- of power. Formerly-elected chan- PERADIN, the . Indonesian Bar term detainees had been released in cellors and deans are now appointed Association, has issued a statement early 1983. Yet such arrests continue by the President of the Republic, condemning the increase in cases sufficiently so as to discourage most whilst curricula programmes and of harassment against lawyers people from participating in the contents are determined by the working on politically sensitive cases. political process. Most prisioners Council. A Higher Education Surveil- It declared that " ... the professional arrested in 1979 in connection with lance Committee has also established freedom of barristers is inseparable a human rights demonstration in a highly disciplined campus life, from the freedom of all those such Kaohsiung remain behind bars. The with strict dress codes imposed and as judges and public prosecutors death sentence is still allowed for prohibitions on joining political involved in upholding law, truth many crimes other than serious parties. and justice." The Association noted . common-law offences for example with deep dismay that there had spreading rumours, striking or been events which could only be encouraging strikes, participating in CENTRAL AMERICA - HUMAN termed as obstructing and damaging organisations or meetings "for the RIGHTS COORDINATION such professional freedom. They purpose of rebellion" and "making included shots fired at an advocate, of propaganda beneficial to the In late 1982, several organisations attempts to shoot a judge, physical rebels." in Central America concerned with attacks on anqther judge, and direct the investigation and defence of and indirect attacks against several human rights met to create a advocates and their property. The EUROPE - ABOLITION OF "Coordination of Organisations for continuing occuvence of such events DEATH PENALTY the Defence of Human Rights and of despite reports made to the authori- Peoples in Central America and the ties resulted in PERADIN making a The first instrument in inter- Caribbean." The purpose is to join plea for public law and order so that national law to make the abolition efforts and promote a united front advocates can also play a part in of the death penalty a legal obliga- for the defence of human rights in pressing for proper legal procedures tion for Contracting Parties was the region. Its objectives are to to safeguard access to truth for opened for signature in April 1983 monitor the human rights situation anyone without discrimination. This to signatories of the 1950 European in the countries, provide information is in conformity with PERADIN'S Convention on Human Rights. It is in on the status thereof, and stimulate solemn struggle for justice for all. the form of Protocol No. 6 to the popular education on human rights. Convention, and a State Party to A more refined network of contacts the Protocol will have to delete the is intended to ensure improved PAKISTAN -HUMAN RIGHTS death penalty from its law, though communication and rapid response LEADER ARRESTED limited to peacetime only. Even in to reported violations. time of war or of imminent threat of war, the death penalty can be EL SALVADOR- DEATH OF The Human Rights Society of applied only in the instances laid Pakistan has announced that on HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER down in the law and in accordance February 6th, 1983 a summary mili- with its provisions. tary court had issued a warrant for On March 13 1983 Marianella the arrest of the Society's President, Garcia Villas, President of the Fayyaz Rabbani. The reasons for TURKEY - DEVELOPMENTS Salvadoran Human Rights Commis- AT UNIVERSITIES l the arrest were not known and sion, was killed along with some j Rabbani has refused to appear before 30 civilians while running to a a military court. The society reitera- The Committee for Human Rights refugee camp to escape aeriai l ted its condemnation of the and Democracy in Turkey has main- bombing. Whilst on an investigation proceedings of the military courts tained that the first measures of human rights violations for the 14 j and called for their abolition. stipulated by the new Higher Educa- Commission, she had been collecting tion Act of 1981 have suddenly evidence of injuries from alleged I increased repression at Universities use of chemical weapons. Numerous , TAIWAN - HUMAN RIGHTS in the country. At a time when the protests have been issued by the 1 SITUATION number of students has doubled, 195 Commission and other human rights academics have been summarily organisations, denouncing her death 1 l An Amnesty International state- dismissed, 95 others resigne.d in and charging responsibility to the ment reports that despite a few protest and a further 108 have Army.O

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 58 Under 1 es have Educa- APOLITICAL INTELLECTUALS' nopoly chan- One day ointed the apolitical epublic, intellectuals s and of my country by the will be interrogated by the simplest Surveil- On that day ablished of our people. the simple men will come . s life, Those who had no place sed and They will be asked in the books and poems litical what they did of the apolitical intellectuals, when their nation died out but daily delivered slowly, their bread and milk, like a sweet foe , their tortillas and eggs, small and alone. those who mended their clothes, j those who drove their cars, No one will ask them who cared for their dogs and gardens, b ations about their dress, and worked for them, ed with their long siestas and they'll ask: nee of after lunch, no one will want to know "What did you do when the poor rions for about their sterile combats suffered, when tenderness ts and of with "the idea and life and the of the nothing." burned out in them"? ; to join No one will care about red front their higher financial learning. Apolitical intellectuals ights in They won't be questioned of my sweet country, are to on Geeek mythology you will not be able to answer. situation or regarding their self-disgust ormation when someone within them A vulture of silence timulate begins to die will eat your gut. rights. the coward's death. Your own misery contacts will pick at your soul. ·mproved They'll be asked nothing And you will be mute response about their absurd in your shame. justifications born in the shadow OF of the total lie. OTTO RENE CASTILLO

rianella of the orro Rene Castillo was bom in Guatema'/a in 1936 and became a student activist and organizer at the age of seventeen when he assu'/$d the presidency of his high school student association. In that same year, ith some 1954, he was exiled for the first time and it was that year too, that he first began writing poetry. g to a A quick succession of honours attended his efforts. In 1955, he shared the famous Central American pe aeriai Poetry Prize and in 1956 he won the "Autonomia" poetry prize in Guatamala City. In later years, he was restigation allo to pro.Ve a brilliant law student at the University of Guatema'/a, winning many coveted awards in that for the field. collecting However, he was not interested In honours, for "his prime concern in life was life" - the liberation of ~ alleged his pe()ple. For this commitment to the people, he suffered imprisonment, torture, and exile. In 1966, he ~ umerous returned to Guatemala after his last exile and joined F.A.R. (Amied Revolutionary Front of Guatemala). d by the In 1967, however, he and his guerrilla group were ambushed and captured by the forces of the American man rights puppet regime that ,uled his country. After 4 days of torture Castillo was bumt to death on March 19th. her death He left behind him a wife and two children. y to the

59 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 a la1 THE SOLITUDE OF wl cc Si LATIN AMERICA al Gabriel Garcia Marquez cc L: OJ Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who won the 1982 Nobel Prize in literature, delivered the following Nobel lecture in Stockholm in December. It was translated from the Spanish by Marina Custaneda. nc at Ill Antonio Pigafetta, a Florentine navigator who went Eleven years ago, the Chilean Pablo Neruda, one of ei with Magellan on the first voyage around the world, the outstanding poets of our time, enlightened this Ill wrote, upon his passage through our southern lands of audience with his word. Since then, the Europeans of ar America, a strictly accurate account that nonetheless good will - and sometimes those of bad, as well - have is resembles a venture into fantasy. been struck, with ever greater force, by the unearthly In it he recorded that he had seen hogs with navels tidings of Latin America, that boundless realm of haunted hi on their haunches, clawless birds whose hens laid eggs on men and historic · women, whose unending obstinacy 0 the backs of their mates, and others still, resembling blurs into legend. tongueless pelicans, with beaks like spoons. He wrote of We had not had a moment's rest. A promethean having seen a misbegotten creature with the head and ears president, entrenched in his burning palace, died fighting of a mule, a camel's body, the legs of a deer and the an entire army, alone; and two suspicious airplane whinny of a horse. He described how the first native accidents, yet to be explained, cut short the life of encountered in Patagonia was confronted with a mirror, another great-hearted president and that of a democratic whereupon that impassioned giant lost his senses to the soldier who had revived the dignity of his people. terror of his own image. There have been 5 wars and 17 military coups; there This short and fascinating book, which even then emerged a diabolic dictator who is carrying out, in God's contained the seeds of our present-day novels, is by no name, the first Latin American ethnocide of our time. means the most staggering account of our reality in that In the meantime, 20 million Latin American children age. died before the age of 1 - more than have been born in The Chroniclers of the Indies left us countless Europe since 1970. Those missing because of repression others. El Dorado, our so avidly sought and illusory land, number nearly 120,000, which is as if no one could appeared on numerous maps for many a long year, account for all the inhabitants of Uppsala. shifting its place and form to suit the fantasy of carto- Nurmerous women arrested while pregnant have graphers. In his search for the fountain of eternal youth, given birth in Argentine prisons, yet nobody knows the the mythical Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored the whereabouts and identity of their children, who were north of Mexico for eight years, in a deluded expedition furtively adopted or sent to an orphanage by order of the whose members devoured each other and only five of military authorities. whom returned, of the 600 who had undertaken it. Our independence from Spanish domination did not put us beyond the reach of madness. General Antonio Lopez de Santans, three times dictator of Mexico, held a Latin America neither wants, nor has any reason, magnificent funeral for the right leg he had lost in the to be a pawn without a will of its own; nor is it so-called Pastry War. General Gabriel Garcia Moreno merely wishful thinking that its quest for ruled Ecuador for 16 years as an absolute monarch: at independence and originality should become his wake, the corpse was seated on the presidential chair, a Western aspiration. decked out in full-dress uniform and a protective layer of medals. General Maximiliano Hernandez Martinez, the theosophical despot of El Salvador who had 30,000 Because they tried to change this state of things, peasants slaughtered in a savage massacre, invented a nearly 200,000 men and women have died throughout pendulum to detect poison in his food, and had street the continent, and more than 100,000 have lost their lamps draped in red paper to defeat an epidemic of scarlet lives in three small and ill-fated countries of Central fever. The statue to General Francisco Morazan erected in America: Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. If this the main square of Tegucigalpa is actually one of Marshal had happened in the United States, the corresponding Ney, purchased at a Paris warehouse of second-hand figure would be that of 1,600,000 violent deaths in sculptures. four years.

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 60 One million people have fled Chile, a country with Why is the origirlality so readily granted us ir1 litera- a tradition of hospitality - this is, 10 percent of its popu- ture so mistrustfully denied us ir1 our different attempts at lation. Uruguay, a tiny nation of 2.5 million inhabitants, social change? Why thirlk that the social justice sought by which considered itself the continent's· most civilized progressive Europeans for their own countries cannot also country, has lost to exile one out of every five citizens. be a goal for Latin America, with different methods, for Since 1979, the civil war in El Salvador has produced dissimilar conditions? almost one refugee every 20 minutes. The country that No: The immeasurable violence and pain of our could be formed of all the exiles and forced emigrants of history are the result of age-old inequities and untold Latin America would have a population larger than that bitterness, and not a conspiracy plotted 3,000 leagues of Norway. from our homes. But many European leaders and thinkers 1ture in I dare to thirlk that it is this outsized reality, and have thought so, with the childishr!ess of oldtirners who not just its literary expression, that has deserved the have forgotten the fruitful excesses of their youth, as if it attention of the Swedish Academy of Letters. A reality were impossible to find another destirly than to live at the not of paper, but one that lives within us and determines mercy of the two great masters of the world. This, my one of each irlstant of our countless daily deaths, and that friends, is the very scale of our solitude. ~d this nourishes a source of irlsatiable creativity, full of sorrow ~ans of and· beauty, of which this roving and nostalgic Colombian - have is but one cipher more, singled out by fortune. Every ye-ar, there are 74 million more births And if these difficulties, whose essence we share, earthly than deaths, a sufficient number of new lives to aunted hirlder us, it is understandable that the rational talents stinacy on this side of the world, exalted in the contemplation of multiply, each year, the population of New Yark their own cultures, should have found themselves without sevenfold. Most of these births occur in the ethean a valid means to irlterpret us. countries of least resources - including of course, 1ghting It is only natural that they insist on measuring us those of Latin America. · plane with the yardstick that they use for themselves, forgettirlg life of that the ravages of life are not the same for all, and that ocratic the quest of our own identity is just as arduous and In spite of this, to oppression plunderirlg and aban- bloody for us as it was for them. The interpretation of our donment, we respond with life. Neither floods nor reality through patterns not our own serves only to make plagues, nor famines nor cataclysms, nor even the eternal us ever more unknown, ever less free, ever more solitary. wars of century upon century have been able to subdue Venerable Europe would perhaps be more percep- the persistent advantage of life over death. tive if it tried to see us ir1 its own past. If only it recalled An advantage that grows and quickens: Every year, that London took 300 years to build its first city wall, there are 74 million more births than deaths, a sufficient and 300 years more to acquire a bishop; that Rome number of new lives to multiply, each year, the popula- laboured in a gloom of uncertairlty for 20 centuries, until tion of New York sevenfold. Most of these births occur an Etruscan king anchored it ir1 history; and that the ir1 the countries of least resources - irlcludirlg of course, nt have peaceful Swiss of today, who feast us with their mild those of l.atirl America. OWS the cheeses and apathetic watches, bloodied Europe as Conversely, the most prosperous countries have o were soldiers of fortune as late as the 16th century. succeeded ir1 accumulating powers of destruction such as of the Solidarity with our dreams will not make us feel less to annihilate, a hundred times over, not only all the alone, as long as it is not translated irlto concrete acts of human beirlgs that have existed to this day but also the legitimate support for all the peoples that assume the totality of all, living begirls that have ever drawn breath illusion of having a life of their own in the distribution of on this planet of misfortune. the world. On a day like today, my master William Faulkner eason, Latin America neither wants, nor has any reason, to said, "I decline to accept the end of man." I would feel is it be a pawn without a will of its own; nor is it merely wish- unworthy of standing ir1 this place that was his if I were ful thirlking that its quest for irldependence and origirlali- not fully aware that the colossal tragedy he refused to recognize 32 years ago is now, for the first time sirlce the e ty should become a Western aspiration. However, the navigational advances that have narrowed such distances begirlnirlg of humanity nothing more than a simple between our Americas and Europe seem conversely, to scientific possibility. have accentuated our cultural remoteness. Faced with this awesome reality that must have seemed a mere utopia through all of human time, we, f things, the inventors of tales, who will believe anything, feel oughout entitled to believe that it is not yet too late to engage st their The immeasurable violence and pain of our ir1 the creation of the opposite utopia. A new and · Central history are the result of age-old inequities and sweeping utopia of life, where no one will be able to a. If this untold bitterness, and not a conspiracy plotted decide for others how they die, where love will prove true ~ponding 3,000 leagues from our homes. and happiness be possible, and where the races con- leaths in demned to one hundred years of solitude will have, at last and forever, a second opportunity on earth. D

61 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 HEALTH CARE

Paper presented at a Malaysian Medical Association forum on 'Health Care Costs' held in Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang on 21 St April, 1983.

CONTAINING HEALTH CARE COSTS Subramaniam Sithambaram

1. INTRODUCTION the same time the costs keep on strengths and weaknesses of each increasing every year. alternative. We must not lose sight of Health care costs have been rising With greater use of complex the principal objective of a health rapidly in the last two decades in all technology more specialised skills are care system, that is, to help the parts of the world, faster than the needed. Thus, medical personnel people of this country attain a level general rate of inflation. In the have to be trained for longer periods of health that will permit them to U.S.A., the percentage of the gross with corresponding increase in costs lead a socially and economically national product (GNP) that was to society. For example prior to productive life. spent on health care was 3.6% in World War II, approximately 80% of 1929. It rose to 4.6% in 1950, physicians were general practitioners (a) Maintain status quo with reached 8.3% in 1975, and today it and 20% specialists, whereas in the administrative improvements forms 10% of the GNP. Although the years after the War the exact reverse figures may be marginally different became true. This increased specia- The first alternative is to in other developed countries, lization is the second major cause of basically maintain the present including the East European nations, higher health care costs. health care system while taking the general trend is the same, i.e. an Third, to run a health care steps to reduce waste and absolute as well as proportional system, which uses high technology improve efficiency. For increase in health care costs through- and requires coordination of person- example, the grievances of the out the world. nel with very specialized skills, we junior doctors in the government need a bureaucracy. Bureaucracies do service can be attended to and not come cheap anywhere . An some measure of decentraliza- 2. CAUSES OF COST EXPLOSION expansion in bureaucracy (and red tion can be carried out to enable tape) in health care systems is a state and district health officials Let us look briefly at the causes logical result of the current trend to react to situations quickly. At for this cost explosion. Worldwide towards complexity in medical the same time, the Malaysian inflation especially in the seventies technology. Medical Council as well as the is a contributing factor for the rapid One can see that all the three Malaysian Medical Association increase in health care costs. But this factors listed above have arisen can step up their vigilance so is not a major factor since the rise in largely owing to recent developments that malpractices in the medical health care costs has been much in curative medicine . And since a profession will be reduced. Thus more rapid than the rate of inflation. major portion of resources spent on the degree of private-public mix There are three other factors which health care go to curative medicine , that exists now in health care are inter-related. it is not surprising that the costs have systems can be maintained. First, the increasing use of high gone up so much. The strengths of such an technology hardware in curative approach are that, firstly, there medicine is a fundamental factor in 3. CONTAINING HEALTH CARE will not be any radical changes. the high costs of health care. The COSTS: SOME ALTERNATIVES Instead only modest reforms are range of diagnostic and therapeutic required. Moreover, our present instruments/equipment has become Let us now examine some alter- health care system is tolerably very wide and complex. They are native approaches to contain health adequate when compared to expensive to buy and to maintain. At care costs. We will try to evaluate the other developing nations; the

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 62 rural areas are covered rea- financing. There are many varia- of society while the patient is sonably well by the public tions that are being practised in further mystified with the latest sector. In terms of staff, we have various western countries. It medical technology. These adequate numbers when it varies from universal health abuses have been well- rngon comes to ancillary health insurance in Canada to voluntary documented in countries like workers like nurses, hospital (non-compulsory) insurance France, U.S .A. and, more assistants and so on. Our schemes in U.S.A. Regardless of recently, iI:i the scandals of the hospitals, both public and the variations, we can make Medicare rip-offs in Australia. In private, are reasonably well some observations based on the our country too, we are well equipped. Perhaps, some effort experiences of these countries. aware of the malpractices that in creating a strong local The main benefit seems to be occur in the motor insurance pharmaceutical industry will that it provides much needed business in the form of false overcome our increasing depen- financial resources to the health claims made by policyholders in dence on foreign sources for care system (both private and collaboration with garages. I am drug supply. public). Of course in the end the sure many doctors will claim · The above approach on the people pay for it either in the that their ethical standards are other hand has a number of form of premiums or through better than garage-owners but I weaknesses. Improving effi- payroll taxes., or income tax in think the magnetic attraction of ciency is easier said than done. cases of universal insurance. A profits does not make any dis- each Also, it is only up to a certain second benefit, especially in crimination between the profes- ~t of point that efficiency can cases of universal health sions. tealth improve without major struc- insurance, is the provision of In Canada, the provinces have , the tural transformations. As we equal access for all to the health level have indicated earlier, health complete control over payments care system. But this is not true for the services of physicians and m to care costs are showing an up- where additional private ically ward trend caused by factors hospitals under their universal insurance is available to cover insurance scheme. Due to this that are not really related to lack non-essential medical services. of efficiency. Costs of equip- monopoly, health costs have with ment, buildings, drugs and On the other hand, it is not a been kept stable as a percentage :s personnel are going to go up cure to the disease of cost of the GNP. But this was done at even under the most efficient escalation. It is merely a treat- the expense of the incomes of .S to administrators. Therefore, the ment of the symptoms. All that the doctors and hospitals. Thus esent government will find it increa- any insurance scheme does is to it is not surprising to know that aking singly difficult to finance the shift t4e burden of financing the public is in favour of the and public health care system espe- from the state and the individual present arrangement while the For cially during times of economic to all those who participate in medical and allied professions f the difficulty. Another weakness is the insurance scheme. If the are totally opposed to it. There ment the increasing incidence of mal- costs go up, there · will be a have even been strikes by , and practices and unethical corresponding increase in the doctors in some parts of Canada. aliza- behaviour that takes place in the premium payments. In fact, So, all in all, the insurance 1able medical profession, especially in most insurance schemes produce option is not a panacea to the icials the private sector, due to the an escalating effect on health problems of rising expenditure y. At increased competition. A final expenditure for two reasons. on health. ysian factor which ought to be con- First, to run such elaborate ; the sidered is the presence of inequi- insurance schemes you need a ation table access to health care. The large bureaucracy, the cost of (c) Variations of National Health e so poorer patients seem to get a which has to be borne by policy- Services (NHS) dical raw deal in third class wards, holders. Second, from the Thus compared to their richer coun- experi~nces of other countries, it Yet another alternative is to mix terparts who get better attention has been observed that patients have a national health service care in hospitals. tend to be over-serviced. Un- like that of U.K. or some varia- ined. All in all, this alternative will needed surgeries are performed, tions of it. In essence the state t an be unable to arrest the runaway longer stays in hospitals are ends up running most of the there inflation in health care costs. encouraged, and many other un- hospitals and paying for the bulk nges. ethical practices increase since of the health care costs of the 1s are neither the patients nor the citizens. It draws its funds from :sent (b) National Health Insurance doctors are concerned with general revenue obtained rably Scheme costs. The doctors and hospitals through taxation. It may allow l to This alternative is an attempt increase their income tremen- the existence of an active private the to overcome the problem of dously at the expense of the rest sector which may or may not be

63 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 allowed to use the facilities of individual for his or her health. expenditure in the public sector the hospitals in the public The community should provide was for curative medicine. This, sector. The East European coun- only a supportive role. In addi- coupled with the fact that tries are at one end of the tion, the passivity and reliance private doctors practise exclu- spectrum where hardly any of individuals on the medical sively curative medicine, means private sector exists while U.K. system should be totally that the situation in Malaysia may be placed at the other end reversed. This entails a total is not significantly different of the spectrum. In U.K., private change of attitude on the part from that ofU.S.A. consultants are allowed to use of doctors and patients. The The paradox is that nearly co NHS beds for their private medical system must stop the everyone agrees that it is better he patients for a fee. process of mystification of to keep people well than treat are The advantage of such an health care. The emphasis on them after they become sick. of alternative is obvious. It provides technology for curative medicine But does preventive health make obi reasonably good health care to has become so overwhelming a difference? In the area of pr the citizens either free or at very that the present health care infectious diseases (eg. sm low cost. But it is expensive for system has lost sight of the real smallpox), prevention in the by the state to continue with such patient it is supposed to serve. form of vaccination is effective vao services as the U.K. and other Thus health care has to be re- in reducing mortality from that co nations are finding out. If expen- personalized. disease. In the case of non- dis infectious chronic conditions diture on health is curtailed, Wholistic health care concen- m too like motor accidents, and then the quality of the service trates not only on the physical sus heart diseases, there is clear declines. It may appear in the but also on the spiritual and me evidence that prevention pays. form of long waiting lists, under- mental aspects of the individual. im In 1975, during the shortage of servicing and so on. In addition, It views health as a positive petrol in U.S.A., the highway to operate a comprehensive state, not as absence of disease. pre speed limit was reduced from National' Health Service of the It emphasizes the promotion of me 65 to 55 miles per hour. The U.K. type, one needs a bureau- health and the prevention of spe death rate from motor vehicle cracy which increases the costs disease. The wholistic approach ha accidents dropped by a third to again. The weaknesses of the includes understanding and pre a half of its previous rate. The NHS have been well-documented treating people in the context of ru dangers of cigarette smoking are in health economics literature. their culture, their community so well-documented that it Anyway, it is not an alternative and their family. And finally, jus requires no elaboration. Accor- that Malaysia can afford, given wholistic health care implies an tha ding to a World Health Organisa- its economic position. understanding of, and a commit- sys tion report, the incidence of car- ment to change in those social alot diovascular diseases has been and economic conditions that res (d) Wholistic Health Care declining slowly in U.S.A. and perpetuate ill health. lea Japan since 1974. This is attri- me A final alternative is what I But how do we translate buted to greater awareness of would call wholistic health. care these ideals into practice? the preventive measures against Firstly, we must redefine our reas for want of a better term. In this these diseases. for priorities in health. In U.S.A. it alternative, the underlying con- When one tries to examine tio cepts and assumptions of the is estimated that less than 5% of the relationship between life the total expenditure is used for for present health care systems have style and general chronic condi- in to be re-examined. To begin preventive health, the remaining tions the results are interesting. being spent on curative health. hea with, both health professionals Professor Torrens again, says "A oft and the laymen should not go on According to Professor Paul study of Mormons showed that Torrens, a leading scholar in the believing that the former the cancer mortality rate among Wh provides health care for ·the health economics, increased Californian Mormon adults was expenditures on curative gol~ latter. The patient should not be about half to three fourths that lac a passive recipient of health care medicine "is not resulting in any of the general Californian popu- services. In fact, the term health significant improvement in the lation. A similar study of Cali- care system is a misnomer. What mortality rate and may be fornia members of the Seventh- we actually have is a sickness having relatively little effect on Day Church showed cancer the morbidity rate". cun care system. mortality rates and general hav, This leads us to the question In Malaysia according to the mortality rates that were 40% to vale who is responsible for the health MMA report entitled "The 60% less than that of the general Ira of an individual. Future of the Health Services in Californian population. In both hea Wholistic health care empha- Malaysia", in 1973 nearly three cases, the reason for the sizes the responsibility of each quarters of the total health difference appears to be the mec

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 _ 64 :ctor generally moderate life-style and containing health care cost. wise contradictions will exist. For fhis, rigorous dietary restrictions that Logically, a larger portion of the example, there is now a modest observed by the members of the money spent on health care should campaign to discourage smoking yet l(clU- two churches". 1eans go towards prevention programmes. at the same time the government 1ysia The health professions and other encourages tobacco growing in the LOW PRIORITY concerned groups should play their East Coast states. Advertisements on mnt role in preventive health.-But most TV and radio promote excessively In spite of all the evidence and important the public must be con- materialistic life styles which are ~arly consensus, why, then, is preventive etter vinced that good health is their injurious to one's health, while at the health given such low priority? There responsibility and not the job of the same time the importance of spiritual treat are a number of reasons. The nature sick. doctors and hospitals. To do this values is stressed by our national of disease to be prevented is an medicine must be demystified and a leaders. nake obstacle. In the earlier periods, massive, sustaine_d and well- For individuals to participate in a of prevention of acute infections like coordinated campaign to restore the decision-making processes of the (eg. smallpox could be carried out easily health to individuals must be carried health care system, it is essential that the by a one-shot attack i.e. through out. The campaign should be educa- society is organized in small or ctive vaccination. Today, however, chronic tional and informative and the mass medium-sized communities which are that conditions like cardio-vascular non- media must be mobilized by the self-reliant and viable economic diseases, injuries and fatalities from government for this purpose. units. In this way bureaucratization tions motor accidents and cancer require In this campaign the public must can be avoided; a strong sense of the and sustained long term preventive be given specific information that common good can prevail and yet clear measures which are difficult to individual freedom can be preserved. pays. implement. can be used by them to develop a plan for preserving good health. These communities must have a ge of Secondly, there is a lack of com- It should be presented in an attractive spiritual basis for living. In fact the ~way prehensive knowledge on preventive and imaginative form. For example need for good health is stressed in all from measures. Most of the resources one can link the ablutions carried out religions. The type of technology The spent on research in the health field before prayers by Muslims to the that will be developed in all fields, :hicle has been for curative medicine. Thus importance of personal hygiene in including health, would be appro- rd to preventive medicine is in a relatively health care. Self-care skills and know- priate to the dignity of the human . The rudimentary state of art. ledge should be made available to being. Such a technology will main- .g are A third reason is that there are citizens through self-care classes by tain harmonious relations with 1t it just too many sick people around, so innovative school programmes that nature and the environment. It ,ccor- that the pressure on the health care will support self-care and by making self- reduce elitism and bureaucratization misa- system is first to cure them. This care information available more so that a technocratic class that can f car- alone absorbs the energy and · widely. The campaign should high- control the rest of society will not been resources of the health care system light the effects of known hazards to emerge . . and leading to the neglect of preventive health like smoking and alcohol con- attri- medicine. Of course, these alternative struc- sumption. Information on the ss of A fourth and very important tures have to be further defined and nutritional value of the various types ;ainst reason is the lack of tangible rewards refined. But a radical break from the of food should be made freely for health professionals in preven- current thinking on health care available. tmine tion. There is little financial incentive systems is needed to escape from the life for hospitals and doctors, especially For all this, society must allocate trap of escalating health care costs. :ondi- in the private sector, to keep people more resources to basic and applied There have been some reports of sting. healthy. To put it crudely, the more research in preventive medicine. similar radical restructuring of health ys "A often people become ill, the higher There must be greater co-operation care systems in nations like Vietnam, I that the income of hospitals and doctors. between the public sector, voluntary Cuba and China during the time of mong Why kill the goose that lays the organisations like the consumer and Mao. The World Health Organisation s was golden egg? Yet another factor is the environmental groups, and most has claimed that improvement in s that lack of glamour in preventive health important,· the health and medical health has been remarkable in these popu- work. It is seen as mundane, dull and professions. It is disturbing to note . Cali- societies. But we must not seek to routine compared to the excitement that professional organisations like adopt such practices in a wholesale renth- of open heart surgery and other the MMA and others limit their role manner. There are many weaknesses :ancer curative disciplines. One does not largely to that of promoting the in their health care systems too. eneral have television series on the equi- welfare of their members only. They What we must try to do is to evolve 0%to valent of Marcus Welby M.D. or must widen their horizon and play a a health care system which returns eneral Trapper John M.D. in the public bigger role on societal issues. the dignity and responsibility to man both health sector. Ultimately, to have a wholistic as an individual. We can learn from the The development of preventive approach to health care, society as the experiences of others. For this : the medicine plays an important role in a whole must be restructured. Other- we need the efforts of all. D

65 ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 our tion, WHAT THE CONSUMER heal MOVEMENT IS ABOUT* Anwar Fazal

One day some 3 years ago in the village of Banjaran · MANIPULATION - Probably one of the greatest in Indonesia, the silence was broken by beating drums, behavorial changes occured in the way in which the ed n beating drums that brought together some 200 people. natural, unbeatable, self-reliant method of feeding babies and The people marched to a nearby chemical factory with milk from the mother's breasts was subverted and and burned it to the ground. supplanted by two kinds of so-called "modern techno- abou The factory had poisoned their water. That factory logies" - the technology of processed cows' milk and the syste had destroyed their once productive field. technology of marketing. We see pervasive manipulation ratio That factory had ignored .orders by local officials of peoples' behaviour through advertising and promo- to curb the flow of toxic wastes. tional tactics that border, in certain industries, on the That factory had failed to deliver a promised criminal and immoral - offering bribes, from ballpens US$1,800 compensation to the affected farmers. to women. This subversion of breastfeeding itself has The villagers had for years been trying to get the been associated with health problems among 10 million factory to improve their waste disposal practices. infants a year. James Grant, Director of UNICEF, has The drums of the village of Banjaran are now said that if we can protect and promote breastfeeding silent and the farmers had to pay the price of taking we can save the lives of one million infants a year! the law into th~r own hands - they had to go to prison. What can we do about this violence, this waste, this Waters poisoned, rice fields rendered infertile, manipulation? burning factories, lives destroyed and people crushed. I'd like today to share with you what organised issue This is the kind of tragic world we live in, a world in consumers, what is called the "consumer movement", To which 50,000 people die each day from lack of clean can and is doing about such issues. sever water. and sanitation while each minute the world spends The consumer movement is about 5 important citize US$1 million on arms, guns, bombs, tanks etc. things. net We live in a world in which violence, waste and First, the consumer movement is about people, gativ manipulation have not only become central elements people who care about society from a very special per- and in our lives but have also become profitable, for the spective, a perspective that concerns every single human dum merchants of death, the rapists of the earth, and those being, man, woman, child. This perspective is about who manipulate our behaviour, our fears and desires. ourselves as consumers buyers and users of goods and VIOLENCE - it has been estimated in a recent services, produced and }:>rovided both by commercial book "Prescriptions for Death" that pharmaceuticals -and government sectors. It is about the availability, and may be responsible for a minimum of 10 to 15 million often in the Third World, the non-availability of these cases of injury and one million deaths each year among goods and services. It is not just about the cost of living the 3 billion people in the developing world. Conservative but more often the cost of survival! It is not just about figures suggest at least 375,000 people in the Third World value for money but more so value for people. are poisoned yearly by pesticides and, of them, at least Second, the consumer is about power - the power 10,000 die because of pesticides that are very often not of ordinary people to organise themselves collectively permitted in the countries of origin. to serve as a countervailing force to promote and protect WASTE - no figures will be adequate to describe their interests as consumers and jointly act against those the wanton destruction and misuse of resources, of responsible for the violent wasteful and manipulative CIB processes, of products in our society. We see the destruc- actions against us; power also to change the structures with tion of the tropical forests and the waste of meagre that permit this violence, this waste and this manipula- by tl incomes by poor people in the Third World on useless, tion. inappropriate products - products they do not need nor Third, the consumer movement is about human diff can afford. In Bangladesh, it was once said that the rights - the right to a decent life with dignity, the right bulk of the vitamins bought were purchased by people to organise ourselves to protect our interest. In particular who did not need them and they mostly were excreted it is about 7 consumer rights - the right to have our as urine - vitamised urine is a luxury that Bangladesh basic needs to survive met efficiently and equitably, our can do without! right to safety, our right to redress and compensation,

*Text of the address by Anwar Fazal, President of the International Organization of Consumers Union (IOCU) delivered at the Right Livelihood Foundation A ward presentation ceremony at Stockholm, Sweden on December 9, 1982. The president of IOCU shared the award, popularly called the "Alternative Nobel Prize", with three other persons.

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 _ 66 our right to representation, our right to adequate informa- There is now an international code for promoting tion, our right to consumer education, and our right to a and protecting breastfeeding and Ciba-Geigy have recently healthy environment. announced they will withdraw the oral preparations of Fourth, the consumer movement is about the the drug clioquinol all over the world. environment - about a sustainable earth. We not only We hope through our work, through "Consumer must be concerned with serving and protecting the insides Interpol" and the other citizen networks, to reduce if of our bodies, our "inner limits" but also with the "outer not eliminate the violence, the waste and the manipula- limits" of mother earth - a powerful, complex and yet tion that characterise so much of our society. fragile and exploitable structure. This structure gives us We shall do this in ways that are as humane as our atest the opportunity for a good life but it can also be destroy- ends. the ed not by peoples' needs but by peoples' greed, ignorance I'd like to share with you 5 principles which I have abies and carelessness. Consumers must be as much conservors. found useful, which provide a framework for action as and Fifth, the consumer movement is about justice, responsible consumers. We call them in sanskrit, one of ·hno- about the way in which political, legal and economic the ancient languages, - the "panchasila" for consumers. athe systems_ are organised to bring about a just, fair and * CRITICAL AWARENESS - we must be awaken- ation rational basis for living together. ed to be more questioning about the goods and services pmo- These five pillars, I believe are the basis on which to we consume. "Why" should we consume should be as ~ the judge the relevancy, the competence and the success of important as "what" and "which". ,pens the consumer movement. Today these five pillars are very * INVOLVEMENT OR ACTION - we must assert f has much an integral part of the work of the International ourselves and act to ensure that we get a fair deal. We can ,llion Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU) - work that start with ourselves then with those around us and move , has has taken us at the global level to deal with the power on to the community and the nation. of the transnational corporations, the possibilities that lie with international institutions, and the development of * SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - we must act with global citizens' networks. social responsibility, with concern, and sensitivity to the r::: We have been involved in the baby milk issue, impact of our actions on other citizens, in particular, issues relating to pharmaceuticals and with pesticides. in relation to disadvantaged groups in the community. nised Purchasing power is real power and the power to boycott ent", To deal with the issue of the dumping of banned and severely restricted products, we. have initiated a global is a powerful weapon. By voting with your purchasing power you can, for example, reinforce racist or repre- rtant citizens' network called the "Consumer Interpol '. This network is a rapid information exchange and investi- ssive regimes or you can through selective purchases and gative system among citizen groups on such products non-purchases help to bring about not just better products ople, but a better world. per- and it coordinates global action around the issue of .eCOLOGICAL RESPONSIBILITY - there must uman dumping. * IOCU now links the work of over 120 consumer be a heightened sensitivity to the impact of consumer ~bout groups in some 50 countries at every stage of development decisions on the physical environment,· which must be and in every continent. Through the new networks of developed in a harmonious way for promoting conser- Citizen groups we have helped to create the International vation. We must fight against the degradation of the Baby Food Action Group (IBFAN), Health Action environment if we are to see improvements in the real t~µ,vmg International (HAI), and the Pesticides Action Network quality of life for the present and the future. 1bout (PAN). We are associated with hundreds of consumer, * SOLIDARITY - the best and most effective community action, development, environment, women action is through cooperative efforts, through the forma- ower and trade union groups that take our work to millions tion of citizen groups who together can have the strength of ordinary people - from mothers who boycott NESTLE and influence to ensure that adequate attention is given i ~:~~ products because of the way the company has been to the consumer interest. riose marketing cows' milk to babies, to doctors, who boycott You can start with these principles yourselves. CIBA-GEIGY products for that company's association In conclusion I'd like to leave you with these 1 ative ·tures with one of the worst drug disasters of all time caused thoughts: 1pula- by the drug clioquinol. If the people are asleep awaken them. The work of consumer groups has made a If the people fear to act give them courage by taking man difference! yourself the first step. D right icular e our , our tion, The world is too dangerous to live in, not because of people who do evil, but because of people who sit and let it happen. - Albert Einstein ght

67 _ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 as BOOKS di fo on b tri ti bt Author d Small ls Beauliful farming methods. With proper appli- To change the nature of indus- E.E Schumacher cation of science, microbes could trialism, Schumacher suggests nume- have done the job of oil. He says, rous types of alternative technology. "People believe that the modem Instead of making egg-trays on a GOOD system of agriculture can feed man- large-scale through a huge plant one kind. Well, if we work this out in could produce egg-trays with the help WORK terms of energy, in terms of oil, ifwe of a small plant which would be attempted to feed something like more suitable for the needs of a four billion people in modem agricul- country with a limited domestic tural technology, then agriculture market. Similarly there is no neces- alone would utilise and absorb all sity for brickworks which produce known oil reserves in less than thirty millions of bricks a day if a smaller years - agriculture alone. " (P. 16 - 7) number of bricks can be manufactu- red by a mini-plant with greater This will not do. For we cannot efficiency and lesser costs. Indeed, have an agricultural system, or an when there is one huge unit, the E.F. Schumacher Good Work economic order, which is incapable cost of transportation, energy and Harper Colophon Books, 1979. of providing for man on a long-term, labour goes up to such an extent that permanent basis . Schumacher is a it is in the end the same as the cost great advocate of a permanent of production itself. This is what economic order built on a solid Schumacher calls "economic non- Good Work was published post- foundation. sense". Likewise , the paper-recycling plants we have are suitable only for humously. It is an excellent book In order to do this, we need the the biggest megapolises. Yet, what is so which does justice to that original right sort of technology. For the cei required are mini-plants which can be and creative mind which produced author, the right sort of technology established all over the place. He Small is beautiful. is the most crucial factor in the asks, "Can't we have a mini-plant for reconstruction of society. It is The book contains a series of cement? What's the point of making technology that does not lead to lectures delivered by Schumacher. It it all in one place and then carting elitist control, that promotes crea- is simple and easy to understand it all over the countryside?" (p. 108) which is the trademark of both his tivity and freedom. writings and speeches. Schumacher's alternative, human- ne The negative character of modern so In Good Work the author not scale technology has sometimes been technology is the basis of his criti- criticised as "under-developed'' tech- only elaborates upon some of the cism of modern industrial society. Of central ideas in Small is beautiful but nology or technology that will keep pr , industrialism he says it is ''Mechani- societies "traditional" and "back- also replies to various criticisms of cal, artificial, divorced /rom nature, so , the latter. He deals with some of the ward". This is not really true. For utilising the smallest part of man's Schumacher believes passionately in 0 themes often associated with his tia potential capabilities, [ it] sentences scientific research as the basis of name like human-scale technology, the great majority of workers to gi appropriate forms of ownership, technological development. He spending their working lives in a way argues that returning to first princ- an education, perennial values and so on to which contains no worthy challenge, ciples - which is what science is all in a refreshing dynamic manner. to no stimulus to selfperfection , no about - is vital for the sort of social a Schumacher . begins by reminding change of development, no element reform he is committed to. us that economic planning has to fit of Beauty, Truth or Goodness. " e into the ecological system. Many of (p. 27) Indeed, industrialism espe- Science and technology apart, th( the resources we need for our deve- cially in its capitalist form , promotes Schumacher has some sound ideas lo lopment are non-renewable. In agri- greed, envy and avarice. Communism too on education, knowledge and the culture, for instance, we could have has not been able to create anything link between metaphysics and deve- developed biological or organic better. · lopment. He maintains that, "as long

ALI RA,N QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 68 ,,/

as we persist in our a"ogance, which These flaws over time produced dismisses the entirety of traditional their own contradictions. Anti-colo- wisdom as pre-scientific and there- nialist and liberation movements fore not to be taken seriously, fit grew in the colonized world. Within only for the museum, there is no the West itself, the "rightness of the basis for any education other than Western path has 'been shaken by training for worldly success. Educa- the 'ecological crisis' and the tion for good work is quite impossi- 'limits to growth' debate, the preci- ble; how could we possibly distin- pitous decline in the legitimacy of guish good work from bad work if the doctrine of economic growth human life on earth has no meaning (which has only served to globalise or purpose? The word "good" pres- the European class conflict by supposes an aim; good for what? shoving if off to other regions), Good for making money; good for deep doubts about the philosophical promotion; good for fame or power? premises of modem science, and the Without traditional wisdom, no ans- steady uncovering of the racist wer can be found." (p. 114) tendency in the Western psyche - all Rajni Kothari 'Towards a Just have led to a fundamental ques- While there are all these positive World' Working Paper number II tioning of values and assumptions elements in Good Work, Schumacher World Order Models Project (Centre held to be valid for so long." (p. 6) can be faulted on other scores. He for the Study of Developing Socie- has not shown how political and ties, Delhi, 1980) . The West is of course not going to administrative structures must also allow its decline to take place witha be reformed to meet the needs of out a fight. The consolidation and human-scale technology. Small and expansion of transnational corpora- medium-sized communities fo~ in- Though a short monograph, tions (TNCs ), the militarization of stance must emphasise communita- Kothari's 'Towards a Just World' is whole societies and the establishment rian values, participation and self- one of his finest pieces. In it he of a certain equilibrium in inter- reliance if the new technology is to argues that the global domination of national relations are all designed to succeed. By the same token, one the West of the last 200 years is protect and perpetuate Western in- , wonders how technological change about to come to an end. "We seem terest. will be able to sustain a better to be on the threshold", he says, "of society, if the economy does not a new epoch in world history. It is At the same time, however, the cease to be obsessed with profit- not certain .that it will be crossed movement for change is spreading maximization. For it is profit- in a manner that will lead to a rapidly inspired by a desire for an maximization which is indirectly res- sane and humane world and alternative future . This alternative is ponsible for unlimited growth, con- not to one that is sinister, and "based on the realization of a set of tinuous expansion of the market, and inimical to, the dignity and auto- values. Important among these are even the destruction of the environ- nomy of diverse human entities. minimization of violence and elimi- ment all of which in fact make it Crossing it so that the first kind of nation of the war system; maximi- necessary to promote massive, imper- world is ensured calls for a vision zation of justice and equity in sonal, elitistic technology. based on a firm grasp of the histo- economic a"angements at both rical process - with its unfolding national and international levels; a To reduce this obsession with dialectic and future possibilities - decentralized and participant politi- profits however other changes in and a capacity to intervene so as to cal structure, operating at various society are necessary. Individual translate such possibilities into levels, with sufficient provision for ownership and control of the essen- reality. "(p. l) the rights of individuals, minorities, tial means of production will have to dissidents and diverse social and give way to community ownership Kothari then goes on to describe national units; and a model of and control. There will certainly have how the West-dominated system technology and development that is to be greater equalization of access developed its strengths and its in keeping with an integral view of to wealth and opportunities so that weaknesses. Its drive came from the natural environment and an a more equitable structure will science and technology informed equally integral view of human emerge that will , in turn, allow for by a secular doctrine of progresss diversities and the distinctiveness of the even spread of the new techno- based upon the European Enlighten- cultures. "(p. 21) logy. ment. Its flaws were found in the acquisitive and competitive ethos of While Kothari remains assured capitalist culture, in the exploita- that such a just world will come into tive economic imperialism and in the being, he concedes that the struggle clash of ideologies. will be a 'difficult and tortuous' one.

69 ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 Much of what he has discussed lopment of all productive forces ." narrowest sense. This is why logical with great perception is convincing (pp. 23-23) positivism has no place for spiritual especially to those who are also In fact, the book is all about realities. It does not even consider committed to the cause of an alter- technological rationality, how it the possibility that universal values native social order. However, Kothari came about, what its consequences may have a transcendental source or tends to generalize too much. Even are, why it is inimical to human that the ultimate, absolute truth within Western civilisation there are development and dignity. Marcuse may be beyond the comprehension different, indeed contradictory, ten- believes that technological rationa- of individuals whose perceptions of dencies which he ignores. Between lity as a process leads to domination, reality are conditioned by their own the Hellenistic elements and the enslaves man, reduces his freedom, backgrounds, environments, expe- Chr.istian-Judaic characteristics of the negates his liberation. It is this riences and relationships ~ ith acqui- Western psyche, there is sometimes a technological rationality that leads to red, established knowledge. In a certain degree of te.nsion. Besides, one-dimensionality. He sees the sense, the reduction of man to a one- empirical evidence does not support process at work in both advanced dimensional being - biological and some of his contentions. Is it true, capitalist and socialist societies. physical in the main, with ethical for instance, that Asian philosophies and moral responses conditioned by influenced by 'transcendence of the One dimensionality is expressed in his materialistic status - is the immediate' led to 'a moderation and a number of ways: in the one-dimen- result of a world view that grew out containment of selfish and expan- sional belief in the efficacy of of logical positivism. sionist drives in the human per- technological advance, rationality sonality'? Didn't selfish drives prod and progress; a single dimension in Non-Western religious philoso- many an Asian conqueror whether economic development and progress phies will agree readily with Mar- from China, India or Turkey to with industrial production as the cuse's position on logical positivism. subdue other territories? True, their goal; a single dimension of thought in It is the impact of positivism upon conquests were different from later- matters political and how this leads science which has led some of them day Western imperialism. But wasn't to the containment of the opposi- to question the underlying assump- this due to the growth of capitalism tion; a single dimension in foreign tions of contemporary science. Simi- and the development of technology affairs which regards the other nation larly, it is the positivistic strain in rather than to some inherent civili- as the enemy; and a single dimension Socialism, especially Marxism, that sational attributes? in thought, namely, the triumph of has persuaded them to construct In spite of these weaknesses, positivism. their ideal society on premises that Kothari's monograph is worth Of positivism, which he rightly are philosophically different. reading mainly because he attempts regards as the dominant mode of However Marcuse, like many to articulate the philosophical basis thought in the post-enlightenment other outstanding critics of techno- of an alternative society in an original ' period of Wes.tern civilisation, he logical society (Jacques Ellul for manner. says, "since its first usage, probably instance), fails to distinguish the in the school of Saint-Simon, the intellectual underpinnings of techno- Herbert Marcuse. One-dimensional term "positivism" has encompassed logy from its impact which in many Man Beacon Press, Boston, 1964. (I) the validation of cognitive ways has been beneficial to man- thought by experience of facts (2) kind. Also , he does not separate In this justly famous book by an the orientation of cognitive thought scientific reasoning and inquiry from illustrious scholar of the sixties and to the physical sciences as a model of some of the philosophical founda- seventies, it is noted that, "in advan- certainty and exactness ( 3) the tions of Science. Most of all Marcuse ced capitalism technical rationality is belief that progress in knowledge has not explained - as some other embodied in spite of its irrational depends on this orientation. Conse- philosophers of the prevailing malaise use in the productive apparatus. quently, positivism is a struggle have also failed to explain - why in This applies not only to mechanized against all metaphysics, transcenden- spite of one-demensional man and plants, tools and exploitation of talism, and idealisms as obscurantist one-dimensional society, the human resources but also to the mode of and regressive modes of thought. " being, analysed in the context of labour as adaptati~n to and handling (p. 122) actual existence, seems to live at of the machine process, as arranged Marcuse's criticism of logical- the level of other dimensions too. In by "scientific management". Neither positivism is on the whole quite other words, is it true that technolo- nationalization or socialization alter justified. It is in the end a pseudo- gical rationality has taken over man by themselves this physical embodi- scientific outlook which reduces the (Western man, in particular) com- ment of technological rationality, on human being's varied, complex expe~ pletely? Has Marcuse perhaps exagge- the contrary the latter remains a rience of life and living to what rated the impact of one-dimensiona- precondition of the socialist deve- is empirically verifiable in the lity? D

ALIRAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 70 ORDER FORM NO.OF ALIRAN PUBLICATIONS PRICE COST r COPIES h 1. BASIC BELIEFS contains an outline of Aliran 's philosophy. $0.70.

2. DASAR-DASAR ASAS is the translation of 'Basic Beliefs' into Bahasa Malaysia. $0.70

attempts to show that communalism and chauvinism THE UNIVERSALISM 3. have no place in Islamic thought. It contains the $2.20 OF ISLAM writings of well-known Muslims.

this book studies the concept and practice of 4. e PROTECTOR? unquestioning loyalty to the leader from Malacca $4.20 Sultanate to contemporary times. ut is a collection of essays on the social relevance of ONE GOD, O· 5. from Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, $4.20 MANY PATHS Christian and philosophical perspectives.

a compilation of press statements, essays and speeches since the organisation's inception in 6. ALIRAN SPEAKS August 1977 on a variety of social themes of great $10.00 public interest.

contains papers on various aspects of this social scourge presented by Aliran officials and guest 7. CORRUPTION speakers at a seminar held in November 1980. It is $4.00 easily readable, informative and analytical.

a compilation of 5 booklets entitled (i) Is South- East Asia Safe? (ii) Why are People Poor? (iii) Why 8. 5 CONTROVERSIES are there not enough houses? (iv) What is National $3.50 Culture? (v) Why is there Communal Polarization?

9. LIMA PERSOALAN is the translation of '5 Controversies' into Bahasa Malaysia. $3 .50

10. MEN GAP A AD ANY A KEKURANGAN RUMAH? $0.70

11. MENGAPA WUJUDNYA POLARISASI KAUM? $0.70

12. ALIRAN QUARTERLY : NO. I $0.90 (Back Issues) VOL II '82 NO . 3 $2.00

NO. 4 $2.00 - 13. ALIRAN QUARTERLY: Annual subscription for 4 issues (inclusive of postage) beginning from Vol. III '83 INo. 1 I !No. 21 !No. 31 !No. 41 I $6.00 SUB TOTAL:

Note: For overseas orders, prices quoted are in US$

71 ALIRAN QUA RTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 NO.OF ALIRAN PUBLICATIONS COPIES COST

SUBTOTAL BROUGHT FORWARD

POSTAGE: Kindly include postage at the following rates:

a) Local Orders: 20 cents per book

b) Overseas Orders:

i) Surface Mail: 20% of total cost of books

ii) Airmail 100% of total cost of books

BANK COMMISSION for outstation cheques: Kindly include $0.50

GRAND TOTAL:

Name: Mr ./Ms

Address

The Co-Ordinator, Distribution Bureau, Aliran, P.O. Box 1049, Penang, Malaysia. - Sir,

I enclose Cheque/Bank Draft/Money Order/Postal Order (No. ) for$

payable to ALI RAN for the above order.

Yours faithfully,

I>ated: 198_ Signature

FOR OFFICIAL USE

Received on: Despatched on Registration No.

ALI RAN QUARTERLY VOL. 3 No. 3 72 LATEST!!! Just out! Aliran on tape. Yes, you can listen to Aliran's views in the comfort of your room. Or while driving, Aliran can be your companion. Our first cassette tape in Bahasa Malaysia is now available to our readers. It discusses the economic situation simply and frankly.

Title of Topic: Kemelesetan Ekonorni Speaker: Dr. Chandra Muzaffar Price: $5.50 (To cover cost and postage)

Hurry! Limited stocks only! Available while stocks last!· ALI R_An i~lcl

Jadi, Aliran beranggapan, bahawa pem a~g yang dianggap berlainan ini perlu diteliti oleh se· pejuang agama bagi mempastikan bahawa perjua _ itu sampai kepada matlamatnya. Antara 'a pemikiran yang berlainan' itu yang sebenarn a dalam Islam ialah: 1. Perlunya membuka semula pintu ijtihad 2. Perlunya menilai kedudukan dan per wanita dalam masyarakat 3. Perlunya pendidikan sains dalam ~ Harga: $2.50 bangunan umat 4. Perlunya memahami konsep Negara Is ALI RAN yang satu masa dulu pernah menyua- Sikap Aliran ini dapat kita fahami dengan e rakan Islam Yang Progresif, merupakan satu badan jelas daripada kata Pendahuluan Preside yang bergerak atas faham Islam dan turut merasakan Dr. Chandra Muzaffar: arus perkembangan pergerakan I slam di rantau ini. Tujuan mempersembahkan tulisan-tuli sa Maka dalam penelitiannya ia dapat mengesani baha- kepada khalayak ramai adalah untuk me wa ada semacam gerakan a tau ali ran yang tidak darkan masyarakat kita bahawa dalam em- progresif dan dinamik yang boleh membantutkan persoalan yang disebut di atas ada aliran pe-:: terwujudnya sebuah masyarakat Islam yang tulen. kiran yang berlainan daripada pendekata Jelasnya ada gerakan yang cenderung ke arah me- biasa diambil oleh kebanyakan pejuang-pe· - misahkan diri dari keadaan atau bersikap jumud agama di Malaysia. atau menolak segala perkembangan baru. Walaupun buku Islam Yang Tu/en ini ec Oleh itu Aliran cuba meneliti fikiran beberapa tetapi kandungannya amat besar dan amat be~- orang tokoh pejuang Islam sezaman seperti Pujangga faat untuk mereka yang mahu berfikir dan menga Iqbal, H.M . Rasjidi, Ameer Ali, Muhammad Natsir tauladan untuk mencapai matlamat pemb r- dan Zainal Abidin Ahmad. Penelitian itu berdasarkan masyarakat dan negara Islam yang tulen. beberapa persoalan yang khusus seperti : 1. Konsep Hukum dalam Islam - Abdul Rahman Ru 2. Konsep Kedudukan Wanita dalam Islam. 3. Konsep llmu dan Sains Dewan B 4. Konsep Masyarakat Berbilang Kaum. Febrau