RAHIM: DID HE OR DIDN’T HE? RA IM: Did He or Didn't He? Malaysians outraged by A-G's decision not to charge Rahim
In what appears to be a new twist to criminal proceedings, the alleged victim of a rape case is taken into police custody while the alleged assailant in this case is allowed to roam free.
Ignoring existing pro\'isions of the law, the Attorney General, in an unprecedent and unrestrained manner, re\•eals to the press details of the minor's so-called sexual escapades and the number of men invol\'ed while remaining tight-lipped about the alleged oflender's conduct.
A deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department calls for the prosecution of the minor for engaging in illicit sex and conceiving out of wedlock while observing stone-silence about the men responsible tor the girl's condition.
In thi'i article, ANIL NETTO, takes a closer look at the case and wonders whether Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik did it or didn't.
CONTENTS Rahim: Did He or Didn't He? ... 2: It's an Outroge. ..6: Heart to Heart: The Struggle Is Not a Teo Porty ... l2; Current Concerns ... 15; Thinking Allowed ... l9; The Tale of the Lost Coin. ..23; Letters ... 29; The Kampong Makarn Dilemma.. .36
AllnmMfllllllqlJH:I4(P) ~2 ~~ay some twist of hen Attorney-General Mohtar Abdullah dropped a bombshell on 21 October saying that he had no prima facie evidence to charge logic, the child victim Wformer Malacca Chief Minister Rahim Thamby Chik in court for the statutory rape of a minor, many concerned Malaysians could only shake is the one who has to their heads in disbelief, perhaps gripped by a sense of deja vu. face detention and They must have recalled the infamous Vijandran videotape scandal, where the previous A-G dumped incriminating evidence into a bontire. In the interrogation rather process, he probably saved the skin of a former parliamentary deputy speaker, who was said to have revealed plenty of it while 'acting' in pornographic tapes. than the accused" And can Malaysians ever forget how the director-general of the Anti-Cor Zarizana Abdul Aziz, ruption Agency (ACA) hastily cleared Energy Minister Samy "Cleanest secretary of the Women's Hands" V ell u ofcharges that he misappropriated nine m iIlion Telekom shares Crisis Centre. originally allocated to Maika. the investment arm of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC)? Although fresh evidence forced the ACA to re-open its file, right now it looks like it is gathering even more dust on somebody's desk, somewhere ... More recently, Malaysians were dumbfounded when they learned that the A-G had inexplicably dropped all corruption charges against the former Sabah Foundation head Jeffrey K.itingan soon after he had 'hopped' over to the ruling Barisan Nao;ional coalition from Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS). 11The wheels of WHERE IS fUSTICE? justice are seen to In the Rahim case, no one could fail to notice that the tormer UMNO Baru Youth leader wao; free to trot around the globe on holiday while the alleged trundle on swiftly rape victim, the minor, remained under police custody. "By some twist of logic, the child victim is the one who has to face detention and interrogation when an ordinary rather than the a~cused , " observes Zarizana Abdul Aziz, secretary of the Women's Crisis Centre. citizen falls foul of Certain politicians, including Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the law... But when a were quick to spring to Rahim's defence, arguing that a person was presumed innocent until proven guilty. Mohtar himself said justice and the law required politician of some him to prove beyond all reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused. And yet, the irony is that these same gentlemen can see no wrong, no standing is in a injustice, when Malaysians are presumed guilty and detained without trial similar predicament, under the notorious Internal Security Act (IS A). Where is justice the wheels of justice then? Scratch the surface of our materialistic, spec seem to be reluctant tator society and you will see a lot of folk wonder-· to roll on" ing whether we have two P Ramakrishnan, standards of justice- one Aliran president for the ordinary rakyat and another for some of the elite; double stand ards. "The wheels of jus tice are seen to trundle on swiftly when an ordinary citizen tails foul of the law," says Aliran presi dent, P Ramakrishnan. "But when a politician of some standing is in a similar predicament, the AG Mohtar: Insufficient evidence to prosecute?
Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 3 ~~He has not wheels of justice seem to be reluctant to roll on." been fair to us and RAHIM'S COLOURFUL BACKGROUND Pendek Ahmad, the minor's grandmother, was not about to take all this is one-sided" sitting down. She was reportedly furious over the A-G's decision not to Pendek Ahmad, prosecute the former Malacca Chief Minister, and was particularly incensed the minor's grandmother over his disclosure that the girl had lodged 17 reports about relations with 14 men. "He has not been fair to us and is one-sided," said Pendek. Added Pendenk's son, Mohanuned Sabri: "Injustice ha<; been done to an underaged "Contrary to the girl." Evidence Act, the The All Women's Action Society (AW AM) also expressed concern about Mohtar's disclosure of the girl's history: "Contrary to the Evidence Act, the 15-year-old's sexual 15-year-old's sexual history has not only been made public and come into question, but it has also appeared to have affected the outcome of these history has not only particular investigations," said Susanna George and Tan Beng Hui, in a joint been made public statement issued by A WAM. Such an investigation should be conducted to determine whether or not and come into rape has been committed regardless of the victim's sexual history, they added. "There appears to be a~ attempt on the part of some authorities to shift the question, but it has focus of our attention from the real issue at hand - the alleged sexual involvement of a prominent politician with a minor." also appeared to Others wonder why, if the background of the girl was considered relevant have affected the by those wi th a warped sense ofjustice, the police did not investigate Rahim's background which should have been equally relevant. "Is the Attorney outcome of these General prepared to publicly reveal the background of Rahim and let the people decide who has got a more 'colourful' background?" demanded particular opposition leader Lim Kit Siang in Parliament. investigations" THE NEW 'J UDGES'? Susanna George and While Malaysians long for justice to prevail, the Judiciary, still reeling Tan Beng Hui, from recent unsavoury disclosures, appears to have taken a back seat. The new AWAM spokespersons arbitrators inquiring into the guilt or otherwise of an accused party, especially if a leading politician is implicated, appear to be the A-G and the director general of the ACA. Have these gentlemen now a<;sumed the combined role of prosecutors, "Whether Rahim is 'judges' and 'executioners' in our post-1988 legal system? Why haven't they referred the many suspicious cases involving top politicians to court for innocent or judgement? Suspicion stares you in the eye, the more you peer into this case. "Police otherwise should be investigation into the case has cast strong suspicion on Tan Sri Abdul Rahim," decided by the court, said theA-Gin a statement. But, Mohtar also said, the circumstantial evidence obtained in this case was not sufficient to prosecute Rahim in court. and not, by the A-G" Immediately, a couple of obvious questions leap straight into the air: b it possible to have strong suspicion with insufficient evidence? Can the A-G llani lsahak institute court proceedings on the basis of "strong suspicion"? Kota Baru MP "As long as the A-G has strong suspicion, he can go ahead and prosecute - if he wants to," says a lawyer in Penang. The court would then decide if the evidence was sufficient, sht: auus. "Whether Rahim is innocent or otherwise should be decided by the court, and not, by the A-G," asserts Kota Baru M P II ani lsahak. A prima facie case, she explains, means a case to answer and thereafter the prosecutor has to prove it beyond reasonable doubt. "Thus there was no need for the A-G to determine beforehand whether the facts as investigated by the police proved beyond reasonable doubt the sexual allegation against Rahim," adds Ilani.
Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 4 11IS the Attorney It is common knowledge that rape as defined under the Penal Code is difficult to prove, said the Sisters oflslam (SIS) in a statement. But the absence General prepared to of adequate proof to warrant a pnmafacte case does not nece.<;sarily mean that publicly reveal the the rape did not happen, they added. ILUCITSEX? background of Rahim What enraged a lot of people wac; deputy minister Dr Abdul Hamid and let the people Othman's proposal to charge the girl under Islamic law for illicit sex and pregnancy outside marriage "lt is outrageous," '>ays Zarizana. decide who has got a "What about the exploiters?" demanded llani. "Why isn't there an equal enthusiasm to charge them? I detect a strong male bia'> against females in this more 'colourful' affair." background?" Under the Penal Code. sexual intercourse with a minor is rape with or without consent. But, as SIS pointed out, the Penal Code is contradicted by Lim Kit Siang provisions in state Syariah criminal laws which stipulate that, upon menstrua Parliamentary opposition tion, a female is regarded as an adult and therefore liable to prosecution for leader illicit sex. "There will be a t1agrant miscarriage of justice if the minor questioned under one legal system is now rendered liable for prosecution under another system based purely on her initial statements which could prove Excerpts from the press incriminating," declared SIS. interview with the A-G: So, now the victim will end up in a juvenile home, a welfare home, for an alleged crime committed against her. But what of the accused - Q : Datuk. does th1s mean that the where will he be sent? Doesn't he need counselling? g1rl's background was also taken SO, DID HE OR DIDN'T HE? 1nto cons1derat1on 1n the 1nvest1gatlon? Meanwhile, Malaysians are waiting for the ACA report - into A: Oh yes. the g1rl has made allegations that Rahim had corruptly used his position to amass wealth. statemPnls regardmg her The ACA has not yet submitted its report to the A-G's chambers for backqrouncJ and all I need to say at 'judgement'. Will it suffer the same fate as the report on the allegations th1s stagP. w1thout reveal1ng 1n the against Samy Vellu in the re-opened Maika share scandal investigation? course of police lllvest1gat1on. th1s Some political observers feel that the entire saga could jeopardise IS add1t1onal1nformation. the g1rl the Barisan's prospects in the general election especially in Malacca. has lodged 17 pol1ce reports Indeed, Barisan leaders will do well not to underestimate the extent of aga1nst 14 persons. 14 md1v1duals. the people's discontent over their dismal handling of this mess. for hav1ng sexual relat1ons with her. The opposition is sure to usc this issue as cannon-fodder in the E1ght of those md1v1duals had coming election campaign, especially among female voters, pointing adm11ted 1n the1r statements to e.'>pecially to the attitude of top politicians. "The Prime Minister himself havmq sexual relations w1th the has not displayed outrage against the young girl's sexual exploiters," v1ct1m Th1s 1s one factor that I took says Ilani. "He seems more concerned about Rahim." mto cons1derat1on. not the only In the 1990 election!., the Barisan won four of the five federal seats factor in Malaa:a and 17 of 20 state seat!.. With the simmering outrage over 0 : 01d Tan Sr1 Rah1m deny hav1ng the handling of the Rahim case, together with considerable disquiet over sex w1th the (jlri'> high-handedness in several cases of land acquisition, the Malacca A: I cant reveal that statement Barisan will be hard-pressed to repeat its 1990 performance at the ballot Q : Datuk w1th today s dec1s1on. box. does 11 mean that the g1rl has made One final question begs to be answered: did Rahim do it, or didn't a false accusal1on aga1nts Tan Sn he? "I think you can understand that what I can reveal, I will let you Rdl1111e know," said Mohtar when mterv1ewed by the Press. U nlortunately, most A: Not necessanly people do not understand why the A-G cannot reveal the whole truth. What is there to hide? \, '"', , \ew .\Irait' Tim1·. Mohtar may have discontinued investigating Rahim but as he says: _'_' /II / 11'1/ "Whether it exonerates him or not is for you to conclude." Needless to say, the people have reached their own wise conclusions in the tribunal of the ordinary rakyat. And, ultimately, that is what counts .•
A/iran MonJhly 1994:14 (9) PageS
custody supposedly for security reason. By some twist of logic, the child victim is the one who has to face detention "The Prime Minister himself has and interrogation rather than the accused. Tbis can only not displayed outrage against have prolonged psychological effect on the child and puts into question the evidence elicited from the child the young girl's sexual throughout this detention. exploiters. He seems more Still, at that early stage, there was reasonable expec • tation that the matter would be investigated which would concprned about Rahim Thamby result in the institution of criminal charges against any person found to have committed stalulury rape against Chik''
"Interestingly, the sexual prehension with regard to the authorities' capability to ensure justice for all. background of the allleged rapist The Government through the Deputy Minister, Dato' was never made public nor was Dr Abd. Hamid Othman, appears in a hurry to have the girl charged under Islamic Law tor illicit sex and preg it ever a consideration in the nancy out of wed-lock. What about the exploiters? Why isn't there an equal enthusiasm to charge them? I detect Attorney·General's decision to a strong male bias against females in this affair. The Prime Minister himself has not displayed outrage close the case... What Dato againstthe young girl's sexual exploiters. He seems more Mohtar has done acts as a concerned about Rahim Thamby Chik. Thus the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and all the cabinet deterrent for rape survivors to Ministers have all been conspicuously and deafeningly silent about the Attorney General s unethical conduct in report and have their rapists revealing the minor's background. Ah yes, except for charged... " Syed Hamid AI bar who strenuously defended theA-Gin Parliament. Aren't they therefore false champions of the Caring Society?
YB Hjh //ani Bt Dato' Hj Jsahak the girl. Head of Woman lnfonnation Subsequently the statement made by the Attorney Parti Me/ayu Semangat 46 General Dato Mohtar Abdullah as reported in the media on 22 October 1994 brought to the fore a disturbing 25 October 1994 development in the said investigations which is not only irrelevant to the criminal case but can only be construed as a regression into putting the complainant and not the accused on trial. This age-old legal defence strategy in rape trials whereby defence counsel seeks to totally demolish the Complainant- Not complainant's character by suggesting immorality through suspect sexual liaisons with other men reinforces Accused - On Trial the myth that "bad girls deserve to be raped". This strategy is now prohibited under the Evidence Act, 1950. Stxtiun 146 uf th~ Act stales: In pro\:eediugs e handling by the relevant authorities and the in respect of the offence of rape, no evidence and no media of the alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl by question in cross-examination shall be adduced or former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim asked by or on behalf of the accused, concerning the Thamby Chik is extremely disappointing and has raised sexual activity of the complainant with any person concern in our organisation. other than the accused. From the beginning, when the case was first reported It is ironical that while defence counsel is unable to by the media, the girl was placed under. immediate police raise such questions in court to assist in the acquittal of
Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 8 the accused rapist, Dato' Mohtar, as head of the legal the Penal Code has been or is suspected to have been service, has seen it fit to use the same arguments in a committed; or locaVinternational press conference. b. an address or school as being that of a child referred This amendment to the laws (passed in 1989) relating to in paragraph (a). to rape was a result of a six-year campaign by women's Chapter XVI of the Penal Code includes the rape organisations to provide protection for survivors of rape provisions. The word "publish" is defined in the Child and ensure she is not victimised in court for having the Protection Act and includes "broadcast by radio or cowage to insist that her rapist be punished - despite the television" and material includes "any picture or repre social stigma which uncannily blames the survivor. sentation". The eight men who have allegedly admitted to having Any person who contravenes this section shall be had sexual relations with the girl have actually confessed guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction be liable to having statutorily raped her and the Women's Crisis to a fme not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to Centre (WCC) demands that rape charges be forthwith imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or preffered against them. Interestingly, the sexual back to both. ground of the alleged rapist was never made public nor Perhaps it is more appropriate for the relevant was it ever a consideration in the Attorney-General's authorities to busy themselves investigating all these decision to close the case. contraventions rather than occupying themselves with What Dato Mohtar ha.-. done acts as a deterrent for matters irrelevant to this case. rape survivors to report and have their rapists charged in Sensationalising the incident only goes to show the court as it has placed serious doubt as to whether they will insensitivity of the media towards a rape survivor and a get any justice through the legal system or even at the minor. During the height of the campaign against rape. investigation stage. If this can happen to investigations the media was a staunch supporter and sympathiser of on statutory rape where the survivor's consent is not even rape survivors. What happened to the caring pot;cy? an issue, one can only imagine what an adult rape sur As the fate of the underaged girl geto; closer to being vivor has to face. sealed in a most disappointing way, we appeal to the This also brings into question any investigative pro relevant authonties to: cedure which results in the underaged complainant having to answer charges in the Junevile Court which • allow justice to be done by charging the per ordered that she be sent to a rehabilitation home. petrators. It is for the court to decide whether there is Charging rape survivors with criminal prosecution sufficient evidence to convict; under the Syariah laws sets a legal precedent that WCC • allow the girl to be sent home to her family and strongly objects to. It must be borne in mind that the Penal provide counselling for her; Code deems a child below 16 incapable of ha\'ing con • reconsider the decision to close this ca'le or disclose sented to sexual relations. It is outrageous for the Deputy the result of the investigation which justifies the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Dato' earlier decision to close this case; Abdul Hamid Othman to have called for the prosecution • investigate and charge the persons responsible lor of the 15-year-old rape survivor under Syariah laws for having disclosed information likely to identify the zina, namely consentual sexual relations. girl. The Attorney General's statement and the sen sationalising of this case by the media seriously question It is time for us to recognise that no matter how the social responsibility of both the relevant authorities rigorous our laws may be in protecting survivors of rape, and the media. in particular, child survivors, without the effective ad It is naive to think that the mere non-disclosure of the ministration and implementation of these laws by persons girr s name is sufficient to protect her identity when the entrusted with the same, women will continue to be names of her school, her father, grandmother and uncle victimised and forced into silence. It is WCC's fervent were revealed in several news report. A television station hope that this mishandling of the ca Aliran Monlltly 1994:14 (9) Page 9 an adult and therefore liable to a prosecution for illicit Appallingly Ill-judged sex. *There will be a flagrant m1scarriage of justice 1f the And Irresponsible minor questioned under one legal system i'> now rendered liable for prosecution under another system based purely on her initial statements which could prove incrimmat e statement by Datuk Dr Hamid Othman that the ing. 5-year-old schoolgirl allegedly involved in a *With two parallel systems, the state appears to have exual relationship with Tan Sri Rahim Thamby wide discretionary powers to impose either system for Chik should now be prosecuted under Syariah law for prosecution. Such a choice is not however extended to its illicit sexual intercourse with other men, is appallingly ill-judged and irresponsible. It is especially pernicious following a most unsatisfactory procedure and outcome of a police mvestigation in a matter of great public interest. ~~ The questions to her character Many seem to have forgotten that the minor wa'i not, in the first place. the subject under investigation. She was and sexual history ... are totally not the offender, but a possible victim of statutory rape. irrelevant to the offence" She wao; held in police custody for questioning in an inve!.tigation initiated by a police report against Tan Sri Rahim's conduct. What trag1c irony that the minor may now become the accused under state Syariah law. We find that many a<;pects of this case have now Muslim citizens. What protection does a Muslim citizen raised so much doubt in the public m1nd whether justice have over possible abuses of this discretion? Currently. a hac; been done. Further clarification to the pub lie IS crucial Muslim cannot choo!>e the Penal Code over Syariah laws. in the context of the following questions: Under the existing Syariah system, a rejection of the law is tantamount to disbelief, an offence of apostasy which Police Investigation may be punishable by death. *Why was the minor placed under police custody? Attorney-General's handling ofthe case Throughout that period, did she have ready a~cess to independent legal advice, to a support system such a'i The A-G's pres~ :-.tutement raised many more cntical family members and tramed counsellors? Why wm; questions to this case which still rernam unan!>wered. SCAN not called in to protect the interest of the minor? Many of his answers at the press conference failed to * Was the JTUnor properly cautioned about the im assuage the public that justice indeed has been done. plications of her co-opemuon with the investigation on 1lle A-G wa' evasive in answering questions that Tan Sri Rahim, and that her statements and her sub could in any way mcriminate Tan Sri Rahim, but wa., sequent police reports could possibly implicate her in a ready to reveal infonnation that could tarni!>h the minor's criminal offence? character and therefore undermine her credibility in the eyes of the public. Statutory Rape *In spite of persistent questioning. the A-G declined * Under the Penal Code, sexual intercourse with a to elaborate on the circumstantial evidence which he minor is rape, with or without consent. The law presumes decided. purely at his discretion, wa.. insufficient to that a minor is not mature enough to be held responsible prosecute Tan Sri Rahim. Given the A-G '!. ow11 admis for her actions. She is therefore protected under the law. sion that the evidence was enough to "ca-;t strong The questions to her char.tcter and sexual history do not suspicion on Tan Sri Rahim", -;houldn't the court then, arise, are totally Irrelevant to the offence, and should and not the A-G, be the proper forum to decide on this therefore not have influenced the outcome of the inves case? tigation. *Why did the A-G decline to provide any details on the minor's allegations against Tan Sri Rahim? Conflict between two parallel legal systems *Why did he decline to reveal whether Tan Sri Rahim *The protection in the Penal Code is contradicted by had admitted or denied having sex with the minor? provisions in state Syariah criminal laws. Was the minor *Why did he reveal that the minor had lodged police then cautioned that as a Muslim she wa' bound by two reports againstl4 individual<. for having sexual relations systems of law? In her preM!nt circumstance, the Penal with her? Code provides her protection in that she is a minor. Yet * Why did he readily confirm that the minor was under the Syariah, upon menstruation, she is regarded as indeed pregnant; why was he so willing to elaborate that AUran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 10 based on medical evidence and the date of the alleged sex prosecute the former Malacca Chief Minister. Whether it act between Tan Sri Rahim and the minor, Tan Sri Rahim is the A-G's decision or the non-prosecution of Rahim could not possibly be the father of the baby? that has dmwn more bitterness, is but a matter of interest It is unethical for the A-G to reveal incriminating ing speculation. evidence against the minor and to make statements that Certainly not a matter of speculation though is the would prejudice her case should the matter go to court. doubt that has been cast today on the impartiality of the Such injurious statements shall remam forever to cast administration of criminal justice in our counlry. aspersions on the minor's character and have already Under the sixth limb of section 375 of the Penal Code, brought her into public ridicule and condemnation. These a man who has sexual intercourse with or without the statements can now become the basis for action against consent of a woman under sixteen years of age, is said to the minor under Syariah law. commit rape. This limb of section 375 is said to provide for statutory rape, where penetration is by iL<;c)f sufficient Response to the A-G's statement to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary for the We find it most unbecoming and ludicrous that Tan Sri Rahim should enthusiastically declare his innocence. It is common knowledge that rape a.o; defined under the Penal Code is difficult to prove; the absence of adequate proof to warrant a prima facie case does not necessarily " ... the A-G must use his mean that rape did not happen. It is also ha~ty and discretion and reconsider his improper for the new Chief Minister of Malacca, Datuk Mohd. Zin Abdul Ghani, to announce that Tan Sri Rahim decision not to prosecute'' would be brought back into public service when the latter's integrity has been undermined. Datuk Mohd. Zin should be reminded that Tan Sri Rahim remains under investigation by the Anti-Conuption Agency. offence of rape, notwithstanding whether or not there has ln a truly developed and progressive state, such as our been consent by the woman. national aspiration under Vision 2020, surely those who The evidence in the Rahim saga, we arc told, includes hold high public office are always accountable for their amongst others, the admtssion by the gul that she had had actions. The trust and power vested in them by the rakyat sexual intercourse with the Malacca Chief Minister, and should not be betrayed, misused or abused. However that she was under the age of 16 at the said time. We are great their success in bringing about material progress also told that she had sexual intercourse with some 13 and economic development, such political leaders cannot other men, and that she was pregnant with the child of be placed above the law. one of the said 14 men. Surely, with this evtdence, the implicated individuals Sisters in Islam ought to have been charged in court. The background of 26 October 1994 the complainant in cases of statutory rape should not be a factor preventing the charging of an individual impli cated. It however can be a factor taken into account by the courl'> when meting out sentence if and when one is convicted. From these facts, despite the A-G having considered 'other information', which we do not doubt, charging the said implicated individuals surely is war ranted. Too much has been spilt in this saga. For the sake of Charging An Individual" instilling back the public's view of the impartiality and fairness in the system of our criminal justice, the A-G Doesn't Mean That He must use his discretion and reconsider his decision not to prosecute. Or She Is Guilty There must be one system of justice for all. and only then will that system mete out justice fairly. e Rahim saga has without doubt drawn towards t bitter reaction by a majority of the public. How Jagdeep Singh Deo ver, it is distres.<>ing to note that in the name of justice, some have voiced support for the events that have Lawyer transpired, namely the decision by the A-G not to 28 October 1994 Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Pare 11 HEART TO HEART What romes from the Hps reaches the ear. wfJat ccxnes from the heart reaches the heart ·Arab Proverb THE STRUGGLE IS NOT I ATEA PARTY •. The final part of the experiences of social activist DR MOHD NASIR HASHIM I had an overdose of various stronger or wither away depending must constantly be tempered with forms of sloganizing and bombas upon how we perceive this struggle. reality. But then, if we totally suc tic phrases thrown around by my Whether we can differentiate cumb to reality, then we are thread 'progressive' friends during my clearly between the symptoms and ing into the world of utter university days. They glorified the causes depends on our under opportunism and sectarianism. This and romanticized this struggle. standing of the problems and their in fact is the dialectics of life. Unfortunately the loudest ones historical development. For sure it is had gone astray, more excuses not easy. For sure it is not a bed of Theory OfAbstrac tion - than actions. In fact people react roses. For amongst those petals and A Story negatively to sloganizing as it coushlony leaves lay the hidden We really do not wish to be puts them on the defensive, which thorns waiting to bleed you when equated to the story relating to a is good for the egos of those who you make the wrong move. person with his new 'parang' (long sloganize but bad for the people Maybe we should be clear from knife). He wants his parang to be because it is patronizing, demean very sharp so that he can cut down ing, elitist and treats people as if "I JUSt wanted to be one the tree with ease. So he sharpens his they are born illiterates. of the many catalysts parang and constantly feels the blade Whereas they had varied ex working together to of the parang to make sure that it is periences throughout their lives and eagerly prepare the sharp enough. He comes to the con our role is to harness such rich ex stage for the birth of a clusion that it is still not sharp periences and integrate them into a more progressiv.e enough for the task he has in mind. meaningful whole through the generation " So he sharpens it again and again various educational programmes. following the same logic to reach Only through such interactions that · the beginning that we are dealing perfection. the people begin to realize their with thorny roses and we have to Finally the pamng became so potential and consciously move to weave and carefully pave our way worn out (due to repeated sharpen redeem their lost confidence and to through such entangled web ofroses, ing!!) that when a passerby sees the appreciate the need for unity and thorns and leaves to seek the parang he or she would believe that discipline to chart their own destiny. fmgrance that we yearned for so the owner must be a man who works This, in fact, is the essence of much. very hard in the fields and his parang development. Transformation Of Reality must have served him well. The · greatest irony is that the pamng is Ideology For A Better We certainly do not want people already worn out but the tree is still Society to have the notion that we should not out. The point I am trying to drive at first and foremost, cleanse our souls The owner stuck to theory rather is that we do need a philosophy or to perfection before embarking on than practice. What he should have ideology about the type of society social actions. What we are suggest done is to test the sharpened parang that we aspire for our present and ing is that we truly ask our very on some wood or on something future genemtions. Have we done hearts what we really want in life. similar to the ta<;k ahead. If he tincts enough soul searching to confidently If it is to uphold the principles of it not sharp enough then he should say that this will be our goal in life? life where humanity stands supreme, utilize such experience to help him Of course this spirit may grow then this heart, this commitment, sharpen the specific edges of the Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 12 blade that are used more often. 'Then Actually I have to go beyond my firmly on the ground and refrain test it again on the same piece of compartmentalized profession to from romanticizing this struggle. wood. Only then he is applying understand society and become theory and practice. Only then he is politicized in the process. I tend to This Struggle Is Not developing to be an organic intellec internalize such hardships because I tual. came from a big family that survived Wrapped In Theory on overtime and pawning of cheap Our successes and drawbacks A Struggle By Design Not jewellery. I was on peoples' scholar greatly depended on our sensitivity ship for as long as I can remember to changes and how the people By Chance and had made a vow that I will return decisively react to new situations. As for me, my involvement with to the people to learn and to serve For all intents and purposes the the people, is not by chance but by them and will expose and oppose People' s Action Committee com design. I do it on a matter of prin anybody who betrays them. prising the local inhabitant'>, should ciple. I do it not only for the people When I was detained by the provide the leadership in the struggle but also to fulfill the ideology in me government for 15 months under the to fight for their rights and to chart for I do not condone any form of draconian law, the Internal Security their own destiny. exploitation at any level of society. Act (ISA) code-named 'Operation If this is not yet possible. then This may be one of the reasons Lalang' in 1987, the interrogators every effon must be made to ensure why I am attracted to socialism made it a point to tell me that my that they acquire such skills to ana simply because to my mind it is the struggle was a waste of ttme and I lyse their own society and to effec only system that has been successful should concentrate on my profes tively lead their people to greater in exposing the internal logic of sion, my family and join the ruling heights. For sure we cannot replace capitalism that strives on exploita racial political party. To them I them in their struggle but together tion and maximization of profits by would be considered as being we can become a formidable force. destroying humanity and its environ rehabilitated if I change my ways In the beginning our contribution ment. and stay away from social issues. (as catalysts) is crucial to ensure con In fact the sorry state of affairs in It is easier to stave off such sug tinuity of the struggle. But we must Russia and Eastern Europe was not gestion if we lnow what we want in be sensitive to the fact that this the demise of socialism but the life. I did it on a matter of principle relationship must constantly raise emergence and death of 'state and not on some wild romantic ego the people's level of consciousness capitalism' and 'bureaucratization' trip to be the hero or champion of the and at the same time not create de where the ownership of property and people. But I derive great satisfac pendency. for dependency not only wealth are no longer in the hands of tion from their successes and feel paralyses the community but also the people but by the State govern happy to be part of them. I just destroys dignity. ments and administered by the wanted to be one of the many And as the committee members bureaucrats who behave like catalysts working togetherto eagerly continue to understand their respon capitalists. The people were ex prepare the stage for the birth of a sibility to their people and theircom ploited and were totally repressed to more progressive generation. mitment to the struggle against those prevent them from staging another Some of my friends who were who try to deprive them of their revolution. detained with me were somehow in rights, our role as catalysts gradually fluenced by this warped suggestion diminishes. From then on, we know (by the government interrogators) that it is time for us to pack up and Genesis Of My Struggle and will stay away from direct invol move on, with the confidence that My humble contribution to vement or partially flirt with social these leaders will soon become fu society is also not out of sheer issues. They now suffer from self ture catalyst~ to provide their ser benevolence, charity or sincerity but censorship and if they are not vices to others. wanting to find out why the rich are cautious enough they may even end we are happy because they can getting richer and the poor getting up being apologists, proxies or take care of themselves and sad be poorer. 1 am also interested to know voices of the ruling elites and a cause our serv1ces arc useful else why the poor are exploited to the damper to the peoples' struggles. where. If we have un A1iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Pagt 13 just one of those people who derive prestige by promoting dependency, those who reconcile within this lessons and strengths from others, divisive tendencies and exploitation. capitalist mould wtll undoubtedly walking on their stepping stones and become opportunistic and exploita in tum placing our own stepping Dictators, Dependency And tive in their dealings with others. It stone just ahead of them, in the direc Proxies will therefore take another ideology tion that we believe, will open up the or system to negate such exploitative horizon for a better future for genera Finally, when NGOs are not tendency. tions to come. We fade away in the clear of their own principles and Opportunistics tendencies also process and the cycle continues. For ideology then they tend to rely exist amongst the exploited people. sure we will reach our destination. lf heavily on the welfare approach to It is expected. We must not become we are dead and gone then our spirits resolve the problems of their society. unduly depre~sed when we find that will celebrate the coming of such a Such anapproach promotes depend some of the active membe~ of the glorious day. ency and will finally succumb to the community are no longer with us use of capitalist tactics to control once their immediate needs have Careerism In The Struggle their members and the participaung been met. communities in a dictatorial manner But we must also realtze that, as The involement of NGOs in so simply because these people are wtth others, the poor arc also trapped cial issues must be one of struggle, regarded a..s mere vehicles or tools to in the capitalist mould. Only a few commitment and sacrifice and must ensure that external fundmg keep::. will continue to be loyal to this strug never be regarded as a career. For if op flowing (flooding!) into thelfown gle. But for a start, this is good one considers it as a career then this pockets and to their organizationc; enough. For to change everybody struggle is lost because it will be so Tiley may even end up a'! prox1es overnight is sheer wishful thinking jealously guarded even at the ex for the ruling elites to stifle dic;sent at and empty idealism. pense ofthe people and finally to the the most critical moments of the But the history of the world has detriment of one's own organiza struggle. When this happens (it'\ al shown us time and again that we tion. ready happening now!!) the people must never underestimate the spint The excuse given is that they do are trapped further in the yoke of and the power of our people. The not wish to see their organization get oppression. As such the people must winds of change comes in leaps and deregistered but in fact they are more constantly and critically review their bounds and this quantum leap defies fearful of losing all the financial relationships with others to en~ure statistical extrapolations anti human perks, prestige and power that come that their struggle to fight for their expectations! ! But such change does along with it. (n short they have be rights will not be in vain. not happen in a vacuum! We have to come so dependent on external fund Opportunism In The create an envtronment that IS most ing that they tend to abide by subtle conducive for such change where pre-conditions set by the sponsoring Struggle humanity stands supreme and op bodies. Opportunism is rife in our portunism becomes a nullity. Without financial support they society. It is the monopol)' and the become paralysed and all their culture of an exploitative system that Conclusion programmess become frozen when controls people, organizations and in fact funding should and must be commumtJes Unfortunately we We as catalystc; must con\tantly interact and work with our people ·;o considered as temporary (interim) have taken too much for granted that measures as we rapidly prepare our it is natural ('human nature', 'human that they can feel and under<.tand the selves to be self sufficient by instinct', 'common knowledge', impact of the social, polit1cal and promoting programs that can 'survival' etc) to be opportunistic economic realities of their society. genemte income useful to the people simply because it has been around lbey must also be political \0 that they can go beyond their immediate and our organizations. It is also in for generations. teresting to note that the person(s) We fail to recognize the fact that economic and emotional needs to feel the pain and suffering of others who controls the purse strings or it is bound by the ideology of the money (locally and internationally) society which dictates the psyche of m the various sectors of our <;ociety Thus their role is not merely to usually control(s) the organizations. the individual, the family and 'The most unfortunate and society. The appeals through con be contented in interpreting reality to fit some nouons of pre-conceived debilitating aspect of it all is that if science, humanitarianism and we allow such dependency to go un spiritual obligations have been inef theories. The point ts, they must together change it • checked then we are guilty of per fective to counter such opportunism pc;tuating the capitalist relationship which is basically an arm of the ex that maintains power, wealth and ploitative economic system. As such Alirtul MolllhlJ 1994:14 (9) Page 14 - Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity - which ex hort us to abhor corruption, we will never find the life-line to clamber out of this terrible CURRE~Il bog. The ACA for its part should CONCERNS display the same zealousness as it is showing now against suspected footballers when it comes to investigating unethi cal politicians, businessmen and civil servants - ~o matter how powerful or well-con nected they may be. In the same way that foot ball players may now be re quired to declare their assets, politicians and top civil ser vants should also be made to declare their assets ~ and this declaration should be publish ed in a public register. As things stand, those sanctimonious parties who are making a big hoo-ha about cor ruption in the football scene are doing us all a big disfavour CORRUPTION: It is a spillover of what is happening in society. The at by pretending that it does not PUBLIC ENEMY titude seems to be: everybody exist in nearly all other facets N0. 1 else is doing it, why should we of Malaysian life. Why the deafening silence when it Aliran is pleased that the miss out on a slice of the ac tion? If we want proof, none of comes to areas outside the foot.: ACA is finally going all out to ball field? nab those guilty of match us needs to look very far to come across instances of cor Anil Netto fixing and corrupt practices in ExcoMember Malaysian football. We hope ruption in everyday life where they will succeed in curbing the culprits get away scot-free. 23 August 1994 this menace. But for some inexplicable It would be wrong to view reason, the ACA seems either (The above statement has not these unethical practices as powerless or unwilling to act. appear ed in any mainstream something peculiar to the foot Is it because it is not truly in English daily) ball scene. In a sense, what is dependent? happening in football is merely A culture of corruption seems to have taken root in a reflection of the larger CANING: Malaysian society-showing us society. By right, the political how low the level of integrity will to combat this menace LOOK AT JUSTICE in society has sunk. It is mere should come from the very top. NOT PUNISHMENT ly the tip of a gigantic iceberg, But unless, top political frozen by apathy and chilled by leaders are willing to become Aliran is surprised to hear legislation like the OSA and outstanding examples of in about the proposal to cane il the Printing Presses and Pub tegrity and virtue, we will sink legal immigrants, male or lications Act - which dis deeper and deeper into this female, who overstay. courages public-spirited morass of scandal and corrup First of all, Aliran is against individuals and groups form tion. So long as we pay lip-ser the move to widen the use of blowing the whistle. vice to our spiritual traditions punitive measures to cure so- Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 15 cial ills. Caning is a form of Since we are facing a severe In the final analysis, what violence and using such labour shortage, can't the is far more crucial than the violence to combat social ills is necessary measures be taken mode of punishment meted out not the hallmark of a humane, to legalise their status in is whether Justice will be al caring society. A study should stead? lowed to take its course, ir be carried out to find out As for the proposal to intro respective of how powerful or whether caning has had any duce caning for white-collar well-connected the accused impact on the level of crime in criminals, we feel that this will parties may be. society. not arrest the declining stand Anil NetJo As in dealing with all other ards of integrity in society. ExcoMember problems, it would be much Again, the problem has to be 23 August 1994 better to tackle the problem of tackled at source. Children illegal immigrants at source. have to be taught the impor How are they entering the tance of ethics and integrity country? Shouldn't the while still at school. This is DRUG ADDICTION: relevant authorities share where our various spiritual ELIMINATE some of the blame for this traditions have an important problem? We realise it is dif role to play. Our leaders have SOURCES OF ficult to patrol our long also got to be shining examples DRUGS coastline thoroughly, but, this of honesty and integrity, some does not absolve the thing which is sorely lacking at Aliran is concerned about authorities from all respon the moment. the level of drug addiction in society. Despite all the harsh sibility. In this respect, we are dis penalties for drug trafficking, Those who advocate caning turbed to note that politicians drug addiction remains a for illegal women immigrants who indulge in money politics serious social problem. have argued that the punish seem to have been exempted ment would not be the same as from the caning proposal; ob Of course, many factors arc that administered to people viously, a case of double stand responsible for this growing convicted of certain crimes. In ards. Before all this talk about menace. Perhaps our model of stead, it would be "more or less caning, we have to ensure that development which like the caning received by justice is meted out fairly to dehumanises the individual delinquent students in school." everyone, no matter how and which places more em But, as far as we know, powerful he may be. Would a phasis on capital rather than female students in school are Minister be able to escape from the human being has some not allowed to be caned; so the hiw after misappropriating thing to do with the growing using this argument to justify millions of shares meant for disillusion felt by certain in caning women illegal im the poor? Can a high-ranking dividuals. These individuals migrants is misleading. politician implicated in a mur could eventually resort to Moreover, we have to bear der case be able to get away drugs as a form of escapism. in mind that illegal im scot-free? Is our judiciary to Whatever the causes, a cru migrants who enter this tally honest and independent? cial question we have to ask is: country are often very poor; All these issues are far how are these drugs entering they have no family nearby; more important than the country? Aliran hopes that they live in unhygenic accom proposals to widen the use of the police and customs are modation; and they are often caning. tightly monitoring all possible exploited by both their entry points into the country. If Moreover, Aliran believes employers and unscrupulous drugs are entering the country that the focus should be on middlemen or "agents". They on such a large scale, then it remedial rather than punitive surely cannot afford the ser means that surveillance at measures. We must remedy vices of a lawyer. Under such possible entry points has not the root causes of these circumstances, how can been effective. Thus the problems rather than thinking anyone have the heart to inflict relevant authorities must of new ways to punish of further suffering on them? share equal responsibilities for fenders, who may often be the What good is caning them the situation we are in. going to do? victims of social ills. ~lirtm Motttllly 1994:14 (9) Page 16 We believe that if the sour It would appear that both our democratic tradition. After ces of the drug inflow into these rallies seem to confirm all, the Attorney-General has Malaysia can be traced and the fact that the country is stated that "a person under in eliminated, we would have ready for public rallies and vestigation has his rights ... scored a major victory in our that the police is able to cope and his safety and interest battle against drug addiction. with this kind of mass gather should be secured". In addition To achieve this victory, it is ings. Aliran, therefore, calls the A-G has also stated that a essential that the integrity upon the government to lift the person is deemed innocent and honesty of the relevant en ban on public rallies forthwith. until proven otherwise. forcement personnel should be Aliran Executive Committee We therefore call upon the beyond question. 25 August 1994 Malaysian Government to im P.Ramakrishnan mediately charge Ashaari in a President (The above statement has not court of law and produce whatever evidence they may 23 August 1994 appeared in any mainstream English daily) have in a fair and open trial. Executive Committee (The above statement has not appeared in any mainstream 3 September 1994 Eng&h daily) ASHAARJ'S (The above statement has not DETENTION appeared in any daily) HAS BAN ON ALIRAN notes the close cooperation between the PUBLIC RALLIES Government of Thailand and ELECTION BEEN LIFTED? Malaysia in th"e detention and COMMISSION: deportation of Ashaari Aliran would like the Muhammad to Malaysia. ENSURE government to clarify whether Ashaari's detention seems DEMOCRACY AND the ban on public rallies has to prove that when the govern been lifted. At yesterday's ment wants to get its man, FAIR AND HONEST gathering at the Dataran Mer there are ways of achieving ELECTIONS deka 30,000 people were this. Aliran welcomes the state reported to have turned up to It is clear now that by celebrate the 20th anniversary ment by Datuk Abdul Rashid revoking the passport of a Abdul Rahman, Secretary of of the formation of Barisan Malaysian residing outside the N asional. Top Barisan the Election Commission, in a country, he is rendered an il working paper presented at a politicians delivered speeches legal visitor and thereby sub that were highly political in Journalism Seminar, calling ject to detention and for the empowerment of the nature. deportation to Malaysia. Commission so that it can A week earlier, 4,000 to Why wasn't this procedure determine a fair and balanced 5,000 people attended a used in similar situations in programme for political broad "unity" gathering in Kepala the past where other casts and advertisement Batas with the main attraction Malaysians implicated in the through state-owned media for being a show of solidarity be BMF and CCB financial scan all political parties in elec tween two UMNO Baru dals had sought refuge tions. leaders, Anwar Ibrahim and abroad? In those cases, the It is absolutely clear to all Abdullah Badawi. Malaysian Government did Malaysians, from the recent Both these gatherings were not bother to revoke the experiences of the 1990 definitely public rallies. Since passports of the culprits and General Elections, the 1991 both these rallies were per have them deported to Sarawak State and 1993 mitted by the Government, Malaysia to face charges. Sabah State elections, that the Aliran would like the Govern We hope that Ashaari Barisan N asional government ment to confirm whether the Muhammad will be treated has repeatedly abused the ban on public rallies has been fairly by the Malaysian state-owned media (in addi lifted. authorities in accordance with tion to the mass media that its AJiran Monthly 1994:.14 (9) Page 17 various parties control and tion of constituency exer Chief Minister of Malacca in own) to project itself and to cises without favouring any the interest of the nation. This denigrate the opposition un one party as has been con would have enhanced the fairly. As Rashid himself stantly alleged by ob image of the country and clarified, the government servers. strengthend the democratic owned media would exclude Under the Federal Consti principle of accountability. any opinion or critical views, tion, the Election Commission The public office that as well as distort the position has been set up as an Rahim Tamby Chik holds is far or actions of opponents, and autonomous body. It should in more important than his posi further, deny them the oppor terpret and play its role in this tion in a political party. As tunity to defend themselves. spirit. In this regard, the Com Cluef Executive of a State, his In fact, to ensure that the mission should begin reporting moral conduct should be elections are fair and honest, to the Malaysian Parliament beyond reproach and above there are several other moves rather than to the government question. that the Election Commission of the day as is currently the The only moral position should undertake. practice. open to Rahim Tamby Chik is On past occasions we have Dr Francis Loh to resign honourably and wait stressed the need for, and Hon. Secretary for the police investigations to called on the Election Commis 6 September 1994 vindicate him. The serious na sion to: ture of the allegation against • restore public rallies (which him is such, AJiran would like the Commission has recent to urge Rahim Tamby Chik to ly recommended); THE ONLY follow this course of action. In • grant more time for cam HONOURABLE doing so vountarily, he will be paigning; the first politicia!l to promote • set the date for elections in THING TO DO IS TO the culture of accountability dependently, without suc STEP DOWN AS and do the nation proud, be cumbing to government CHIEF MINISTER sides ensuring that the office pressures; he holds will remain untar • overhaul the system of post Malaysians should not be nished. al voting, reserving th~t fooled into thinking that Tan P.Ramakrishnan right only for people not Sri Abdul Rahim Tarnby Chik President resident in their original has conducted himself 8 September 1994 constituencies, and ensur honourably by relinquishing ing the presence of Commis his position as UMNO Baru (Tbe above statement has not sion officials as well as Youth leader. appeared in any daily) representatives of the politi Neither should UMNO cal parties at the time of Baru Youth be credited with voting; any moral victory for forcing • disallow the abuse of the In out Rahim Tamby Chik. from formation Department and the UMNO Baru Youth hierar other government agencies chy. and facilities by the incum This would be an erroneous bent once parliament and impression. the state assemblies have Rahim Tamby Chik's action been dissolved; and the role of UMNO Baru • act to ensure that all parties Youth in this affair has noth and candidates do not ex ing to do with taking a moral ceed the legal limits im position. They are only posed on electoral spending safeguarding the image of without waiting for corn their political party. plaints to be lodged; and of Of far more consequence course would be, ifUMNO Baru Youth • register the voters fairly had demanded that Rahim and conduct the rc-delinea- should vacate his position as Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 18 buy shares. There seems to be some under-declaration of income here, I would think. It appears as though the Income Tax chaps have fallen into the same swamp as the Anti-Corruption Agency. Both are apprehensive about going after the big fish. They find it easier to tackle the ilcan bilis. • WHOSE NOSTALGIA? We are told to free ourselves of any colonial mentality, NOUVEAU·RICHE to think like Asians and to espouse Asian values and truditions. But those who preach do not pmctise. For A local billionaire (his lawyer's description) has just instance, there is now a great deal of publicity over the become even richer. In the process, he has very likely put a Eastem & Oriental Express, a railway service designed to business magazine out of business and the joumali~t recapture the mood and ambience of the 1920s European defendants bankrupt. '!his ex-insurance Express. It costs a bomb to travel1n its gilded carriages and salesman-turned-billionaire, took offence at the way the understandably, the semce is aimed primarily at well-shod magazine and its writers had portrayed his buslfleSS Asians and foreigner.; who wh.h to relive the glory of an practices, and his victory in court has struck fear in the hearts empire long sunk. of all journalists. But they don't fear ~nsitive billionaires It would appear that for a httle fore1gn exchange, we are like him as much as they feareduors who are concerned only prepared to play the docile and sub!>Crvient native so that the about saving their own !>kin and little else. Tuan and M'arn can travel in colonial nostalgia and relive '1he manner in wluch the editor-in-chief ofthe magazine the imperialistic dream. denied responsibility for the articles written was deplorable. Instead ofstanding up for hi1. reporters and his magazine, he • claimed he was irmoccnt because he did not see the articles ROMEO WILL RETURN? before they went to pres!>. His excuse: he was forever out-of-town attending ll()rne UMNO Baru meeting or other. Lat. the cartoomst. showed what a classic social That's what you get when you put a politic1an in the editor's commentator he ha'i become when he drew the cartoon seat. above. 'The phr.t.se, "I'm innocent until pmYen guilty" has But this chap 1s evidently not alone. In another suit a.<;Sumed new meaning thanks to the Rahim Thamby Chik brought by Samy VeiJu aga1n'it the editor of a Tamil issue and Lat could not have o;aid it any better. magazine, the editor told the court that he did not go through But the man responsible for loadmg on a whole new the offcnsiYe article after it was written. He read the article perspective to this aspect of natural justice was none other only after it was published. One wonders whether these guys than Dr Mahathir. During the latter part of the episode, understand what editors arc supposed to do. It involves work Mahathir sprung to the detcnce of Rahim, complaining how and responsibility and it is quite different from politics. horribly the poor man (not in a ringgit and sen way, But corning back to this 'billionaire' business, the most naturally) had been perscl:uted particularly by the media, intriguing thing about it wa.'i not the libel suit a.'i much as the and insisting that the Malaccan Romeo was "innocent until claim to billionaire status. for a start, this is the ftrst time proven guilty". In doing so, Mahathir lent a whole new that anyone ha.o; openly. and convincingly, declared himself meaning to those few wonJs as evident from the way all and or herself a billionaire. Most Malaysians tend to be Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 19 in the country. Although we are not insisting that Rahim is Chamber of Commerce, turned out to be nothing but a guilty (since we also subscribe to the golden rule of hoodlum. The man, since arrested by the police, is the boss Innocence), it must be said that the AG was hardly of a triad known as Peh, with some 2,000 members in the convincing in explaining why there was no case against state. All one can say is that the gangster must have felt very Rahim. at home in politics. The AG claimed there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Rahim, which is fine, since that happens quite • often in criminal investigations. It just means there is some evidence, but that it is insufficient. Yet the AG seemed TOY BOY suspiciously anxious to dose the case instead of leaving it open ao; is the practice in criminal cases. He wasn't only Party hacks of Japan's Socialist. Party, whose chief is anxious to clear Rahim's name, but he overstepped the now Prime Minister of·Japan are trying to improve his boundaries of legal propriety when he cast aspersions on the image. The man, who is somewhat long in the tooth, is the young victim's reputation although as theAG, he knows full owner of a rather dour face that they fear would not go down well that under the Evidence Act, a rape victim's well with voters. And true to form, the party hacks have background has no bearing on her evidence. commissioned 1,000 Mumyama dolls selling for about. But the most telling part of how overly eager the AG 1,800 Yen or RM45. Even before the dolls were on the shelf, was in closing the ca'>e wa<; when a reporter asked how many the party had received 100 reservations, although it is not times the girl was alleged to have had sex with Rahim. The dear whether they were reservations for the dolls or reservations over the kooky idea. All one can say is that Mr AG's answer was: "I can't rev~!". It is significant that he did not deny that Rahim had ever had sex with the girl but Murayama ought to be thankful that he is not the PM of some merely declined to say how many times. Caribbean state where voodoo is widely practised. The progress of this sordid affair is highly disturbing from the way the police restricted access to the viL1im while • handling Rahim with kid-gloves, to the AG's skin-deep DEADLY POLITICS reasons for closing the tile on Rahim. The young girl was virtually a prisoner and it seemed When Nazri Aziz, the acting UMNO Baru Youth unfair that she was denied access to people who could advise chairman, stood his ground against the UMNO Baru her on her predicament, on her rights as a minor and on what president, some thought that the Youth wing (also known as she is entitled to. It appeared as though certain parties were the Echo) was on the way to regaining a mind of its own trying to hide something by keeping the viL1im under police after so many years of inconsequence. I lis outburst against custody. Mahathir' s defence ofRahim Thamby Chik made headlines. The other noteworthy point lies perhaps in the way the Unfortunately, his moml stance collapsed into crumbs AG responded to the question of whether this meant that of humble pic a few days later and it was Rahim was innocent and that he had been exonerated. The a-thousand-apologies to the president from a greatly AG's answer: "Whether it exonerates him or not is for you humbled Nazri. to conclude." Well, Mr AG, I think you know our His round-about tum shows that his fit of temper was conclusion. And we feel mther sorry for you because you nothing more than a childish one, though some people jokctl seem to be starting your career as Attorney- General in that he wao; so daring because he reportedly had almost ardent detence of characters whom people have very little become Dr M's son-in-law severul years ago. faith in or respect for. But if one goes back to the UMNO Baru election last The ambivalence of the AG was not infectious for on year, one would recall that Nazri had been one of the most the same afternoon, Rahim issued a hand-written stateJnent vocal and earnest advocates of Rahim in the latter's bid to (the joke was no typist wanted any part in the statement) be UMNO Baru Youth chairman. Nazri, if one will recall, declaring that justice had been done, that he was not guilty wao; also one ofthe most 'kasar' ofthose pressurising Ghafar of the allegations, that he had been declared innocent and Baba to step aside in the race for the vice-presidency. that he would leave the question of his political future to the His support tor a man so poorly respected and attacks party leadership. lbe last part was particularly frightening on another much rcspc<..1cd cost him votes and he could not for it implied that he has not abandoned hope of returning even win a place in the UMNO Baru Supreme Council. So to the political arena. why act so moral now? It is not as though he wa-; unaware of Rahim's reputation even then. His recent and high mom I • babble smacks of hypocrisy and self- interest since he stands POLff/CAL HOODLUM to gain from Rahim's going. Nazri must have, at times, wished he also had a bomoh We have lost count ofthe numerous crooks and conmcn to help end his political bad luck although the one his late who have tried to pao;s off as royalty, pretending to be the uncle turned to ended the latter's political career for good. police and ofcourse, posing as politicians. Just a few months I lis uncle is none other than the late Datuk Mazlan. Mazlan' s ago, a two-term municipal councillor wa-; exposed to be an past lite is now being laid bare in the trial of Mona Fandey, illegal immigrant. We thought that wal; the pit<;, but recently, her husband and their sidekick, who are alleged to have a Penang politician, also prominent in the Penang Chinese murdered him by chopping him up into pieces. Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 20 The deceased was said to be a devoted believer in create the impression that they got there because they were bomohs tor purposes ranging from retaining his youth and well-read vigour to furthering his political career. [I is claimed that he Not too long ago, a well-known -;econdhand bookstore had coru.ultcd Mona to help h1m become the next MB of in KL got a <.:all from the personal a.sSI!>tant of a local tycoon. Pahang. Actually, the practice of consulting bomohs is s:ud enquiring about buymg books to 5h.X:k two walb of shelve~ to be highly commonplace among Malay politicians. Many in the office of h1s !loss. The bookstore owner sent a Malay politicians, it is said, go to sec a bomoh at some point recommended li5t ofbookson management, philosophy and in his or her political career. Jn the case of at least two whatever it is that tycoons a.re supposed to read. The assistant menteris besar. it is believed, they have a few full time called bad. to say that they would take a.n)thmg bomohs working for them. leather-bound and which had cmbos5ed lettering in gold on Some even go all the way to Thai land and Ja, a to seek the cover and !>pine The subject matter was irrelevant. supernatural help for their career (fore1gn consultant'> are always bener-lah.'). • It i~ sa1d that there is a very famou<; lxlmoh in Solo whom THE FAMILIAR DIRT ROAD many well-known politicians had <.:on~ulted at one time or another. One politician who apparently did not visitthbSolo Even before the du!>t of battle has !>cttled in Sabah. the wiLanl was said to be Musa Hitam. He reportedly sent an victors are a! read) squabbling over the 'poll!>. Two group!> aide on tus behalf. Maybe that '<; why he lost his bid f~ the in UMNO Raru Sabah are at loggerheads o'er a party leadc~h ip . multi-million nngg1t timber deal. The obJe<.:t of dispute 1s Sabah Softwoods whose main as:.et ~~ 60,000 glonous • hectares of fore'>t. A group within IJMJ'I/0 Baru Sabah had DOWN TO EARTH opposed the sale of a controlling share of Sabah Soft woods to NBT, a company whose chaitman is none other than the It appears a.<; though Abuya ha.'> finally returned to the state UMNO Haru Youth leader and nephew to the Chief right path. The 'confession' by Ashaari Muhammad and Minister. Well, well. could the BN govemment in Sabah be several ke) AI- Arqam followers at a dialogue (although one going down t~ famthar road taken hy first lJSNO. then fails to see !low the e\ent wuld be ternled a dialogue when &Ijaya and finally, PBS "' This wa\ the road that led onl) one part) Wa!. allowed to ask the questions) organised ultimately to a hetrayal of the peopk and political dis Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 21 QUESTIONS FOR MONEY Whatever it is, no taxpayer 1s going to be happy about more money fur arms. Moreover, our contidence about the There w-.1!> an upwar in the British Parliament over MPs ~•l\ our hard-earned molle) "being spent on armaments being pa1d to asl 4uestions on behalf of Harrod~ . an co~ld not ha'e l:x--cn boosted ~ilh the string of a1rton:e up-market c.lcparuncnt \tore in London It seems that t~o cra-;he~. the moM recent 'of ~hich came A/iran lUtmlllly 1994:14 (9) Page 22 MYSTERY The Mystery of the Missing Gold Coin A little Gold Coin went astray, and it certainly created a stir; the Minister huffed: I'd returned it, the Bank cried: aye, we received it. All was well, or so t'was thought, until a knight emerged - out of the blue; Behold! Sir Steven, dressed in shining armour, riding gallantly to the Minister's rescue. Too late, the mysterious knight gushed, •trs all right, everything's fine; I misplaced the blinking Coin, Th8 fault is no one's, but mine. • The Bank's shattered standard turned from pale blue to an embarasaecl red; The CEO sighed, ·we've said, ...... lei.· l...... ,.., bed. Klflllilit Gold Coin, ...... L .--.1111; A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 23 The Tale of the Lost Coin ... reading between the lines esterday (20 July) he (Abdul Ghani Othman) said that he was shown a sample of the coin m a meeting with a delegation from the Hong YKong-based Mocatta in 1991 and had returned it to (Dr Stephen) Goh. (NST, 22 July) He (Ghani) said he was led to believe that Goh was the one who could return the coin to the owner.. at that time. ''Dr Goh was one of the main persons during the discussions." (The Star, 22 July) Meanwhile, the Hong Kong-based Mocatta said it had no lnowledge of a Dr Steven (or Stephen) Goh. (The Star 22 July) He (Goh) also clarified that he was not a member of the Mocatta delegation but attended the meeting m h1s capacity as a businessman. (The Star. 22 July) "It is true that Ghani handed me the gold coin in question after the discussions with the officials at the Finance Ministry and I was asked to return the coin to Mocatta."- Or Stephen Goh, on 21 July. (The Star, 22 July) "Everything is now in order. The gold coin was returned some time in late 1991. 1 do not know the exact date but it was returned and that is all there is to Jt. Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd executive director Razman Hashim, on 21 July. (NST, 22 July) 'They the (foreign Pres'>) don't know what they are talking about. It's easylo say the coin i-. missing when you don't carry out a proper investigation. -Razman Hashim on 21 July. (The Star, 22 July) Businessman Dr Steven Goh Swee Ngee yesterday (21 July) confirmed that he did receive from former Deputy Finance Minister Ghani Othman a gold coin worth US$1 0,000 belonging to Standard Chartered pic's Mocatta bullion divtsion in 1991 but he had misplaced it. He said he would compensate the bani.. for the lossoftheone kilo gold com. (The Star, 22 July) Ac;ked why he had not given the coin back, Goh said Mocatta did not seek it<; return and he had misplaced it about two years ago. (The Star, 22 July) "I've seen the file concerned .... and it is clear that the gold coin was given with a lener stating that it is only a sample and has to be returned."- Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 22 July. (NST, 23 July) Ghani Othman A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 24 Bank looks at Malaysia Link to missing gold coins By Robert Peston tandard Chartered is investigating the disappearance of $10,000 ( 6,400) of gold coins, allegedly given by its Mocatta bullion division to a Malaysian minister as a S"trade sample". The disappearance of the coins has emerged as part of a wide-ranging probe by the London-based international bank into allegations that Mocatta executives may have paid commissions to officials in the Philippines and Malaysia to obtain business. "The investigation into what happened to the gold is still going on," commented a banker. "There may be a perfectly innocent explanation, though it all looks very odd." The disclosure of the disappearance of the coins comes at an embarrac;sing time for the British government, which had been hoping that Malaysia might soon announce a lifting of its ban on UK participation in Malaysian government contracts. That ban was put in place because of the Malaysian government's fury with the British press over the Pergau Dam alleged arms-tor-aid deal and allegations of bribes paid to Malaysian politicians. The Bank of England has been kept closely informed of Standard Chartered's investigation and is understood to be concerned about it5 implications for diplomatic relations between the UK and Malaysia. The Malaysian High Commissioner in London, Mr Abu Kamaradin, yesterday met Standard Chartered's chief executive, Mr Malcolm Williamson, to discuss the bank's probe. Last night Mr Kamaradin had no comment to make on the allegations. Standard Chartered has also uncovered evidence that payments may have been made to officials at the Philippine~ central bank in order to win business. The bank said yesterday that it had uncovered "a small number of unusual transactions" involving the Far Eastern operations of its Mocatta subsidiary, as part of its attempt to improve controls in the group. More recently, it has discovered "discrepancies in expense claims". It said that reasons given for the expenses "included gifts to individuals in certain countries to facilitate business, a practice contrary to bank rules and procedures". The bank has not proved that the specific gifts were passed on to the alleged recipients or that the expenses were genuinely incurred, but the investigation is continuing. The sums involved in the expenses claims run to tens of thousands of pounds, according to a banker. Two senior Mocatta executives have been dismissed by the bank. One, who was based in Hong Kong, left the group in January. The other, based in London, went more recently. Bankers said yesterday that the Standard Chartered disclosures would make life more difficult for many western banks operating in the Asia-Pacific region, which as a matter of course make payment<; to local ofticials in order to obtain business . • Source: Financial Times, 19 July 1994 (Front paRe) Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 25 SCANDAL Kedah MB abused power says developer On June 21, 1994, Kedah developer, SYED MANSOR BIN SYED SALIM created a stir in the Kedab Malay Chamber of Commerce Meeting by accusing the Menteri Besar of Kedah Tan Sri 'fUDUHAN OSMAN AROFF of corruption. In a widely circulated and signed document, SYED TERifAOAP MANSOR accused the MB of Kedab of 9 counts of corruption and cballenged the MB to take him to court to prove his innocence within seven days. OSMAN @ MOifO. DAUO BIN AROFF The MB responded by declaring on 22 June 1994 that he was going to sue SYED MANSOR. But later, on 3 July 1994 the MB changed his mind and decided that be was not going to sue after alL We carry SYED MANSOR's charges in fulL Oaripada : SYEO MANSOR BIN SYEO SALIM Charges The cover of Syed Mansor's statement ou, Osman @ Md. Daud bin Aroff, KIP: 4177466 are hereby charged Bbd at a price ofRM600,000/ using the name with committing irregularities by Y lzbar Sulaiman as the Company Director. abusing your power as Kedah Menteri Besar for your personal and family interests. You [iv] You had also bought 4 plots of land had also committed a cnminal offence of GM47l, Lot: 2209, GM472 Lot: 2210, corruption which violates the Anti-Corrup GM473 Lot: 2211 and GM474 Lot: 2212 all tion Act, 1961 (Act 57). of which are in Mulum A lor Malai. together with a bungalow near Taman Mahkota, Jalan Stadium, You are hereby charged with the following: Alor Setar using the name lzhar Sulaiman. This bun li] You are found to have led an opulent lifestyle includ galow, bought at a price of about RM l million, has been ing owning luxury houses on Jalan Menteri and 1929-U, left vacant for two years. Taman Darulaman, Jalan Stadium, Alor Setar. You and [v] You had conducted business with Kuari Sdn Bhd by your children possess luxury cars KU 2, KAB I 1, KY I, providing the company a guarantee of RM31, 163,024.60 and KH I. You must declare your assets publicly. - according to a civil ca~;e C23-129-1986 at the Kuala (ii] You had taken an additional 3 lots of Government Lumpur High Coun. The civil suit was filed by Bank land at Jalan Menteri without following the proper Bum.iputra Malaysia Berhad against you. Government procedures and practices. [ v1] To settle your debts with Bank Bumiputra Malaysia [iii] You had boughtlandLot561 atJalanMenteri,owned Berhad, you had given State Government contracts par by Chartered Bank, through a Syarikat Is Massive Sdn ticularly to a certain lzhar Sulaiman, KIP No:4653148 A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 26 residing at 83-A, Sri Taman, Jalan Sultanah, 05350 Alor (M) Sdn Bhd bearing the address 1934, Jalan Stadium, Setar, Kedah. A lor Setar, Kedah Darul Aman. This company had also fviil You had appointed the abovementioned Izhar obtained a contract to build the new Langkawi District sulaiman as your proxy in Sisma Management Sdn Bhd Office building. which obtained State Government contracts totalling [ix] You had used the name Izhar bin Sulaiman in three hundred and fifty-four million (RM354 million) for Syarikat Ideal Appraisal Sdn Bhd bearing the address No. the privatisation of water purification for 15 years. You 23, Tingkat Satu SeberangJalan Putra. Because you have had also granted special concession to this company by interests in this company, you had used your power as the allowing them to pay an implementation bond of only Chairman of PKNK by acquiring land from the area RMJ.2 million, when it should have been RM17 million, behind Taman Ria, Sungai Petani up to Sungai Lalang, that is 5% of the total project cost of RM354 million. covering an area more than 7,000 acres for an estimated [viii] You had given a contract to build the Kuala Kedah compensation value exceeding RM500 million. bridge at a CO!>t of about RMR million to Syarikat Harijaya As Chief Executive of the Kedah State Government you had agreed to the acquisition of the land mentioned above MB to sue developer in a Kedah State Govern ment Exco meeting in he Menteri Besar's immediate reaction was made at a Press conference at March 1992. his office at Wisma Darul Aman. Osman had earlier officiated at the With regard to the proposed Tchamber's opening ceremony. development on the said land, the Kedah State 0:-man said he would file a defamation suit against Syed Mansor and described the Government and also you a<; allegations as wild and baseless. the Menteri Besar had It was an attempt by Syed Mansor to tarnish his name, he said. adding he would neglected your respon instruct his lawyers to file f(Jr an injunction to stop Syed Mansor from further sibility in safeguarding the distributing the statement to the public. interests and rights of the The Menteri Besar also said he was Malays by surrendering the wtlling to be investigated by the Anti power to determine the Corruption Agency (ACA) to clear Bumiputra quota to the himself. developer. Osman said: "I was shocked ... he ap With regard to the above proached me after lunch (after the charges, you are given a opening ceremony) about the matter. period of seven days to take court action against me. If "Later, I was infonned that he had you do not respond to this distributed the thing (statements) ear challenge, and choose to lier. '' He must now prove his allega remain silent, you are tions. Syed Mansor has maue a lot of deemed to have committed allegations ... I lion 't know what his corrupt practices under the intentions are. I don· t know his rnoti ve Anti -Corruption Act 1961 ... he was trying to embarrass me. He Act 57). has the guts to challenge me. probably he has proof ... 1 want to know. Probab- The above charges are made ly he is giving me an opportunity to Osman: Shocked by Syed Mansor bin Syed clear my name. Osman said he would Salim, KIP: 3696009 who respond to Syed Mansor's challenge to resides at 292,. Taman take him (Sycd Mansor) to court for making the allegations. Nilam, Alor Setar, dated: 21 June 1994. He did not discount the possibility that Syed Mansor was used by the opposition to discredit him and the State Government. "Whatever I did was for the development of the State," he said in reponse to the allegations that he awarded projects for his own benefit. New Straits Times, .lwte 22, /994 Signed A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 27 - :MB won't take court numerous occasions before," he Osman added he believed the State action against trader said. Anti-Corruption Agency was Osman, who regarded Syed aware of the allegations made by Sungai Petani, Sat. - Menteri Besar Mansor's actions as being political Syed Mansor. Tan Sri Osman Aroff said today he ly motivated, said the businessman "I leave it to the people to judge for will not seek legal redress against a and the Opposition parties were themselves. A lot of people in A! or businessman for alleging he was "trying to tmp me". Star know who Syed Mansor really involved in corrupt practices. "They want me to go to court and is. The people are also mature on He said his lawyers had advised him this is part of their smear campaign these matters. I will not stoop to his against taking any action against against me, especially now that the)' level by entertaining his allega housing developer Syed Mansor (Opposition parties) know the tions," he said. SyedSalim. general election is around the The Mcnteri Besar added that his "We studied the allegations and my corner. 'case", if brought to court, could lawyers have advised me not to take "I will not be dragged into this mess give rise to a lot of speculation. any action against Syed Mansor. I do not think Syed Mansor really His allegations are nothing new. knows what he isdoing. At any rate, Similar allegations in poison-pen I will not bring myself down to his New Straits Times, July 3, 1994 letters have been sent to me on level," he said. Notice of action served on Chairman of "What he did can be considered biadap" Kedah Malay Chamber of Commerce and which statement was published in the New Straits APOLOGY DEMANDED Times on the 1st day of July, 1994. We are further instructed by our client thatthe aforesaid words which you uttered and which was published in the Newspaper meant and were understood to mean that our client is uncivilised, savage, primitive and ill-man Syed Mansor, who is also a Commissioner for nered. Our client is therefore seriously injured in his Oaths, has demanded an apology from the character, credit, and reputation, brought into public Chairman of the Kedah Malay Chamber of scandal, odium and contempt and had been lowered in Commerce, Syed Razak bin Syed Zain Barakbah the estimation of right thinking persons generally. who found himself embroiled in the controversy involving corruption allegations against the Kedah Our client is a Commissioner for Oaths and also a MB. In a press statement, Syed Razak had housing developer and a prominent businessman. decalared: "What be (Syed Mansor) did can be Without Prejudice to our client tiling legal proceedings considered biadap. for damages in respect of the said libellous statement, we are instructed to demand an apology from you, We reproduce the Notice of Action below from which apology to be published immediately with ap Syed Mansor's lawyers, Thomas, BaJa & propriate prominence in the New Straits Times and all Associates addressed to Syed Razak: other Newspapers which carried the aforesaid defamatory remarks in the future. If we fail to receive a suitable reply from you within seven (7) days from the date of receipt of this notice our We act for Tun Syed Mansor bin Syed Salim of PJS., instructions are to institute legal proceedings against Sdn. Bhd., Lot 171, Tingkat I, Komplek Alor Setar, you for damages for libel and other appropriate reliefs. Lebuhraya Darulaman, A lor Setar, Kedah Darulaman. Dated the 21st day of August 1994 We are instructed by our client that you, on the 30th day ofJun e, 1994 made a press statement in which statement you falsely and maliciously uttered the following words ThortUJS, BaJa & Associates against our client:- Advocates & Solicitors Aliran MonJhly 1994:14 (9) Pagt 28 JEFFREY'S REWARD When he was in the opposition, Jeffrey IGtingan was charged with corruption - many charges, big and small. But after he defected to the The Editor ruling Barisan Nasional Coalition in ALIRAN MONTHLY Sabah, all charges were dropped by P.O.Box 1049 the DPP without any explanation. 10830 Penang Malaysia We welcome letters from readers. These letters may be edited for purposes of space and clarity. The views may not be those of ALIRAN MONTHLY. Pseudonyms are accepted but all letters should Include the writer's nome and address. Letters should preferably be typewritten with double spacing; if handWritten they should be legible. Letters should be addressed to the Editor, AURAN MONTHLY. THE ENVIRONMENT: always tind ways and means to develop and progress while preserv GOD'S PRECIOUS ing our natural habitat which is to be GIFT TO US treasured because man cannot create this. Man can on I y create man-made Man and his environment are substances, machinery and the like God's gift to us. God created the with the knowledge God has given Jeffrey Kitingan: All charges against earth with all its beauty and splen him. him dropped without explanation. dour and living creatures so that man The world today faces an acute shortage of natural resources, fish, will have dominion over all that God Malaysians can only gape with animals, birds, plants and trees. We has created. How much do we ap wonder at this sudden about-turn by have to make do with man-made preciate all this? We have gone the authorities. about indiscriminately destroying substitutes. The world can afford to our env1ronment. What we leave be go slow in its modernisation and Dark Justice li hind will be a trail of destruction progress in order to preserve the TAWAU which we will have to live with all most precious gift God has given us our lives. We were made to live in - our beautiful earth. So many harmony with our surroundings, to people think or take lightly this issue treasure and preserve it, and per of our environment because it docs INCULCATING petuate life and all living creatures not affect them directly and their SUBSERVIENC~ and the surroundings. lives. The consequences of our Instead, what we have done is to destruction wi II bear fruit in years to This letter is written without fear build more and more concrete build come when our children will face a or favour and as such I wish to relate ings while chopping our trees, con whole new world with no more what is transpiring in some of the structing roads while working our trees, lakes, seas, blue skies, birds Tamil schools despite the call for a way into our jungles- the preserve and animals to enjoy. We may not caring school campaign by our of birds, animals and people who see that day but the future genera Director-General of Education. live there. We have disturbed our tions will. Many are man's follies Recently I was posted to a Tamil environment to such an extent that but man's greatest mistake would be school and during the course of my there is no room for these living not to check what he does to his own duty I observed some serious beings to move anywhere. In order natural enviroment. problems. The New Remuneration to move forward in life, it is not Dr MargaretA Fernandez System has promoted many teachers necessary to destroy our environ PENANG in Tamil schools who have no ment so indiscriminately. We can leadership qualities. I find that the basis for promotion and award of Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Pag~ 29 diagonal or vertical increments is And generally, Senior Assistants The Burmese regime is an il none other than subservience dis and other senior teachers tend to legitimate one having driven out and played by the recipient. Those who take a "do-not-rock-the-boat" at persecuted the rightful political say "yes" or are allied to a political titude. Since many of them are party which scored an overwhelm party and are able to cringe con hoping to move up in the hierarchy, ing victory at the last election. Aung spicuously manage to go up. sensitive and controversial issues San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize Teachers with principles and char are the last things they would want winner, remains under house arrest. acter cannot advance under the to bring up. Therefore as a con Hundreds have been murdered and present system. cerned teacher, I hope the Education imprisoned. Some heads in Tamil schools Ministry will look into the conduct The illegitimate Burmese have created the hidden curriculum of these "authoritarian headmasters" regime is desperate for international for their schools to teach unques in Tamil schools. recognition. Burma needs Sin tioning respect for authority (head S Sundralingam gapore much more than Singapre master/headmistress). This TAlPING needs Burma at this stage. authoritarian climate in the school, I urge Goh Chok Tong and other trains the child to be docile, obedient ASEAN leaders to isolate the im and compliant. Even independent moral Burmese regime. A few extra thought and critical questioning and SINGAPORE PM dollars in trade is not sufficient thinking has been discouraged reason to overlook basic democratic among teachers and students. SHOULD NOT VISIT princ1ples. Sad to note but Tamil sch Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 30 Prior to the US interventions, can guarantee this? None of us has liberal form of democray could lead every aid organisation operating in the ability now. to anarchy. Somalia had to pay thousands of How long should we, in third What an alarmist! What is wrong dollars as bribes to various warlords world countries, tolerate our with equality and freely exercised in order to unload and transport their leaders' nonsense? I am fed up with political rights? I think the Armed aid materials to those in need. Still it their rhetoric. They ignore our sin Forces Chief General needs a would not guarantee a safe arrival. cere suggestions and views. They refresher on certain crucial My brothers and sisters could see the always tell us that the West is democratic concepts. food being unloaded m Somalian manipulating our mind. Democratic Watch ports but they had no strength to wait I respect DrS Husm Ali's view KUCHING for its arrival. This is not the dignity in potraying Mohd Aideed as the we expect from an independence symbol of resistance to American struggle. imperialism. To me, Mohd Aideed is I am not an intellectual to give no better than Bentong Kali. Ben POLICE you an academic definition of the tong Kali was treated as a hero by term 'human dignity'. A nation's certain quarters in this country. INSENSITIVITY dtgnity is represented by its inde Being an Indian Malaysian, I am MARS TEMPLE pendence from all kinds of foreign proud to write that I never con FESTIVAL intervention. In the case of Somalia, sidered Bentong Kalt as a symbol of the major threat to its independence resistance to any of the injustices in The Hmdu community con is from the aid organisations and this country. Rather I treated him as demns the action of a few pol icemen people who bribed the warlords to a social menance. He should be at a recent temple festival in Butter continue the anarchy. They should treated accordingly. My sisters and worth. be condemned for their action. brothers in Somalia would definin If the policemen thought that the Why? You are no doubt aware that tely treat Mohd Aideed in the same refreshment sheds did not comply western aid agencie!. are under manner. with certain procedures, they should tremendous fmancial difficulties be I therefore appeal to all aid or have consulted the temple officials cause of the recession in the major ganisations operating in Somalia to who had the authority to control the donor countries. Less money il> col leave at once and not to interfere in refreshment stalls. Instead they took the efforts of the people to restore lected. People "'ho work for ailll or the law into their own hands and ganisations feel threatened. Top nid their dignity once again. went around threatening the offictals in western capttals are in May God bless the people of devotees and young girls who were dire need ofpictures oflivtng human Somalia in their efforts. serving dnnks to the public. This skeletons and human suffering dis Varughese George @ Manoj unwanted action by the few played on TV screens to ensure their PETAUNG JAYA policemen nearly created chaos personal survival. Thus they want, at when a few thousand devotees had whatever cost, to prolong the human a peaceful demonstration in front of suffering. I can understand the aid STRANGE the Butterworth Police Station. organisations' opposition to US in DEMOCRACY The Barisan NasionaJ govern tervention. They are fighting for ment is practising religious Indonesia's Armed Forces Chief their survival. tolerance and understanding and Why is Dr S Husin Ali feeling General Feisal Tanjung has said that the military supports openness but fostering a caring society, but a few guilty? What is his contribution to black sheep are spoiling the good warned that liberal democracy was stop the human carnage in Somalia image of the police force in par not for Indonesia. or, for that matter, in any other ticular and the Barisan Nasional place? Does he believe that the Although the military is com government in general. people of Somalia should not be mitted to the current drive to allow more freedom of expression and to We hope that the Chief Police given priorty in receiving interna of Penang will investigate lessen intervention in party politics, Otticer tional help just because the US the incident thoroughly and take ap some groups were misusing their didn't stop the human carnage in propriate disciplinary action against other places? Human dignity repre new opportunities, Tanjung said. the policemen concerned. sents our courage to stand up for "They are forcing for a concept justice and peace. People of Somalia of democracy based on equality and P Balakrishna need a regime which can guarantee freely exercised political rights," BUKIT MERTAJAM peace in that war-torn country. Who Tanjung said, adding that such a Aliran MonlhJy 1994:14 (9) Page 31 POLICE METHODS freedom to air denial or explana stop accepting advertisement mes tion," he said. sages such as "Congratulations", ENDANGER Oh really, Tok Mat? If that is the "Thank You", "Welcome" and ILLEGAL BIKERS' case why doesn't RTM and TV3 others in the newspapers. allow equal TV airtime to the op The cost of such advertisement~ LIVES position in Malaysia so that they can which can be as high as RM20,000 rebut the numerous allegations is finally passed on to the consumers I can still remember vividly the made by Government ministers over by the companies concerned. So if news scene on television where our our local news? leaders can stop this wastage of local policemen tried to stop an il Double Standards funds, I am very sure that the legal bikers' race. I watched in hor JOHORBARU productJon cost will be lower. ror as they swung their batons onto The above can definitely be one the bikers' helmets in an attempt to of the measures to fight inflation. stop them, whilst they were travell The amount spent by state ing at top speed, some bikers col ANTI-INFLATION: government<; or their agency com lided into one another trying to panies to place advertisements in evade these policemen. Yes, these GOVTSHOULD newspapers to welcome the Prime bikers were definitely wrong to race SET EXAMPLE Minister's visit to their respective but did their misdeeds warrant pos states can be better used in providing sible death punishment at the hands All Malaysians welcome the basic facilities such as low-cost of these inconsiderate policemen? anti-inflationary campaign houses for needy Malaysians. The Surely there must be other ways launched by our "Popular Prime go\ernment should stop spendi~ other than brute force. Minister", Dr Mahathir Mohamad huge amounts of public funds to Malaysians know so little about on 19 May 1994 to mark World plea.se leader-. who officiate at open their individual rights; it is sad to Consumers' Day. ing and closing ceremonies for note that we submit to alleged police Malaysians are famous for all seminars. conferences, workshops brutality without defence most of sorts of campaigns. We held a cam and launchings. the time. paign to clean up our clogged drains. One other area of concern which Is one in uniform given such I am sure this can go into the Gui must be pointed out is the annual rights to abuse someone even ness Book of World Records. We award of titles b) the King, the though the suspect is innocent until have had campaigns to promote Malay rulers and the four Gover proven guilty? coconut water, rabbit meat, jagung, nors. 1 am not saying that those So much outcry about human the planting of trees, curbs on smok deserving should not be awarded a rights at the homefront about Bos ing and drugs, and also the famous title. What happens is, when one is nian refugees but are we talking Semarak campaigns. awarded a title, one has to spend about the same fundamental human However, l think all this fanfare unnecessarily in making lounge rights here? is organised by the government to suits to receive the title. This may Concerned increase inflation because we are cost between a few hundred to a KUAlA LUMPUR very fond of spending huge sums of thousand nnggll. And in most cases. money for opening and closing the su1t probably is used only once ceremonies for the most insig or at the most once a year. Why not nificant of functions. allo-w the rec1pients to use our na TOK MAT'S DOUBLE If the government is serious tional ature (batik shirts), instead of STANDARD about curbing inflation, I suggest the lounge SUits? Prime Minister should direct all Make batik shirts compulsory at tire for all government and public Tok Mat recently got all hot and Cabinet Ministers and Menteris function'> especially outdoor func bothered when CNN did not carry Besar to set the example to be fully committed to fight against inflation tions Batils are not only cheaper Mahathir's denial of a CNN news than lounge suits but also more com item which alleged that Malay<>ia and to be knowledgeable about the problems faced by consumers, espe fortable and suitable ·for our hot was supplying arms to Bosnia. climate Surely wearing lounge suits He said thatCNN should explain cially price increase of essential IS not part of the Vision 2020 objec why Mahathir's denial was not food items. For a start. all government tive. aired. Antt-mflationary measures must "If there is freedom to air leaders right from the Prime Mini start with the government first. In reports, there must also be an equal ster to State Assemblymen should A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 32 this respect, I wonder whether the deny the people's will to exerc1se passive response from the people to Bukit Kayu Hitam-Johor Baru their conscience freely. their democratic responsibilities be electric train project announced by Communalism cause there is no guarantee that their the Prime Minister is an anti-infla choice of political party will be The Barisan always speaks tionary measure. respected. When the Prime Ministr about multi-ethnic unity but when it said that the rights of society should V Vembarasan comes to election time it practises take precedence over the rights of KEIANG the contrary. This is because the individuals, what did he really unity that it speaks of is based on ethnic groups working for political mean? Is this not hypocrisy on the part of our leaders? stability which is seen as a prereq It is vital for the people of SABAH ELECTIONS: uisite for economic development, Malaysia to understand the type of DANGEROUS and not in a deeper context of election strategy used by the UMNO universal spirituality that stresses POLITICAL TRENDS Baru-led government which is the oneness of humanity. This is why when UMNO Baru based on material development, The recent state election in unity based on contradiction, and finds that the party is unable to get Sabah where the PBS won by a the encouragement of party-hop the support of a particular ethnic simple maJOnty revealed a ping which is individualistic. This group, it goes all out to touch on dangerous trend of politics practised strategy, in the long run, threatens to communal and religious sentiments. by the Barisan Nasional. h revealed overwhelm ethical and spiritual The Prime Minister's tactics in three trends: bribery, communalism values which are vital in confronting accusing the PBS of frightening the and individualism. Here are a few global challenges. Kadaian community by saying that factors that need to be taken into churches will be destroyed if the Ronald AIL Benjamin Joseph account: Barisan comes to power wao; a last IPOH Bribery minute political and p:.ychological The Barisan Nasional political strategy to get the Muslims to vote 'trate£) of luring the people of for the Barisan on election day, as he Sabah overemphasising economic knew the Kadazan-Dusun com HAMID GOT WHAT development and aid is tantamount munity were strongly behind the HE DESERVED to po(jtical bribery which equals PBS. corruption. It is corruption because What is the motive of revealing Thank you for featuring all those the funds used by political parties do such an issue in a multi-ethnic interesting articles about the Hamid not come under proper scrutiny due society? The political objectives of Omar saga. The A-G has said his to the lack of an effective Vision 2020 can only be achieved if piece and it appears that Wee Choo mechanism to check abuse. This there is an absence of voting along Keong has jumped from the frying erodes competitive politics because communal lines. pan into the fire. Although the the richest politicnl party has an ad mainstream press will, as usual, vantage over its competitors. Individualism swallow the official version hook, The Bari<;an strategy creates an After the PBS victory by 3 line and sinker, I hope your unhealthy environment "'hereby the simple 25-23 majority, Barisan at magazine will continue to probe and people would want to be bribed into tempted to entice State As ask questions. supporting the government. ff the semblymen from the PBS and it First of all, I am very confused people can be bribed by material ultimately succeeded. The collec about the dates. When did Hamid gains by their own politicians then tive will of the people was no longer sell the car after getting the final the nation is also vulnerable to important. This kind of practice en revised offer from the Finance Min foreign imperialistic bribery. The courages extreme individualism istry? Wee claims the final offer by relationship between the govern which is contrary to the Asian em the Finance Ministry was given on ment in power and the people in the phasis on the collective inter~t of 29 June 1991 after which Hamid long run will merely be based on society. It also demonstrated the un sold the car to New Kwong Soon on economic gains and not in the wider checked power of the Barisan which 19 March 1993 (Note that this is less social dimension of political is capable of imposing its will in than two years). Wee also claims morality and soltdanty denying the rights of the majority of New Kwong Soon transferred the Development IS the respon voters. car to MBF on the same day. sibility of the Government in power. If party-hopping is encouraged, According to Hamid's version, It cannot be used as a weapon to in the long run it could lead to a in his .interview with Malaysian Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 33 Busmess, he got the final approval two years? As a friend who stays Anwar: from Daim on 15 May 1991 He sold nearby put it. 'Hamid's wealth ha.<; "Weare one the car in February 1993 (he shows grown ostensibly in the past couple family" copy of cheque (?or ts it receipt) to of years!' MB Whatever, it is still less than Perhaps Hamrd is still indispen two yearc; Th1c; 1<; 1mportant because sable after all. which is why he j, although the AG tnes to c;a)' there is being cleared. I was very upset"' hen no problem with the -.ale, the fact is Salleh Abas was sacked in those cir all senior government servants are cumstances and I sometime<, feel not allowed to <,ell cars they have like Hamid is getting what he deser bumtputras, while illegal In bought from the government within ves. But I feel that the greatest donesians or Filipino immigrant\ a two-year penod (Ahmad Sarji tragedy of all is that a once proud who came only last month and got himself said that soon after). While Judiciary has now been so scan false identity cards and documenta Hamid cleverly tries to pull in dalised that we may not be sure of tion treated as "bumiputras"? people like ACA Chief Zulkifli our day in court anymore. Imagine Previously, when general elec Mohammad, he has still committed Hamid saying in his intervrew with tions were around the corner, ruling a technical error of 'profiteering' MB that he knows everyone from party leaders used to go to China and from the government'-. good faith by Lim Goh Tong to Vincent Tan, etc. I Indta. This is happening now. getting n<.l of hi<, car before the two admire his candour but I would What a -;mart way to fool the year period. hesitate going to court before him if 'brother' voters who are in 'one (It may interest readers if Alimn I have a case against Berja) a nr family'' Carry on Anwar! We, can probe and lind out how c;enior Genting. people of this country, can be t(xlled government c;en·ant-. m)<,tcriously Of course in the whole affair, by you leaders easily. Wee himself has not come 10 the buy new vehtcles for their ]Apalasamy court of public opinion with clean departmental usc JU"t before they CAMERON HIGHLANDS retire. Even after watting for a two hands. And I think he can !>U\e him year grace, the<,c vehicles can be self a lot more trouble if he des1sts dispo!>e<.l offor a tidy profit afterthat from making remarks like 'after all because the) were bought without the A-G .was recommended for FLIPPANT .. . taxes and the required duties.) Judgeship by Hamid .. .' Once the So, whether New Kwong Soon issue is clouded by such personal MISLEADING .. . transferred the car to MBf on the attacks on both sides. It puts off MISCHIEVOUS same day (as alleged by Wee) or people like me who are interested in later, as the A-G's version implied, justice not only being done but betng It'.:. :>!range that Dr S P Choong is not quite the point here even if we seen to be done. Thank you. hould di .. miss my Jetter as fli ppant, were to give Hamid the benefit of A/iran Monthly Readu misleading and mischievous in his the doubt in that he <.lid not know KELANAJAYA, SELANGOR re pan e [A \11994: Vol 14(7)}. where the car was finally going to I asked htm whether he was a end up. heritage man or just a plain On the so-called shares purchase politici:m rAM 1994· Vol 14(5)]. by Hamid's son-in-law, again the HYPOCRITES Hi reply has confirmed that he new A-G ha.'> t.hown his highly 'non j, a pl:un politician. How else could inquisitorial nature' by dismissing it Recently, the Deputy Prime one eAplain hi:> conduct? He was out of hand as not h€'ing Hamic1's Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, wa:. ,·ery r.::!;pondtng a'i a heritage man and yet problem. There must be many right when he spoke to Chine'e recrunrng members for Party finance companies Htsham could Malaysian audiences w1th the Gerakan through the Alimn Month have got financing from, but why Chinese saying, "We are one fami ly ! MBf? Ditto for the case of his ly". How nice to hear. That to my mind, DrS PChoong, daughter' If we are one family, why are i-; heing tlippant. misleading and Malaysians still divided into mi ... chievous. There's no doubt The A-G, if he bothers to inves bumiputras and non-bumiputm~? about it. tigate, can check out Hamid's And even worse, why are Chmese Anti-Ambivalence residence and ask how, even on his and Indian Malaysians who have PENANG very high salary as LP, his property been in this country for many almost doubled in size in less than generations regarded as non- Aliran MIJnlhly 1994:14 (9) Page 34 An Appeal: Ali ran's Building Fund ALIRAN needs a home n three more years ALIRAN will be twenty years old. For the first seven years Aliran functioned from members' homes. Since 1984 Aliran has been leading a normadic existence moving from one rented premise to another. In fact, during I the last four years Aliran has moved three times! Besides being very disruptive, it has also been expensive a~ the rent kept increasing from RM400 in 1989 to RM580 in 1991 and to RM850 presently. AI iran has decided that we need a place of our own where we will be permanently based. Aliran has finally decided to buy and build our very own place. To do this Aliran needs your generous support. Aliran has sufficient funds to buy a small piece of land but not enough to put up the building. We need approximately RM150,000 over the next two years to cover the building cost. AI iran would be very grateful if you could donate towards our building fund. We depend entirely on people like you, concerned citizens and well-wishers who cherish and champion the same ideals and aspirations as Aliran's. Help us to serve you better. Please make a contribution. A friend of AURAN is a friend of truth and justice. P. Ramakrishnan President, ALIRAN I wish to donate to AI iran RM by cash/cheque/draft/molpo No. Name: Address: Please send your donation to: The Treasurer ALlRAN PO BOX 1049 10830 PENANG MALAYSIA -- _. Slum-like conditions at Kampong Makam THE KAMPONG MAKAM DILEMMA he Deputy Chief Minister of Penang (the In contrast to the prevailing talk of plans by Tenaga one Malay who counts the most in Penang) Nasional to develop the 8-acre site. and following a chain Tmade a highly commendable statement of events preceded b) the emergence of DAP influence when he was addressing a cross-section of the and representation in Kampong Makam (an UMNO Baru population of Kampong Makam on 31 August. stronghold), this change of tune was music to the ears of the residents. The statement indicated his care and support for The resident..; cannot go on tolerating the poor condi the welfare and development of the kampong. tions which ha'e surrounded and affected their lives tor 1, as a resident of the kampong, can safely assume that decades. They can't stand being repeatedly hit by tloods almost everyone who came to hear the Deputy Chief at the most unlikely periods. They resent the slum-like Minister, Ibrahim Saad, wanted to know what was in surroundings. There is no proper planning and no proper store for them regarding their housing predicament; what sanitation. was the deal like? They were willing to listen. Now, and most unexpectedly, comes a leader with The statement by the DCM - assuring them that there some sympathy and understanding about their plight. will be no development unless the residents themselves Why this unexpected change? What sort of 'chain-of wanted it and found it compatible; that the authorities events'? To clarify matters, please allow me to enlighten were pledging their support and cooperation in seeking readers about the history of the kampong. financial resources- was very well-timed and most wel The book "Personalities of Penang", published in come. 1978, featured a brief profile ofHaji Kassi m. Itstates that, A/iran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 36 soon after his arrival at the location in the early 1800s, he and allowed for the commercial utilization of the land in became popular among the residents as a religious violation of the original purpose of the land which was teacher and, accordingly, was donated the site by the meant solely for the residence of Muslims. British. He, in tum, donated the land to the residents in Salim received considerable support among the resi the hope that the gesture would encourage relig•ous dents who generally felt that the project did not have the activities. interests of the people at heart. Probably, because of the Haji Kassim helped to build the mosque(named after inability to meet certa,in legal requirements and also him) in 1840, which was mainly financed by public because of the opposition from the residents, the project subscriptions and he also conducted Islamic classes. failed to materialise although some compensation was Thus, the site acquired waknf status. Since then, it has paid out and some houses demolished. Since then, become an unwritten obligation for succeeding genera promises of development to uplift the living conditions tions of res1denL<; to see to the smooth and proper running of the karnpong folks have been frequently made albeit of the mosque as well as making it function as an Islamic without any tangible follow-up commitment. teaching centre. To further aggravate the problem, the residents them Owing to its wakaf status there are certain rules and selves have not been able to make a collective decision regulations. It cannot be sold, for example, and it is only to commit themselves to change. This unpredictable at meant for the residents belonging to the Muslim com titude is due to the lack of confidence and suspicion over munity. 'The observance of these rules and regulations, any attempts at development. As has often been the case, the administration of the mosque and the organisation of they fear that it will bring about the displacement of religious classes are supervised by the mosque council residents and that the real benefits will go to the powers namely, the Jawatankuasa Khariah Masjid Haji Kassim, that-be. in compliance with the terms provided under by the Presently, with the rapid mushrooming of illegal Khariah's constitution as enshrined in the Buku Pentad buildings and the prdCtice of accomodating relatives and biran Agama Islam 1959. friends in existing homes the place has become hopeless In the course of time, the population of the karnpong ly overcrowded. Thus, the urgent need for change. increased and so did the level of ecopornic attainment Change we must and the re:.idcnts arc ready now! achieved by the individuals there. Another organisation lbey are willing to forego the conveniences they have was needed to coordinate the various social bodies and customarily enjoyed in leading akampong life-style. But political parties besides the Jawatankuasa Khariah Mas they are always apprehensive about the nature of the jid. UMNO wa Aliran Molllhly 1994:14 (9) Page 37 he alleged, had been subjected to unfau exploitation, development. The chairman of the youth dub, Mahmud where the resident-; have generally not reaped the b Halim had this to say about development: "The resi benefits. dents must be Muslims and subservient to the tenm Another prominent and life-long resident of Kam stipulated in the Wakaf constitution. We wish to restore pong Makam, Yusoff Chouse. was apprehensive and and preserve the perimeter of the mosque, mausoleum uncertain about what to expect. "We certainly want and the cemetery site of our foundtng residents as far as development, but we do not want to be the victims of possible m their originally condition. It is our ardent hope development.'' He seemed to imply that the high cost of to see a more just distribuuon of faciltues made available housing unit\ and inadequate compensation, made worse by any development. The allotment ofshop-houses , stalls by the low earning capacity of the majority of the resi and office space to local entrepreneurs should be given dents, could lead to the displacement of residents and the priority." migration of Malays from urban to rural area.-; The present CMNO Baru branch committee, under Demonstrating his practicality, and a willingness to the able leadership of Dr Mohd bm HanlZah, can be relied sacrifice personal comfort for the sake of community upon to be instrumental as a vehicle or intem1ediary to advancement and well-being, he is willing to accept initiate and to forward the wishes of the residents pertain whatever development ha.~ to offer. But, he stressed the ing to de\elopment. Working hand-in-hand with the need for a buildmg structure which caters to the religtous Jawatankuasa Khariah Ma'>jid. thc-,e two most authorita and cultural requirement'> of residents. In material terms, ttve bodies of the community wtll make collecttve power he expects a three-room unit, a proper toilet system and bargaining a reality. In the \Hlrd\ ofHaji S)ed Abu BakJr factltties suited for occasions like weddings, funerals and bm Syed .Mansur. the Chairman of the Jawatankua.c;a other communtt) functions. Finally, he added that he had Khariah Masjid Haji Kassim: "When our kampong folk hts own development blue-print but declined to disclose can sit down and Y.orl.: towards a common cause in the it for fear that people would wrongly judge his motives. spirit of untty and compromise, we can achieve even the "We will cross the bridge when we come to it", he mused. impossible." The youth wing of the kampong, Kelab Bclia Tanah Therefore we can safely say that the general consen Wakaf Haji Kassim, also expressed their enthusiasm for sus is that the majority of the residents want change. They Datok Kramat Road .I Shophouses Cemetery Area & Mosque Shophouses I I I I I Kindergarten & Children's - playground - - IJl I .... -- Q) Par1c:ing' .EJ!l~ Football field .X-8-oIJl c:: 0 I 8·c;; c:: ct: 1D lu a :O!!!tU >- OJ.!!! co co co co !!!c::g .;, ..;, ..;, .;, .9 &. IJl IJl E - ~~~ ~ .____ ,______'--- l Community Hall I c.___ 12-storey block for all Muslims I I Sungai Pinang The sketch above is my own idea (as a layman) of a proposed site plan for development which I reckon will be generally accepted by the majority of the residents in Kampong Makam. Aliran Monthly 1994:14 (9) Page 38 \\ant proper and dect:nt living con dition-, The) cert.unl} do not \vant Jc,cJopment which'' illlc:ad to di~ placemc:>nt. A res1dent. i\lxl Ghani bin Ahd Kadir '>.tid: 'T'c ~cen li-.mg here \IOCC f Wa\ ~Orn and Ill) parent~ be lore me. Alhamdulilah! Our fami ly income ha-. improved. but sadly. our house i'> crammed. The worst P A1inul MlHIII.t1 1'194: 14 (9) Page 39 THE KAMPONG MAKAM DILEMMA \Vhat i'i happening in Kampong Makam, an into the fray with it~ mllying CQ "Selamatkan obscure, flood-prone village in the heart ot' Tanah Wakaf'. The opposition part) i'i George Town? banking on the wakafland ~c to draw Malay voters in il'i "Tanjung 3" bid to sei7-e ('tmtrol of Woefully undeveloped and bursting at its the Penaog state government. seams, the o\·ercrowded village sits on valuable prime land which was donated in the early 19th The resident'i are bemused by all thi'i political century by a MlL'ilim religious teacher and activity. But do they really want their historical designated excltL.JveJy for religious or burial kampung to be deveJoped? GHAZALI use ( wakaf or endowment land). YUNUS, a long-time Kampong ~ lakam retident, walked around his , ·illage one With the Penang state government, afternoon to talk to the ordinary kampong folk. spearheaded by UMNO Baru, now propN8g to develop the kampong, the DAP has plunged See page 36 for his story Published by Ali ran Kesedaran Negara (Aiiran). 12 Jalan Pantai Aziz Ibrahim, 11900 Pulau P1nang/P 0 Box 1049. 10830 Pulau Pinang, TeVFax: 04·6415765; Printed by RP Pnnters Sdn Bhd. 65. 68 & 70 Jalan Air ltam, 10460 Pulau P1nang