CONTENTS T E UT Time to speak out 2 Will history repeat itself '1 6 Election Commission must Don't rock the boat II assert its independence and Current concerns 14 The struggle for housing 17 condemn unethical practices Thinking allowed 19 For decades, the Election Commission has Time to speak out remained silent in the face of dubious Residents defend their land from KTM 23 practices during election campaigns. Love, laughter and life 26 As the nation gears up for its ninth general Aliran needs a home 29 election, ANIL NETTO urges the Commission Women of peace 31 to live up to its role as an independent body whose members are appointed by the King. Transpon ministry should act 32 Prawn profits and human dignity 34 The time has come for the Commission to We have been badly oppressed 36 speak out against unfair and unethical practices in the coming election campaign period.

Election campaign must be free and fair

A/iron MonJhly 1995: 15(1) Page 2 "Hundreds of opposition party su~ sition party activities. What's more, this means is that RTM and TV3 porters cross over to the ruling ruling coalition parties exercise will once again feature the ruling coalition" - a typical news item in considerable control, directly or coalition prominently over prime the media during every Malaysian indirectly, over most of the major news, chat shows, forums and general election campaign. How press companies; who can force patriotic ditties, while portraying true such reports are is anyone's them then to give more space for the opposition parties negatively. guess. But's it's a familiar story - opposition parties? illustrating how politicians exploit Such one-sided coverage has the media to influence voting pat­ Some of the Chinese language provoked the ire of concerned terns. And it doesn't contribute to papers, however, have proved to be Malaysians. "It is unfair," says a fair election campaign either. less subservient to ruling parties, Masilamany, a personnel assistant treading a more independent path. at a factory in Butterworth. "The With the ninth general election Their coverage of opposition party government controls the media nearing, attention has shifted to the activities has been relatively and the opposition has no chance Election Commission's role in balanced. But that could change. to put across its ideas and plans to ensuring free and fair polls. In The Home Ministry recently warited the people." previous elections, the Commission three dailies -Far Eastern Economic merely confined itself to ensuring Review (2 March 1995) identified The Information Ministry, how­ that registration of voters, nomina­ them as Nanyang Siang Pau, Sin ever, says that it will provide more tions and polling were carried out Chew Jit Poh and China Press -· time for political parties over the smoothly. But many Malaysians that they risked losing their radio. Still, the impact pales in com­ feel this alone is insufficient if the licences if they continued to pub­ parison to television - which com­ Commission is to truly live up to lish articles undermining "the bines pictures with sound to create its role as an independent bOdy. government's efforts in creating a powerful mental images. Though They want the Commission to as­ multiracial society." An implicit radio may have a wider reach, it sert its independence, to speak out threat to toe the line, with the serves merely as a background and take action against unethical general election approaching. medium while listeners attend to practices in campaigning and vot­ other tasks: thus, listeners rarely ing. Opposition parties will thus absorb much of the message con­ find it difficult persuading news­ veyed. To its credit, the Commission papers to publicise their manifes­ has already put forward a couple of tos. And this will put them at Besides, no one knows how the positive recommendations. Re­ a considerable disadvantage Ministry will allocate radio air-time cently, it recommended that the because these dailies will have no between the various parties. An media should give fairer coverage qualms about splashing the ruling equitable basis would be to divide for all political parties. The Com­ coalition's manifesto, activities and it in the same proportion as each mission also asked the government views across their pages. If at all party's share of the popular vote at to lift the ban on public rallies to these papers cover the activities of the last general election. opposition parties, readers can allow parties ample opportunity to If at all radio is to play a mean­ expect such reports to be biased or reach out to the electorate. ingful role in the campaign, the tucked away in some obscure part Ministry should also announce of the paper. MEDIA ACCESSIBILITY prominently the time and date of each political broadcast. During the But old habits die hard. The If Malaysians cannot expect 1990 campaign, hardly anyone mass media is unlikely to heed the much from their newspapers, then knew when the stations were broad­ Commission's advice. Because they they should give up all hope on casting these short clips. have to apply to the Home television. The government has Ministry every year for a new pub­ announced that it will not allow Surely ifthe Commission is truly lication permit, they are wary of political parties any direct air-time independent, it ought put its foot antagonising the government by although it will allow the networks down and say that the overall lack expanding their coverage of oppo- to report on party activities. What of media accessiblity is unaccept-

Alir1111 Motrlhly 1995: 15(1) Page 3 able. It should warn t~levision and The Commission is duty bound living expenses for the duration of radio networks and newspapers to ensure that elections are free and the campaign - a 'hard-sell' attempt that their practices are unethical fair. To compensate for the lack of at swaying votes. and not conducive to a fair elec­ media access and the ban on public tion. rallies, it can, for instance, fix a Many informed Malaysians longer campaign period between frown on such dubious practices. REACHING OUT nomination day and polling day to "This is not tlie time for any party Because the Commission level the playing field'!llittle; how­ to handout goodies," says John. realises that opposition parties have ever, it has regularly chosen to stick "Rather it is a time for Malaysians limited access to the mass media, to the legal minimum of nine days to have an intelligent discussion it recommended that the govern­ for reasons best known to itself. about the policies and manifestos ment lift the ban on public rallies. "Having only nine days for cam­ of the various parties." This would give all parties some paigning is a big disadvantage for opportunity to present their mani­ the opposition," points out Aliran But where cl> political parties festos to the public. The electorate exco member John Kim. Former get the funds to finance such would then be in a position to Aliran president Dr Ariffin Omar 'goodies'? Under existing legisla­ evaluate the plans and proposals agrees: "It seems to favour the party tion, candidates for parliamentary of the various parties. But the in power because thay are always seat can only spend a maximum of government poured cold water campaigrung over TV and radio. " RM 50,000, while those vying for over this commendable proposal. state seats cannot exceed RM BRIBING VOTERS 30,000. Many suspect that politi­ Public rallies were banned in cians frequently ignore these lim­ the seventies ostensibly because of The Commission should also its or enlist the help of party head­ the communist threat. With that watch out for attempts to bribe quarters for additional funds to threat now wiped out, the Home voters. In previous campaigns supplement their local coffers. Ministry should now allow parties such bribes took various imagina­ to campaign openly as in any other tive forms including gifts such as The Commission must step in healthy functioning democratic bicycles, lawnmowers, grass cutters, to ensure that candidates do not nation. But this is nnlikely to television sets, electricity genera­ exceed their spending limits. It happen; the official line is that tors, chainsaws and water pumps. should carry out random audits to public rallies could incite ethnic Another popular way of influenc­ verify the spending of selected tension. ing voters is for candidates to candidates. Alternatively, the Com­ pledge donations to schools espe­ mission could recommend that all Observers like Masilamany re­ cially those run independently. candidates use public funds to fi­ main cynical about the continuing Candidates have also been known nance their campaign expenditure ban: "Although they arc saying to dish out land titles and tempo­ subject to prescribed spending that rallies are banned, at the end rary occupation licences (TOLs) to limits. In this way, no one party of the day the ruling party will the disinherited. Anything for a will have an undue advantage. organise rallies using such occa­ vote. sions as Semarak campaigns and Besides monitoring spending other government ·meet-the­ The more unsrupulous candi­ limits. the Commission .should see people' functions. " dates resort to literally bribing to it that ruling parties do not abuse voters with cash in exchange for government facilites for campaign­ So far, the Commission's ad­ votes. At the 1990 general election, ing. Past experience has shown that vice has been consistently brushed the going rate was said to be RM ruling party politicians think noth­ aside. It appears content playing a 50 to RM 100 per vote. With in­ ing of using government jets and passive role, doling out well-mean­ flation biting, the payouts this time helicopters, Information Ministry ing advice even though it hardly could well be larger. A more subtle vans and posters, 5tate television ever receives a positive response. way of handing out cash is and radio, and statutory agencies Is it therefore totally powerless through the anak angkat scheme. to further their cause. and helpless? According to many Under this method, party workers political observers, no. 'adopt' a family and pay for their Indeed,_ once the Prime Minis-

AlirtUt Molllllly 1995: 1 5(1) Pt~~e 4 ter dissolves Parliament, the hensive about the secrecy of their On paper, it should be in­ Commission should draw a dis­ ballot since voter registration num­ dependent. The King appoints the tinction between the ruling party's bers are noted on the counterfoils chairman and other members of normal government business and of the ballot papers: this makes it the Commsssion after consulting election campaigning. Says John: possible, theoretically at least, to the Conference of Rulers; commis­ "The Election Commission should know how a particular voter has sion members have security of ensure that the outgoing govern­ voted. The Commission must do tenure until the age of 65. Thus, it ment remains as a caretaker away with the practice of r;cording is morally bound to live up to its government." numbers on counterfoils to allay independence and the tremendous such fears. resposibility that goes along with If abusing government it. facilities is unethical, many Now that voting is actually Malaysians are disgusted over counted at the polling station But many analysts remain attempts to manipulate communal itself instead of a central counting unconvinced about the Commis­ and religious sentiments to win centre for each constituency, sion's impartiality. "The dice is votes. Many can recall the 'cross voters also fear that winning can­ loaded against them," says Ariffin. incident' at the last election didates 'Yill penalise those areas "I don't think they are really in­ involving Semangat 46 leader which have voted against them by dependent; they are more or less Tengku Razaleigh wearing the tra­ withholding development funds. under government control." ditional headgear of the Kadazan To overcome this, the Commission Malaysian voters fervently community in Sabah. Then the should consider reverting to the hope that the Election Commission Barisan Nasional using its control old method of counting votes at will prove sceptics like him wrong. over the Malay Press made inflam­ main counting centres. Perhaps the Commission should matory accusations against him in follow the example of its counter an attempt to win over Muslim Whether the coming general part in India which is now making votes. The details are provided in election will be a free and fair life difficult for both the ruling the accompanying article. one depends largely on the and opposition parties in India Commission. Is the Commission when they breach the elections Manipulation of emotions can independent.enough to wage an all ordinance in that country. + assume more insidious forms. Cer­ out war against unethical practices? tain politicians have already started Will it be courageous enough? issuing veiled threats that 'politi­ cal stability' is vital for develop­ ment and ethnic harmony - the underlying implication being that chaos and communal riots will "In matters of conscience, the law of break out if voters decide in favour of the opposition: playing the May majority has no place." 13 bogey, as it were. Such thinly disguised threats are despicable. Gandhi The Commission must severely reprimand guilty politicians or even lodge police reports to safeguard public interest.

The Commission's vigilance "Nothing is politically right which is should also extend to polling day. Many party workers are dissatis­ morally wrong." fied over the lack of supervision of postal ballots which offers much Thomas Jefferson room for abuse. Besides this, a large number of voters are also appre-

A/iran Molflllly 1995: 15(1) Page 5 ELECTIONS WILL HISTORY REPEAT -ITSELF?

EXTRACTS FROM

Aliran Mondtly 1995: 1 5(1) Page 6 THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD A. The Caretaker Government Kelantan. Pictures of these bicycles show that they were meant for children and were not the type which The Prime Minister showed awareness of the would ease the labour of the estate/fann workers to role of the government during the period while whom they were distributed. Other bicycles were Parliament was dissolved. Commenting on requests found stored in the premises of Kesedar (a govern­ of the Sabah-based party, PBS, he said that because ment agency) at Gua Musang on the day prior to their the government was a caretaker one during the period distribution. The newspapers reported of one of the of elections, he was not in a position to-agree to iftcumbent leaders giving away lawn-movers, grass those requests. cutters, television sets, generators, chainsaws and water pumps (said to cost $15,000/- each) and pledg­ However, the deeds of leaders of the incumbent ing to give $427,000/- for improving various schools coalition belied these words. Government facilities in his constituency, while campaigning. Similar were freely used for campaigning purposes. This pledges to schools were made by various other in­ ranged from the Executive jet used to fly the Deputy cumbent leaders during the campaign period, includ­ Prime Minister to Sabah on a mission to minimize ing the Minister of Education and the Mentri Besar the damage to the incumbents by the pullout of the of Selangor. Land titles were also given out during PBS from the Barisan Nasional, to vans ofthe-Jabatan this period by various incumbents including mem­ Penerangan (Information Department) used by bers of the Cabinet and of the dissolved State UMNO workers in Kampar, Perak. In various areas Legislative Assemblies. around Cameron Highlands pictures of the Prime Minister and the Mentri Besar (State Chief Minis­ Distributing these cash hand-outs, gifts and land ter) which had been posted had the words titles during the campaign period with the exhor­ "Dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia" tation to the people to 'vote the government' served ("Produced by the Information Department of further to blur the distinction in the public mind Malaysia") printed at the bottom right-hand corner. between the government and the parties in power. It could lead the public to perceive that these hand­ Various reports have been received of how outs, gifts and land titles and other awards were a officers of the Education Ministry had been used to token of the beneficence of the party in power and campaign for the incumbents. Details are available not simply deserved relief from the government. of a senior official of the Maktab Perguruan Whatever the public perception might have been, Persekutuan Pulau Pinang (Penang Teachers Train­ making these distributions during the campaigning ing College) informing lecturers of the College that period was an abuse of office: it involved using he had been asked to deliver a message from the government resources as a means of promoting the Education Minister to the effect that lecturers should image of the incumbent leaders for the purpose of vote for the Barisan Nasional to ensure a strong, stable improving their chances of being re-elected. government, and of the Headmaster of a primary school in Ringlet, Pahang, canvassing for the Barisan B. Exploiting Communal Feelings and Religous Nasional at a polling station on polling day. In the Sensitivities parliamentary constituency of Balik Pulau, Penang, officials of the state and district education depart­ After it was announced that the PBS was pulling ments were reported to have organized a meeting of out of the Barisan Nasional, the campaign saw a parent -teacher associations at which the audience was marked change of character. The Prime Minister asked to vote for the Barisan Nasional. declared that among the requests of the Sabah party which he could not accede to was the setting up of The campaigning period also saw incumbent a television station in Sabah that would be used to leaders distributing to the people gifts financed by spread Christianity. This prompted candidates of the government funds, and giving out awards which had PBS to file police reports against the Prime Minis­ earlier been decided on by the government. The ter. They claimed that the alleged reason for having Deputy Prime Minister gave away bicycles in the state television channel was false and that the

A/iran Molllhly 1995: I 5(1) Page 7 allegation was made with the intention of creating himself had worn such a head-gear when he visited ill-will and racial hostility between the peoples of Sabah some years back. Pictures of him wearing Malaysia. Such allegations could contravene 3(1) of the item were distributed in various parts of the the Sedition Act 1948. country. A Barisan Nasional spokesman quoted on the front page of the Utusan Malaysia (20th October) The alleged PBS aim of spreading Christianity however claimed that the picture of the Prime was aggravated by pictures appearing in the national Minister wearing the head-gear was a 'false' one, dailies, and repeated over several news programmes adding that the head-gear worn by the leader of the on television, of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, the Barisan Nasional did not have a cross. leader of the opposition alliances, wearing a Kadazan head-gear that bore what seemed to be the symbol Various Muslim and Malay organizations then of a cross. This picture was enlarged and given came out with statements claiming that recent de­ prominence over the front page of the Utusan velopments had threatened the special position of Malaysia on 19th October and repeated by the news­ the Malays and of Islam in the country and that paper in its editions for the following two days, the Malays had to unite under the Barisan Nasional which were polling days. For two consecutive days if the political dominance of the Malay community the newspaper ran stories of how members of the was to be safe-guarded. The groups concerned Muslim community, including theologians, were included the Muslim Lawyers Association, the Malay enraged by Tengku Razaieigh 'swearing an item that Chambers of Commerce of the Federal Territory and bore the symbol of Christianity. The Berita Harlan ofPenang, a group calling themselves "Klang Valley newspaper also carried the picture on the front page intellectuals not directly involved in politics", various on the 19th of October, with the caption (as trans­ graduate associations, an Alor Star association of lated into English) "Muslims Across the Country intellectuals kriown as "Majlis Kumpulan Melayu Regret Tengku Razaleigh 's Wearing the Head-Gear", Bertindak" (Malay Group Action Council}, and a quoting someone as having said tJtat it was a disgrace Kedah fatwa committee. Seven Malay/Muslim in the eye of Islam. The English dailies carried the organizations in Ipoh came together to issue a joint picture too but gave it lesser significance. statement on how Muslim interests were under seige and could only be protected ifIslamic political parties It was a serious act of irresponsibility on the in the opposition joined the Barisan Nasional. The part of the Malay dailies not to inform the public President of the Association for memers of the that the head-gear was a Kadazan, and not a Administrative and Diplomatic Services, Dato' Christian, one. Only some of the Sabah newspapers Hassan Ibrahim, joined in the call for support for interviewed the natives of Sabah on the significance the parties in power, throwing to the wind the of the cross on the head-gear. The Sabah United principle that government servants should stay out Bajau Association president, Datuk Salleh Tun Said of politics. Keruak, came out to say that the symbol of a cross on the head-gear had nothing to do with religious The Prime Minister himself publicly said that beliefs. A spokesman for the Sabah Cultural As­ there was a danger that Muslims would no longer sociation pointed out that many native groups in form the back-bone of the government if the op­ Sabah, whose forefathers produced the various position was voted to power. He warned that at stake designs used on such head-gear, were pagans and in the elections was whether Muslims would become not Christians. a minority group in Malaysia and would have to bow to other groups. The Finance Minister similarly In fact, Kadazan head-gear or sigah often bears warned when speaking iln Air Hitan, Kedah, that motifs symbolizing nature. The so-called cross on the position of the Malays was threatened. Dato' the controversial head-gear, for instance, is a tapioca Drs. Sulaiman Mohamad, went further and accused shoot (pucuk ubi). Most head-gears of this sort are Tengku Razaleigh of agreeing to remove Islam from made by the Bajau community which is largely being the official religion of the country. Muslim. Meanwhile, UMNO party supporters were known The religious innocuousness of the head-gear is to have disseminated copies of a letter purportedly underscored by the fact that even the Prime Minister from the Pope to the leader of the PBS congratu-

AIU1111 Molflltly 1995: 15(1) Page 8 lating him for his efforts to spread Christianity and In Sungei Siput, members of the IPF party were wishing him well in his attempts to destroy Islam. allegedly assaulted in three separate incidents while Copies of the Malay dailies with the picture of campaigning for the DAP candidate. Tengku Razaleigh wearing the head-gear with the cross were also distributed free in rural areas. The A report of an assault on a PAS worker alleged Archbishop Emeritus of the Catholic Church lodged to have been committed by the candidate for the a police report stating that the letter purportedly Barisan Nasional was also made to the police in from the Vatican was a fake, but this was not given Terengganu. any space in the main dailies. Neither did the main dailies report his statement that the Kadazan head­ l'he intimidation of campaign workers included gear had no Christian significance. preventing them from meeting the electorate through house to house visits. Semangat 46 workers were The evidence strongly points to the conclusion reported to have surrounded workers in Kelantan and that the leaders of UMNO decided to counter the prevented Barisan Nasional workers from conduct­ effect of the PBS pull-out of the Barisan Nasional ing house to house visits in those kampungs. In by orchestrating a concerted campaign to convince Sabah, PBS campaigners alleged that they had great the Malay electorate that this move had dire im­ difficulty in entering some of the Bajau villages plications for the dominant position of the Malays which had been surrounded by the workers of the and their religion. Barisan Nasional.

Most analysts were agreed that even after the A more direct form of intimidation came from pullout ofPBS, the Barisan Nasional would still com­ the leaders of the Barisan Nasional. The Prime fortably have retained a majority in Parliament. The Minister in an interview wilth newsmen carried over real threat was the Barisan Nasional's two-third ma­ the television warned that the lesson from 1969 was jority. The leaders of UMNO demonstrated in their that if the government did not have the two-thirds campaign that they were willing to exploit ethnic and control of Parliament, there could be trouble. It is religious sensitivities to the full in order to swing not appropriate in this report to deal with the causes the votes of the Malay majority so as to maintain of the ethnic riots that followed the general elections the Barisan Nasional 's overwhelming power in of 1969, but it is difficult to see any direct link between Parliament. Their strategy shows that they were ethnic harmony and the size of the Barisan Nasional 's concerned more with retaining absolute control over majority in Parliament. Yet, the thinly veiled threat the national legislative chamber than with ensuring from the Prime Minister was that there could be civil that communal feelings were kept under control: disorder if the government was not returned with the narrow political interests were considered more majority it sought. Again resort to threats of this kind important than the fostering of unity among the is not conducive to promoting democracy. various communities. D. Attempt to Prevent Voters from Voting C. Intimidation It was reported that in Gua Musang attempts The campaign period saw a number of incidents were made l:>y the party workers of a political party of intimidation. to prevent voters from voting by asking them to hand over their identity cards temporarily in return In Terengganu some unidentified persons were for cash payment or on the pretext that the cards alleged to have thrown Molotov cocktails at Llte resi­ were required for one purpose or another. dence of the Semangat 46 candidate, Tengku Seri E. The 'Anak Angkat' Scheme Paduka Raja Tengku Ibrahim Ismail, before dawn two days before polling. A report was lodged with the Under this scheme unemployed graduates were police. recruited by UMNO Youths and sent to stay in the houses of electors identified as fence-sitters. These In another case, campaign agents were alleged ' adopted children' would offer the families they to have been threatened and assaulted by stayed with more money than these families could supporters of rival parties. earn for that period, ostensibly in payment for ac-

Alir1111 Monlhly 1995: 1 5(1) Page 9 commodation. The lodgers (the 'adopted children') on it. All the five persons interviewed expressed the would then seek to win the votes of the members of view that it was an opportunist move by the PBS the households they stayed with and at the same time leadership. Considering that the PBS had enough prevent workers of the opposition parties from vis­ support in the State to capture all the seats it iting these houses. contested, it was surprising that the television channel could not find even one person who had a F. Media Coverage During the Campaign different view on the PBS move.

The opposition parties were severely handicapped The television was also used in a less direct in getting their message across to the public through manner to campaign for the incumbents. On prime the media. The Barisan Nasional enjoyed having the air time videos of catchy songs like "Setia", "Barisan text of its manifesto printed in full by the leading Kita" and "Quality" would be shown for the purpose English daily, the New Straits Times, as part of that of invoking a sense of loyalty and pride both to the newspaper's political coverage. Berita Harlan ran nation and, through a subtle choice of lyrics, for the a supplement that consisted solely ofthe Malay version Barisan Nasional. of the Barisan manifesto together with photographs in full colour. News reports of the opposition's The various political parties were allocated time manifestoes appeared in some of the main -stream for party political broadcasts over the radio. As a step dailies; but only one national newspaper, a Chinese towards allowing all political parties an opportunity daily, carried in full a manifesto from the opposition to carry its message to electors, this was a measure parties. Attempts by the opposition to pay the other to be commended. However, the effect of radio broad­ dailies normal advertising rates for their manifestoes casts was somewhat limited due largely to the public to be carried in full were of no avail. A couple of not being aware as to when and on what frequencies small newspapers and magazines, however, gave full these broadcasts were aired. The opposition parties coverage to the manifesto of the Gagasan Rakyat had altogether a total of five broadcasts allotted to coalition and PAS. them the duration of each broadcast being 13 min­ utes. 'Taking into account that the opposition alli­ The Barisan Nasional, however, had no problem ance was contesting every seat in the General Elec­ in getting the main-stream dailies to carry full-page tions the time allowed them was not equitable. In advertisements on consecutive pages, ridiculing the any case, there can be no doubt that the more ef­ opposition and extolling its own leadership. The fective medium for informing the electorate of the absence of similar advertisements by the opposition differences in the stand of the various contesting was accordingly most conspicuous. political parties was not the radio but the television; and on television the opposition parties were not Apart from their ordinary news programmes, allotted any time at all. + RTM and TV3 carried their own programmes report­ ing on the election campaign. These programmes focussed largedly on the views ofleaders of the Barisan Nasional. There was some coverage of the opposition but it was almost entirely of a negative nature. ffi} have come to

For instance, an extended interview was aired of ~ the conclusion a district PAS chief who was disenchanted with the that politics is choice of candidate made by the State PAS leadership for his constituency; 'experts', called into the studio too serious to be to express their opinion, took turns to state that the left to the opposition alliance would not be able to fund the policies it advocated in its manifesto; Tengku politicians. ~ Razaleigh's rebuke of a reporter was aired repeatedly to show him as having a haughty and arrogant Charles de Gaulle -=-ffi nature. When the PBS pulled out from the Barisan Nasional, TV3 interviewed Sabahans for their views

A/iran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 10 ETHICS DON'T ROCK THE BOAT DON'T MAKE WAVES

ery early in my Malaysian career, then, I was res~arch in general. Fortunately, there was enough of feeling the cut of the NEP as the double..edged the latter to make my time there interesting and Vsword it was. It would help the Malays move educational. During the inter-monsoon sessions we faster and better, but it would never win them the would go out on the FRI's research ships-converted .respect of their fellow countrymen. Advancement trawlers, crewed by an engaging assortment of they'd be given, respect they'd still have to earn. exfishermen - to survey coral reefs or trap fish for the Malaysia had turned resolutely away from the FRI's big public aquarium, or build artificial reefs of meritocratic norms of upward mobility, but deep down, old tyres, the better to replenish fish stocks in where it counted, in the hearts of all Malaysians, the depleted areas. meritocracy would remain. No matter how high a Malay might climb on the back of the NEP, his This was, politically, one of the more important countrymen would always judge him personally by projects of the Fisheries Department, and quite a lot his own performance - which meant he had to excel, of effort was devoted to setting up these structures or be damned as a privileged stooge. around the Malaysian peninsula. The artificial reefs were touted as part of the government's effort to help ONLY FOOLS DID MORE poor fishermen, as indeed they did. But perhaps our publicity machinery worked a I tried to excel. But this was the government little too well, because one day we received word that service, and excellence dido 't seem all that high on the Minister of Agriculture himself was coming to its agenda. Many of the researchers at the FRI Penang, and that he wanted to give the press a photo­ (Fisheries Research Institute) were much more than opportunity of himself fishing on one of our famous competent, but it was administered as a bureaucracy artificial reefs. This sent the Director into a frenzy. rather than a scientific establishment, and there was Even the stoutest of efforts hadn't made our experi­ a tacit sense that only fools did more than they had mental reefs around Penang productive, because to. One's salary would come anyway at the end of these structures depended on there being at least the each month, and the progress of one's career remnants of a natural reef system somewhere nearby, depended little on how hard one worked, but more from which to draw their seed-stocks. Penang's on how long one could stay quietly in place without waters were nearly dead, opague with effluent and rufiling feathers or rocking boats. sewage from the big beach hotels that had sprung I was actually told as much by the institute's up along the northern coast of the "Pearl of the Director, on my first day there: "Don't rock the boat. Orient". Within a couple of years, the FRI aquarium Don't make waves." This to an eager young marine would have to shut down because it drew its water biologist who was wild with impatience to leap off from the Penang strait, and its fish were dying of boats and plunge through waves? It was not a horrible diseases. promising augury. BE DISCREET ABOUT THIS So the three years I was to spend at the Fisheries Research Institute would be devoted as much to The best artificial reef for the Minister to fish, clock-watching, tea-breaking and newspaper-reading where he'd be practically assured of catching some­ as to doing things for the fishermen, or for marine thing that would make him look suitably heroic, was

Alirtu~ Molllllly 1995: 15(1) Ptlfle 11 a six-hour boat-ride to the north and out of the rendered pointless anyway, thank the stars, because question. a heaven-sent passing fisherman happened to have a big red snapper in his sampan, and the Minister was So the Director called me into his office, bid duly photographed pointing proudly at this fish while me shut the door, and gave me urgent instructions. its captor held it aloft. The Director was pleased as I was to go to the nearby Jelutong fish-farm and punch, and gave Edward and me the afternoon off. purchase a nice, big, fat, live grouper. (A petty-cash I've always wanted to tell this story, and I recount it voucher would be made available to me for this · here only to underscore the point I made earlier purpose, or perhaps I'd better use my own money about what it took to advance in the government first, and he'd personally reimburse me later, yes, that service. would be a good idea, we had best be discreet about this.) I made the most of my stint with the FRI, vigorously trying to atone for my lacklustre degree Then I was to smuggle the fish in a gunny sack by writing and publishing research papers in local aboard the Minister's boat before he got there, along scientific journals, bqt I hated government service. with myself and my diving equipment, and hide Its inertia and inefficiency were bad enough, but somewhere. When the boat had moored on the reef there was also the matter of the fishermen. The more and the Minister had cast his line, !"was to don my I grew to know the fishing communities of Malaysia scuba gear, slip quietly over the side with my fish and - and I would get to know them quite well in my three hook it onto the Ministers line. Got that? years with the Fisheries Department - the more misguided and ineffectual I felt we were. I looked at him. He seemed deadly serious. I considered my options. "I don't think I can keep the STIGMA TO REMAIN fish alive long enough, sir," I said. "We'd need to keep A FISHERMAN it in a salt-water tank with an air dispenser. It would be hard to hide that. It would make noise." The villages were crumbling. Time and again, on both coasts of the Peninsula, we would come across He pondered the problem, nodding slowly. Then fishing villages inhabited only by women, infants he brightened. "It wouldn't have to be very alive," he and the very old. On Pulau Redang, off the East Coast said. state of Trengganu, I learned how it was almost a stigma for the son of a fisherman to remain a "Then the minute I got it in the water it would fisherman himself, and not go to the mainland in revive and want to swim away," I said. "It would not search of a "real" job. I was astonished. My city-boy be easy to hold onto a big fish like a grouper under sensibilities would have had me gladly trade places water. They're slippery." with these people, for the sake ofRedang's fine reefs and the protein they contained, for the sweet air of He gave in. "Okay, use a dead fish." these clean skies. But no, these youths wanted more, and I would often see them, or those very like them, "A dead fish, sir?" I said. "What will the in Kuala Trengganu, the state capital, lounging Minister say when he sees he's hooked a dead fish?" around the cinema at night in their sneakers and jeans and rugby shirts, sullenly smoking cigarettes and "Don't worry about that," said the Director. "We seeking opportunities, no doubt. can always say it died on the way up." Elsewhere, entire fishing villages had simply "Yes sir," I said. "Anything you say, sir." ceased to exist. Their inhabitants had uprooted en masse and left for the new agricultural schemes I dido 't do anything of the sort, of course, opening in the hinterland, to tend rubber trees or ·although my colleague Edward Wong and I did go plant oil palm seedlings, and live in the neat little along with our scuba gear and jump into the water wooden houses built for them by the government. for the benefit of the media-men accompanying the The Federal Land Development Authority, FELDA, Minister. The Director's scheme would have been had been founded with the nation and grown to be

Aliran Molllhly 1995: 15(1) Page 1'1 Malaysia's biggest land bank and resettlement American Peace Corps Volunteer attached to USM scheme. It had opened up more than a million - "TJniversiti Sains," the National Science University. acres of land for industrial agriculture and relocated to these vast tracts some 10% of the nation's I hooked myself informally into the university's population. Traditional farmers and fishermen had School of Biological Sciences, which had a credible been encouraged to avail themselves of these new marine programme and was looking for diving opportunities, and many had answered the call. The instructors for some of its students. The Underwater fishing industry had been increasingly left to large Research Group, Universiti Sains Malaysia trawler fleets, most of them Chinese-owned, while the ("URGUSM', in a word) would be a great success, Malay fisherman had gone off to try his luck as a and Phil and I would have our work cut out for us planter. during our twice-weekly training sessions at the university's swimming pool. Had no one suggested to the small fisherman that his poverty might be alleviated without his ever Perhaps by virtue of its location in Penang, USM having to stop being a fisherman? Pool your was the last Malaysian university to succumb to the resources. Get ten fishermen together with $1 ,000 ethnic polarization of its student body. The phenom­ each, and you 'll have enough for a down-payment enon was already making itself apparent in other on a trawler of your own. If you don't have even that colleges, with the Malays and non-Malays drifting much money to your names, go get some from the further and further apart, and the Dakwah movement NEP, that's what it's there for. This had indeed been visibly growing in prominence. done -and without any help from the NEP -by a group of Indians. · But at least while I was there, in the cusp of the decades, USM was still a funky, lively place. Despite It must have seemed a lot simpler for our fisher­ its name, the university housed energetic faculties in man to accept the government's offer of a plot of Humanities and the Performing Arts. I was glad of FELDA land and start life over as a sharecropper. that; glad that a Malaysian campus didn't feel as Especially since he would be much more than a mere alien to me as I had feared it would. + tenant farmer: he would be part of his nation's crusade to bring development to the hinterland; part (Extracted from, 'A MALAYSIAN JOURNEY" of Malaysia's progress; part of the living NEP. by Rehman Rashid)

And his beached sampan would slowly rot away on a deserted shore.

Within a year of taking up my post at the Fisheries Research Institute I was writing to oil companies and A diving firms, shamelessly embellishing my curricu­ lum vitae and pleading for a job. None was forth coming, and I consoled myself with the pleasant diversions of life in Penang. MALAYSIAN

ETHNIC POLARIZATION

Penang was, despite the frustrations of my job, a JOURNEY very nice place to live. I enjoyed driving around the island or going up the Hill, or simply losing myself ) j.,, lq._,T ,1\.lli.tlt)•· I) .j, fp :l•t in Georgetown's colourful warren of Chinese streets. I 1•11 jJ!I 'l''- ,J:t,j ( !1!•1J!It lilt'-. II) !I II t1 :1'111 \\.11,;\ '-

Penang was a userfriendly place. I shared a small f,Jr l.hf<•fn ftonnmit R1•1i<'ll house in Minden Heights with a Chinese teacher, Chu Chin Koo, who would remain a dear friend for REHMAN RASH.ID life, and Phil Crane, also an avid diver and an

Alir1111 Monthly 1995: 15(1) Pag~ 13 belching smoke all around the country. Factories continue to pollute the air. Why are these companies permitted to violate environmental regulations so blatantly? Is it because some of them may have strong political connections which enable them to openly flout the law?

And what can we do about the worsening traffic on the road? Not much, if our system of public trans­ port remains in the state as it is. The government appears to be caught in a bind perhaps because it has spread its tentacles into the THE HAZARDOUS Indonesia should also appeal business world. HAZE for international assistance. On the one hand, it encourages Aliran is worried about the Malaysia and other countries commuters to car-pool and use deteriorating haze conditions affected should also consider ask­ public transport but on the other, throughout the nation which have ing Indonesia for compensation it is actively promoting the sales of been declared hazardous to health. for polluting the atmosphere in the Protons and Kancils, pet projects We believe the haze has been region. After all, when the Straits of those in power. Increased traffic caused by the following: of Malacca was polluted by oil on the road also means more toll spills, compensation was sought. smoke from forest fires in collection and revenue for UEM * The same principle should apply Sumatra and Kalimantan. and Renong, the UMNO Bam cor­ here. porate flagship. So, where is the * excessive exhaust smoke from incentive to urgently improve the Incidentally, why haven't we many lorries, buses, taxis etc. public transport system within and seen pictures of the Indonesian between urban areas i.e. to intro­ * thick black smoke and other forest fires over TV? After all, duce more buses (without smoke), pollutants emitted by several whenever the US and Australia high-speed inter-city electrical factories across the nation. have raging forest fires, Malaysian trains and urban rail systems? * exhaust fumes from the ever­ television networks are quick to increasing volume of traffic on highlight the stories accompanied Clearly, the government and the the road. by spectacular visual footage. Are Malaysian private sector have to the Indonesians trying to down­ clean up their acts before pointing The government should have a play the extent of the forest fires their fingers at the Indonesians. comprehensive blue-print to im­ and are we cooperating with them Meanwhile, ASEAN should imme­ prove the air quality. First, it should in this? diately extend fire-fighting assis­ ask Indonesia how it intends to tance to Indonesia, in the interest As for the local factors stop the fire and prevent future of genuine solidarity and to safe­ causing the haze, the Department fires. Malaysia and other ASEAN guard the health of people in this of Environment has obviously nations should offer (and Indonesia region. should accept) immediate assistance been lax all these years when it Dr S Subramaniam in personnel and equipment to comes to booking the culprits. Treasurer fight the fire. Many lorries and buses are still 1 October 1994

A/iran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 14 I PUNISHMENT THE ONLY blem. What are the contributing Amendments to the judicial CURE? factors that result in this social system such as abolishing juries, malaise? assessors and preliminary hearings Why is it whenever we want to are important and crucial issues prevent something, we resort to We must honestly ask whether which affect the lives of the punitive measures? Must punish­ our political elites are setting the ordinary Malaysians and, there­ ment be the only cure for the ills right examples and espousing the fore, should be debated by the of society? This outmoded and right values in their lifestyles for general public before they are presented to Parliament. archaic response needs rethinking. our youngsters to emulate? Death sentences, life sentences We must ask what kind of For the Law Minister, Datuk and whipping, which we have been values our school system Syed Hamid Albar, to say that ceremoniously dishing out, have emphasises and what ro1e it plays ordinary people who sit on the jury not reduced the spate of crime. in character moulding? would be confused with the ques­ tion of fa.::t and law is tantamount Punishment, whatever its form We must ask whether parents to ridiculing their intelligence. - capital or incarcation or inflicting bring up their children or merely pain - have not proven to be an finance them? Do we select any Tom, Dick and effective deterrent. Harry as jurors or is there a set We must ask what negative in­ criterion for such selection? After It doesn 't make sense to fluence is promoted by the mass all, common sense should dictate assume that the so-called boh-sia media through its advertisements? that potential jurors should be is only committed between mid­ educated enough and possess suf­ night and 5 am and therefore a Let's first find sober answers to ficient intelligence to differentiate curfew is necessary. these questions before recommend­ between right and wrong and have ing simplistic solutions. full control of their faculties to * Does it mean that boh-sia follow the case. does not take place before mid­ It is interesting to note that the night and after 5 am? Or does P Ramakrishnan Minister of Law had not quoted it mean even if it takes place President 8 October 1994 any specific cases to support his during off-curfew hours it is notion that jurors and assessors not a problem? had encountered difficulty in differentiating between facts and * What happens if all the parents DON'T SACRIFICE JUSTICE law. The Malaysian public has a refuse to pay the fines for their FOR EXPEDIENCY right to know as to the number of children's release? Will we be specific cases in which verdicts saddled with further problems Aliran views with alarm the were not reached because of this of food and shelter in our government's declared intention so-called problem. welfare institutions? to table amendments to the judicial system which wouid have far­ The process of law should not * The police are already hard­ reaching consequences without be sacrificed at the altar of pressed to cope with their public debate on this matter. expediency. It is dangerous to expedite the process of administer­ normal duties. Will boh-sia be ing law at the expense of justice. their top priority now? This proposal, we presume, must be a follow-up to the sugges­ Before recommending the tion by the former Lord President, cure, the National Unity & Social Tun Abdul Hamid Omar, in April P Ramakrishnan Development Ministry must estab­ last year that trials by jury should President lish what causes this social pro- be scrapped for murder cases. 16 December 1994

A/iran Mondtly 1995: 15(1) Pagt! 15 I MAKE SELF SUFFICIENCY GIVE POLITICAL PARTIES LRT SHOULD BE IN FOOD PRODUCTION AN AIR-TIME OVER DISABLED-FRIENDLY OVERRIDING PRIORITY TELEVISION seeoads is aot loag Aliran welcomes the federal Alloeatioa of radio udl lf'IB televilioa aiHiDie to tiae eaough, leagthea the government's decision to give more stoppage time thea! , attention to agricultural activities, various partiellhould be I especially food production . .r\Jiran iD proportion to tile total has long advocated such a move to votes obtaiaed by eaeh Aliran finds the explanation check inflationary trends and pre­ party iD the last geaeral given by the CEO of Sistem Transit vent food shortages. electioD Aliran Ringan Sdn Bhd on the move to discourage the disabled Aliran is disappointed that the Now that the federal from using the LRT totally un­ government will not give political acceptable and repugnant. government is putting added parties any air-time over television emphasis on food, Aliran hopes in the run-up to the election. Al­ that it will ensure that Malaysia though they will be given the op­ The CEO Z:linal Abdul Ghani becomes self-sufficient in four portunity to broadcast their views said: "18 seconds is not long basic foodstuffs: rice, vegetables, over radio, it is television that has enough {at each stop) to make sure a greater impact on the electorate. fruits and fish. This should become a wheelchair person is safely an overriding national priority. Aliran wishes to remind the strapped in." If 18 seconds is not Barisan Nasional that it does not long enough, lengthen the Indeed, rice production should own RTM. In previous elections, stoppage time then! A few extra we have seen how the ruling be stepped up immediately if we seconds at each station is not coalition abused national tele­ going to kill the LRT system and are not to become dependent on vision by highlighting the incur massive losses for the com­ imports which will make u·s Barisan 's campaign while ignoring vulnerable in times of world-wide or running down opposition par­ pany. The other reasons he and shortage. The government should ties. The Election Commission, if his colleagues gave for not con­ provide effective fertilisers, high­ it is truly independent, shoudl not sidering the disabled are equally allow this to happen. yielding grain, modern machinery pathetic. and easy access to c:edit facilities Allocation of radio and tele­ to the poorer farmers. vision air-time to the various par­ Zainal will do well to study how ties should be in proportion to the other cities have successfully total votes obtained by each party The last thing it should be catered to the needs of the disabled. in the last general election - which What kind of caring society are we doing is taking away land from rice would be more representative of farmers for a tiger prawn cultiva­ the level of public support it enjoys if we do not look after the interests tion project of all things. - instead of basing on the number of all sections of the population? of seats each party holds in parlia- ment. P Ramakrishnan Anil Netto Gan Kong Hwee President Exco Member Executive Committee Member 23 February 1995 23 February 1995 23 February 1995 (/"he above statement did not appear in (!"he above statement did not appear in (/"he above statement did not appear in the mainstream media) the mainstream media) the mainstream media)

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 16 JUSTICE ers, however, were not cowed; they Lapan Utan Estate: decided to challenge this high­ handed act by initiating court ac­ tion. THE STRUGGLE On 27 December 1994, the workers of Lapan Utan Estate, with the support of the National FOR HOUSING Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW) obtained an ex-parte or­ r.:~ ·~ . -=; der in the High Court of Shah Ualeu so.-hiaa is urpat- been sold to Koperasi Serbaguna Alam against both NMPCS and ly uadertakea to solve the Anak-Anak Selangor (KOSAS). KOSAS. NMPCS and KOSAS, 1 iuaes of Jtoailia ud fair After the serving of the termi­ were ordered to immediately take ad just ~ tllis nation notices, it appears the action to reconnect the water supply for the workers of Lapan problem will~ to be NMPCS informed the workers that besides their statutory termination Utan Estate and to desist from any a aiahtmare for estate interference with the water supply workers who are disJqiued benefits they would also receive an additional RM300 per year of · or any other amenity being enjoyed · from their work and dis­ service, if they vacated their by the workers. As a result of this plated from their homes. homes by 30 November 1994 and ex-parte order, the water supply for THOLILALIYINTHOLAR gave a written undertaking that the workers of Lapan Utan Estate reports the p6ght of Lapan they would make no claim for was resumed on 4 January 1995. alternative housing. Uta Estate workers, the The NMPCS and KOSAS, how­ latest victims of "proaress". The requests of the workers of ever, have both decided to challenge Lapan Utan Estate that the houses, the ex-parte order granted to the On 13 February 1995, some that they are presently residing in workers and hearings on these 60 workers from various estates in be sold to them or that they be applications are presently under­ Selangor gathered at the Wisma provided with alternative housing way at the High Court in Shah KOSAS in Kuala Lumpur. These was categorically rejected by the Alarn. workers gathered in order to NMPCS. express their solidarity with the OTHER ACTIONS workers of Lapan Utan Estate. The workers of Lapan Utan After a peaceful picket, they Estate were surprised and shocked On 22 December 1994 the handed a memorandum to the at the turn of events. They claimed workers of Lapan Utan Estate, Chairman of KOSAS urging that they had been promised hous­ who are also members of the KOSAS to help find a solution to ing by the NMPCS and that the NMPCS, referred their dispute with the plight of the workers of Lapan NMPCS had in fact recorded such the NMPCS to the Pengarah, promises in the NMPCS Annual Utan Estate. Jabatan Pembangunan Koperasi. Reports. In the circumstances the The workers are asking permission BACKGROUND workers decided that they would not vacate their estate quarters but from the Pengarah that their Lapan Utan Estate is an oil palm rather stay on until the NMPCS dispute with the NMPCS over the estate situated in the Mukim of makes good on its promise. issue of the promised housing be Api-Api in Kuala Selangor. It referred to the High Court. had been owned by the National DISRUPTION OF WATER Multi-Purpose Co-Operative SUPPLY The workers in their request Society Ltd (NMPCS) since 1969. for reference of their dispute to On 21 December 1994, water On 1st September 1994 the the High Court drew the attention supply to workers residing in of the Pengarah to the 1987 workers of Lapan Utan Estate were Lapan Utan Estate was dis­ Annual Report of the NMPCS served with termination notices connected. This unwarranted and by their employer NMPCS and arbitrary action was apparently in­ in which it was stated that a told that they would have to stituted in order to put pressure on Syarikat Iver Enterprise, had vacate the estate quarters by 30 the workers and force them to va­ already commenced preliminary November 1994 as the estate had cate their estate quarters. The work- work on the housing project, on a

A/iran MonJhly 1995: 15(1) Page 17 42 acre site in Lapan Utan Estate being sold for development and that both workers in Lapan Utan should be provided with either Estate and others had made appli­ alternative housing or land. cations for such housing. This Selangor State Exco The workers further referred policy regarding alternative hous­ to an offer letter dated 16 February ing for plantation workers has been much touted by members 1990, from Mr G Perumal, the thing. In addition to the payment then Executive Chairman of the of the Selangor State Executive Council, particularly so over the of RM300 per year of service to NMPCS, in which the workers the workers of Lapan Utan Estate, were informed that the NMPCS last few years when numerous estates i~ Selangor have bQen sold we believe that the NMPCS should had decided to sell the existing for purposes of "development". also respond positively to the houses in the estate to the requests of the workers for workers. Our observation of the sale of housing by either It was in the light of these Lapan Utan Estate and other (i) arranging for alternative hous­ facts, and documented promises, estates in Selangor, however has ing, or that the workers, apart from refer­ convinced us that there is no (ii) providing free lots for this ring the dispute to the Pengarah, mechanism in Selangor for the purpose. Jabatan Pembangunan Koperasi, implementation of such a policy! have also lodged caveats against What plantation workers truly Unfortunately, the Selangor the three lots of land that make up require is legislation that will en­ Executive Council policy does not Lapan Utan Estate. sure that the workers will receive have legal provisions to compel adequate compensation and be estate owners to live up to this SELANGOR STATE EXCO requirement. Noble sentiments POLICY provided with either alternative housing or land when an estate is without provisions for their legal enforcement must remain a sterile A worker whose services are sold for development. The policy terminated, is entitled by law to of the Sehmgor State Executive intention without any tangible lay-off and termination benefits. Council with regard to the dis­ benefits. placement of plantation workers These benefits are however It is important to point out here minimal. The law states that a is certainly praiseworthy. that since the number of workers in worker who has more than 5 years THE CASE OF LAPAN UTAN Lapan Utan Estate is small, the of service will be entitled to termi­ ESTATE allocation of 2 acres out of 350 nation benefits amounting to 20 acres of land in Lapan Utan Estate days' wages per year of service. In the case of Lapan Utan would be more than sufficient to Thus a worker in Lapan Utan Estate it appears quite certain that provide all the workers of Lapan Estate who has 25 years of service many promises for housing have Utan Estate with free lots on which would only be entitled to some in fact been made to the workers. they can build their own houses. RM5,000 in lay-off and termination This would thus mean that in benefits. addition to w~t is provided for in The Selangor State Govern­ law, the workers in Lapan Utan ment should also intervene in this A plantation worker whose Estate have also a legal and legiti­ dispute and take all necessary service is terminated, would mate right to alternative housing. steps in accordance with its own receive the same rate of termina­ state policy to ensure that the tion benefits as a factory worker, It is with this in mind that we workers of Lapan Utan Estate are despite the fact that when a plan­ hope the Board of Directors of the not displaced without any place to tation worker is terminated, he NMPCS will see fit to do the right go to. + looses not just his job but his place of abode as well. It appears that a plantation worker who is displaced as a result of an estate being sold is not legally entitled to alternative hous­ Estate workers

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 18 bedroom scenes and the F-word are absolute no-no's. But they are at quite a loss when it comes to areas such as violence and horror or even programmes that propagate sexism.

For instance, the censors' idea of horror has been extended to the perfectly innocent radio programme Midnight Magic hosted by Patrick Teoh. Frankly, if the censors should ever think of consulting us, the hor;'or category should extend to those boria <;lips that come on (too often) to fill the time in between programmes.

Boria stems from the street culture of the earlier part of this century and was noted for its gaiety and even wit. But the RTM version is completely devoid of any such characteristics. The presentation is monotonous, the lyrics unimaginative. But what irks HIGHWAY DUMMIES most is its crude propagandism, particularly the latest segment. Propaganda on RTM, we understand, An advertisement for a sports-car - of a rather un­ is unavoidable. But please, may we have it in less remarkable and unoriginal design at that - ran onto mindless and boring forms? hot tar shortly after it rolled out. The ad was con­ sidered sexist and an insult .to women. The In fact, the most recent frenzy to sanitise the TV advertisers had an ex-beauty queen declaring quite channels apparently stems less from a renewed moral unequivocally that she didn't care what a man looked conscience than a guilty conscience on the part of like or what he was, but she was available as long Tok Mat. He appeared particularly stung by the PM's as the bloke drove a Bufori. latest remarks on the violence and horror that has continued to permeate the TV channels despite re­ Hmm ... and they want us to believe that beauty peated instructions to clean up. It appears that RTM queens are not completely without brains. Mu'

A/iran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 19 about how age ought not to be a problem in serving frequently stuck in KL's traffic jams would have the rakyat. (Tell that to UMNO Baru members in noticed that at least two or three out of every 10 Terengganu who are now preparing to boot out their traffic policemen on the road possess bodies that Menteri Besar because he has overstayed his wel­ appear to be screaming to break out of the tight uni­ come). He also said he would rather be a tiger for forms. a day than a goat for 100 years. Too bad he was politically mauled by a younger and much more As for policemen, there seem to be more fat ferocious tiger. policemen than thin ones. They definitely do not look fit enough to tackle the baddies. It makes one GREAT MAIL ROBBERY wonder whether the policemen of today have been reduced to desk jobs rather than the more active image More promises from Pos Malaysia. It has signed that we have of them. In fact, the fat has spread to an MOU with New Zealand Post Limited to help them even the top police officials - we shall not name names draw up a comprehensive postal modernisation since some of them can be awfully sensitive. But if programme service aimed at improving its services. they are keen to find out, they can either look into There are two conclusions to be drawn from here. The a full-length mirror or climb onto the scales. first is that it sounds expensive and we hope the costs will not be passed on to consumers. VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR Secondly, this appears to be an admission on the If not for anything else, the runaway boy from part of Pos Malaysia that all is not well with this privatised body despite its constant denials and 'buat­ Britain has certainly added lustre and gusto to the Visit Malaysia Year campaign. Imagine, even British tak-tahu' in the face of complaints from the public. children are running off to visit our country! But while Privatisation, in the case of Pos Malaysia, has the Tourist Development Authority is patting itself meant a change from one hopeless monopoly to on the back, the Immigration Department des~rves another. It looks like the pigeon depicted in Pos a slap or two in the face. Malaysia's logo has lost its way. And frankly, it is difficult to measure efficiency in the absence of It is inconceivable how this 14-year-old boy could competition. have been mistaken for a 59-old-man. The immigra­ tion chap on duty must have been blind or careless On the bright side, an effective case of or both. Alternatively, it could be a case of an old privatisation has been in the broadcasting sector, disease known as white-is- better. An arrivee from spe~ifically TV and radio services. For decades since some Third World country would have had his or her Independence, RTM had gone on in more or less the passport scrutinised more closely than say a white same boorish fashion because it enjoyed a monopoly man or women. audience although the enjoyment was clearly not mutual. But since the advent of TV3 and new radio The disease, according to regular Malaysian channels, RTM has radically amended its ways and travellers, also afflicts certain employees of our attitude in order to hang on to a portion of its old national airline. It seems, MAS stewardesses and audience and of course,advertisers and revenue. stewards adopt a different attitude towards foreigners GOVERNMENT FATTIES (usually white ones) as opposed to their own Malaysian passengers. It's either a case of poor Well, well, well, it seems that more than a third training on the part of MAS or a neo-colonial of civil servants are overweight. In fact, eight per cent hang-up. of them even fall under the obese category. One can only speculate on the cause of their corpulence. Apart BAPA MONEY POLITICS from an unhealthy diet and sheer over-eating, it is. likely that they are under-worked and taking far too There is now a proposal to turn the house of the many tea/coffee breaks for their own good. late Tun Datu Mustapha into a museum. The idea was aired by an UMNO Bam strongman in Sabah who It would not be surprising too to fiDd that 81D0D1 is said to have been a henchman of Mustapha during most U&umatic period of the Pairin

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Pag~ 20 administration. The proposed museum would contain million, bullying innocent people and zooming exhibits demonstrating Mustapha's contributions to around in Pajeros with fancy number plates. These the state. are activities that one would associate with arrogant, well-heeled yuppies with material things on their We hope the museum will tell the honest truth minds. But no, we are talking about the Religious instead of glossing over the ugly parts and high­ Affairs Department. lighting only the good parts as has become a trend when it comes to documenting history in this country. First, the Federal Territory branch's misadventure into the stock market came to light when the remisier Mustapha was no saint and there ought not be any made off with the cash. The case is now pending in hypocritical attempts to paint a glowing halo around cOtlrt. Then in Selangor, the department's Badar body, his memory just because he has gone to meet his a sort of 'privatised' enforcement group fighting maker. vice among Muslims descended into vice themselves. Seven of them were arrested by the police for extor­ NEPOTISM tion.

Dr M was visibly upset when he came on TV As for the Pajeros. it appeared that a fleet of nine denying that he owned any land in Langkawi. Poor green and silver Pajeros was purchased by the Johor man, after all he has done in pushing Langkawi · to branch to the tune of RM630,000. The money is the forefront of international tourism, . he is now believed to have come from the Baitulmal Fund. The accused of harbouring self-interest. Really, those who trouble here is that there are strict rules governing make such accusations ought to furnish proof the use of the Baitulmal Fund which is built on .instead of shooting the air. On the other hand, we money that Muslims contribute in the form of zakat wish he could have made the same fervent denial or money from unclaimed inheritances and revenue regarding the allocation of 1.5 million units of Leader from property belonging to state religious Universal shares to his son MirZan Mahathir. council.

The silence on the part of those ministers whose The fund is supposed to be used for specific relatives benefited from this special shares allocation religious activities and purposes and buying luxury through the Ministry of International Trade and cars for the use of the staff is definitely not one of Industry has been deafening. But the Deputy Prime them, not even if the vehicles are used to transport Minister got very angry recently when a local reporter officials on dakwah missions. To make matters worse, persisted in asking him about the issue. It is ironic all the vehicles had fancy number plates that would that those implicated are the ones showing their temper. normally be available through bidding. Has materi­ One would think that the angry people would be the alism crept up on a body that is supposed to look after rakyat, especially the group in whose names such the spiritual needs of Muslims? shares are being dished out. The ACA, we are told, is diligently investigating JUNKETS the above case just as it is so studiously combing through the rather irregular purchase of TV and Looks like the successor to Rahim Tamby Chik karoake sets by the Civil Aviation Department. Some­ learns quickly. He has announced that the state how, the ACA is usually very brave and gungho when government will be embarking on five trade missions it comes to small fish like these, but less so when (read junkets) this year to Europe, the US, Taiwan it involves bigger fish in judicial robes. and Hong Kong. Apparently, the order that the wooing of foreign investors should be coordinated For instance, it seems to find it normal that certain by the federal government has gone into one ear and judges are able to acquire stupendous wealth far beyond out the next. Bon voyage, Mr Chief Minister! And what their accumulated salary can account for. Can welcome onto the gravy train! we be blamed for thinking that the ACA only fishes in small ponds and is afraid to venture beyond into IN GOD'S NAME deep waters? While aome do fishy things in tbe aame of God,

A/iran Mondely 1995: 15(1) Pagl! 21 others do it in the name of the Prime Minister. It the Mohd Sabu issue. For the first time in years, appears that some UMNO Baru members are going Kelantanese are apparently streaming to attend around saying that they have the blessings of the UMNO Baru ceramahs without having to be paid to PM to stand in this or that seat. Tok Mat, the source do so. It seems that lots of sordid and snide remarks of this little tidbit, said members who went around were made about hotel rooms, etc. UMNO Baru doing this would only end up splitting the party. politicians ought not to forget that they have their own sex-crazed skeletons in the cupboard. One suspects that his peeved tone may have been caused by the fact that one of those making such The details revealed and speculated about this claims must have announced that he was going to case at these ceramahs are such-that we cannot re­ stand in Tok Mat's seat. Anyway, given the propensity produce them without violating the rules on VHS! of RTM for distortion, we have every reason to doubt That all these shabby methods are being employed whatever comes from the mouth of the Umno secre­ to gain votes shows how desperate both sides care to tary-general. appear holier than the other. REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SELF Meanwhile, UMNO Barn's attempt to bully PAS The Menteri Besar of Terengganu, when inter­ to drop the word 'Islam' from its name appears to viewed on Wawancara (at best, it is a well-rehearsed have backfired in the former's face like one of those question-and-answer programme) said that in poli­ gooey pies that the Three Stooges are so fond of. PAS tics, one should not ask for position. Little wonder is now going about saying that this shows how un­ then, that UMNO Baru members in the state are asking Islamic UMNO Baru has become. It's true that PAS him to step down. He is obviously out of touch with is just another political party, but frankly, a party that the aspirations of the younger and aspiring genera­ has so cunningly dropped the word Bam from its tion of UMNO Baru. People in his time may have name should not be so bossy and presumptuous about actually joined politics to serve society but who in the the names that others choose to adopt. Indeed, the world thinks like that anymore~ The material rewards rivalry between these two Malay-based parties has of being in politics are so vast tbat people have been grown quite ridiculous. Both are claiming to be more driven to commit murder and more recently, to die Islamic. for it. It is like a person claiming that he is more humble OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND than anyone else. The actual voicing of such a claim itself repudiates the state of humility. True religiosity KL's police have until Dec 31 to clear the city of or spirituality need not be announced through loud some 16,000 drug addicts. The order came from the speakers at the Putra World Trade Centre. It should IGP who appears to have been greatly encouraged by be practised in ways that can be quietly noted down the way his men have managed to clear the notorious Chow Kit area of "living zombies". The move will by the common man. Perhaps for a start, UMNO Bam be good for KL except for one disquieting thought. politicians should distance themselves from money politics. Where have all these living dead gone off to? Surely they have not evaporated into thin air. At a recent indoor rally at the PWTC, UMNO Bam members each received a booklet explaining that It is likely they have moved on to new haunts. In PAS places more emphasis on politics than religion. other words, they have gone off to create new prob­ The intense offensive against PAS began at the last lems in other areas which are out of sight (and UMNO Bam general assembly and appears to have therefore, out of the mind) of the IGP. Frankly, this grown more and more hysterical. All this hype is bull-dozing method of the police leaves much to be linked to UMNO Bam's obssession to get back desired. It is little more than transferring a problem Kelantan and hang onto Terengganu whatever the from one spot to another. The upshot of it all is that costs. the dadah addicts are still there. Thus, the IGP should not behave as though he has solved the dadah prob­ Whatever, it is, the behaviour of both sides makes lems of KL. a mockery of the religious values that they claim to SEX AND POLITICS espouse. -byNNP- UMNO Baru Kelantan has been going to town on

Aliran MonJltly 1995: 15(1) Page 22 CONFLICT

low cost housing costing between RESIDENTS RM20,000-RM25,000 a unit. In the case of Sellamani, she was straight away denied this tem­ DEFEND THEIR porary shelter based on the fact that she is a red I C holder and was living alone. As such, she was not entitled LAND FROM KTM to such relief. Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Mary and her family of 10 adults being served witll evic­ After because KTM claimed that they were only offered one unit of the tioll 11otlca by KTM 15/tlllli­ owned the land and wanted to rumah panjang, but it is quite lia ffltJ't1etl out frlllll th~ir construct some double track rail evident that even big families with hOllieS. Tlrree brt1t1e fllmiUes, system related project there. young children have problems with however, stood their grOIUUI the space arrangement let alone a Following the eviction notice, t111d discovered thtlt KTM had family of 10 adults. As such Mary all the families have moved out has been pleading with the authori­ no clllim to til~ land. TAN JO except for Batumalai and his wife, ties to be given 2 units next to each liANN .files their story. Sellamani and Mary's family. For other so that her family could still those who had left, they have not be together. only lost their permanent houses Seventy year old S Batumalai and land but from now onwards is a retired Keretapi Tanah Melayu In the case ofBatumalai and his would have to pay a monthly rental wife who have actually poured most (KTM) worker who has been living of RM45 (in addition to water and of their life savings into their in Sentul for the past four genera­ electricity charges) for a small present house, leaving all the tions. He spent most of his savings cramped unit in the rumah panjang memories of the past 80 years of including his EPF savings, close to community, where they are pres­ living there would be a very painful RM20,000, to build his house in ently housed. Kampung Chinatamby Chetty in and heart-wrenching experience. Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore this is only a They decided to make a stand and temporary hoasing arrangement despite their home being tom down His neighbour N Sellamani, and evicted urban settlers are ulti­ three times by the DBKL, they had now in her 60s is a 'kuih' seller at mately supposed to be resettled in persistently rebuilt it each time and a nearby golf course. She is a red IC holder and was married to a Malaysian who died recently. For the past 25 years she has been living in a little wooden shack in Kampung Chinatamby.

Mary, a school teacher and her 9 siblings and other relatives have lived in this kampung ever since she was still a child.

EVICTION NOTICES SERVED

Last September, all of them along with their neighbours were served with eviction notices by the Batumalai and his family had lived here for four generations.

Alir1111 Mondrly 1995: 15(1) Page 23 stayed on to defend their home. enforcement officers. While pressing the authorities to look into their demands, the Batumalai also claimed that the Finally the showdown came on people had also begun to question land grant was actually given to him January 7 1995 when 20 DBKL even KTM's ownership of the land. many years ago by the real owner, officers accompanied by 10 police but it was burnt in a fire together officers, a band of KTM officials Satyamoorthy was evidently un­ with his house in the 1980s. As such and a bulldozer tried to clear the informed of the status of the land today he cannot ascertain his own­ area of the remaining three houses. where Kampung Chinatamby stood ership of the land. on and was also unclear whether KTM had even planned any project All they are asking for is a But the residents were ready for on the site. But he admitted that the rumah panjang unit for Sellamani; this onslaught as they stood between land status should be determined two units for Mary's family and their homes and the menacing first before any negotiations could adequate compensation for bulldozer and enforcement officers. continue. Batumalai's loss of property in the With the support of about 30 con­ event of being evicted from . their cerned friends from several NO LEGAL BASIS FOR premises in Kampung Chinatamby. neighbouring kampungs, and con­ KTM cerned organisations, they managed NO MONETARY to halt the operations. But meanwhile the residents had COMPENSATION initiated a land search and it had Through a tedious process of revealed very interesting results, In general, no monetary com­ pressing for dialogue with the KTM that their kampung was actually pensation was offered and no ne­ officials, the director of the Elec­ built on private land, belonging to gotiation process was initiated by trical Multiple Unit (EMU) project, a Mr Mudaligi Geogina Paaris. KTM. In fact, the DBKL with the Mr Satyamoorthy finally visited the sanction of KTM had even tried to area in an attempt to resolve the At this juncture, after consult­ forcibly evict these people on three matter. ing their lawyer, Batumalai, occasions. Sellamani and Mary immediately The KTM official's visit was ac­ filed for damages from KTM for But each time, Mary and tually a positive step forward for the haras~ment , mental anguish Sellamani, and Batumalai, together the people compared to the heated and loss of wages as the residents with some concerned neighbours and unfruitful exchanges of the had to sometimes take unpaid leave and friends, had managed success­ past with other KTM bureaucrats to defend their houses. fully to ward off the destructive and uncaring DBKL enforcement efforts of the unthinking DBKL officers. Some weeks later in a letter dated January 24, Mr Zukifli bin Ibrahim, Deputy Director of the En­ forcement unit of DBKL wrote to the residents' lawyer claiming that the land on which the residents are staying is government land reserved for KTM Berhad.

This new tum of events must have come as a shock. Conse­ quently, KTM and DBKL had to back off as the true owners of the land is yet to be officially deter­ mined.

If indeed the land is privately Bulldozer, enforcement officers, KTM officials and the police owned, then KTM and DBKL have getting ready for demolition work. no choice but to recognise the

A/iran Monlhly 1995: 15(1) Page 24 some other enactment which would eventually chase the people off the land.

KTM has to be accountable to the general public especially the communities they have already evicted and are going to evict in the future while implementing the double tracking project.

More cmhmunities like that of Kampung Chinatamby will have to fight for their rights and continue Mr. Satya Moorthy, Director of the EMU project of KTM , finally visited to press the relevant authorities to the area. properly and accurately establish the real· ownership of the land before people's right to remain on the land. Kampung Chinatamby Chetty is it is arbitrarily claimed by KlM and But for the other 15 families whose a landmark case where the people's thereby forcing the residents out of homes were destroyed and were •perseverance for decent lives and their homes and robbing them of a forced to move out, their eviction the right to a proper home, has at life that they had enjoyed for de­ was indeed a gross violation of their least culminated in some form of cades.+ rights. They were evicted illegally victory even if it may be shortlived. and both KTM and DBKL have * Tan Jo Hann is a freelance jour­ conducted themselves without any STILL WORRIED nalist and also a member of legal basis in this affair. PERMAS (Persatuan Masyarakat Today the people are still wor­ Selangor dan Wilayah Per­ KTM had actually tried to fool ried that this new turn of events sekutuan), an organisation working the people by adopting strong arm would probably prompt the KTM with urban poor communities in tactics · by using the police and to manipulate the situation and Kuala Lumpur f!nd Selangor. DBKL to forcibly and illegally evict somehow acquire the land through the people from their homes. the Land Acquisition Act or through

If not for the firm resistance of the people and support from con­ cerned neighbours and caring friends, they would have already lost their homes and would have been compelled to move into the horrible rumah panjang. As for Sellamani, she would have been forced to sleep on the streets in Sentul.

But the authorities have since then remained very silent about the ambiguous situation. They have not even verbally apologised to the people for the unnecessary harass­ ment, unjustified threats of eviction and bullying attitude displayed by the KTM officials and DBKL en­ Concerned neighbours and caring forcement officers. demolition operation.

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 15 HEART TO HEART What comes from the tips reaches the ear. what comes from the heart reache_~:=~ ~:.:rb LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LIFE IN A CROATIAN REFUGEE CAMP - rl Malaysian 1'olunteer

Last November, I had the AMAZING WOMEN To me, the camp seemed to be opportunity to live and work in a so full of life - not just in terms of refugee camp for Bosnian Muslims The first thing I must say activities organised by the volun­ and Bosnian Croats in Pula, about the people in the camp is teers but also in the sense that Croatia. The organisation I that rather than resign themselves the people around, primarily the volunteered with was a Croatian to their present fate, most of the women, were always busy doing grassroots relief non-governmental people I knew made every effort to something. I'm sure they clean/ organisation called "Suncokret" . get on with their lives and to over­ wash the floors every couple of Suncokret has been working in come the privations and hardships hours - the times I've nearly refugee camps in Croatia, Slovenia they faced. In this respect the broken my neck coming down and Bosnia since the start of the women in the camp were simply those stairs . . . The men, unable to Balkan conflict and largely amazing. Many of them were on find work in Pula, would sit and depends on the contributions of their own, their husbands being in chat in groups or play chess in the self-financed volunteers. The Bosnia. They had to fend for them­ courtyard. The children, naturally, refugee camp I worked in was selves and their children single­ were all over the camp - playing called Kamenjak and was one of handedly. The women were not in the foyers, corridors and the biggest in Pula. only responsible for giving their courtyard. The camp was also full children some sense of security but of life in the sense of people's I guess by some standards the they were crucial to the survival of hopes of starting life anew either refugees in Kamenjak fared quite the camp. In addition to their when they return to Bosnia or well - definitely better than the when/if they migrate to Canada, parental and household chores, the USA or elsewhere. Cambodian refugees in the Sungai they worked in the kitchen, bakery, Besi and Hong Kong camps. At the sewing room and ensured the However, throughout my stay least they are not guarded by general cleanliness of the camp. in Kamenjak I found that there armed men and cut-off from the rest of"civilization" by barbed wire fences. Besides their freedom of movement, they had basic ameni­ ties like in-door toilets and showers. The camp even had 5 washing machines - past tense, none of them were working and there is little hope of them being fixed in the near future. The camp also had hot water - but as the women were constantly doing their families' laundry, they had to cope with having cold showers. Needless to say the men, for some mysterious reason, never had this problem. Invalids Centre Kamenjak, Pula. Picture of the courtyard between the 1st and 2nd (Invalids) Building.

Alir1111 Monlllly 1995: 15(1) Page 26 was so much more work to be done if a child was aggressive towards pyromaniacally inclined children. and so many different needs that you - kicks or hits you for no needed to be seen to. I soon apparent reason, the best way of Apart from the warmth and learned from my work with the dealing with them is to hug or kiss hospitality of the refugees, I have invalids that they had emotional them. Either they will return the the utmost respect and admiration needs that were just as vital to affection or they will run !l mile for them because they did not their overall well-being as their away from you. One of the saddest succumb to the madness that has physical needs. Helping with things about my stay in the camp fuelled the Balkan conflict. Rela­ physiotheraphy and gtvmg was knowing that quite a few of the tions between the Bosnian Muslim massage was only part of the work kids who came up to Suncograd and Bosnian Croat (Catholic) - they needed a lot of love, atten­ were being abused in the camp. refugees were peaceful and harmo­ tion, support and understanding. Sometimes children would show up nious. In fact, there was a marked The only way of fulfilling these with bad bruises/bum marks from absence of overt religious tension needs was by spending time with cigarettes, and there was little the within the camp. The camp was not them and giving them companion­ volunteers· could do, apart from segregated in any way. ship. being gentle with them. At times things would get difficult when 1 ONE DOCTOR FOR 1,000 the children we suspected of Ever so often I would REFUGEES being abused, in turn, became ag­ discover that one of gressive/violent towards other chil­ In a sense, the plight of the dren. The volunteers also couldn't I'll» refugee friends' invalids was really not too help but notice that the children mother or father was different from that of elderly and who were most violent were the ones a Serb or Bosnfan bed-ridden people everywhere. who wore the most bruises. Their health condition made Croat (Catholic) and them "invisible" members of the STRENGTH AND the other parent a community, as they were unable DETERMINATION ~lan MusHm. to mingle freely with the rest of the camp. Most of the invalids I Despite all the suffering and worked with were in constant pain, misery the refugees have gone and a few urgently needed operations are still going through, they have Personally speaking, the and some of them were on their managed with their strength and hardest thing for me to reconcile own. Although they are "taken care determination to somehow rise about the Balkan crisis was how of' in the camp - it is the barest above it all. They do not allow their it could have erupted and mani­ minimum care for people in their pain to dominate their lives - fested itself in the way that it did. condition. One must also bear in thus, they can see beyond their The reason why I feel this way is mind that there is only one doctor immediate predicament and appre­ because so many of the people I available for the 1,000 odd ciate the small joys in life, without met there had Serb, Croatian and refugees and one sister-in-charge which there could be no hope. One Muslim relatives. Ever so often I of meeting the basic needs of all thing that really struck me about would discover that one of my refu­ the invalids. Personally, I could not them was their eagerness to talk to gee friends' mother or father was decide which was the worst aspect me, not only about themselves and a Serb or Bosnian Croat (Catholic) of their plight - the loss of their their families but also about myself, and the other parent a Bosnian families, homes I belongings, their my family and country. Another Muslim. health, their personal dignity or wonderful thing about the refugees their extreme sense of isolation and was their capacity to give and share The people there seemed sheer helplessness. what precious little they had - to have been so well integrated, endless cups of industrial strength particularly through inter­ The children on the whole were Bosanska kava (coffee), fruit, marriages, that one simply cannot sweet. Naturally, there were some burek, sweets and even fire­ make sense of what has happened. mischievous ones too. It is quite crackers - lit and stuffed into your My refugee friends tend to feel funny but I soon figured out that coat pocket, by some of the the same way too. Most of them

Alir1111 Molllllly 1995: 15(1) Page 27 had led everyday, normal lives to still have hope and faith in the napkins, baby oiUpowder etc., glue, before the crisis blew up and human race. But they do -and more scissors, sticky tape and old would never have been able to than that, despite their pain - they English or German textbooks picture themselves in a refugee continue to live, love and laugh. to contact me (Ms Sukanya Tel: camp, let alone the horrors of a 03-7550441). Alternatively, if Serbian concentration camp. Thus, I would like to end this anyone would be so kind as to article with an appeal to anyone offer sponsorship of the camp ... With all the betrayals and who has any spare clothes, wool Well, whatever it is you can do atrocities committed against them, for crochet/embroidery, basic and whatever it is you are able to I wonder how they find the medical supplies and toiletries - spare, the people of Kamenjak strength and will to persevere and e.g. sterile gloves, incontinence would be most grai.eful to you. +

Muslims and

Su, Anna & Mato Lukic (Catholic) - Room 105 Catholics lived amicably in the same room.

Rifat Agic (wheelchair) & the Husein family (Smijel, Sadika & Sadik Husein) (Muslim) - Room 105

Alirt111 Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 28 AN APPEAL

ALIRAN ;4, ;41¥'"' 1M needs a home Aliran's Building Fund

n two 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 nomadic ex­ istence moving from one rented premise to another. In fact, during the last four years I Aliran has moved three times! Besides being very disruptive, it has also been expensive as the rent kept increasing from RM400 in 1989 to RM580 in 1991 and RM850 presently. Aliran 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 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. Aliran 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 ALIRAN is a friend of truth and justice .

./.~ P. ~akrishnan } President, AURAN r------, I wish to donate RM ______to Aliran Building Fund by cash I cheque I draft I MO I PO No. ______

Name: Mr I Mrs I Miss I Mdm ______

Addnss: ______

Please send your donation to: The Treasurer ALIRAN BUILDING FUND P 0 BOX 1049 10830 PENANG MALAYSIA L------~

Alir1111 Molflllly 1995: 15(1) Page 19 • enclose money order I postal order I . cheque no ...... • • for the sum of RM ...... as payment for my subscription (Tick on~) • : for 0 1 year I c:::::::::J 2 years and a further sum of • • RM ...... as donation to Aliran Songs of Humanity • • D • • Mr/Mrs/Mdm/Miss ...... Thean Teik: • • Address ...... D The other Side of Development • ...... • Dialogue on Democracy • ...• ...... D • ...... •

:D Reflections on the Malaysian Constitution...... RM10.00 :0 Aliran in Pictures ...... RM .5 .00 :o Nation on Trial...... RM12.00 =o NEP - Development & Alternative Consciousness ...... RM 12.00 D Challenges & Choices in Malaysian Politics & Society...... RM 17.00 The Human Being: D Perspectives from Different Spiritual Traditions ...... RM 12.00

Whose War? D Reflections on the Gulf Conflict ...... RM 8.00 D Pelindung...... RM 12.00

Mr/Mrs/Mdm/Miss ...... Address ......

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A/iran Monlllly 1995: 1 5(1) Page 30 BOOK REVIEW WOMEN OF PEACE with her on a train. This event relations with their former enemies. All her paths are peace changed her life, her perspective Shidzue Kato was born into an by Michael Henderson and motivation. There is no ques­ aristocratic Japanese family. Her Kumarian Press tion that she has decreased suffer­ USA $14.95, UK'£6.95 marriage was arranged with her ing and prevented many tragedies. consent, but she had the good luck to marry an enlightened husband. In this book Michael The moving story of Irene Laure puts many of us to shame. A Her greatest inspiration was Joan Henderson presents an absolutely of Arc. She fought for birth control astounding collection of persona­ Frenchwoman, who had good reasons to hate the Germans after in Japan and her intelligence and lities of the highest integrity and active interest in public affairs won the war and the occupation of part with fascinating lives. These un­ her a senator's chair. usual people have two things in of France, found the strength to common: all are women and all forgive the former enemies of her Others featured in the book have contributed towards peace eountry, and to voice this loud include Audrey Burton, an African and understanding. and clear. Her example inspired American who has directed her others, both men and women. efforts towards the improvement of The Dalai Lama wrote the corrective institutions; Dame Alice introduction, which is filled with Renee Pan, from Cambodia, Wedega, of Papua New Guinea, wisdom. He is convinced that it is gained experience of a functioning who travelled the world preaching women's role to act as harmonizers democracy in the United States. understanding and the rejection of among people of all colours and The turmoil and devastation hate; Saidie Patterson of Belfast, caused by hatred in her luckless creeds in all parts of the world, who recruited her countrywotnen country was consequently even as peacemakers and harmonizers; because people everywhere are more unacceptable. She had lost basically the same. Yukika Sohma of Japan, who her husband while fleeing her awakened her country to the needs Henderson introduces the country, found asylum in Bangkok of refugees; women from South reader to women from many coun­ and then the United States. When America, Burma, Israel and Egypt. she returned to Cambodia, she tries, Protestant, Catholic, Buddhist, What is the common deno­ Hindu and Muslim, all of whom un­ helped to organize the free elections and later, through the mina tor? Knowledge of different derstand that without forgiveness radio programmes she produced, cultures, tolerance, forgiveness, a and understanding there cannot advocated forgiveness and progress from vision to action. be peace, and that without peace tolerance. Many found their strength and understanding, friendship and through the experience of Caux love there cannot be a good life. The story of Abeba and Moral Re-Armament. The Some of them were devoted to the Tesfagiorgis of Eritrea is more idea of peace and tolerance from stories are narrated without intriguing than any novel. Abeba pathos, without any dramatization. the beginning, some arrived actually faced a firing squad at their creed after dramatic Just the facts are presented - during the time her country was and facts without trimmings are experiences, some found inspira­ under Ethiopian domination. She tion in the heroines of the past. impressive and inspiring. A book was active in the resistance and for those who have the vision The first peacemaker introduced later imprisoned. In 1991 her coun­ and need inspiration for action. + is Sushobha Barve, a high-caste try won independence. She helped Hindu who has devoted all her establish a Centre for Human Jara Moserova-Davidova efforts to the reconciliation of Rights in Eritrea, was invaluable in Head of the Czech Commission Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, since the election preparations and, most for UNESCO in Prague she was witness to Hindu cruelty important of all, taught people that SOURCE: For A Change towards two Sikhs who travelled they should try to establish normal Oct./Nov. 1994

A/iran Mondrly 1995: 15(1) Page31 TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORT MINISTRY SHOULD ACT, NOT JUST TALK

It seems that millions of ringgit had been spent on the purchase of breath analysers some time ago, for the pur­ pose of checking on people who drink and drive. But this equipment has been gathering dust in some store-room, some­ where, instead of being put to good use. Why? IT CANNOT BE DENIED that the current television cam­ This is a waste of public paign on the dangers of drunken If the dangers of drun­ money and very disappointing driving has caught the attention indeed. It should be rectified ken driving al8 as seri­ immediately. of a great number of Malaysians. ous as the authdrltles The television campaign is well say they al8, then It Is At another level, but closely produced because it is realistic. urgent that the law · connected to the same problem of We get the impression that we are people who drink and drive, the getting a report straight from the .,.mat drunken drlviiJII authorities should keep a very strict scene of an accident. be lmpletnetlfellstRctly . and Immediately. eye on restaurants and pubs where The urgent task, however, is for beer, whisky, brandy and other the Transport Ministry to act firmly Ministry decided to spend so much strong drinks are served. For one against people who consume aico­ money on the media campaign? thing, more pubs have been allowed holic drinks and drive. The duty of And it does not mean that action to open. Moreover, some beer com­ the Transport Ministry and other cannot be taken while the media panies are also holding all sorts of relevant authorities like the police campaign continues. competitions, including so-called is to implement the law and imple­ beauty contests featuring scantily­ ment it without fear or favour. Organisations like the Automo­ dressed girls and young women. All bile Association of Malaysia and this will only encourage more The Transport Ministry says it the Federation of Malaysian Con­ people - especially young people - wants to wait until the message of to drink. And among these people the dangers of drunken driving sumer Associations are right in who drink, some will be irrespon-· has reached everyone before it saying that the authorities must acts. This is strange logic. Why impose random breath tests imme­ sible enough to drive after drink­ wait? If the dangers of drunken diately to back up the government's ing heavily. driving are as serious as the au­ anti-drink driving campaign. thorities say they are, then it is WHO IS CAR-POOLING? Why wait and allow more in­ urgent that the law against For many months, some time drunken driving be implemented nocent people to be killed on the ago, the Transport Ministry strictly and immediately. roads? If necessary, the law against drunken driving should be made carried out a media campaign on The dangers are real and ur­ stiffer in order to impose a Again, the aim was gent. Otherwise, why has the penalties. good. It was to educate the people

Alir1111 Montltly 1995: 15(1) Page 32 that it would make sense to car­ But no, there was no follow­ pool so that our roads, especially up implementation of a well­ PtWple who drive tuUl use in the cities, would not be so intentioned idea. What a pity in­ htmdplw11es Ill the same congested and polluted. deed. Without any follow-up tillle are 11 dimgu 11ot 011/y implementation, it seems to me to theiiiSelves but also to However, it is disappointing that only the media agency which motorcyclists, that the authorities have not other drivers, was given the contract to design bilcers _tllld pedestndns. followed up this media campaign and broadcast the campaign had on car-pooling with action. Mter benefited handsomely from the months of telling the public about money spent. the need to share their cars to go to work and to come home, and WHAT ABOUT DRIVING after spending more than RMll WITH HANDPHONES? million on the media campaign, the Transport Ministry said in Parlia­ More than a year ago Tran­ ment recently that car-pooling sport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik would not be implemented until promised to announce the ban on alternative modes of public trans­ drivers using handphones. That port were found. promise was made after a couple Now, this explanation is highly of earlier postponements on the matter. But, until now, no an­ DR. LING: Yet to announce the ban illogical. We were led to believe, on drivers using handphones in the first place, that car-pooling nouncement has been made. itself was meant to be an alterna­ Why? Mounting expensive media tive mode of transport, if not the This long silence is not only main alternative mode. campaigns to educate the public strange but also inefficient. Has about the importance of road the Minister clearly forgotten it, or One would have thought that safety without follow-up action is is he thinking of another media the authorities were already plan­ a waste of time, energy and campaign without back-up imple­ ning seriously how to implement money. car-pooling before and during the mentation? Or is he being too soft to handphone companies? media campaign. One would And let's face it, the long have thought that the Transport This is a serious matter that tenure of Ling as Transport Ministry in particular, with help should have been resolved long Minister has not been exactly from the traffic police, would have ago. People who drive and use inspiring. Sure, the train service drawn up elaborate and detailed handphones at the same time are seems to have improved, but road plans to implement a scheme which a danger not only to themselves accidents and deaths have they told the public was very but also to other drivers, motor­ increased. And the many fires and necessary. cyclists, bikers and pedestrains. other serious lapses of safety at the Subang International Airport A person who drives must con­ are still far from satisfactorily centrate 100 per cent on the road, not on the person he is talking to explained. on the handphone or the interest­ Last but not least, too many ing or argumentative conversation drivers on the road still have he is having. So, why the delay? 'Kopi-0' licences. They drive The Transport Minister should recklessly, posing a danger to all wake up to his responsibilities. others, appearing unaware of His job is not just talking about basic traffic rules. It goes for a lot road safety or transport safety. He of our young motor-cyclists as also has to ensure that rules and well. Surprise checks by the Anti­ regulations on safety are obeyed Corruption Agency should be and implemented by everybody conducted on the JPJ and the concerned. testers. +

Alirtut Monlltly 1995: 15(1) Page 33 The Kerpan Controversy: Prawn profits and human dignity Some 33landowners, including MANIPULATED BY 10 women, were arrested in early OUTSIDERS? January this year for trying to defend their land rights. They had To be sure, the farmers were obstructed the developers of the not amused by the insinuation Kerpan tiger prawn project in (and the condescending attitude) Kedah from bringing in heavy of the Menteri Besar that they could not make good decisions machinery to bulldoze, quite about their future and that they literally, their way through. Certain were easily manipulated by out­ government leaders and some siders. They were and remain local mainstream media dismissed averse to this project not only be­ this as the antics of a bunch of cause of the strong bond they trouble makers who couldn't and have with their land, but also be­ didn't appreciate the good inten­ cause they were distressed by tions of the state government to help the failure of similar ventures else­ Haji Zakaria Ahmad: Chairperson develop the people and society in where such as the one in Tanjung of the Kerpan Landowners' general. Dawai in Kedah where shrimp Action Conmittee. farmers were reported to have The multi-million ringgit suffered a loss of RM3 million due Furthermore, prior to this project is being undertaken by to a viral infe:::tion affecting the project, these farmers, like their Samak Aquaculture Sdn Bhd, a shrimps. counterparts elsewhere, were in joint venture between Saudi many ways economically indepen­ Arabian businessmen, the Kedah But more than that, these dent. As Haji Zakaria argued, State government and interested farmers - like many other "Most of us possess between five farmers. Similar economic activi­ Malaysians - are also aware that and six relong of padi land and ties have helped Malaysia produce this kind of aquaculture is the padi yield is valued at about nearly 52,000 tonnes of aquacul­ unsustainable and environmentally RM500 per month - and not ture products with a total value of destructive, apart from having the RM200 - RM300 per month as effect of marginalising many small­ claimed by the government. We RM130 million in 1990. Ten years scale fishermen and farmers. Be­ ago, the country produced only also do not need to buy rice, fish, sides, what the farmers did is, in vegetables, coconuts and fruits 8,000 tones and earned some essence, the exercising of their RM20 million. for these are now easily grown and democratic and legitimate right to available on our land." In other defend their interests and live­ Faced with this prospect and words, they will now become lihood. They were also living up to reliant on a private company and problem, the once-again disturbed their social responsibility of safe­ Kedah Menteri Besar Osman the State for their livelihood - in guarding the overall welfare of order to serve the insatiable appe­ Aroff labelled these villagers and society and the environment. farmers as "anti-development" and tite of foreign consumers such as those who "instigated the people to those in Japan, Korea, and the This is why, in refuting the West for prawns. oppose development projects" as claim of Prime Minister Mahathir traitors. Strong words coming from Mohamed that 90 per cent of the The compensation offered by a seasoned Osman Aroff who has landowners supported the Kerpan the government also troubled the had the experience of being vehe­ project, the chairperson of the farmers. The farmers' land is mently opposed by farmers in the Kerpan Landowners' Action Com­ agricultural, and therefore com­ much criticized gargantuan Jerai mittee, Haji Zakaria Ahmad, main­ mands very low market value, International Park project some tained in his press statement that argued the Prime Minister. But the time ago, a commercial venture that "Fifty per cent of the landowners Kerpan farmers felt that had they was to have, in the final analysis, opposed the first phase while been allowed to upgrade their land tickled the fancy of mainly the rich ninety per cent opposed the second to industrial status, they would and famous who roam the world. phase." Collectively, they were not surely be entitled to a more attrac­ [AM 1994:14(4)]. happy with the prawn project. tive compensation.

AlirtUI Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 34 LAND ACQUISITION ACT and adroitly responded to, by a human being, it appears, has country like Malaysia where worked diligently towards his or And all this happened despite ordinary Malaysians are often the fact that these fanners were at her very own destruction. We reminded, and rightly so, of the need only to look at the contemp­ that time awaiting a High Court importance of the teachings o~ the ruling on their challenge as to the tuous way we treat our rivers, sea, world's major religious traditi<;>~s forests, hills, trees, the air, animals validity of the State's takeover <;>f and the need to live by th&Se spm­ their land for the purpose of this - not to mention our fellow tual guidelines. Islamic approach beings. economic enterprise. to development, for instance, ac­ The haste with which the cords primary importance to the By exploiting our nat1;'ral re­ Kedah State government attempted concept of human dignity. In ~on­ sources in this way, particularly to implement this pr~ject o"".'es i.ts crete terms the interests, v1ews the non-renewable resources, we - origins to the successful passmg.m and status ~f the poor and dis­ at least those of us with authority Parliament of the controversial advantaged, like those of some of - have violated our sacred respon­ amendment to the Land Acquisi­ the Kerpan fanners, must be taken sibility as trustees. One would shud­ tion Act in 1991, a piece of legis­ into account and appreciated so der to witness, for instance, how lation that many Malaysians view that socio-economic justice can be we siphon off oil from the ~arth as as undemocratic and unconstitu­ achieved. if it would last forever. This IS all tional. The amendment gives in­ done in the name of"development" ' finite powers to the State to com­ ALIENATION OF HUMAN - for the sake of short-term gains. pulsorily acquire private property BEINGS It also entertains the ever increas­ ing demands of motor vehicles, that for any use that it deems to be In other words, the welfare of economically beneficial to the have been religiously produced by the impoverished and the needy the motor industry, and the vora­ country's development. Unlik~ in must not be pushed aside or sacri­ the earlier Act, the land acqmred cious appetites (a.k.a. greed) of ficed at the altar of profits and the people who earnestly consume need not be confined to the State's interests of the affiuent. And yet, a use, but may be used "by any per­ goods that are oil-based. The end society which condones and result: depleting oil reserves, oyer­ son or corporation for any purpose encourages a concentration of which in the opinion of the State whelming air and water pollution, .wealth, thus widening the gap and health hazards. Authority is beneficial to the e~o­ between the rich and the poor, nomic development of Malaysia, will indeed have difficulty in rais­ or any part thereof or the public One would shudder to wit­ ing.the dignity of ordin.ary hum~ generally, or any class of the pub­ ness, for ilistance, how we beings. Unless this social .m~ruse siplwn offoilftom the Etll'th lic." is checked, the goal of achievmg a as if it would last /Mevet: From the Kerpan episode, one just society will be relegated t? a could argue that economic ventures statement of intent, and nothing People like the farmers in more. In addition, crass commer­ like the tiger prawn project are Kerpan have a lot to off~r by way likely to benefit the rich more than cialism and consumerism that are of educating and reffilnding us all the poor and the underprivileged. spawned by a capitalistic system about the importance of living in This then brings us to the old and which have haunted not only harmony with Mother Nature. question of what kind of develop­ the elite but also the less fortunate, Furthermore, their life-style would ment are we pursuing and who wtll can eventually lead to the aliena­ suggest that treating natural re­ really be its beneficiaries? Are we tion of human beings from their sources merely as commodities for to support and condone the kind fellow beings and even from God sale as the profiteers often do, of development that promises Himself. If and when this happens, brin'gs out the ugly Utilitarian of what good then is this develop­ short-term gains to the rich and Devil in humans. ment? powerful? Unless the moral of such stories Is development solely socio­ In Islam, as in some other like Kerpan is heeded, the immense economic in nature, or shouldn't faiths, the human being is con­ interests of the elite and the it also encompass the political, cul­ sidered God's vicegerent or powerful will continue to .~~mph tural and spiritual components? trustee, someone who is entrusted over the collective respons1b1hty of Should development necessarily to take care of the unive.rse and the human beings to protect and sus­ world on His behalf. As we have and unavoidably result in pollution tain their only planet, and also over noticed in the case of the and environmental devastation? their right to a healthr ~d ~ore Kerpan project and other rnassiye meaningful life. In this situation, These and other equally press­ "development" projects m no amount of money and material ing questions should be posed, Malaysia, as well as in many other wealth can "fix" the problem af­ so-called developed countries, the flicting humankind. +

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 35 DEVELOPMENT ''WE HAVE BEEN BADLY OPPRESSED'' says Kerpan farmer

The little known village of Kerpan near Alor Star gripped the nation's attention recently as news filtered through of defiant farmers confronting bulldozers attempting to enter their paddy- fields. A joint venture company, Samak Aquacul­ ture Sdn Bhd, had earmarked l ,000 acres of the agriculture land here for a tiger prawn cultivation project despite stiff opposition from many local farmers. After a tense stand­ off, police swooped down on 16 January against those holding out in the wee hours of the morning. The result: 23 men and lO women detained for periods ranging from three days to a week.

Samak, which links the Kedah The Little known village of Kerpan state government with interested farmers and Saudi businessmen, grunting as they went about level­ Chenon. Forces he could not un­ then moved in its heavy machinery, ling the paddy fields, disturbing the dersiand, acting in the name of as riot police stood by keeping a tranquility of the idyllic rural set­ ' development,' were irresistably watchful eye. Under the first phase ting. Nearby, Chenon Bakar cut a taking away the simple life-style of the project, the company would sorry figure. Standing dejectedly he was accustomed to. takeover about 500 acres of the in front of his wooden house, he farmers' fertile paddy land. What surveyed the destructive machines True, they had offered him provoked the farmers' ire was the at work before him. It was almost ' compensation': a few thousand intrusion had preempted court pro­ as if he was bidding farewell to the ringgit per acre and mandatory ceedings: the chairman of the rice-fields that had been so much shares in the project. But, deep Kerpan Farmers Action Commit­ a part of his life. within, Chenon knew that would tee, Zakaria Ahmad, had summoned hardly be enough to compensate the Kedah state government to He invited us warmly into his him for the loss of his self-suffi­ appear in an Alor Setar court on 21 humble home. He was one of those cient, independent life off the land, March in a bid to challenge the unjustly arrested and released the only life he had ever known. legality of the land acquisition. within a week, explained the weary As he and another resident, Saad farmer; the police, to their credit, Nayan, talked to us, they brimmed When A/iran Monthly visited had treated him well in custody. with indignation when they de­ the site soon after the arrests, we But when he returned home after scribed how outsiders had seized saw angry bulldozers snorting and his release, the truth dawned on their inheritance land...

Alir1111 Morrlllly 1995: 15(1) Page 36 flnterview with Chenon bin Bakar and Sa ad bin N ayan

CHENON: We have been badly I oppressed. Our case has gone to court but they don't want to take that into consideration. That's why, for t!lis project, we tried to block the machinery from entering. That's the reason we were arrested ...

AM: The work has just started here?

CHEN ON : They first came here in CHEN 0 N. T he) d1d not provide not contcstmg the price; they 've November 1993. When everyone the forms for them to contest. already won the case. harassed them and obstructed them, they stopped. SAAD : They only gave them to 23 If you'd read the newspapers the people. other day you would know, it has AM : Now they have entered again? been cancelled - illegal acquisition. AM : We don 't understand. Now t!"J ey've amended the process. I CHENON : They have entered They want to take ... again. See here, this is a Court CHENON: The form is used to file Order - on 21 March when the a challenge in the court. They didn't AM : Now they have the power. I matter will be heard - but they want to provide many forms. The What they are doing now is legaL didn't want to wait. land office did not want to issue I many forms - they controlled the CHENON: They are saying it's [ SAAD : They don't want to consider number. legal but we arc saying it 's not. it. This is what the proceedings on AM : Without the forms, you can­ 21 March are about. AM: So, ll covers 1,000 acres? not make a challenge? AM : So, what is it you want? Is it 1· CHENON: Yes. CHENON: No, we can't. a problem of compensation or. .

AM : How many landowners are AM : They only gave you 24 forms? CHENON: It 's not that we don 't involved? want to give; we want to give. I CHENON: 23 . CHENON: Very many. Because AM : So, it's just the compensation? I this property is haria pesaka SAAD: They didn't give the rest. CHENON: The compensation. I (inheritance property). It's not as if CHENON: Having obtained the this property is from our genera­ forms, to enter court proceedings - AM : What compensation has the tion. There are geran (titles) going they have to pay RM1 ,500. government offered? I back 60 years. AM : Per person? CHENON: If it's in the middle, a I SAAD : More than 300 families. long distance from the bunds, it 's CHENON: Each person; per RM 18,000 per acre. At the sides, AM : How many of them agreed to lot. ..per geran. The court will hold closer to the bunds, RM 2-l ,OOO per f this project? the money and only then can pro­ acre. ceedings commence. Like a deposit. CHENON: The majority didn't But if we lose, the money is lost. AM: And what are you asking agree but what could they do? for? AM: These are the proceedings AM : But the PM said that many related to the plot of land? CHENON: I want RM50,000. had agreed; only a few opposed the project CHENON: They (the farmers) are AM: 50?

A/iran Monthly /995: 15(1) Page 3 7 CHENON: Yes. CHENON: It will be based on the AM: You can't find work? profits. It's not like ASB where AM: Irrespective of whether it's it's guaranteed not to fall below CHENON: It's already been three I further or nearer? RM 1.00. But this is not guaranteed. seasons that those of us who had 1 CHENON: Yes. If there's a loss, we incur the opposed are without money. loss. AM: Per acre? AM: Only those who oppose? What I AM: You don't know when you can about those who have agreed? CHENON: Per relong- 0.28 hect­ make .. They get the RM3,000'J are. CHENON: We don't know when. CHENON: They get RM3 ,000. I AM: One acre is nearly half a They have promised 25 per cent of They can get RM500 per season I hectare. A relong is bigger, isn't it? the profits not the capital. That is before the project commences. if the company makes a profit. If I CHENON: Smaller. It's quite close there's no profit...? Understand? - one and a half relongs to an acre. AM: So what work are they doing now if their land has already been Now, they want us to buy shares in AM : At the moment, you are I acquired? the project - RM 15 ,000 will be making your living off the land, deducted for the shares. right? So, when they acquire your land ... SAAD: They work for the company. SAAD: If one acre is compensated at RM 18,000, RM3 ,000 will be CHENON: No more land, no more AM: But can all of them get jobs I given to us . mcome. with the company?

1 AM: So, RM 15 ,000 in shares? How I many shares? CHENON: 15,000.

AM: 15 lots?

CHENON RM15,000 per acre. One acre of our land will be worth RMI5,000 in shares - they will deduct this. Now, our geran and everything else will be finished.

1 AM: So, cash RM3 ,000 only.

CHENON: Yes , cash RM3,000

1 only.

I AM: So, the RM15,000 will be I entered into the company and you will own shares in the company?

CHENON: Yes. There are those who have agreed. It's not to say that everyone disagrees. But even among those who have agreed we don't really want shares in the ...

AM: If you were to put in RM15,000, what do you stand to gain? Dr. Mahathir: Yes, he can talk. like he's talking to small children. ------

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 38 SAAD: People like us, what work operational. When it's operational CHENON: That's the thing. We can we clo? and the orawns are oroduced. then obstruct the project and they arrest it's over. And then it's calculated us . AM: This RM50,000 compensation based on the profit; if they make a figure, do all of you agree on this loss: nothing. SAAD: Because many people don't figure? agree. AM: How many seasons do you CHENON: Yes, agreed. have in a year? They're paymg · ~M: Earlier when they amended RM500. .. the Land Acquisition Act, we pro­ AM: So everyone has agreed? tested because we knew the people CHENON: Twice. who would lose out would be people CHENON: We don't want to par­ like us , ordinary people. They seize ticipate in the project; we just want AM: Twice a year. RMl,OOO. the land for well-known people, for the money - the land you can take. people who have power. This is CHENON: Yes. what's happening now. Here, AM: Is that the market price - Malacca, Johor, Penang, all over. RM50,000? AM: Now you're asking for RM50,000. Those who agreed ear­ But why did they pick this particu­ SAAD: That's the project value. lier at a cheaper price what are their lar area? It's quite an isolated spot. Market value, no. The project value thoughts now? SAAD: This area has many Malays. would surely be high. If they' re Not many Chinese. The Malays give compensating to build a highway, CHENON: I don' t know about in more easily. The Chinese would the compensation for that is also them. They've already agreed and signed. be more difficult because thay would high. We want the land value to be expect a higher compensation. based on its project value. AM: Oh! They've already signed? That's why they have come to a Malay area. The Chinese would AM: But Dr Mahathir was saying CHENON: They have taken away never give. it's only RM2,000 to RM3,000. the geran, and everything has al­ ready been stamped. CHEN ON: They also know that the CHENON: Yes, he can talk (dia soil here is suitable for prawn boleh cakap). Like he's talking to AM: Your geran hasn't been cultivation. small children (budak-budak). Just handed over? think about it, the RM50,000 will AM: Who is running this project? have to cover the house, we have CHENON: No, I don't want to. I They say t~e people are from Saudi to look for another plot somewhere haven't handed mine over. Arabia. Why don 't they carry out else. Not easy. this project in Saudi Arabia? AM: So, how can they start (the AM: The houses here haven't been project)? CHENON: I don 't know. + affected?

CHEN ON: Over there, they've had to shift.

AM: There's this RM500 payment - who pays this RM500?

CHENON: The government. They pay ...

AM: Every season?

CHENON: Every season as long as the project is not operational. Each season RM500.

AM: For how long? "Many people don't agree": CHENON: Until the project is From left: Chenon, another resident and Saad

Aliran Monthly 1995: 15(1) Page 39 DEVELOPMENT The Kerpan Controversy: Prawn profits and human dignity

Determined "developers", with an eye on prawn profits, have literally bulldozed their way into the idyllic paddy-fields of Kerpan in the rice-~owl state of Malaysia - leaving behind a trail of angry farmers fuming over the loss of their inher­ itance land and their livelihood.

MUSTAFA K ANUAR looks at the larger issues of development and human dignity embodied in the Kerpan controversy. Full report on page 34.

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