I THE ECONOMY 'MALAYSIA INCORPORATED' POLICY TURNS SOUR Robert Nash

A series of scandals have raised debate about the role of politicians with big business backgrounds in or around the Cabinet. It also puts into question Dr. Mahathir's 'Look East' policy.

he image of 'Malay.sia l.ncor­ porated," one ma1or rngre­ dient of Prime M1nister Mahathir Mohamad's "Look T East" policy, has recently turned sour. It was caused by the collapse of the country's first sogoshosha (a general trading agency modelled on the Japanese). Malaysian Overseas Investment Corpo­ ration (MOIC) with debts of M$143 million (US$59 million) and the arrest of its former managing director, Mohammed Abdullah Ang, on criminal breach of trust charges. Enamoured of the Japanese and South Korean model of economic development and business success, Dr. Mahathir had introduced the "Look East" policy when he came into office in 1981. Malaysia Incorporated is a trans­ planting of the "Japan Incorporated" economic experience. It means "Malaysia should be viewed as a company where the Government and the private sector are both owners and workers together in this company," said the business­ minded Prime Minister in an official memorandum to confused civi l servants. This concept formed the linchpin of his "Look East" policy in which other ideas like sogoshoshas, in-house un ·ons, quality control circles and Japanese management techniques also became publicised and avidly aped in the country by lesser politicians, government bureau­ crats and busiresses. Although MOl C was legally a private company, its favoured status - always present with Dr. Mahathlr on his overseas Langkawi: Promet's $billion development plan fell through

Aliren Monthly Merch/April1987 2 Abdullah Ang of MOIC: arrest- Ibrahim Mohamad of Promet: Alex lee of D & C Bank: Tan Sri Aziz Taha. formerly ed on CBT charges. "higt.-flier". tarnished image. of Central Bank: opposed the new stock market policies~.

trips -left little doubt it had government tribute their adv1ce and entrepreneurial (the state owned Heavy Industries Cor­ support. In fact, it was viewed unofficially skill towards reviving a sluggish public poration of Malaysia). as a government trading arrn. sector, their involvements have given In return Mitsubishi got favourable This close connect1on and blurring of a "sleeze" image to the Mahathir terms for natural resource exploitation distinction between the Prime Minister's administration. projects like the LNG {liquefied natural business ideas and his privileged coterie Much criticism is also levelled against gas) complex in Bintulu and the rolling of big business friends (among whom were Daim Zainuddin, the Finance Minister steel mills in Terengganu. The foreign Abdullah Ang and Ibrahim Mohamad, handpicked by Dr. Mahathir to replace exchange loss was so lopsided between former chairman of Promet. a publicly Tengku Razaleigh who lost to former Japan and Malaysia it caused the Central listed stock market "high flier") was Deputy Prime Minister Musa Hitam in Bank to warn about the services deficit. to become a source of contention among the UMNO general elections. Japan is now the largest foreign the opposition and even within the The preoccupation of Minister Da1m investor in Malaysia and controls sizable United Malay National Organisation Zainuddin with reviving the stock market segments of the domestic market, parti­ (UMNO). Dr. Mahathir's own party has come in for speculation. He owns cularly timber. copper, electrical products Promet, for example, had impressed many public companies through his and motor vehicle assembly. "Looking Dr. Mahathir enough to obtain spec1al nominees; before his political appoint­ East" has stifled local industries and government support for a M$1 billion ment he was one of the fastest rising there is little technology transfer, various (US$400 million) condominium cum Malay millionaires in the country. economist-critics have said. tourist hotel protect on the resort island His stocks at one time, included, But Dr. Mahathir Mohamad remains of Langkawi off the Kedah coast. The United Malayan Banking Corporation unfaled. His policies were an issue during project included building an airport, Berhad, the th•rd largest commercial bank :he August general elections. But the upgrading port tacit ities and granting in the country and many property and government control of the mass media, the island free port status. But a recession manufactu ring companies. Under pressure esoecially over much of the critical and housing slump have caused work to from within he is only recently looking debates, blocked these issues from come to a standstill and Promet is facing for state-owned compan ies to dispose of reaching the rural Malays who make up receivershiP on its debts. his stocks. UMNO's electoral strength. The result Mr. Ang's arrest came just after the Market brokers are generally worried WCIS the coalition's landslide victory when convict1on of Tan Koon Swan, president that Minister Da1m's consistent state it swept 148 of 177 parliamentary seats. of the MCA {Malaysian Chinese Asso· intervention has slowly eroded freedom The ruling coalition panies in the ciation), the coalition government's of movement m the market, creating urban areas (especially the MCA), how­ second largest rnember after UMNO, in a situation where price values may not ever, took a beating. One loser was Singapore of abetment in a criminal reflect reality. former Deputy Minister of Trade and breach of trust case involving the island Since his appointment, Minister Daim Industry Kee Yong Wee, a big business republic's biggest financial scandal. has pushed to revive the stock market political appointee who reportedly spent The default of Mr Tan's Pan-Electric through the corporatisation of brokmg millions in h1s election contest but still lndustnes company was so severe it firms, inviting foreign banks to invest lost. caused the closing of the Kuala Lumpur up to 30 percent equity in stockbrokers, The big Chinese business vacuum is and Singapore stock exchanges for three setting up a M$1 billion investment now replaced by Alex Lee, son of the big days and seriously hurt the island's fund and urging banks to lend more for business Lee clan and close friend of financial centre standing. share purchases. One senior official who Minister Daim, who has been appointed Although Mr. Tan is not part of Dr. disagreed with these policies, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture. The new Mahathir's close c rcle of business friends Central Bank of Malaysia Governor minister though has a tarnished image. he represented the thrust of modern big Tan Sri Aziz Taha, fmally resigned. As general manager of the Development Chinese capital into politics. His holding Malaysia Incorporated thus brought and Commercial Bank, the country's company had gone into a huge housing windfall not only to ·the few big business fifth largest bank in which his family development project with UMNO's groups but also opened the door (often has a 33 percent stake, he had been cooperative. through regotiated instead of open forced to resign by the Central Bank These series of events have raised tenders) to Japanese and South Korean for improper management. e debate about the role of politicians with construction and other joint ventures big business backgrounds in or around like the "national car" (Proton Saga) Reproduced [rom the Cabinet. Supposedly tapped to con- project between Mitsubishi and Hicom Depthnews Asia

3 Aliran Monthly March/April 1987 PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY A Citizen's Dilemma

live in a democratic country. Basically, that means I have the right to determine who should run the country and what course it will take. IIn order to choose my representatives I need to know who the available candi· dates are. (This is particularly relevant in the context of the upcoming UMNO Supreme Council elections). If I were to live in a very small kampung I would be able to know each and every member of the community. I would be able to know who are trustworthy and who are wicked. Unfortunately, times have changed. "De· velopment" with its elements of urbani­ zation and industrial technology has resulted in disrupting the traditional way of kampung life. Now, I hear of people but I do not really know them. I hear of some of them through various channels - word of mouth or the media (newspapers, television, radio and magazine, among others). I said "some" because not everyone has access to the government-owned electronic media or ruling elites' newspapers, espe­ cially those outside the coalition in power. It was interesting to note that recently, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, the Minister of Information, made a statement that RTM was not biased in its Slogan after slogan: do we know if their originators match word with deed? coverage of the various canditlates for the forthcoming UMNO elections (Utusan Malaysia, March 3, 1987, p. 2). This was in answer to allegations from the Johor as finding out facts for oneself. regarding better-styled cars but I don't Selatan branch representatives that RTM Undoubtedly, press releases make the read stories about the day·to·day trials was not giving "satisfactory" coverage to journalists' lives easier. However, through and tribulations of those who have been JohorUMNO. press releases the candidates are able to retrenched. Those who feature in word-of-mouth determine what issues to highlight and If the candidate's picture accompanies communication (or gossip, if you like) are what to play down. Normally, candidates the report I will be able to see what he is usually those who have been covered try to project a "good image" through wearing - whether a sarong-songkok extensively by the media. the press releases. The not·so·good is ensemble, a casual sports-shirt-golf­ What exactly do we hear of the never ever mentioned. trousers get-up or a bush jacket. From the candidates? That again depends on the Since a press release is prepared before gear I will be able to tell whether it is a channels of communication. Through a speech is delivered it contains lots of formal occasion or otherwise. (Unfortu­ official mass media manned by journalists numbers or statistics to support the nately, these days, it is sometimes diffi· who practise self-censorship I hear "good image". Development is measured cult to differentiate Ministers from (over radio), I watch (over television) and in terms of numbers. The bigger the drivers because both seem to have taken I read (in the newspapers) that the number the more developed the country to the bush jacket syndrome). Also, from candidates have spoken at official is. the costume of the candidate I am able to functions such as opening ceremonies of A lot of space is devoted to what is guess what type of crowd he is addressing. seminar or buildings. Through the news· said whereas very little follow-up is done. A sarong-songkok costume is usually papers I read excerpts of their speeches as For instance, I hear of more houses being reserved for a "Malay/Muslim" occasion. reported by the journalists. Usually, these built. But, I do not read follow-up reports A bush jacket often denotes a multi· journalists get press statements or releases on how quickly these houses crack up. I ethnic affair. containing the text of the speeches. It is hear news of more offices being built. The speeches are also tailored to the normal for journalists to disperse once But, what about the drop-out rates types of audience the candidate is the opening ceremony is over. Quoting among small businesses? What about the addressing. Recently, Utusan Malaysia speeches, unfortunately, is not the same sufferings of the people? I hear news (March 3, 1987) published a headline

Aliran Monthly M•c:ti/Apri11987 4 news' I am a little bit suspicious for no Malaysia, Januari 19, 1987 p. 15 under which read 'Janga.n Jadikan Orang Lain one person can be that good. "Catatan Pemberita" entitled "Rezeki' Yang Sebangsa Sebagai Mangsa' - PM Why am.. I not getting much in-depth murah Menjelang Pemilihan UMNO"). Mahu Meklyu Jadi Peniaga Yang Amanah. coverage about the candidates? . Other reasons for the lack of in-depth The speech was delivered at the opening Why aren't the stories balanced and m reporting could be due to self-censorship, of the general meeting of Koperasi detail? as mentioned earlier. The editors, Usaha Bersatu Malaysia Bhd. (KUB). According to one writ~r, (Awan,, publishers, and reporters are well aware of Apart from the don'ts I hear candi- Selamat's Sunday Column Kabamya , the various acts and laws as well as the dates telling us the do's. Slogans after Mingguan Maklysia, January 11, 1987, repercussions if they should strive to do slogans are touted over the media. You p. 4, entitled, "Wartawan Boikot MP an investigative piece of writing. V.K. have heard them too. Remember " Bersih, Kurang SoP!Wl?"), journalists boycotted Chin of the Star admitted that in Cekap dan Amanah" ? "Kepimpinan the speech of an MP as a result of some Malay!;i:> "the power of newspapPrs is Melalui Tauladan" ? "Berkhidmat Untuk harsh words levelled at the journalists. limited". (Star, 21 January 1986, p. 16, Negara" ? Now I hear that one should So rudeness is a sure, fine way of not under "Comment"). He added, " ...... address the unemployed graduates as gettin'g coverage. Therefore, I thought to the fact that newspapers and magazines "Siswazah Merdeka". If I were to choose myself, if a candidate wants to put have to renew their publishing licences my candidates I want to know if they journalists off his tail all he needs to do annually is sufficient deterrent for editors practise what they extoll. . is be rude to the journalists. and their owners". He was comparing the Sometimes I read reports whtch try The next question is, are journalists power of the media in USA with that of to bring the candidates closer to the supposed to care whether MPs are ru~e Malaysia. reader. Unfortunately, these are based on or not? Is not their job to offer pubhc So the media actually are not helping interviews with the candidates concerned. service? To dig for facts? me b~come a better informed person ~ What about views from other people who According to Khalid Moharnad of trying to decide who I should choose JlS associate with him? What do his adver- Utusan Maklysia, (January 5, 1987, p. 3, my representative. Take Pandir Moden saries think of him? What about his loved under the column "Catatan Berita" in his column "Di Simpang-simpang ones? His former teachers? His friends? entitled "Patah Tumbuh Hilang Berganti, Jalan" (Utusan Malaysia, February 19, His constituents? When all I get is 'good Dunia Wartawan Tak Pemah Syor") 1987) who also noted this state of affairs. ------" ...... tidak ramai yang berkali- I could feel his frustration. He said, ------ber mahu jadi wartawan kerana kerjanya "Yang kurang berguna anda baca dalam teruk - mesti tahan lasak dan muka tak surat-surat kbabar zaman moden ini malu. Boleh tahan disergal dan dimaki ialah darihal politik di tanah air kita ini". dalam usaha mendapat berita". Unfortunately, he did not elaborate, and So, my question has been answered. instead observed, "Anda sendiri boleh Another possible reason for the lack fikirlah". On another occasion, he of in-depth reporting could be due to .a again reiterated this point. He ~te, technique used in news management. ThiS "Janganlah sibuk sangat membaca cer!ta­ is called "junket". Journalists are wooed cerita politik; tak ada faedahnya kepada with free makan, with the hope that that kita". (Utusan Malaysia, March 5, 1987). would "put reporters in a good mood, So what do I do then as a participant­ thus ensuring favourable news coverage" citize~ of a democratic country? Do I (Peter M Sandman, David M Ru~in and just listen to friends in an effort to know David B Sachsrnan, 1972, Meduz: An who my candidates should be in the Introductory Analysis of American Mass absence of good, solid reports from the Communications, p. 150). . media? Do I listen to taxi drivers, tra­ Indeed, Khalid Mohamad agam vellers, foreign journalists, hawkers, attested to this practice in the present Malaysian friends abroad, colleagues? Do electoral race among the UMNO candi­ I believe information down the grape­ dates. He wrote "Bagi kami yang menjadi vine? Or do I sit tight and let others pemberita kela~a, kedatangan pil~~anraya choose the candidates? UMNO bererti kedatangan 'rezeki ...... The price is too high if I just sit idle Ia adalah rezeki untuk menghadiri ja­ and keep mum - for in a democratic muan-jamuan makan yang diberikan country you deserve what you get. e oleh orang-orang UMNO khususnya oleh IT WAS A fAIR Hamima Dona Mustafa ELECTION., •• mereka yang akan bertanding". (Utusan

THE T.V. ANV RADIO THE NE~PAPERS WERE GAVE US FAIRLY MORE Tff.AN FAfR EFFt:tnVE COVERAGE •.• TO US •.••

Aliran Mo nth ly March/April 1987 5 British publication whose readership is logically largely comprised of Christians. That would be fair, because then its Ouistian readership would be stimulated by the writer's Muslim view and more importantly would have a chance to respond to it as they more than Letters anyone else would be the people in possession We welcome letters from readers. letters can be either in English or Bahasa Malaysia. of the necessary data to his allegations. These letters may be edited for purposes of space and clarity. The views expressed may However, to print such a thoroughly sub­ not be those of the Aliran Monthly. Pseudonyms are accepted but all letters should jective article in a faraway Malaysian publi· include the writer's name and address. letters should preferably be typewritten with cation with an unsuspecting multi-i!thnic and double-spacing; if hand-written, they should be legible. religious population as its readership is mani· letters should be addressed to the Editor, Aliran Monthly, P .0. Box 1049. Penang, festly unfair because it leaves a very damaging Malaysia. impression of the church in Britain without giving a chance to the "accused" to make a defence. From my own limited experience as a 'Bersih, cekap, amanah' should not be left INQUIRY WILL ANGER student for soma years in Britain, there were as an empty slogan. leadership by example THE PEOPLE? many pockets of Christians in Britain, especially should be seen to be sincerely practised by those in the industrial areas, who rendered those who advocate it. May the man at the t makes me laugh to hear the comment by commendabla assistance to Asian immigrants.., • helm set a fine example for all strata of the Fred Solibun, " Inquiry will only anger be they of whatever colour, race or creed. I met· society to follow. I people," Daily Express December 1986. some individual Christians who personally told May I ask who are the people who will be ma that they felt moved to reach out to Muslim Stephen Lau angry? Are they the majority of ordinary folks immigrants and have already done so. It is to Sibu or the minority who have abused their position be noted that this is at the expense and risk in the past and would like to see their dirty of being perhaps rejected and treated with deeds covered up indefinitely? Why should hostility in their own country. they gat away ~ith this when an ordinary ••• It is to be realized that obviously, whatever man like myself can be jailed for little things? Olristian efforts that have been made to If we accept the "What is done is done" interact, assist, understand, etc, Muslims and attitude, all future leaders will be irresponsible other immigrants are almost always very low· and it will be the best formula for corruption( key. If it ware otherwise, the church would No wonder every time we have elections, again be accused of hypocrisy and perhaps there are dozens of candidates clamouring for labelled as publicity-crazy. On the other hand, the hot seat. They probably intend to do the because of this very quality, people like the hanky panky business knowing that they will likes of the writer consider the Christians get away with it. May I remind Berjaya that (and perhaps others) as hypocrites! Not the Commission of Inquiry - promi.sed in content with limiting the criticisms to British the PBS manifesto. To disregard this would boundaries, the article goes on to take a swipe mean infuriating the me)orrty who has at the church world·widel An extract from supported the manifesto by voting for PBS. the statement of the World Council of Churches If PBS members were also administrators during is highlighted - the only logical purpose for the period under investigation, then they too its presence is that it underscores that writer's will be under probe. This is fair enough, so why contention that Christians in general are a does Partai Berjaya oppose the Inquiry? pretty useless bunch of hypocrites! My only request to PBS is that the results I pose this question - for what purpose of the Inquiry must be made public to justify did Aliran publish the article in its monthly? the spending of Public Funds. Don't tell me I only hope the ac:Jitorial team of Aliran this will be classified as secret under the OSAI would be more prudent in selecting its articles If this happens, then NO MORE VOTESI RESPONSE TO "THE VIEW in future. On a conciliatory note, I regard FROM THE MOSQUE" this article as an aberration on an other· O.R. wise largely laudable track-record of Aliran Penampang write to respond to the above article in publications. the December/January 1987 issue of the I Aliran Monthly. Tan Poh lai It is clear that the writer of the article has Kuala lumpur ••• many grouses against the church in Britain, he being a lofl9"time Muslim resident in Britain. It may well be that many of his complaints The article 'The View from the Mosque' NEP & ITS IMPLEMENTATION are indeed justified. did not pretend to be anything other than a However, I feel that it was imprudent at personal opinion. 17le writer had every right he NEP's objective of achieving 30% best and irresponsible at worst for Aliran to to express his opinion just as reader Tan Poh equity in our economy for the Bumi· have published the article in its monthly Lai has every right to cluz/lenge his view. T putras by 1990 is on the surface a magazine. There is no doubt that the writer By publishing the article, the A/iran Monthly noble and commendable aim. is very critical, almost scathingly so, of the is not necessarily in agreement with the writer's But the question is which section of the church in Britain. Among other things, he view of the role of Churches and Christians Bumiputra community should deservedly get accuses the church of not even practising one· in Britain. However, the Monthly editorilll this share? Is it the Bumiputra poor, which tenth of what they preach (if at all), of not board felt that there were certain underlying constitutes the majority of the population or being bothered about the Muslims residing in sentiments in the article which all of us, what· the Bumiputra elites, who are only the Britain and not caring about the welfare of ever our religions, should understand. The minority? Muslims while riots were the order of the day. writer tried to show that there is often a big In response to the critics' contention that Rather sweeping allegations by anybody's difference between the teachings ofa particular NEP has only helped to create a handful of yardstick. religion and the actual behaviour of its Bumiputra millionaires rather than eradicate Yet what evidence have - got to sub­ adherents. This is why he contrasted the great· poverty, our honourable PM has once said, stantiate such serious claims? Merely the ness of Christ with the alleged 'smallness' "Since other ethnic groups can have so many solitary testimony of a single individual's of certain Christians. He also ~s concerned millionaires, why can't the Malays have their experience and a pretty bitter, perhaps even to point out that there are hypocrites in all own millionaires?" prejudiced and certainly completely subjective religions, including his own. We in A/iran Based on the rationale of the PM and the one at that. Facts and figures (as compared believe that religious hypocrisy is a big problem verious phenomena of the contemporary to innuendoes and outright potshots) are everywhere including our own country. Finally, society, it is not hard to deduce whether or deafeningly silent. the writer implied that those who ore attached not the NEP has met the aspirations of the The article -~ an extract from the slavishly to institutionalized religion and all Bumiputra masses? "Oiristian Action Journar• presumably a the labels that go with it, are rome times not

Aliran Monthly March/April1987 6 capable ofreaching out to people ofother THE VIEW FROM THE MOSQUE During my tong life I have just once been faiths. lsn 't this true? able to go to an Islamic inforrnetion meeting. 'm a woman from Sweden and I am or I attendod a lecture about women in the Islamic -Editor rather was, influenced by the knowledue' my world. I school gave me about Islam. A lot of sub· During my long life I have just once been jective information. able to go to a Christian inforrnetion meeting Now, when I am old, I have tried to gather for Muslims. Why do we ordinary people not ••• as much information as I can lay hands on get any help from our institutions. We are about your Islamic religion. Of course, it tekas shy end afraid of intruding. We are also afreid of hurting the feelings of others by wrong "THE VIEW FROM THE time and I'm just beginning. I hope to under· stand a little about Islamic ethics. The thrM behaviour. MOSQUE" religions have so much in common. We heve We need inforrnetion about our different forgotten to look at this aspect of the problem. ways of daily life just as much as wa need here ere good and bad Christians as This does not mean that any of them will lose information regarding our different religions. there ere good end bad Muslims. their profile. As a human being I am hoping More than thirty years ago I had read a transla· Christienity preaches love, so does for a development that results in the sharing tion of parts of the Koran but it is only now T when I have the opportunity to know Muslims Islam. a world of goodwill, trust and fellowship. In my experience here (Sabah) when We live in a time of confusion and hardship. in my daily life, that I am beginning to under· Muslims approach Chris1iens for donations A. Salam's words gave me a feeling of not stand the religion and its influence on the for a mosqu&-building fund the Christian standing alone in my belief, thet information daily life of its -followers. I do recognise so donates quietly (if they can afford) but when and personal example is a step forward to much in common from my Christian way of an appeal for a church building donetion is understanding. Whenever people tell me about life even from childhood. We started and made to a Muslim, he tells you that it is haram the European standard version about Islam or endod the day with a prayer. Before and after to donate towards building a church. I hope Muslims, I always try to give them informe­ meals we pray too. A. Salam can see the Christian love here. tion about where their judgement had gone I have been in Malaysia more than once. wrong because I believe that objective informa­ I feel free and happy because I am in a society Anglo tion at every level in society is a way to create of thoughtfulness and tolerance among people Lahad Datu understanding. of different religions and origins. Salam writes

THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR You know something? I don't think God is Most of touring Europe consists of looking at dead. one magnificent ornate house of worship after another.

HE JUST CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT.

,, I· CD 'I

7 Ali1'81'1 ~nthly March/ April 1987 "If Jesus Christ had been here then, I can ledge, all the others approached have refused attended. assure You, he would have been sitting with to entertain these slandersous letters clearly Finally, readers may well ask why Aliran us that evening, comforting us. And that'. my and deliberately intended to bring me into is publishing "P.S. Rajah's" letters, with his Islamic belief". disrepute. At least one Aliran leader was intentions quite clear for all to see. How many Christ ians do you believe have previously aware of one such effort. In mid-1983, the editors of Nadi lnsan the opportumty t o understand the deeper After the publication of "P.S. Rajah's" received a similar vicious personal attack on meaning of "my Islamic belief". first Jetter (A/iran Monthly, May/June 1986) the Aliran president and another Aliran leader, We do live under a common threat of I wrote to the editor of the A/iran Monthly which we - I still believe, quite correctly - physical and moral destruction. Thot .s why requesting information on the real identity decided not to publish for ethical reasons. it is so important to give to human bein95 of the letter's author to enable me to take I leave it to readers to decide whether the a glimpse of hope, that we through personal appropriate follow-up action. The editor claim by the editor of A/iran Monthly that moral courage and open sharing of experience declined to reveal the identity, citing the publication of " P.S. Rajah's" letter is can do something with love for mankind. "journalistic ethics"! really in the interest of journalistic ethics In the meantime, I had been told that an holds water. Karin Holm Aliran leader had commented that I was Sweden making an unnecessarily "big fuss" over the Jomo K .S. matter. In the circumstances, I decided to drop Director. INSAN the matter then as I did not wish to get into an unpleasant public conflict w1th Aliran, Neither A/iran nor this Monthly l;as any ••• especially as I believe 'that we have more intention of smearing Jomo K.S. or any other important struggles to wage together. I also individual. The controversy started, os readers have little desire to waste much time on a petty may recollect, after Jomo's strong arrack on • • BLAME IT ON THE COMPUTER and vicious liar, hiding behind a pseudonym, the NUPW. Rajah disputed some of the points -IT CAN'T TALK BACK who has been working since 1985 to discredit Jomo made. Jomo 's position was the11 clarified me, as well as others wtto happen to get in by Dr. Nasir Hashim, Chairman of INSAN and t is very inhuman on the part of the govern· the way. by the Kerling workers themselves. After these ment in having not enwred that the I might add that INSAN is not " afraid of two letters appeared on behalf ofJomo, Rajah I government servants are paid on t1me. It crit icism" . In fact, we -lcome and even seek wrote a rejoinder. 111e A/iran Monthiy had has not shown any concern for the plight critical feedback, especially if it is honest, allowed this exchange to go on because it of government servants who are living from fair and principled. I leave it to readers to involves the larger question of how groups hand to mouth. decide whether "P.S. Rajah's" letter qualifies and individuals seek to protect the interests as such. My husband is teaching in SRK Sungei of the poor and exploited. This is surely a Glugor, Penang. He is the only breadwmner "P.S. Rajah" claims that INSAN did matter of public interest. We had hoped that of the family. Today is the 3rd of March and virtually nothing for tha Kerling workers. We some truth would emerge out of this exchange he has not been paid yat. And he doesn't know have always maintained that our work was bur unfortunately it has deteriorated into when he will be paid either. limited and essentially supportive in nature, 011 inter-personal feud for which both parties In the meantime what do I tell the grocery­ and have never pretended otherwise. are ro blame. The Monthly editorial board man? How do I pay the bus sekolah man? My follow-up work was most certainly has therefore decided to close all further How do I settle the water and electricity bills modest, but it certainly involved more than correspondence 0 11 this subject. on time? How do I manage the marketing? the letter to Aliran, as "P.S. Rajah" claims. The last day to pay my house assessment Otherwise, NUPW would not have been foreed - Editor was the 28th of February. Now the Council to explain their inaction to the ICFTU (A/iran will impose a fine on us for late payment. Monthly, Feb./March 1986), and to slander My children need pocket money for school. INSAN in the process, which prompted "P.S. What do I tell them? Rajah's" earlier letter. • •• Will hunger W8it till pay day? Will the City Perhaps most seriously, "P.S. Rajah" Council waiwe the fine for late payment? implies that we are doing work in estates Will every thing else wait for PlY day? mainly to further (our) own interests by WHO IS CREATING UNREST? It is so easy to put the blame on the obtaining good financial rewards from foreign computer. It is a convenient way to h1de the funding agencies". was surprised by the statement made truth. Computers don't talk back. They will Allow me to set the record straight as far by Federal Territory Minister Datuk never point out the fool who goofed. as INSAN is concerned. INSAN has received I Abu Hassan Omar. Before the computer could operate the way such funds on only one occassion - from the He seid the five Organizations and two it is required to, surely somebody will have London-based Anti-Slavery Society. political parties were like 'thorns in the flesh' to programme itl In 1983, UKM political science lecturer, of the country, constantly working to create The question is who was this fool who Mr. P. Ramesamy was asked by the Society unrest and to destroy the present government. was responsible for it. It is this fool who to prepare a report on child labour on Malay· Datuk Abu Hassan failed to explain to the should be punished rather than blame the sian plantations. He approached me to take Rakyat in what way they are 'thorns in the dumb computer. over the project because of the meagre funding flesh' or in what way they are creating unrest When fools such as these are punished involved (four hundred pounds) and his other or destroying the present Government. In the appropriately for their short-comings, only commitments. past few years a lot of scandals have taken then helpless housewives like me will be spared Based on fieldwork by Ms. Sumathy place in our country - the BMF scandal, the agony of late payments in future. Suppiah, Ms. Josie Zaini and I prepared a UMBC scandal, EPF scandal, MAMINCO report, which _, subsequently published scandal, etc. All the money involved in these Hapless Housewife by INSAN under the title, Early Labour: scandals is public money. Butterworth Children At Work 011 Malaysian Plantations, The seven public interest groups demand with our names (including Mr. Ramasamy's) from the government a public inquiry. Is this listed in alphabetical order. Project expenses the reason why Datuk Abu Hassan considers greatly exceeded the Anti-Slavery Society's them 'thorns in the flesh' of the country? ••• contribution. So much for "P.S. Rajah's" When the government tabled the OSA in mischevious allegation! Parliament these seven public interest groups It is unfortunate that in his efforts to dis· asked the government to withdraw the OSA THE SMEAR CAMPAIGN credit me, "P.S. Rajah" has involved other Bill because it took away freedom of speech CONTINUES innocent parties, including I NSAN, INSAN and expression and also the dignity, autonomy Chairman Dr. Nasir, INSAN Secretary Dr. and independence of the Judiciary. For all S. Rajah" has finally admitted that Cecilia Ng and the Kerling Workers Committee, these reasons the groups opposed the Bill. his "letter -s mainly directed at unfairly maligning all of them in various ways When they explained to the public the effects P Dr. Jomo of INSAN" (A/iran and trying to divide us against one 8nother. of the Bill thay did it with good intentions. Monthly, December 1986). This latest 8ttempt I leave it to readers to decide who is lying: Is this creating unrest and destroying the at character assassination through the letters "P.S. Rajah" - whom nobody seems to know government? column of A/iran Monthly is only the most - or INSAN, Dr. Nasir, Or. Cecilia Ng, the When the MCA of Selangor passed the recent in a series of similar letters and other Kerling Workers Committee and I. Perhaps, resolution regarding the status of Bumiputras, efforts to discredit me, using various if "P.S. Rljah" revealed his true identity, the there - a protest from UMNO regarding pseudonyms and involving various different committee could ascertain whether he ever the resolution. The MCA leaders explained publications and organizations. To my know· attended any of the meetings he claims to have to the Cabinet the resolution and the Cabinet

Aliran Monthly March/April 1987 8 accepted the explanation and said the matter UMNO party election where the contestants While it is appropriate that there should be was settled. But it was UMNO Youth and their do not resort to wild, extremist or chauvinistic concern about the wastage of graduate talent, leaders who went to the streets to protest and statements or actions to gain popularity while it is ~ita/ that we see it within the context of demand more than an explanation. Now who doing irreparable harm to the democratic o~erall unemployment in the country. Unem­ is creating the unrest, is it the seven groups or process and nation-building. Datuk Abu ployed graduates form a visible but small frac;. UMNO? Oatuk Abdullah, UMNO MP for Kok Hassan's outburst is one such example. Let tion ·of the total labour force, almost all of Lanas, was invited to speak at the Singapore it be the last. whom need jobs equally badly. SGS strongly Institute of International Affairs. Datuk urges that all solutions being worked out for Abdullah was very blunt about the racial power Lim Kit Siang graduates should be within the overall context equation not just in Malaysia but also in Parliamentary Opposition Leader of resolving unemployment. We are all in Singapore as well. The speech caused a furore favour of encouraging graduates to be self· among the Malaysian Chinese community. employed and to shake off the high-class Now who is trying to destroy the government, employM expectation. Parents and friends the seven groups or UMNO? ••• have a very important role in helping graduates I think Datuk Abu Hassan as Minister for adjust to rather modest economic positions. Federal Tenitory, is running out of issues for A degrM is no longer a passport to high income his election campaign for the UMNO election. UMBC DEAL and status - we have been saying this for yews. So he uses these seven groups to launch hss We believe that the current situation has election campaign! urther to your excellent statement arisen due to the following factors, in addition on the above, can UMNO Youth explain to recession: K SelvaraJ F how the ownership of the third largest e Society's expectation that graduates •e Port Klang local bank by one Bumiputra family will serve the interest of Bumiputras in general? UMNO entitled to well· paying jobs; *"! Youth objected to the proposed purchase of e Deficiencies in manpower planning and UMBC shares by the Multipurpose (and KSMI inadequate counselling in schools and which at that time had over 300,000 share­ universities; ••• holders, but at the same time supported the transfer to one family.! e Racial and other ethnic prejudices/limita­ BITTEN BY THE UMNO BUG tions among employers; lpoh Doctor e Rapid increase in graduate numbers out­ here can be two reactions to the lpoh pacing job aeation in Malaysia; astonishing accusation by Federal e Possibility that some graduates ara choosy T Territory Minister, Oatuk Abu HC!$$11n about job type and location. Omar, that the DAP, PAS and five other groups are out to destroy the country's political and ••• At the same time, it is important not to social fabric. treat universities as production factories whose The first reaction will be one of anger intake must be controlled to match job that a Cabinet Minister should be making a GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT vacancies. We believe that university educa· wild allegation completely without basis end tion is to create a wholesome person with which can only create more political problems he Selangor Graduates Society appre· broad social concerns and skills. His SUCC8SS and uncertainties in the country. elates the recent measures that the in 110ciety must depend entirely on how he is The second reaction will be to pity Datuk T Deputy Prime Minister announced to able to contribute - there should be no sine­ Abu Hassan who clearly has been bitten by tackle the current graduate unemployment in cure awaiting him. Perhaps this is one of the the UMNO party election bug and must have Malaysia. But it is important to remember that problems that the Government is fltced with felt very insecure about his election chances such unemployment is not an overnight its scholarship returnees. in April 1987 that he had to make very wild phenomenon. Way back in 1972, SGS under· SGS is willing to part.icipate in discusions and extremist statement. took a pioneering survey entitled PANTAI to help ameliorate general unemployment, I hope this is not the beginning of ell sorts POLL which showed that there was a 13% including that of graduates. Perhaps some of wild and irrasponsible statements by UMNO unemployment among Unsversity of Malaya of the idees we have floated in the past could leaders in the next few months in their graduates alone, even then. have better chance of realisation NOW. preparation for the UMNO party contest for The situation worsened in 1976 because of it will mean months of political turmoil and the 1975 job free7e in the public sector. The Gurmit Singh K.S. problems when the country must take grip su6sequent lSI PENUH scheme alleviated the President of itself if it is to resolve the Crisis of Con· situation but we are back to even more Sefious Selangor Graduates Society fidence which has been the most inhibiting unemployment. factor to the economic recovery. If Abu Hassan is really serious about his accusations that the seven named groups are out to destroy the social and political fabric in the country, he should substantiate his allegations and the DAP is prepared to meet any UMNO leader at any forum to rebut such allegations. UMNO leaders must realise that in a demo­ cratic country, politics is not the monopoly, prerogative and special preserve of political parties and politicians. Every citizen has the right and duty to take part in the political process and the country should welcome more organizations to follow the examples of Aliran, CAP, Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia, Selangor Graduates Society and the Bar Council because Parliamentary Demo­ cracy would have no meaning if there is no public participation in the decision-making process through the articulation and formation of public opinion. I must warn the UMNO leaders that they must be more restrained and responsible and not to sac:fifice the national and public interest at the altar of UMNO delegate- vote catching. It's not enough to have a code of ethics in the UMNO party elections in an attempt to put a stop to the politics of money. It is even more important to have an ethical code for the

9 Aliran Monthly March/April1987 The secret of healing our century's ills lies in the individual's daily choice of good over evil -in the restoration of our lost religious faith

HEN I STARTED going identify the principal trait of the entire that practiced by Marxism. Within the to school in Rostov-on­ 20th century, I would be unable to find philosophical system of Marx and Len in, Don, other children, egged anything more precise than to reflect and at the heart of their psychology, on by Komsomol mem­ once again on how we have lost touch hatred of God is the principal driving bers, taunted me for ac­ with our Creator. The failings of human force, militant atheism a central pivot. Wcompanying my mother to the last re- consciousness, deprived of its divine To achieve its ends, communism needs maining church in town, and tore the dimension, have been a determining to control a population devoid of cross from around my neck. A few factor in all the major crimes of this religious feeling. years later, I heard a number of older century. Yet in Russia - where churches have rueople offer this explanation for the Dostoyevsky warned that great events been levelled, where tens of thousands great disasters that had befallen Russia: could come upon us and catch us of priests, monks and nuns were tortured, "Men have forgotten God; that's why intellectually unprepared. That is shot in cellars, sent to brutal camps, all this has happened." precisely what has happened . The 20th where a triumphant atheism has Since then I have spent well-nigh century has been sucked into the vortex rampaged uncontrolled for two-thirds of 50 years working on the history of the of atheism and self-destruction. This a century, where even today people are Russian Revolution; in the process I plunge into the abyss is a worldwide sent to labour camps for their faith - have collected hundreds of personal proccess, East and West, and has aspects the -Christian tradition survives. testimonies, read hundreds of books, that are dependent neither on polit­ It is here that we see the dawn of and contributed eight volumes of my ical systems, nor on levels of economic hope: for no matter how formidably own. But if I were asked today to for­ and cu ltural development. communism bristles with tanks and mulate as concisely as possible the main It was Dostoyevsky, once again, rockets, it is doomed never to vanquish cause of the ruinous revolution that who said of the French Revolution and Christianity. swallowed up some 60 million of our its seething hatred of the· church that The West has yet to experience a people, I could not put it more accurately " revolution must necessarily begin with communist invasion: rei igion remains than to repeat: "Men have forgotten · atheism." But the world had never free. But the West, too, is experiencing God." before known a godlessness as organized, a drying up of religious consciousness. What is more, if I were called upon to militarized and tenaciously malevolent as Since the late Middle Ages, the tide o!

Aliran Monthly March/ April1987 10 ... a drying up of religious consciousness

secularism has progressively inundated ment, paradoxically, does this blind of physics and physiology will never the West. This gradual sapping of strength hatred become. reveal the indisputable manner in which from within is a threat to faith that is With global events looming over us the Creator constantly participates in the perhaps even more dangerous than like mountains, it may seem 1ncongruous l1fe of each of us. And in the life of our any attempt to assault religion violently to recall that the primary key to our entire planet the Divine Spirit surely from without. being or. non-being res1des in each indivi­ moves with no less force. The meaning of life in the West dual human heart, in the heart's pre­ To the ill-considered hopes of the last has ceased to be seen as anything more ference for specific good or evil. Yet two centuries, we can propose only a lofty than the "pursuit of happiness," this is the most reliable key we have. The determined quest for the warm hand of a goal that has even been solemnly social theories that promised so much God, which we have so rashly and self­ guaranteed by constitutions. The have demonstrated their bankruptcy, confidently spurned. Only in this way concepts of good and evil have long been leaving us at a dead end. can our eyes be opened to the errors bamshed from common use. It has All attempts to find a way out of the of this unfortunate 20th century and become embarrassing to appeal to eternal plight of today's world are fruitless our hands be directed to setting them concepts, embarrassing to state that unless we redirect our consciousness, right. evil makes its home in the individual in repentance, to the Creator of all. The Our continents are caught in a whirl­ human heart before it enters a political resources we have set aside for ourselves wind. But it is during such trials that the system. are too impoverished for the task. We highest gifts of the human spirit can be When external rights are completely must first recognize the horror per­ manifested. e unrestricted, why should one make an petrated not by sorne outside force, not inner effort to restrain oneself from by class or national enemies, but within [Extracted from National Review (July ignoble acts) Or why should one refrain each of us individually, and with in 22. 1983} from burning hatred, whatever its basis­ every soc1ety. race, class or ideology? Such hatred is Life consists not in the P'"SU it of in fact rorroding many hearts today, material success but in the quest for as atheist teachers bring up a younger worthy spiritual growth. Our entire Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, emigre generation in a spirit of hatred of their earthly existence is but a transitional Russian own society. Indeed, the broader thf! stage in the movement to something novelist, "KUS a"KUrded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970 personal freedoms are, the higher the higher. Material laws alone do not explain level of prosperity is - the more vehe- our life or give it direction. The laws

11 Aliren Monthly March/April1987 PELAJARAN ,

alaupun 29 tahun telah berlalu sejak pelak­ KESUKARAN sanaan Dasar Bahasa Kebangsaan, dan gene­ rasi muda yang terdidik GO LONGAN sepenuhnyaW melalui Bahasa Malaysia makin hari makin bertambah, sebenarnya masih terdapat segolongan rakyat Malaysia yang rnenghadapi suatu masalah BERPELAJARAN yang unik dalam usaha mereka untuk menguasai Bahasa Malaysia. Golongan yang dimaksudkan itu ialah lepasan­ INGGERIS lepasan sekolah lnggeris dahu lu dan mereka yang lebih senang dengan Ba/lS~sa tnggeris walaupun mendapat pendidikan MEMPELAJARI melalui Bahasa Malaysia, Oleh kerana Bahasa lnggeris sudah sebati dcngan jiwa mereka, golongan ini sentiasa dihantui susuk bahasa itu. BAHASA Pendek kata, rnereka tidak dapat melepaskan diri dari pengaruh Bahasa lnggeris ketika rnenggunakan Bahasa MALAYSIA Malaysia. Pengaruh-pengaruh atau gangguan­ gangguan dari Bahasa lnggeris yang - Chu Chin Koo menjadi halangan kepada pembelajaran Bahasa Malaysia, secara kasar, terbahagi kepada dua kategori, yakni faktor-faktor kebudayaan dan faktor-faktor tatabahasa. Sebenarnya, faktor-faktor kebudayaan lebih rumit daripada faktor-faktor tata­ bahasa dan jika hendak dihuraikan satu persatu akan memakan rnasa yang agak panjang. Oleh itu, mernadailah buat rencana ringkas i'li dipaparkan beberapa kelemahan atau kesalahan yang kerap berlaku apabila seseorang yang kuat penguasaannya terhadap aturan Bahasa lnggeris menggunakan Bahasa Malaysia. Satu-satu unsJr tatabahasa lnggeris yang sering terseret ke dalam Bahasa Malaysia ialah struktur ayat keinggerisan. Yang dirnaksudkan di sini ialah ayat-ayat Bahasa Malaysia yang berbau keju dan mentega - ayat-ayat yang terbina oari kata-kata Bahasa Malaysia yang dirangkai ala Mat Salleh. Perkara ini berlaku kerana si penutur atau si penulis berfikir dalarn Bahasa lnggeris terlebil;t dahulu dan kernud iannya mesej yang terbentuk di otaknya itu diterjemahkan terus ke dalam Bahasa Malaysia. Akibatnya, ayat-ayat yang janggal. Sebagai contoh, cuba perhatikan baga imana ayat-ayat lnggeris yang berikut d isaiah terjernahkan ke dalam Bahasa Malaysia. "My father is a teacher. " "This is a book': Biasanya kedua-dua ayat di atas diter­ jemahkan begin i: "Bapa saya adalah seorang guru." "I ni adalah sebuah buku" . Bagi pembaca yang biasa berbahasa Malaysia kedua-dua ayat terjemahan itu.

Aliran Monthly Marc:h/April1987 12 memang tidak sedap. Ayat-ayat itu sepatutnya berbunyi "Bapa saya guru" dan "lni buku". Orang-orang yang biasa berbahasa lnggeris pula rnenganggap ayat-ayat yang tidak rnemakai kopula "is", iaitu "adalah", dan artikel "a", iaitu "seorang/ sebuah", t1dak lengkap. Tanggapan ini perlu dikikis - masakan semua bahasa di bumi tertakluk kepada Bahasa lnggeris. Bak kata pepatah, lain padang, lain belalang, lain lubuk, lain ikannya. Bagaimana pula dengan ayat "Bapa saya adalah guru" dan "lni adalah buku"? Kedua-dua ayat ini boleh diterma kerana kata "adalah" di sini memainkan peranan penegas; ayat pertama menegaskan bahawa subjck atau pelakunnya (Bapa) bukanlah askar, doktor atau pekerjaan­ peker]aan yang lain melainkan guru. Begitu juga dengan ayat kedua itu. Benda (lni) yang dimaksudkan itu, tidak lain, tidak bukan, ialah buku. Selain daripada itu, ayat pasif dalam Bahasa Malaysia Juga sering bersiap-sedia memerangkap sesiapa sahaja yang ter­ pengaruh dan terbawa-bawa oleh cara­ A prince of a pen. cara penyusunan kalimat Bahasa lnggeris. Misalnya, tidak kurang juga ayat-ayat pasif begini: "Karangan ini d itu lis oleh say a". "Buku itu dipin)am oleh karnu". Orang-orang yang arif tentang selok belok Bahasa Malaysia tentu akan menolak ayat-ayat itu. ltu susuk Bahasa lnggeris, bukan Bahasa Malaysia. Ayat­ ayat terjemahan terus dari ayat-ayat Bahasa lnggeris: RAJAPENA "This essay was written by me". "The book was bo"owed by you·~ (ltu pun lemah gaya bahasanya). pandai berbahasa Malaysia tetapi lemah maksud jamak? Senang sahaja; apabila Lebih sedap ditulis begini: dalam Bahasa lnggeris pun terbabit. timbul keraguan. Misalnya dalam ayat "Karangan ini say a tulis". Sebagai contoh, "if you ask me, I think "Kereta itu sedang berlumba" sudah "Buku itu kamu pinjam". he's a fruit-cake" menjadi "Kalau kau pasti sebuah kereta tidak boleh berlumba­ Dalam Bahasa Malaysia, ayat pasif tanyakan aku, aku fikir dia adalah kek lumba dengan sendirinya. Kereta itu berbentuk " .....di ..... oleh ..." buah-buahan". Diharap te()emahan begitu haruslah berlumba dengan kereta lain. tidak boleh digunakan dengan kata ganti akan berpudar dari kaca tclevisyen dan Oleh 1tu ayat yang betul ialah "Kereta­ diri pertama dan kedua (first and second layar perak, sesuai dengan peningkatan kereta itu sedang berlumba". person pronouns - aku, saya, kami, mutu penterjemahan filem-filem asing. Tetap1 kalau dibubuh kata bilangan kamu, engkau, d.ll.) sebagai pelakunnya. Bentuk jamak (plural) dalam Bahasa (beberapa, lima buah, banyak dan Hanya ayat pasif yang menggunakan Malaysia juga sering disalahgunakan olch sebagainya) di hadapan kata "kereta" ganti din ketiga (third person pronoun penulis atau penutur yang terikut-ikut maka pengulangan kata itu tidak perlu . - dia, nya, Ali d.ll.) sebagai pelakunnya Bahasa lnggeris. Bentuk jamak dalam lni adalah kerana kata bilangan sudah boleh digunakan dalam bentuk ",, ,di. .. bahasa I nggcris biasanya ditandai oleh pun rnenunjukkan ada lebih daripada oleh. . . . . ". Misalnya, "Karangan ini beberapa unsur sepcrti "s" dan "es". sebuah kereta. Contoh, "Lima buah ditulis olehnya" dan "Buku itu dipinjam Misalnya, "many schools", "some chairs" kercta sedang berlumba". Jelaslah bahawa oleh Ali". (Penggunaan "oleh" adalah dan "two matches". jurang perbezaan yang memisahkan opsyenal). Dalam Bahasa Malaysia pula, penggan­ antara Bahasa Malaysia dengan Bahasa Walau bagaimanapun, kesalahan yang daan sesuatu kata nama itu boleh mem­ lnggeris rnemanglah luas. Sebenarnya, dianggap paling teruk ialah apabila bawa maksud jamak, tetapi tidak kesalahan-kesalahan bahasa yang sempat Bahasa lnggeris diterjemahkan secara semestinya. Kerap kali kata tunggal juga dipcrlihatkan di sini hanyalah segelintir "literal" atau hurufiah ke dalam Bahasa menunjukkan maksud jamak, terpulang dari kesalahan-kesalahan yang umum di­ Malaysia. Kesalahan ini tergolong dalam kepada konteks ayatnya. Dalam ayat, lakukan oleh segolongan pengguna yang kategori "anjing panas", yakni "hotdog", "Kereta Jepun lebih murah daripada lebih biasa berbahasa lnggeris. yang acap-acap mengelirukan atau. kereta Eropah" kata "kereta" bermaksud Wa laupun demik ian, janganlah ber­ setidak-tidaknya, menggeli hati para lebih daripada sebllah kereta. Manakala putus asa. Pasanglah telinga apabi la orang pembaca dan pendengar. Kesalahan jen is dalam ayat "Kereta itu dipandu laju" Melayu berbual. ltu pun orang Melayu ini bukan sahaja dilakukan oleh penutur­ ia bermaksud sebuah kercta sahaja. yang fasih berbahasa Malaysia. Dan penutur yang belum fasih berbahasa Soalnya sekarang bilakah sesuatu kata banyakkan rnembaca karya-karya asli Malaysia malah orang-orang yang sudah nama itu diulang untuk menunjukkan Bahasa Malaysia. e

13 A liran Monthly March/April 1987 BOOKS

Flowers In The 1rror•

f late we have seen and heard much about arrogance, corruption and dishonesty among 0 businessmen and politicians in the higher echelon. We know that courtesy, honesty and incorruptibility are universal values treasured by all major religious traditions and social philosophies, be they Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism or others. These values form the themes of great novels. There is a famous Chinese novel called ling Hua Yuan or Flowers In The Mirror, published in China in 1828. This is a satire written by li Ruzhen (1763-1830) Through the travels of a disillusioned scholar called Tang Ao of the Tang Dynasty, together with his brother-in-law Li Zhiyang (a merchant) and an old sailor called Ninth Uncle Duo, the author expresses his views on social reforms and launches his attack on social evils and injustice like corruption, dishonesty and the oppression of women (particularly foot-binding). The following are excerpts from li Ruzhen's book, translated by Yang Xianyi and Gladys Yang (1981 ). This section deals with courtesy and honesty.

Tan Chee Beng

n a few days they moored at the Land of Courtesy, where Lin disembarked to do business. Tang, who knew this land's reputation for politeness and Iguessed that it must be a place of great refinement, asked Duo to go ashore with him to see the sights.

Aliran Monthly Marc:h{April1987 14 A walk of several li brought them must look round carefully to get margin for profit. As the proverb to the city wall, over the gate of a better picture of the country." says: "The price asked is as high which were inscribed the words: By now they had come to the as Heaven, that offered as low as "Goodness Alone Is a Treasure." busy market-place, where they the earth.' Yet instead of lowering Having read this they entered saw a serving-man fingering some it you want to raise it. If you the city, where they found many wares. refuse to show any consideration, buildings and many folk buying "Brother,'' he said to the vendor, I shall have tv ask you to carry and selling. The citizens' dress "how can I buy such excellent your custom elsewhere - I really and speech were like those of the goods for so little? You must raise cannot agree." Middle Kingdom,* and when Tang the price before I can agree. If not, "With us it is always the cus­ knew he could communicate with I shall know you don't really want tomer who says 'The price is as them he asked an old man the to sell." high as Heaven'," Tang pointed out. reason for their courtesy. But "It's the shopman who usually "That applies to the other saying the old man could not understand asks a stiff price while the customer too. But here the shopman quotes him, nor tell him how their land haggles," whispered Tang to Duo. them- how amusing!" came by its name. Not one of "Now this shopman has stated his Then the serving-man went on: Tang's questions could he answer. price, but instead of ·bargaining the "It's hardly honest, is it, brother, "My guess is that they received customer wants to raise it. Whoever to ask a low price for such goo(} , this name from their neighbours, heard of such a thing? No wonder wares yet accuse me of being as well as their reputation for they are known for their deference inconsiderate? Honesty is the best politeness,'' said Duo. "That must to each other!" policy, and everyone has a sense be why this old man does not Then they heard the shopman of values. You can't make a fool know. We saw examples of their reply: of me." courtesy just now when those "I appreciate your concern, but Though they bargained for some farmers let passers-by through their though I am blushing already to time, the shopman refused to raise fields and travellers ceded right of have asked so much, you want his price. Then the other sulkily way. And look how polite they all to shame me further by calling paid what was asked, but took only are, gentry and common folk, ric~ it too little. It is not as if my goods half of the goods. As he turned to and poor alike. They deserve therr have a fixed price that leaves no go, however, the shopman barred reputation." his way, saying he had paid too "True," replied Tang. "But we ~A conventional name for China. much and taken too little. Two old

15 Aliran Monthly March/Apt'il1987 men who came by acted as arbiters, but I know good wares from bad. pecting you to start 'finding fault and made the customer take I'm not such a fool as to take one again. Besides, it's your second-best four-fifths of the goods at the for the other. When you charge goods that I want - the best are price agreed on. So a compromise only half what first-class goods no use to me, much as I appreciate was reached, and the serving-man are worth, you are cheating people your kind intentions." left. and going in for sharp practice." "If you want a cheap line, that's Meanwhile Tang and Duo were "If you really want to help me," up to you. But seconds are seconds. nodding quietly. After walking a retorted the other, "the fairest How can you pay a top price for little further, they came upon a thing would be to halve your first inferior quality?" soldier who was also making a price. If you think that's too little, The soldier made no answer, but purchase. I won't presume to argue but will took his purchases and prepared "When I asked the price of your ask you to go and find out the to go. When the bystanders accused honourable wares, you told me to prices elsewhere. Then you'll know him of underhand treatment, how· give what I thought fit," said the I'm not cheating you." ever, he was unable to gainsay them soldier. "But when I did, you Long as the soldier argued, the and had to take as much good complained it was too much, other refused to sell till he took a merchandise as bad. though I'd already come down a few goods at half the price first good deal. To insit shows not only offered. Then -the customer picked prejudice but unfairness." some out and was making off hey voyaged for several "I dared not fix a price, sir," when the stall-holder stopped him, days till they came to the replied the stall-holder. "I wanted protesting: Kingdom of the Great. you to decide because my poor "Why just choose the worst and As this country lay next goods are neither fresh nor any­ leave the best for me, brother? T to the Land of Courtesy, thing special," commented Tang, A man who drives such a hard its customs, language and products "while it's the shopman who says bargain must seldom succeed in were much the same; and there he has come down drastically. Here buying anything." was so much commerce between it's the other way round, though. "I let you take an advantage both kingdoms each year on They have different customs." because you insisted." The soldier account of their proximity that "How can you say such a thing?" was indignant. "I took some goods Lin did not think he could make protested the soldier meanwhile. which are not quite your best, for a profit here, and decided not to "I may not be an expert trader my own peace of mind, not ex- trade. But because Tang wished

Aliran Monthly March/Apri11987 16 Just then the passers-by scattered to make way for an official. With a black gauze hat and round collar, a red sunshade carried above him, and a retinue of runners and attendants, he was an imposing sight. But the colour of the clouds at his feet was hidden by a red silk veil. "No doubt it is so easy for the officials here to move about on clouds that they dispense with carriages," commented Tang. "But why do they wear these foot-veils?" "Ugly clouds, of a grey-black colour, often spring from their feet, and they are considered unlucky," Duo explained. "All men with such~ · clouds must have done evil in secret. But though they can deceive their fellows, these clouds are quite pitiless - they turn this unlucky colour and make their owners ashamed to face the world. So they veil their feet from the public eye, like the robber who stopped his own ears to steal a bell. Fortunately these clouds change as a man's heart changes. If he sincerely repents and seeks to do good, his clouds' colour will change accordingly. If he sports an ugly cloud a long time, the king will look into his case and punish him; and his countrymen will shun him because he refuses to mend his ways but takes delight in evil." "Heaven is most unfair," was Lin's comment. to look round, they went ashore at his feet. If he is evil and vicious, "Why do you say that?" asked with old Duo. his clouds will be black. These Tang. "I have always wanted to come clouds spring from his feet, and "Isn't it unfair to provide these here," confided Tang, "ever since I their colour is determined by his clouds only for the Land of the heard of the Kingdom of the Great heart - he has no choice in the Great? If everyone in the world where instead of walking men matter. That is why the rich and had a label like this, and a black ride about on clouds. Today great often have black clouds, cloud grew from the feet of all Heaven has granted my wish." while the poor have coloured ones. skulking rascals to shame them Still, the general morality here is publicly, then every man seeing They threaded their way through good, and you find only one or them would be on his guard, and the hills to the populous centre of two black clouds out of a hundred. a very good thing too." the city, where everything remind­ Perhaps because they would be "Not all bad men have black ed them of the Land of Courtesy, ashamed of the black, they shrink clouds under their feet," said Duo. except that the people had clouds from evil and do as much good "But the black vapour over their of different shapes and colours as they can. And as there is nothing heads reaches to Heaven, and that under their feet. As a beggar passed petty-minded about them, neigh­ is much worse for them!" on clouds of many colours, Tang bouring peoples- call this the Land "Why don't I see that black turned to Duo. of the Great. Men far away who do vapour?" demanded Lin. "How is it, uncle, if many not know the facts assume that all "You don't see it, but Heaven coloured clouds are noble while the inhabitants are giants, but this does, and so it distinguishes black are despised, that this beggar is the real meaning of the name." between good and bad. It appoints has coloured clouds?" "That was puzzling me," agreed a good end for the good, and an When I was here before, I asked Tang. "I had heard that the people evil end for the evil - all are judged the same question," said Duo, here were several dozen feet high, according to fixed principles." "Though some colours are better yet they are no taller than we are. "In that case I won't accuse than others, they depend en­ So that w.as simply a rumour." Heaven of unfairness," conceded tirely on a man's character and "It is in the Land of Giants that Lin. behaviour, not on his wealth they are so tall," Duo informed After wandering for a while and position. If a man is true and him. "You will see what real giants they started back to the junk, honest, coloured clouds will appear· are like there." afraid of being late. •

17 Aliran Monthly March/April1987 the Chinese to produce more for they alone cannot constitute the entire nation. Moreover there can certainly be no fear CURRENT COMMENT in Singapore of the Chinese community being in danger of becoming over· A record of Aliran's complete press statements whelmed numerically by the other races for a good three-quarters of the popu· made in the preceding months lation comes from that community. Faced with such contradictions, one wonders whether the reason for such NAMING BIG BORROWERS "LEE CLONE YOU" an exhortation is in reality rooted in a belief in racial superiority. This is quite t is almost three weeks since the t is a pity that the man who more possible when one recalls that another Finance Minister said that the names than two decades ago was a most exhortation to SingaporearJS has been I of all the big borrowers from the I vocal proponent of multi-racial ideals, for the educated class to increase their 24 Deposit-taking Cooperatives (DTCs) should today exhibit attitudes contrary numbers while those in the "un-educated" could be revealed, if Bank Negara so to that vision - a vision rooted in national classes are discouraged from doing desired. consciousness as opposed to ethnic so - the reason given being that children Aliran does not understand why their consciousness. of graduates are more intelligent than names have still not been made public. In a message to SingaporearJS for the those of non-graduates. If indeed it was Their names should be made public Chinese New Year, Mr Lee had said that a belief in racial superiority that ,Jed so that the depositors in the DTCs only 26,000 babies of Chinese ethnic to the prompting of the Chinese commu· concerned, can take appropriate action origin were born in the previous year. nity in Singapore then it would be an against them. Besides, it wiiJ give the Apparently 15,000 short of the 41,000 act that deserves rejection and moral public an idea of the type of connections needed to maintain the population. It contempt regardless of whether one is between those who manage cooperatives was thus hoped that a better performance a Malay Chinese or Indian. Besides, on the one hand, and politicians and could be carried this year. the maintenance of social stability business people on the other. Most of Such a message, as reported, would founded upon the numerical superiority all, revealing the names of big borrowers seem to hold at least two contradictions. of an ethnic group is a fallacy which would be in line with the concept and First, if one was seeking to promote totally contradicts democratic ideals of practice of public accountability. and nurture a national identity and not justice and equality. If Bank Negara or the Finance a racial identity then it would have made Indeed if there is a genuine belief Ministry does not act immediately, it no sense to exhort only the Chinese in racial superiority within the Singapore is quite likely that people will conclude community into greater fecundity. Such national leadership then it becomes that there is some political motive behind a step would run against the grain of easier to understand why on the one hand the non-disclosure. efforts to forge a strong national identity. President Chaim Herzog of Israel should Second, the task of ensuring that a have chosen to visit Singapore in South 13 February 1987 Hamima Dona Mustafa nation's population is maintained surely East Asia and on the other, why Singapore Hon. Secretary should have shown a lack of sensitivity falls not only upon the shoulders of just by accepting such a visit - it becomes The above statement did not appear in any one ethnic community but of all the understandable because Zionism, per· newspaper. - Editor nation's peoples. From this viewpoint sonified by Israel, is itself an extremely it becomes illogical to call upon only racist doctrine. •••

DEBT-PUTY MINISTER

!iran wo0:1~ like to know i~ the Prime MmJSter, Datuk Sen Dr A Mahathir Mohamad, was aware of the huge debts that Datuk Alex Lee had accumulated through his business operations, before he appointed him a Deputy Minister. Was the PM aware that Datuk Lee allegedly owed local banks and financial institutions about 82.1 million ringgit on the eve of his appoint· ment as a member of administration? His family company !rex, is also reported to be owing foreign banks something like 48.88 million in principal and interest. A Deputy Minister who owes foreign and local banks so much money is undoubtedly an embarassment to the administration. Besides, it is not incon· ceivable that given his debts, he can be manipulated by both local and foreign banks. Aliran hopes therefore, that Dr Mahathir will explain Datuk Lee's presence in the Government. Otherwise, the public may get the impression that the PM appointed him to give Datuk Lee the protection he needs from banks and financial institutions demanding the return of their money.

15 February 1987 Exea.~tive Committ•

The above statement did not appe• in any newiP8per.- Editor Chinese in Singapore: urged by the national leadership to produce more

Aliran Monthly M•ch/April1987 18 Arguments for genetic superiority are at best suspect in their truth and in their worth. But more than that, we must see that if someone should believe in the natural superiority of a particular group of people and hence proceed to show preferential treatment for that .. group, although for the good intention £ of national progress, then immediately ... such preference becomes devoid of ~ compassion and, spirituality. Human conscience would dictate that far from giving preference for the strong and privileged in society, it is to the weak and disadvantaged that we should direct ~ our attention. Indeed it would be true .... :J 0 4 to say that compassion for the weak c ;: 2 and under-privileged is embodied in c IJ) 0 the major spiritual traditions of the E various communities. c .. That is why if there is no division :E E... 5 between action and religion, Man and .. E his conscience, then concern for the g. ! g ~ () continued progress and development It () ,"' .:"' of a nation would be translated into !2.c c 0 c programmes seeking to equalise and ::; v; c;, rectify unbalanced socio-economic 0 ...... ~....,. • • ... .; ll opportunities regardless of race rather ~ E ~ 0 2 IL 4: ~ .. than sow dependence on a particular i >- •0 0 c ll group seen as being naturally superior. 0 .. "! E i 0 "'0 It would be quite pointless for us to z >- ~ <'I .. ~ .. .. find comfort in the rationalisation of •:J ~ z {7 01 'survival of the fittest' for while that .. ...c c £: ~ v; may be found among the animals, one 0 .. .. 0 would like to think that humans exist 0 -:::- ll .. r. u .. ..c .':.! c and progress at a higher level at which ~ r. .. discernment and compassion are 0 ~.. ~ E possible. 3 .!:! ~ .. 1- .. ~ Finally it should be said that equalising - :I ~ 0.. c socio-economic opportunities not just -:::-.. c .2 between the various ethnic groups but a. ~ a ... ~ ... specifically between people of different 0 ~ ...... : >- ... Jl social backgrounds of all races remains 0 :J for us in Malaysia a pressing task. Our ~ •c .. a: 0 ~ - C( post-colonial and much more racially ~ ~ r -~ mixed society with its predominance -~ .. 0 ...... 0 .. ..» of communal politics and a persistent • >- u u ~ N £ gulf between the haves and the haves-not ;~--- c ~·35 • 0 0 0 has made such a task very important. en ~o-c It is a task which must begin in earnest %;Ill.!! ... .. iii .... so that we may at least provide a good u~•o;. 0 ~ .... ~f.ll. ... foundation for the future. Ill •11:o•j : E !!.. ~a.:~ 0 a 0 23 February 1987 Tong Veng Wye ::» Exco Member en ••• It- HELPING OUR STUDENTS DOWN-UNDER Ill

0) c liran gives wholehearted support U') a ·~ to the appeal from private Malay­ - ::>L .Q 0 8 sian students in Australia for a 0 A 0 .D study loan of 500,000 ringgit. It From information we have received, -Q) it appears that a good number of these 0 £ students are in desperate straits. It is co often forgotten that the majority of - private Malaysian students in Australia do not come from upper class families. This is why they cannot afford the almost 40 per cent increase in the Overseas Student Charge (OSC) beginning this year. An immediate solution to the problem would be for the Government to initiate the establishment of a revolving loan fund with minimum or no interest charged. If the Government could come out with half a million ringgit for such a fund, private firms and individuals would be encouraged to contribute.

19 Aliran Monthly Merch/April 1987 NO. OF TITLE OF BOOK PRICE COST COPIES 1. FREEDOM IN FETTERS Is a comprehensive study of the state of de mer cracy in Malaysia. It deals with all the major laws and institutions relevant to an under- Flashback: Students protest the Austra­ standing of democracy in Malaysia. It examines $10.20 all the major trends and developments which lian fees hike. have influenced the practice of democracy in Malaysia. However, Aliran realises that the long-term solution to problems of this 2. DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY sort is something else. The Government Is a collection of speeches made by leaders of must, either on its own, or through cooperation with the private sector, various political parties & public interest undertake to establish more universities. societies in connection with the 3rd Dialogue $ 3.20 of Concern on Parliamentary Democracy held It is the responsibility of Malaysian in July 1985. society to meet the aspirations for higher education of its own people. We cannot go on depending on others 3. CABARAN·CABARAN SEMASA to educate our young.

A book in Bahasa Maaysia dealing with human 26 February 1987 P Ramakrishnan rights. democracy. the economy, labour, ethnic Acting President relations, education, moral values and inter- $ 7.20 national affairs. The above statement did not appear in any newspaper. - Editor 4. PANDANGAN ALIRAN: Mengandungi pendapat, cadangan, analise dan ••• komen yang jarang tersiar di akhbar-akhbar $10.20 tempatan. UN ROSTER STATUS 5. LIMA PERSO,ALAN is the translation of $ 3.70 FOR ALIRAN .5 Controversies' into Bahasa Malaysia !iran is happy to announce that it 6. CORRUPTION contains papers on various has obtained Roster Status wi th aspects of this social scourge presented by A the Economic And Social Council Alira11 officials and guest speakers at a seminar $ 4.20 of the United Nations. Aliran's applica· held in November 1980. It is easily readable, tion was approved on the February 27, informative and analytical. 1987 at a meeting of the Non-Govern· mental Organizations (NGO) Committee of the Economic and Social Council of 7. THEAN TEIK: THE OTHER SIDE OF the UN. S P Subramaniam, a founder DEVELOPMENT discusses the Thean Teik member of Aliran now living in North dispute objectively and raises the question, $ 3.20 America, represented Aliran at the New "Development for Whom?" York Meetiflg. Ang Boon Chong, Co­ ordinator of Aliran's International Affairs 8. THE ARMS RACE: HUMANITY IN CRISIS Bureau, was largely responsible for prepa­ reflects a common humanitarian viewpoint ring the organization's application. on the awful realities of modern warfare. It $ 5.20 Roster Status with UN's Economic attempts to consider the transformation of and l=locial Council entitles Aliran to man and society as the means towards attend meetings of the Council that deal achieving a worldwide peace. with matters relevant to Aliran's commit· ment to human rights and alternative development. Aliran will also be able to 9. WE SHALL OVERCOME- SONGS OF submit written statements to the Council HUMANITY is a rich and varied collection and receive various materials from the of songs dealing with reality. hope, freedom, $ 4.20 UN. UN ljbraries and other facilities will justice. unity, peace, compassion, etc. also be available to Aliran. Organizations on the Roster may also be requested by 10. ALIRAN MONTHLY the Secretary-General to carry out speci· fie studies or to prepare specific papers. 1 year's subscription - 12 issues• $10.50 $20.50 Obtaining Roster Status with the 2 year's subscription - 24 issues: Economic and Social Council of the United Nations is undoubtedly a great Bank Commission for outstation cheque $ 0.50 honour to Aliran. It amounts to acknow· ledgement of the importance of Aliran's TOTAL role in national affairs to the growth and development of the international com- .. •Prices inclusive of Postage. For overseas orders: prices are in US$.

Aliran Monthly March/April1987 20 . -..., .... - • munity. More significantly, by putting Aliran on its Roster, the UN has bestow· ed legitimacy upon Aliran's struggle for a more just and humane society. Finally, Aliran expresses its gratitude to the Malaysian mission at the United Nations in . New York for the positive attitude it adopted towards Aliran's application for Roster Status.

11 March 1987 Chandra Muzaffar President •••

HOW f{) MOVE IN? WE CANNOT AFFORD ' T() 8UV •••• ~ RAKVAT

!XJN'T BLAME ME ! 1 BUILD WHAT THE GDVERNM£NT fELlS ME. TlJ • ••• Malayan Railway can be made into a DEVELoPER viable enterprise. PUBLIC RAILS VbN'T BLAME ME! liran regrets the decision of the I DNLY FoLL.bW ORPERS Government to privatise Malayan A Railway. ~MY 130SS 1 Since railway is an essential service used by the common man, it should re­ TltE POLITfCfAN •••• main in the public sector. Malayan Rail· way could have been reorganized to make it more efficient. Its losses could have been reduced through proper planning and effective implementation. New ideas on improving the service could have been GOV~RNM~NT introduced. ~ERV,ANT Malayan Railway, for instance, could have been run as a public corporation. Various public agencies could have band· ed together to operate the service on a joint basis. At the same time, the workers could have been given shares in the corpo­ YCIJ BLAME ME ? I ration. The public could have also been ! AM PbrN6 THIS FOR given the opportunity to purchase shares. In this way, Malayan Railway could have TfiE MKYM b ... been made into a viable enterprise. In any case, the Government should realise that profitability should not be the only major concern since the railway t'DLITICIAN is essentially a public service. After all, State-run and even privately managed railways in other countries register heavy financial losses every year. This is why privatising Malayan Rail· way does not guarantee that losses will be reduced. Neither does it guarantee greater efficiency and productivity. Indeed, it is very likely that the private company that takes over the Railway will raise rates in BLAME ME? order to keep its 'head above water'. 13 March 1987 Hamima Dona Mustafa Secretary

The above statement did not appear in any ,_IPIIper. - Editor

21 Aliran Monthly March/April1987 that Bank Negara could have acted more decisively and effectively in the BMF and UMBC scandals. In order to curb commercial crime, the authorities should also consider further amending the Companies Act and the Banking Act to make it easier to detect misdeeds and to initiate legal prosecution. The Penal Code should also be reviewed with the same objectives in mind. Apart from amending laws, an attempt should also be made to provide more effective training to internal and external auditors, Bank Negara personnel and the commercial crime division of the Police, on how to catch minor and major crimi­ nals in the commercial sector. This would require not only in-service training programmes but also seminars and courses open to members of the public. At the same time, the private sector as a whole should be persuaded to regard commerce as an activity based upog. , ethics. The infusion of ethics into com· UMNO members now demand accountability from their leaders merce through education and exhortation should be given top priority. Unless this is d one immediately, many unethical prac­ tices in commerce which have become quite rampant in recent years, will UMNOANDDEMOCRACY CURBING COMMERCIAL CRIME come to be accepted as 'natural' and 'inevitable'. alaysians as a whole are becoming he warning by the Governor of For all these measures to work, the more conscious of their rights as Bank Negara, Datuk Jaffar Hus­ national leadership should set the exam· M citizens in a Parliamentary Demo· T sein, on the increase in commer­ ple by proving through deeds that it does cracy. This is a healthy trend. This cial crimes, is most timely. He has given not condone any type of fraud, however consciousness has seeped into UMNO. good advice to internal and external important the individual involved may be. UMNO members are now more prepared auditors on the need to be more alert It is when fraudulent practices are asso· to demand account ability from their against fraud. ciated rightly or wrongly with the leader­ leaders. They are more prepared to However, Aliran feels that apart from ship, that it becomes difficult to check question their leaders on economic internal and external auditors, Bank, commercial crime at all other levels of policies. They are more concerned about Negara should also do more to check society. corruption and incompetence than ever commercial crime especially in relation to before. Indeed. UMNO members are not financial institutions. It cannot be denied 18 March 1987 Executive Committee afraid any more to challenge their leaders openly. In a sense, UMNO has begun to mature as a democratic party. However, consciousness of democratic rights should not be linked to contests for political power. The right to know, the freedom of expression and the indepen­ dence of the media are important in themselves. These are rights that should be nurtured at all times. It is wrong to champion these rights only because Do Not o ne is fighting for a certain position. Similarly, it is· wrong to espouse public accountability simply because of allega­ Surrender Your Freedom! tions made by one's political rivals. Malaysians should realize that human rights and democracy transcend party un HaH Mohd Adnan Robert delivered a poignant commentary on recent events in politics. Why is there this increase in awareness T Sabah at a farewell banquet in his honour in Kota Kinabalu. of human rights and democracy? There "Do not surrender your freedom. not even to the most benevolent of dictators, are 7 possible reasons: because you never know who Will come after him in 5, 10, 20 years, " said the former • The economic decline. • The series of financials scandals in Head of State. the last 3 years. "Do not put weapons into. any leader's hands, no matter how good he is." • Lack of openness and decline of public accountability on the part of the Tun Adnan warned of the danger that a tyrant would one day emerge who would Government. use the weapon given him to enslave "you and your children." • The reaction to a dominant clique in politics which is seen, rightly or "We cannot and must not rely on t~e leader's restraint and good sense to preserve wrongly, monopolising all power and our freedoms.'' he continued. wealth. • The efforts of non-establishment "We must have our freedom built into our system of government so that they will groups in raising human rights con­ survive regardless of the quality and propensity of the leaders." sciousness. Given Tun Adnan's experience at the hands of politicians in April, 1985, there is • The growth and expansion of the middle-class. no doubt he was speaking from the heart. • Higher educational levels. The Borneo Bulletin 15 March 1987 Chandra Muzaffar January .17, 1987 President

The above statement did not appear in any n-spaper.- Editor

Aliran Monthly Match/ April1987 22 continued from back THINKING ALLOWED never used before in my time, is mentioned freely in daily con­ versation not only among adults but also children. It is not unusual to hear children remarking at dogs "making love" on the street. As sex educationists we are terrible failures. Cats and dogs are still the greatest all-time sex educators and their no-nonsense ocular demon­ stration on sex leaves nothing to Dear friend, imagination.

Thank you for your support. We want you to know how grateful we are for the wholehearted support you have given to our Monthly all these years. It is because of your support that we are encouraged to go all out to increase the readership of the Aliran Monthly. We want more people to read .., . our magazine for a number of reasons. We believe our Monthly discusses fundamental issues affecting the future of each and everyone of us. If you looked through the Monthly since its incep­ tion in January 1984 and the Aliran Quarterly before that, you 'II realize that we have examined and analysed all sorts of national and global concerns, from poverty and corruption to democracy and national unity in Malaysia, to apartheid, Third World development and the international drug racket. Ar. a result, we have helped, in our own little way, to foster the growth of social consciousness. The Aliran Monthly has, in fact, become an important medium in the development of awareness on human rights, integrity of public officials and ethnic relations. The growth of social consciousness through the Monthly has, in an indirect sense, served to bring individuals from different communities closer together. For the Monthly's approach to ethnic issues is non-communal, non-sectarian and genuinely multi-ethnic. Those who have been reading the Monthly and other Aliran publications for a long while are slowly becoming more aware of the enduring commonalities that bind us (whatever our ethnic origins or religious affiliations). They are less obsessed with the superficial differences that divide us. Finally, the Aliran Monthly is one of our sources of income. Aliran, A CONFUSED depends entirely upon Malaysian society for its imancial support. We do not get any financial assistance from any individual, organization or institution OCTOPUS outside the country. This is why support from the Malaysian public is vital especially Cor an oraanization with such limited imancial resources like oun~ . You can help Aliran, and participate in this larger struggle for justice and n Octopus with Immite freedom, by getting more subscribers for our Monthly. If each reader can per­ Strong Arms (I.S.A. for suade 5 other individuals to subscribe to the Aliran Monthly this year, our short) is now relentlessly message will spread far and wide. There are huadreds of thousands of English­ speaking Malaysians who have never read the Aliran Monthly. Many of them extending its reach from haven't even heard of the Monthly. As a friend of Aliran, you can try to reach depotA to deposit. Although it has out to them. Try talking to perhaps a member of your family, a neighbour, a developed a snappish appetite for colleague. Try to convince them that it is in their own interest to subscribe to the Aliran Monthly. several unrelated items, yet it can Invite your friends to join us in the struggle for Justice, Freedom and be quite choosy at times. For Solidarity. Invite them to join the Aliran quest for a just and humane society. instance, once it avoided Sabah GET 5 SUBSCRIBERS FOR THE ALIRAN MONTHLY IN 1987. like poison when everybody was Thank you. Your friend in the struggle, expecting one of its arms to strike without hesitation. Somehow it Chandra Muzaffar had a partiality for Memalian President Aliran Kesedaran Negara tender shoots. Lately it took a (ALIRAN) sudden fancy for monkeys appa­ rently playing around with bananas and grabbed one of them and put it away in a cock-crowing playing­ ground. What prompted it to act thus was that it anticipated a bellyful of trouble from a chain reaction its prey might spark off. It has a mighty high index of suspicion. However its captive has managed to escape from its strangle­ hold. Incredible! Embittered by frustration it determines to pUISue it once more. What's the point when in the meantime no trouble whatsoever is brewing anywhere? You can never predict its caprices.

Mohamed Abdul Kadir

23 Ali ran Monthly Mardt/Apri l 1 987 Thinking Allowed A closer look at what people say and do the world over

SCIENCE DOES NOT this means first-hand information no failures among them in that about it. Hence the more you direction! On the other hand sex COME FROM SATAN know Nature the more you know must be sensitive, otherwise how and feel the greatness of the could it serve its purpose of multi­ cience is not sin. This is Creator. Everything in the universe plication and perpetuation of what Dr. Mahatbir pointed is governed by scientific laws. The species? out when he delivered a Creator is the Source of Science. Thanks to AIDS "condom" bas scholarly speech on science He is the Scientist:. Alas, this is now become an acceptable word in relation to Muslims at the official the side of the Creator most people in daily conversation and communt. opening of the 8th meeting of the choose to ignore, and how on earth cation, and manufacturers of con­ Scientific Council of the Islamic can they get a complete picture doms have gained overnight res­ Foundation for Science, Techno­ of the Creator that way? What pectability for their services to logy and Development (IFSTAD) is there to be afraid of? Science mankind Condoms on the market in Kuching in February this year. does not come from Satan. bear several brand names such as Good Muslims abide by "don'ts" Sheikh of Araby and Fireproof. in the Quran as a guide in their By the look of it they are the last everyday activities, so to be on resort left for preventing the spread the safe side some of them also of AIDS. That's why they are now don't want to know about science freely advertised in foreign news­ and prefer to live in total ignorance A TWIST IN papers, magazines and television in of what's going on around them. spite of objections on moral It cannot be denied that by SEX EDUCATION grounds from certain quarters. As a means of science human beings consequence manufacturers are have elevated themselves above the ometime ago when I used fmding diff"ICulty in coping with the level of animals. Animals don't the word "testicles" in demand for these life-savers. At know science, of course. There­ one of my cartoons for a last condoms have come out in fore without science human beings . certain newsletter the the open with a smile - no more would be reduced to the state of editor righteously censored it and secretive in their role in sex activi­ animals. Strictly primitive people replaced it with a euphemistic ties. New York authorities are dis­ and cannibals are still living like "male reproductive organs". Gosh, tributing a million of them to drug animalll. Science is not necessary that really destroyed not only treatment clinics, local clinics and for existing in this world. It only the cartoon's punch line but also community organisations. A prag­ offers comfort to life. Comfort my innocence! ma tic Protestant Church minister consists of such things as electricity Today "testicle" is on every­ in New York distributed condoms for lighting instead of f"IJ'e from body's lips and no longer distasteful among his flock and was assured wood or oil, pipe-water instead Newspapers flashed it in bold of full house every time while of well or river water, medicine letters across the pages as a matter stock lasted You can get car keys instead of exorcism, travelling by of fact and never tried to cover it on the market with gadgets contain­ powered vehicles instead of using under "private parts". It took a ing condoms in attractive colours bullocks, camels and junks; and teacher in Klang to BqUeeze it out with the instruction "In emergency more eophisticated things like and liberalise it. Nothing short of break glass". Malaysians may not radio, television, video, air-con and a shock tzeatment to shake people appreciate the seriousness of AIDS t.!lephone. Dr. Mahatbir also said, out of their prudish stupor. Again, yet and therefore may sit in ". • • we are still arguing about it took a "butcher" in lpoh to judgment on others living in fear acquiring knowledge of science and perform a guillotine circumcision of it. technology, we are still talking operation on a boy to bring the Just a few years ago the four­ about what is secular and what sex term "penis" in the open. letter word never appeared in any is not in our interminable dis­ Apparently he bit off more than dictionary in the world. But today CUSBions in air-conditioned, electri­ he could chew. 'lbese two people it is found in all dictionaries, cally lighted and sound-equipped unwittingly have enlightened other including those recommended for conference balls of UlliUip888ed people on the anatomy of the echool use, with a slit-triangle architectural beauty." external male sex orpns and symbol against it to remind readers With the knowledge of science removed the shame attached to that it is a taboo word, and also and technology men are no longer them. a few phrases with examples! at the mercy of their environments. Most people treat sex as a In the face of overwhelming pro­ Science is the study of the workings sensitive subject and try to avoid miscuity in modem society con­ of Nature. Nature is the handiwork it as JDlch as possible. 'lbat's why servatism has to give in a little. of the Creator. It is a manifestation youngsters are often left in the Now the phrase "make love", of the Creatm's creation that is dark to pope about after the continued on Pfllt! 23 pereeptible to the five senses, and truth - and, like hell, there are

Printed by Ganesh Print ing Works Sdn. Bhd., 10 Penang Street, 10200 Penang Published by Aliran Kesedaran Negara. P.O. Box 1049, 10830 Pu lau Pinang. Off ice Phone: 04-830549 Thinking Allowed A closer look at what people say and do the world over

SCIENCE DOES NOT this means first-band information no failures among them in that about it. Hence the more you direction! On the other band sex COME FROM SATAN know Nature the more you know must be sensitive, otherwise how and feel the greatness of the could it serve its purpose of multi­ cience is not sin. This is Creator. Everything in the universe plication and perpetuation of what Dr. Mahatbir pointed is governed by scientific laws. The species? out when he delivered a Creator is the Source of Science. Thanks to AIDS ''condom" has scholarly speech on science He is the Scientist:. Alas, this is now become an acceptable word in relation to Muslims at the official the side of the Creator most people in daily conversation and communf. opening of the 8th meeting of the choose to ignore, and bow on earth cation, and manufacturers of con­ Scientific Council of the Islamic can they get a complete picture doms have gained overnight res­ Foundation for Science, Techno­ of the Creator that way? What pectability for their services to logy and Development (IFSTAD) is there to be afraid of? Science mankind Condoms on the market in Kuching in February this year. does not come from Satan. bear several brand names such as Good Muslims abide by "don'ts" Sheikh of Araby and Fireproof. in the Quran as a guide in their By the look of it they are the last everyday activities, so to be on resort left for preventing the spread the safe side some of them also of AIDS. That's why they are now don't want to know about science freely advertised in foreign news­ and prefer to live in total ignorance A TWIST IN papers, magazines and television in of what's going on around them. spite of objections on moral It cannot be denied that by SEX EDUCATION grounds from certain quarters. As a means of science human beings consequence manufacturers are have elevated themselves above the ometime ago when I used rmding difriCulty in coping with the level of animals. Animals don't the word "testicles" in demand for these life-savers. At know science, of course. There­ one of my cartoons for a last condoms have come out in fore without science human beings . certain newsletter the the open with a smile - no more would be reduced to the state of editor righteously censored it and secretive in their role in sex activi­ animals. Strictly primitive people replaced it with a euphemistic ties. New York authorities are dis­ and cannibals are still living like "male reproductive organs". Gosh, tributing a million of them to drug animalfl. Science is not necf!SS8ry that really destroyed not only treatment clinics, local clinics and for existing in this world. It only the cartoon's punch line but also community organisations. A prag­ offers comfort to life. Comfort my innocence! matic Protestant Church minister consists of such things as electricity Today "testicle" is on every­ in New York distributed condoms for lighting instead of tlre from body'slips and no longer distasteful among his flock and was assured wood or oil, pipe-water instead Newspapers flashed it in bold of full house every time while of well or river water, medicine letters across the pages as a matter stock lasted. You can get car keys instead of exorcism, travelling by of fact and never tried to cover it on the market with gadgets contain­ powered vehicles instead of using under "private parts". It took a ing condoms in attractive colours bullocks, camels and junks; and teacher in Klang to squeeze it out with the instruction "In emergency more aophisticated things like and liberalise it. Nothing short of break glass". Malaysians may not radio, television, video, air-con and a shock tzeatment to shake people appreciate the seriousness of AIDS t.alephone. Dr. Mahatbir also said, out of their prudish stupor. Again, yet and therefore may sit in ". • • we are still arguing about it took a "butcher" in Ipoh to judgment on others living in fear acquiring knowledge of science and perform a guillotine circumcision of it. technology, we are still talking operation on a boy to bring the Just a few years ago the four­ about what is secular and what sex term "penis" in the open. letter word never appeared in any is not in our interminable dis­ Apparently he bit off more than dictionary in the world But today CU88ions in air-coaditioned, electri­ he could chew. 1beae two people it is found in all dictionaries, caDy lighted and sound-equipped unwittingly have enlilbtened other including those recommended for conference balls of UlliUip8S8ed people on the anatomy of the school use, with a slit-triangle architectural beauty." external male sex organs and symbol against it to remind readers With the knowledge of science removed the shame attached to that it is a taboo word, and also and technology men are no longer them. a few phrases with examples! at the mercy of their environments. Most people tzeat sex as a In the face of overwhelming pro­ Science is the study of the workinp sensitive subject and try to avoid miscuity in modem society con­ of Nature. Nature is the handiwork it as IDlCh as possible. 1bat's why servatism has to give in a little. of the Creator. It is a manifestation yoUJJisters are often left in the Now the phrase "make love", of the Creatm's creation that is dark to grope about after the continued on Pfllt! 23 pereeptible to the five senses, and truth - and, like bell, there are

Printed by Ganesh Printing Works Sdn. Bhd., 10 Penang Street, 10200 Penang Published by Aliran Kesedaran Negara. P.O. Box 1049. 10830 Pulau Pinang. Office Phone: 04-830549