For Justice, Freedom & Solidarity PP3739/12/2010(025927) ISSN 0127 - 5127 RM4.00 2010:Vol.30No.1

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 1 COVER STORY Democracy undermined Forces are at work to subvert the voters’ choice in the last general election while others are playing up emotive issues of race and religion for political ends by P Ramakrishnan

akatan doesn’t need an enemy to destroy it. It PPP can self-destruct quite easily – thanks to certain renegades within coalition part- ner Parti Keadilan Rakyat!

The undercurrent that has been simmering for some time has fi- nally surfaced with the Bayan Baru MP, Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, lashing out at the Penang Chief Minister pub- licly, accusing him of being “dic- tatorial, chauvinistic and commu- nist-minded”.

From the public’s perspective, there are several MPs in PKR who have taken public positions con- trary to the stated aims of the party thus undermining its credibility as a viable component of the Pakatan Rakyat.

Word has it that some of them are deliberately daring the party to take action against them so that they can justify their joining the Barisan Nasional. In fact, they are provoking the party to discipline them - which would make it easier for them to leave the party.

There is talk that Umno is trying to entice them to cross over. Over- tures are believed to have been ZahrainZahrainZahrain Tan Tee Beng

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 2 EDITOR'S NOTE

T’’is the season of betrayal. In our cover story, P Ramakrishnan says forces are at work to subvert CONTENTS the voters’ choice in the last general election while fringe groups are playing up emotive issues of race and religion for political ends. Hishamuddin COVER STORY Yahaya says racial sloganeering could become ir- ••• Democracy Undermined 222 relevant if a new government takes over that is bet- FEATURES ter able to promote democracy and socio-economic FEATURES ••• BN Bound For Defeat, says Ku Li 777 and cultural justice. ••• The Tunku, Merdeka And Malaysia 888 ••• Ketuanan Melayu Vs But for now, Malaysians could suffer even more with Cucu Dato' Merah 111111 the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). ••• Blues Over Education System 131313 GST-driven inflation would be a calamity that the ••• Malaysia's Migrant Hell-Holes 151515 struggling lower-income group could do without, says ••• Ko-Tai: Penang's Untold Story 202020 Jeyakumar Devaraj.. Migrant workers are already liv- ••• Abdurrahman Wahid 242424 ing in appalling conditions. Angeline Loh looks at ••• Aids And Impediments To Malaysia’s ‘migrant hell-holes’ – the immigration The Realization Of Humanity detention camps, where evidence of cruel, degrading According To Islam 262626 and inhuman conditions is overwhelming. ••• Howard Zinn: Small Acts Multiplied By Millions 282828 Perhaps it is time for us to recall the Tunku’s legacy. ••• Even Malays Are Leaving Malaysia 303030 After 52 years of nationhood, let us demand greater ••• Action Stations! accountability, integrity and compassion, says V ‘No’ To The Regressive GST! 404040 Chakaravarthy. We also pay tribute to the legend- ary American historian and peace activist Howard REGULARS Zinn, who spoke of small acts that could lead to real ••• Thinking Allowed 191919 change, and Abdurrahman Wahid, described as the ••• LettersLettersLetters 343434 gentle, friendly face of Indonesia and Islam. ••• Current Concerns 363636

Over the long-term real change will be facilitated OTHERSOTHERSOTHERS through a revamp of the education system which, ••• Subscription Form 232323 as Teacher’s Blues describes, falls desperately short ••• Maternity Leave In Asia 313131 of expectations. Given the right guidance, youths can do wonders. Shakila Abdul Manan describes how a group of multi-ethnic youths brought George Town’s local history to life through an inclusive Published by musical drama, ‘Ko-Tai’. Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN)(ALIRAN)(ALIRAN) 103, Medan Penaga, 11600 Jelutong, Aliran is an organisation for ‘social democratic reform’. We advocate freedom, justice and Penang, Malaysia. solidarity; comment critically on social issues, offer Tel: (04) 658 5251 Fax: (04) 658 5197 analysis and alternative ideas keeping in mind Email (Letters to Editor): the national and global picture based on universal [email protected] human rights and spiritual values. We are listed on the on the roster of the Economic and Social Council of Email (General): [email protected] the United Nations. Founded in 1977, Aliran Homepage : http://www.aliran.com welcomes all Malaysians above 21 to be members. Contact the Hon. Secretary or visit our webpage. Printed by Konway Industries Sdn. Bhd. Plot 78, Lebuhraya Kampung Jawa, 11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 3 AnwarAnwarAnwar This was what I wrote on 1 Febru- ary 2010 on Aliran’s ‘Thinking Allowed Online’. The events un- folding since then confirm that this possibility is on course. Forces are hard at work to realise this.

It seems that certain PKR elected MPs, representatives and mem- bers who have been very vocal and critical of their party were only playing for time to make their move at the right time. What would be the right time, you may wonder. Well, as long as Anwar is mobile and able to travel around the country, that would be made to encourage this but it has to commit treachery. the wrong time to make a move. not been revealed what the price He would have turned the turn- would be. To be sure, it must be Let’s remember that the treachery coats into villains and vile char- hefty! when it is committed is not against acters who deserve to be roundly the political party they desert but condemned. He would have Hidden objectives in fact it is against the Malaysian turned the tide against them. voters and against democracy. Having successfully subverted Is that the reason Anwar’s Sod- the Pakatan government in Perak, If ever elected representatives turn omy II was scheduled to take the BN - especially Umno - is now into renegades and turncoats, place around this time - so that hard at work to achieve two other through enticement and bribery, he would be tied down in court objectives. we must not only punish these proceedings to do any effective traitors in the next round of elec- damage control? Apparently, it Objective number one is to topple tions but we must severely pun- seems so! But of course, you the Pakatan Selangor state gov- ish the party that encourages would be told that this is a mere ernment and take over the richest such treachery. coincidence! You would be as- state. All it takes is for seven state sured that the Barisan Nasional assembly members to be bought When we give a simple majority doesn’t interfere with the judi- over and Umno will have the to the Opposition, it is possible for ciary and that the law was only Selangor state government in its our will to be subverted through taking its course. pocket! corruption, as has happened in Perak. It is easy to buy a few rep- Whatever the explanation, the Objective number two is for the resentatives. But when we give the ground work had thus been laid, BN to regain its traditional two- Opposition a bigger majority, it as it were, to allow for betrayals third-majority in parliament. will be very difficult to frustrate and treachery to run riot. Again, all it takes is for nine MPs the peoples’ mandate. to jump ship. Zahrain Let’s do a better job when the 13th makes his move These objectives are achievable if General Election takes place. Let’s the greed of certain elected reps not only give the Opposition a big- Malaysians had expected can be fed with millions of ringgit ger majority; it would be even bet- Zahrain to blaze the trail in pav- to entice them to switch parties. ter to reverse the roles and give the ing the way for parting company This is how they will turn certain Opposition a chance to rule Ma- with PKR. They were spot on. people into traitors and force them laysia. Zahrain did not disappoint any-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 4 he was elected for what he was? If tives? As if to confirm their suspi- it wasn’t for the combined effort cion, Salehuddin has predicted of PKR-DAP-PAS behind him, he that there would be an exodus wouldn’t be a YB today. If he had from PKR. stood on the BN ticket he would have been a has-been on March 8, The disgruntled Tan Tee Beng, for 2008. his part, was believed to be upset when he wasn’t appointed as a People wanted change; so they director of PBA, the Penang water voted for candidates standing on authority, after having been nomi- opposition tickets. Look at some nated by PKR. Many believe his of the characters who were elected. unhappiness was rooted in this They didn’t deserve to be elected. issue of appointment – a personal Voters wanted to punish the BN matter. Previously he had also for its arrogance and uncaring at- stated that he was unhappy over titude and they simply voted for the lack of allocations for PKR Lim Guan Eng whoever stood against the BN. It MPs in Penang. was as simple as that. one. He quit PKR in a huff and He became a very vocal critic of announced his decision at a press Zahrain said he resigned from the Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan conference accompanied by the party because he did not want to Eng, accusing him of “no class and former PKR secretary-general, be blamed by history and future standard” and being arrogant. Datuk Salehuddin Hashim, who generations for not having done had already stepped down from anything to check irregularities But the MP told the press confer- his position in January. and for being part of a group ence, “This is not about me. This which destroyed the people, reli- is to stop people from being hood- At the press conference, Zahrain gion and nation. winked by politicians with per- gave his constituents in Bayan sonal agenda.” I hope that he Baru the assurance that he would If he had wanted to check irregu- would be able to convince his vot- not betray the people who had larities, why did he want a RM2 ers in Nibong Tebal of his noble elected him as their representative private company to be awarded intentions. But rest assured, vot- and advised Malaysians not to the Bukit Jambul Country Club ers are not that stupid these days! place high hopes on the PKR- contract running into millions of DAP-PAS pact. ringgit? After all, this company Salehuddin, who resigned from was believed to have been set up PKR, seemed confident that there Does Zahrain know what he is only two months before the ten- were others waiting to leave the speaking about? What does he der was opened for the contract. party and they would do so over mean by claiming “that he would a period of time. Presumably, they not betray the people”? Isn’t that Tee Beng would want to stagger their resig- exactly what he had done when takes the cue... nations leisurely and inflict as he resigned from PKR? much damage as possible. But The latest to bolt from the PKR Malaysians will remember this His advice to “Malaysians not to stable was Tan Tee Beng, the betrayal and they will punish all place high hopes on the PKR- Nibong Tebal MP. At the press traitors when the next election DAP-PAS pact” is another ex- conference announcing his resig- comes. Have no doubt about it! ample of speaking nonsense. YB nation from PKR, Salehuddin, the Zahrain, please tell Malaysians, former PKR secretary-general, The cancelled especially the Bayan Baru voters, was again present. Malaysians procession that wasn’t where should they place their are wondering what role hopes. On you? On the BN? Salehuddin is playing in all this Of the three parties in the PR coa- drama. Is he brokering the depar- lition, PKR seems to be the weak- Does he take pride in the fact that ture of PKR elected representa- est. It is not surprising, knowing

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 5 are taking note of this and other double standards employed by the police. No doubt, the ballot box must be used effectively to correct this unfairness.

Vocal fringe groups

What is disturbing is the fact that the minority fringe groups are be- ing projected as a majority voice when they articulate their so- called grievances. In the name of race and religion, these groups are rallying support for their racist and bigoted cause, caring little for the majority of Malaysians who Salehuddin PM NajibNajibPM don’t relish this kind of agitation. that many of its members are ei- But when it was clarified that the But by allowing these groups to ther from Umno or from the BN traditional procession would in- make statements that don’t augur component parties. We all know deed take place, what was the well for our unity, the Prime their superficial commitment to need then to agitate, protest and Minster is seen to approve of all social justice and their farcical re- demonstrate? It was clearly an at- this. He has the authority to spect for the injunctions of their tempt to arouse passions and dis- smack down the activities of these respective religions. But by play- turb our harmony. groups as dangerous for our na- ing their cards at this juncture, tional unity and a threat to his they will hopefully weed them- While we have a right to assemble, 1Malaysia policy. Unfortunately, selves out of PKR, which will come we also have a right to behave re- he has not acted. His inaction is out of this crisis as a better party sponsibly. According to the po- being interpreted as tacit approval for the future. lice, the demonstration was al- for these groups to function as lowed in the car park next to the they please. This strategy is going Apart from the problems within mosque. That was the condition to backfire and explode in the face PKR in Penang, other forces are for granting the licence but the of BN simply because the major- also at work, undermining democ- organisers defied this condition ity of rational and thinking racy and trying to unsettle the and marched to the Komtar con- Malays are feeling uneasy with elected government in Penang. course and created an unwar- these groups. The attempt is to portray the PR ranted disturbance. Fiery government as one run by the speeches were made that only set If no action is taken to put a stop Chinese at the expense of the the clock back for Najib’s 1Malay- to this soon, we are going to regret Malays. This is a dangerous game sia. our indifference. When this situa- to play. tion boils over, it is the nation that The police, who are supposed to will suffer. It will be too late to rem- Whether or not it was true that keep law and order, did nothing edy the situation. there was a possibility that the to stop this march. On the other traditional procession to mark the hand, if it had been the opposi- Or are we laying the ground work holy Prophet’s birthday might not tion that had violated the condi- for a state of Emergency so that take place, the topic became a hot tions of the police licence, the constitutional rule will be sus- issue in the name of race and reli- march would have been broken pended and Penang and Selangor gion. If it was true, then the Mus- up violently with many arrested will no longer be ruled by the Op- lims had a right to be indignant. and charged. Well, Malaysians position? q

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 6 POLITICS BN bound for defeat, says Ku Li Umno will lose if it fails to reform, charges the Kelantan prince by Neville Spykerman

Sabah only between 1988 and 1989 while Umno did not exist in Sarawak.

He was also of the view that poli- ticians from East Malaysia joined BN because it was strong and could assure them of their rights.

“Why should they continue to back us? We’re dependent on them,” he said, before adding that they would “watch and see”.

According to him, BN was also facing an uphill battle to regain the support from Malays who were divided, as well as the Chi- nese. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — of support from politicians in Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has Sabah and Sarawak. Right-wing Malay Nationalist predicted that Umno and Barisan group Perkasa’s association with Nasional (BN) will be voted out In Election 2008, the Umno-led Umno was not helping BN, of power if concrete reforms are coalition suffered its worse result Tengku Razaleigh pointed out. not introduced. since Merdeka. It managed 140 parliamentary seats, with Sabah “There’s no place for rabid rac- “Mark my words. If they don’t and Sarawak accounting for 55, ism,” he said, and claiming that change in the next three years they while the opposition Pakatan even young Malays were rejecting are going to lose the next general Rakyat took 81 seats. it. elections,” the Kelantan prince and Umno veteran told The Ma- However, the parliamentarian “The more hard line you are, the laysian Insider in an interview ear- said BN may not always have the more frightened people are.” lier this week. support of MPs from East Malay- sia. As for the opposition, Razaleigh The Gua Musang MP, whose said it “appears to be in disarray” views seem increasingly at odds “They can sway either way, and but he has been told that such im- with his own party, pointed out will support the winner,” said pressions were because of the that following Election 2008, BN Tengku Razaleigh, who added remained in power only because that Umno was established in Continued on page 39

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 7 POLITICS The Tunku, Merdeka and Malaysia After 52 years of nationhood, let us demand greater accountability, integrity, justice and compassion. by V Chakaravarthy

e have already cel- of the Malays. This was the so- WWW ebrated 52 years of na- cial contract which was be- WW tionhood. It was indeed queathed to us by our founding a momentous occasion, fathers. We are therefore not an and when we look back over the Islamic nation but a nation with years, we are amazed at the tre- Islam as the official religion. mendous progress we have made since 1957. We look back with Those who have stated that we pride and our thanks go to all the are an Islamic state either do not leaders who steered our country understand our Constitution and to what we are today. Constitutional Law or they have chosen to use it as a tool for their Our special thanks, gratitude, ap- political agenda. preciation, love and esteem should go to our dear Tunku Priceless heritage Abdul Rahman and our founding and ever seeking the welfare and nearly destroyed fathers. The Tunku worked tire- happiness of the people and the lessly, convincing and cajoling maintenance of a just peace The Tunku who was the Chief our rakyat to go forward for Inde- among all nations.” Minister then, was instrumental pendence. He, with the assistance in choosing a suitable venue for of the Constitutional experts, clev- The Tunku was the man of the the declaration of Independence. erly drafted and bequeathed to us hour who with his congenial ways The Coronation Park in Jalan the Constitution of the Federation and a fatherly loving approach Birch was chosen as the site for of Malaya under which every citi- was able to convince the Malays the construction of Merdeka Sta- zen is guaranteed freedom of and non-Malays of the need to be dium, where on 31 August 1957, speech, freedom of asembly and united and respectful of one an- the Tunku would declare Inde- freedom of worship, under which other. Never in the history of a pendence. The Coronation Park all religions are to be respected nation anywhere in the world was was a large area behind the Victo- and nurtured with Islam being citizenship granted to tens of thou- ria Institution. The Public Works the official religion. sands of non-citizens who had Department (PWD) under the di- worked and resided in Malaya. rection and supervision of Encik In proclaiming Independence, the The Tunku was able to convince Jewkes was assigned to build the Tunku stated, “Malaya shall be the Malays and they showed their Stadium. The PWD staff then forevr a sovereign democratic and magnanimity by granting citizen- were involved in many mammoth independent State founded on the ship to the non-Malays in ex- projects for the government, un- principles of liberty and justice change for the “special position” like today, when major projects

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 8 are outsourced to private compa- were selected by the Chief Minis- Stadium, where the Tunku stood nies. ter’s Office to be an usher for the and declared Independence, is VIPs on Merdeka Day. A great certainly the most invaluable her- I was a 17-year-old student at the sense of pride and a deep sense of itage site of modern Malaysia. Victoria Institute in 1957. The freedom permeated my being How could anyone have had the Tunku was personally interested when the Tunku called out audacity, the recklessness or even in the progress of the construction “Merdeka” seven times on Inde- the thought of handing over this of Merdeka Stadium and would pendence Day at Stadium heritage site to a company for come to the site most evenings to Merdeka. He raised his right demolition and for the construc- see for himself. On most occa- hand with his palm and fingers tion of a shopping complex or for sions, he would be accompanied stretched out and, pointing up- any other use? by Encik Jewkes, who would brief wards, called out “Merdeka” in him on the progress. We, the stu- such a dignified and regal man- The Merdeka Stadium should be dents of Victorial Institution, ner. Perhaps, our young politi- a site to be cherished, revered and would often walk down to the site cians could learn from the turned into a memorial to our Fa- of the Stadium after games or li- Tunku’s wisdom that there is no ther of Independence, so that for brary periods to watch with ex- need to brandish a keris or raise a generations to come, our children citement the construction of the clenched fist to drive home a will know that a man by the name Stadium. point. of Tunku Abdul Rahman stood there and declared Independence On a particular day in 1957 (well He was a great patriot, a nation- and gave us Malaya (later Malay- before August 1957), the Tunku alist, a man of integrity, honesty, sia) so that we could, with dignity, had come along with his aides sincerity and compassion. He rule ourselves and live as Malay- and security personnel, and we believed in the goodness of every ans. were there walking around the person and wished that every site. A Malay gentleman (slightly Malayan, and later every Malay- Many Malaysians were relieved deranged) was often observed to sian would live happily and har- when the present Government hang out there. He approached moniously with love and sacri- decided that the Merdeka Stadium the Tunku, but was blocked by the fice, if it need be, towards our would not be demolished but re- security personnel. The Tunku motherland, Malaysia. instated to its original glory. God brushed aside the security and is great and we thank Him again beckoned the man to approach I was shocked, alarmed and un- for His divine intervention. him. He went up to the Tunku and easy and heavy in my heart when demanded to have his shirt. Lo the announcement was made by A National and behold, the Tunku took off his the previous administration that Needs Policy shirt and handed it to the man. the Merdeka Stadium and Sta- The security personnel scrambled dium Negara were to be demol- After May 13, the National Opera- to get a replacement shirt for the ished and the land given to a cer- tions Council under Tun Abdul Tunku. This episode created a tain company to build a shopping Razak promulgated the New Eco- lasting impression on me and has complex in exchange for building nomic Policy. This was a noble remained vividly etched in my the Commonwealth Complex for document with noble intentions memory. Here was a man of royal the Commonwealth Games. I be- but unfortunately its implementa- blood who with all humility and lieve that there is God above and tion by over-zealous civil servants humaneness removed his shirt thanks to His divine intervention, has been anything but noble. The and gave it to a poor mentally de- the company was unable to con- abuse has been pervasire and the ranged man. My admiration and tinue with the demolition, mainly fruits of the NEP did not reach esteem for the Tunku has always due to the 1997 financial crisis. many of the people who needed it been high and will continue to be most — mainly those from the undiminished. A country derives its strength and marginalised groups and groups culture from its heritage, tradi- that are struggling to eke out a de- I was one of the lucky few who tions and history. The Merdeka cent living.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 9 Affirmative action is a good tool which the government should use to effectively remedy any wrongs or weaknesses that it sees in the Malaysian society. Let the NEP be replaced by NNP (National Needs Policy), under which af- firmative action is undertaken based on the needs of the disad- vantaged, the poor, the marginalised, single mothers and needy Malaysians irrespective of race, creed and colour. Let the NEP (or NNP) be an affirmative action policy based on helping the poor and disadvantaged groups; let it not become a positive dis- criminatory policy. What is the logic and rationale of giving 5-7 per cent discount to a Bumiputra who can afford to buya a house costing RM1 million and above? for me.” On reading the article I Fifty two years of nationhood Please give, if you must, a higher wrote him a letter expressing my should have made us mature, so- percentage, perhaps 10 per cent views and feelings. I did not ex- ber in action and thought, intel- to all Malaysians who are attempt- pect a reply. But on 27 September lectual, logical and rational in our ing to purchase their first home 1989, I was pleasantly surprised talk and dealings. We should below RM250,000. This would be to received a letter from him. True therefore request — nay demand social justice and Malaysians to his form, he showed such hu- — greater transparency, greater would be proud of their govern- mility in replying to my letter. accountability, integrity, care, ment who cares and protects all compassion, prudence, justice, Malaysians. The rich need not be After celebrating 52 years as a sov- honour, virtue in all our elected helped; they can fend for them- ereign nation, my hope is that we representatives. We do not need selves. The poor and disadvan- have matured over the years and representatives in our august taged need the support of the gov- consider ourselves as Malaysians House who shout, “Stupid, stu- ernment to slowly build up their first and last and Malaysia as our pid, stupid, bodoh” or pass un- lives and progress further. home. I hope, with time, the di- healthy, uncouth and degrad- chotomy of Bumiputra and non- ing remarks such as “monthly In 1989, the Tunku went to the Bumiputra will fade away and we leak”, which has insulted all United States for treatment of glau- move forward as Malaysians and our mothers, sisters and all Ma- coma and then recuperated in a be known as Malaysians only. We laysian women. Let us be more hotel there. While looking out will then come to be known as Chi- dignified, refined and ethical in from his hotel room, he noticed nese Malaysians, Indian Malay- our debates in our House of Par- that Americans of all races, creed sians, Dayak Malaysians, Kadazan liament so that elected repre- and colours intermingled so well Malaysians, Malay Malaysians sentatives can be respected and that he wished for such closeness and so on. The adjective describes win the hearts and minds of the and unity among his countrymen. our ethnicity but we are Malaysians rakyat. q When he returned to Malaysia, he and proud to be so. We are there- wrote in his column, “Looking fore not Malaysians Chinese or back” in The Star newspaper(20 Malaysians Indian but are Chinese V. Chakaravarthy is based September 1989) an article enti- Malaysians and Indian Malay- in Kuala Lumpur. tled, “It was a very proud moment sians.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 10 HISTORY Ketuanan Melayu Vs Cucu Dato’ Merah by Dato Hishamuddin Yahaya

cute moral decadence to study medicine and eventually zone” — not because of any ex- AA plaguing the Malay became a medical doctor. He was emplary achievement or AAA youths today is reminis- later employed as a lecturer in one excellencd in any field, but be- cent of what was de- of the American universities, cause they are Malays. This is scribed of the Malays, a hundred specialising in tropical medicine. reminiscent to the Malay epic years or so ago: poor, lazy and in- Later, he was appointed as head “Cucu Dato Merah” (the grand- dolent, habitually waking up late, of the Institute for Medical Re- son of Dato’ Merah), who felt he addicted to opium, caught up search (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur. was born privileged and arro- with cock fighting, gambling and gantly asked for favour simply all other kinds of entertainment. Ungku Omar died of coronary because he was the grandson of thrombosis in his early forties. To Dato’ Merah, who had to be re- Flabbergasted Malays con- commemorate this great motiva- spected, although the grandson demned the writer as a British tor, Politeknik Ungku Omar in was not good for anything. stooge, paid to disparage them. Ipoh was named after him. Apart from that they did nothing With such a mindset, com- and remained snug in their co- Dato’ Dr Ungku Omar negated the pounded by a false sense of secu- coon. people’s negative perception of rity, the Malays do not seem to the Malays. The Malays were not take life seriously and have be- Great motivator lazy, but given the opportunity, come more inclined to sensual they would excel. But where were pleasures. Outraged, a few Malays of later the opportunities those days? generations took it as a challenge. For example, the Malays are avid Among them was the valiant son, Ungku Omar was an exception entertainment fans. Just look at Ungku Omar (Dato’Dr Ungku who possessed the rare qualities last New Year’s concert held at Omar). He was an assistant Dis- that others didn’t. He did not wait Dataran Merdeka. They came in trict Officer (ADO), a glamorous, for opportunity to unfold before doves as early as six o’clock in the well-paid job, a rare attainment him, but he created and found the evening and by eight o’clock, we for a Malay during the British opportunity himself — the hall- saw a sea of Malays on the time. He decided to study science mark of success!! padang. Adults, men, women and from scratch to enable him to children stayed until mid-night to study medicine. He sought per- Malay youths of today enjoy the concert. The same thing mission of his British boss, the happened in all major towns that District Officer (DO), to study part- Do the Malays of today have the held the celebration. time. His bosses’ spontaneous re- qualities of the late Ungku Omar? sponse was to get his head exam- Sadly no. They are simply drunk Addition to opium ined! in perceptive hallucination cre- (candu) and other ated by the “Malay saviour” crimes Ungku Omar pursued. With re- Umno, which somehow has made lentless hard work, he qualified them feel they are in a “comfort Opium may not be the in-thing

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 11 today, because all other kinds of indoctrination of drugs are now available. Just to Ketuanan Melayu prove that the consumers are entails. Instilling fa- Malays, one has to look at all the natical belief leads to drug rehabilitation centres all over blind faith that takes the country. Almost all the in- the mantle of religion. mates are Malays. Many of the When translated into entertainment outlets in major action, all means will towns are patronised by Malay justify the end. We youths. Mat rempit are exclusively have already experi- Malays; bohsia and bohjan are enced the May 13 mostly Malays. Many Malays are tragedy, a manifesta- also involved in cases of infanti- tion of this fanatical cides and discarding new-borns. belief.

Role of television We live by the Consti- stations tution and the Rule of Law. We uphold jus- Television programmes are full of tice and equality of Malay dramas with fewer Chinese opportunity for all irrespective of egated to the Opposition, with and Indian dramas. Certain tele- race or religion, the bedrock of Pakatan Rakyat ruling the coun- vision stations are training Malay what we ourselves call “unity in try. But even in this changed sce- boys and girls as young as 7- diversity”. Towards this end, we nario, Pakatan Rakyat is wise years-old to be entertainers; of have rightly condemned Biro Tata enough not to tamper with the course under the guise of “discov- Negara and we are not inviting sacred document (the Constitu- ering talents”. Singers and come- Biro Tata Huruhara in its place. tion) at the expense of the dians are honoured and given country’s peace and security. titles. It almost looks as though What is entrenched in the Consti- With their having more statesmen not a few Malays are born to en- tution — whether it’s concerning then ordinary day-to-day politi- tertain and to be entertained, as the Malay Rulers and their pre- cians who do not think beyond their ultimate objective in life. rogatives, the special position of the tips of their noses, like the BN the Malays, the Malay language has, it is safe bet that Pakatan With these multifarious negative and the Islamic religion, and any Rakyat would be better able to images of the Malays, they auda- other provisions that are deemed steer the country into a truly ciously talk about “Ketuanan Malay-based — are inviolable democractic society, where social Melayu”. As if these tainted provisions, which are the basis of economic and cultural justice will Malay youths are “tuans” in the the nation’s foundation. They prevail. It will be a day when ev- making. Or are they? have been agreed to by all races ery Malaysian is known just as “a before independence, and there- Malaysian”, when the word What is Malay fore they need no renewed claims “ethnicity” would be a thing of the supremacy? on the pretext that they have been past and when everybody will endangered. These provisions are enjoy an equal place in the sun. What is the Malay supremacy there to stay, to be observed and based on, if we may know? Is it respected by all, at all times. So where is the relevancy of constitution based (which we find Ketuanan Melayu? q the constitution does not imply) A place in the sun or ‘son-of-the-soil’ based, like the Red Indians, the Maoris and the Political developments may take Dato’ Hishamuddin Australian natives? a turn in the country’s political Yahaya is a lawyer and journey. Not long from now, the former MP for Temerloh. But what’s scarier is what this Barisan Nasional may be rel-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 12 EDUCATION Blues over education system Our national school system falls far short of public expectations by Teacher’s Blues

f late, there have been Forging genuine national unity derful As in their SPM papers. Yet OOO calls and suggestions to means more than mere racial tol- many of these students failed to have the proposed erance and being fluent in the na- measure up when subjected to single-stream school tional language; it involves deep open and robust competition at system implemented in our edu- communal understanding, a deep varsity level without the benefit of cation system. We have been made sense of fair play, genuine respect quotas and positive discrimina- to believe that for a multiracial, and sincere acceptance of the cul- tion. multi-cultural and multi-religious tural and racial diversity in this country like ours, getting our beloved land of ours. Just ask Malaysian parents younger generation to freely mix, those Malaysians (now adults desire quality play and study together under and busy pursuing their careers) education one school roof with the national formerly educated in the vernacu- language as the common medium lar Chinese primary schools who Having a single-school system is of instruction would serve to pro- secured an A in their UPSR Malay fine for Malaysian parents in gen- mote national unity and instil in paper and were still made to eral, provided that the quality of our kids the 1Malaysia spirit. waste one precious year in attend- teachers and teaching standards ing remove classes not too many are in place, open-minded, prac- Well, undoubtedly having a years ago (although this irratio- tical and dynamic school heads single-stream school system is an nal move has now been scrapped) selected based on merit are en- ideal goal that we should all strive - simply because they failed to get trusted to run such schools, no for. However we need to first ad- an A for their Chinese paper - how unwanted religious overtones are dress the many ills and shortcom- they feel about this issue and you allowed to prevail in such schools ings plaguing our education sys- will get the point. causing unease among non- tem before we even contemplate Malay students and there is a such a move. Secondly, let’s not merely talk favourable school environment about change for the sake of where wholesome education and National unity & misconception change without examining the sound learning can take place. To begin with, it is both naïve and root causes that are responsible Such schools would even be more simplistic to claim that making our for racial polarisation and the attractive if the POL (pupils’ own students conversant in the Malay drastic decline in the quality of our language) classes are given seri- language will by itself forge na- education system. Our education ous attention and the school tional unity and instil in them a system has a “grade inflation” heads have enough autonomy, strong patriotic spirit. It has been syndrome where grade As are so with the blessings of their respec- pointed out that this is a miscon- easily secured with questionable tive Parent-Teachers Associa- ception as many countries with a standards and marking method- tions, to select from a broad- common predominant language ologies so that we have students based, flexible and creative cur- are bedevilled by communal strife, awarded scholarships to study in riculum. Malaysian parents in making national unity an elusive foreign universities simply be- general desire quality education dream. cause they secured so many won- for their kids. I wonder if a single-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 13 stream school system can live up quently get promoted to head this Teachers poor in to such expectations. and that section, department and quality, curriculum school, and soon enough, the tyr- This seems like a tall order. We irrelevant, anny of mediocrity becomes an es- should reflect on the time when administrators political tablished fact in our education English-medium schools of the system. And when over 95 per 1950s and 1960s were the pre- On the other hand, let me just cent (to be generous) of our Edu- ferred choice regardless of quote a line from Zaid Ibrahim’s cation Ministry’s staff are headed ethnicity. The increasing demand latest book I, too, am Malay, where or manned by one ethnic group, for private and international he wrote, inter alia “ …We are will the policy planners be open- schools today is surely an indica- afraid to admit that the teachers, minded and far-sighted enough to tor that our national school sys- most of whom are Malays, are deliberate on important policy tem falls far short of public expec- poor in quality, that the school matters with the overall interest tations. And the fact that 15,000 curriculum is irrelevant and the of all Malaysians at heart? The Malaysian students are currently administrators too political…” answer cannot be very encourag- attending schools daily across the (Page 245). With so many national ing, not when in spite of so many causeway and some 60,000 pupils schools in such a bad shape, any calls to scrap the impractical from other ethnic groups, notably wonder why the calls for a single- Moral Studies and give students Malay kids, are enrolled in Chi- stream school system just do not more flexibility in choosing the nese primary schools speak vol- go down well with many knowl- subjects they like under the so- umes for the fact that sound and edgeable and practical Malaysian called open certificate exam sys- solid education is what Malay- parents? tem, things remain largely intact. sian parents want for their kids, Otherwise, the maximum 10-sub- irrespective of race. Surely, the Over the years, we have seen far ject for SPM would easily accom- thousands of Malay parents who too many poor choices for the modate Chinese and Tamil lan- chose to send their kids to Chinese many important jobs in the teach- guages and literature - if the im- primary schools can’t be accused ing profession, right from the run- practical Moral Studies and hum- of not being patriotic or not hav- ning of education departments to drum History (half of the Form ing the interest of the nation at schools, and perhaps higher up Four syllabus is focused on Is- heart? at the Ministry level. If we just bear lamic civilisation) are not made in mind how much havoc one compulsory subjects for SPM stu- Now, for all the perceived short- mistake in recruiting a bad candi- dents. comings and flaws in their school date for teacher training can cre- system, the Chinese primary ate in the schools over a period of It is well said that the heart of edu- school teachers in general tend to 30-odd years of teaching service, cation begins with the education be hard working, have good work you can well imagine the damage of the heart. The proposed single- ethics and often take a no-non- done to our education system with stream school system will remain sense approach in educating their the lax recruitment of teacher- a pipe dream as long we do not young charges. Parents with chil- training candidates made pos- have enough enlightened, coura- dren in such schools are happy sible by over-zealous implemen- geous, practical and far-sighted that if their kids work hard, the tation of the New Economic Policy minds in the Education Ministry latter would be placed in better over so many years. It is only of who are prepared to realise this classes based on academic merit late that the policy makers dream. In spite of any political the following year and not along realised the folly of such short- backlash, what Malaysian par- racial lines or quotas. And that sighted moves, but the damage ents in general truly want is qual- their kids, with their impression- has already been done to the edu- ity, sensible and sound education able young minds are unlikely to cation sector. for their kids. be subjected to extreme religious views or suffer from sexual as- Once in the system, many of these Teacher’s Blues saults by their so-called teachers. poor quality teachers subse- Ipoh

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 14 MIGRANTS Malaysia’s migrant hell-holes Evidence of the cruel, degrading and inhuman conditions in these holding camps is overwhelming by Angeline Loh

any ordinary Malay- sians had never MMM glimpsed and could not imagine the inside of an immigration detention camp (IDC) or how it feels to be detained in conditions in which migrant detainees are imprisoned - until recently.

A majority of us became aware of the existence of such places in our country over the past couple of years, with the rising number of scattered media reports of riots, death and disease occurring within these walled and barbed- eigners and returning Malaysians gers from overseas destinations. wired environs. These prisons for seen as possible carriers of the dis- The media hype did not lack a foreigners caught undocumented ease into the country, particularly somewhat xenophobic flavour - and labelled ‘illegal immigrants’ those arriving from Mexico and with television footage frequently - on our territory frequently the United States where the out- zooming in on newly-arrived for- seemed of none or little concern to break was first deemed to origi- eigners. the average Malaysian. nate (http://www.malaysian insurance.info/?p=821 “AH1N1 There seemed to be an overzeal- Little did we realise the conditions ... Did the government declare it ous pre-occupation with air- in which these detainees struggle as a disease requiring quarantine ports at the expense of other en- to survive, being criminalised for by law?”) . Later, arrivals from try points into the country. The the administrative immigration other countries were added to the Health Ministry appeared to offence of being undocumented suspect list when the AH1N1 flu have forgotten to place screen- under Section 6 of the Immigra- became a global pandemic. ing and monitoring checks at tion Act 1959. A few may not sur- railway, sea, or road immigra- vive these camps; for them freedom Responding to this situation, the tion checkpoints in border ar- may only be attained when the Health Ministry concentrated ef- eas. There were no news reports soul leaves the body. forts in screening and quarantin- of monitoring measures being ing those exhibiting the suspect taken at these places. Body tem- With the out-break of the AH1N1 symptoms. Wide publicity was perature checks with ordinary pandemic, the IDCs were forgot- given to airport entry points medical thermometers were car- ten. The mainstream media was where health-monitoring teams ried out by some long haul bus preoccupied with the influx of for- were screening in-coming passen- operators.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 15 When the pandemic spread within tion of food and/or water with • An unreported case of the the country, starting with univer- animal urine claimed the lives of death of a Burmese woman de- sities and schools, and turning six more Burmese detainees in an tainee in the Belantek Sik IDC in crowded places into danger undisclosed detention centre (New Kedah, was disclosed to the au- zones, over-crowded IDCs and Straits Times, 25 September 2009). thor at the end of September. Her prisons were not classified as death was said to be due to de- such. In these places extra vigi- • In the intervening period layed access to medical treatment, lance of hygiene, disease monitor- between the two incidents of lep- according to fellow detainees ing and access to medical treat- tospirosis deaths, more deaths who have since been deported to ment should be given priority. and hospitalisations were re- Myanmar.* This neglect may be due to the re- ported. In a 25 September 2009 mote location of the IDCs, where joint NGO press statement, it was What had apparently happened migrant detainees are in effect revealed that earlier in the month, (according to sources*) was the “quarantined” from the rest of the on 3 September, a Burmese de- deceased was experiencing stom- population in the surrounding tainee at the KLIA IDC was re- ach pains the day before and fel- locality. Yet, movements of groups ported to have died on 29 August low detainees had reported this of people in and out of prisons “due to an unknown illness”. Six to camp officials requesting them from urban and other areas in the other Burmese detainees had to take her immediately to the hos- country would necessitate close shown similar symptoms and pital. The report was made in the health monitoring of contagious were hospitalised at the Putrajaya middle of the night and camp of- diseases that could easily spread General Hospital. ficials allegedly neglected to make within the camp and in the sur- an emergency call to the hospital rounding locality. • In August, a Togolese de- to send an ambulance. It is claimed tainee died in the same detention that camp officials waited until Breeding grounds for centre from AH1N1. /(NGO Joint lunch-time the next day to call the dangerous diseases PR, 25 September 2009). In April hospital emergency services. By the same year, a Migration Work- the time, she was transferred to These overcrowded places with ing Group Report revealed that the Alor Setar Hospital and ad- the worst reputation for cleanli- two detainee deaths occurred at mitted, the woman was in a seri- ness and hygiene, let alone access Lenggeng IDC, one being a ous condition and died shortly to adequate medical treatment, did Bangladeshi migrant worker who after admission.* not figure in the government’s ef- died after allegedly being tortured forts to stem the spread of AH1N1 by Malaysian police and another, Reports alleging inadequate or any other possible contagion a Liberian detainee, found dead medical treatment and restricted such as tuberculosis and menin- due to undisclosed or unknown access to treatment have surfaced gitis. (Amnesty International Report causes (Joint NGO PR, 25 Septem- from Belantek Sik IDC. It has also 2004) ber 2009). The Minister of Home been revealed that camp officials Affairs later stated the cause of confiscate medication from in- • The first reports in May death as Rectoviral infection, a mates diagnosed to be suffering 2009 of the deaths of two Burmese contagious disease (Pemberitahuan from ailments like diabetes and asylum seekers due to Leptospiro- Pertanyaan Bagi Jawab Lisan Dewan hypertension on the basis that sis at the Juru Immigration Deten- Rakyat, Rujukan 2098). Another medicines are not allowed in the tion Centre (NGO press release: ‘Im- death of a Myanmar woman mi- IDC. This was the reason given to migration detention centres: How grant detainee at the KLIA Immi- a detainee who, suffering from many more must die?’ 25 September gration Detention Centre was dis- such ailments was carrying his 2009) came as no surprise except closed on 12 December 2009 . The medication with him when for the fact that these deaths were cause of death in this case remains searched by camp wardens.* not due to AH1N1. unknown and letters to the Health Ministry by concerned NGOs Juru IDC detainees have also com- This life-threatening leptospirosis have received no response (C. Hec- plained of incidences where disease caused by the contamina- tor, 12 December 2009). paracetamol has allegedly been

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 16 indiscriminately prescribed for all was an outbreak of diarrhoea plies ordered by their visitors illnesses suffered by migrant in- amongst the 800 or so detainees would most likely be left to chance. mates in the detention camp.* who could only use four toilets It would depend on which IDC that were in working order out of officer one was dealing with. Moreover, although men and eight in their section of the camp.* There was speculation that the women are imprisoned separately provisions ordered and paid for in the IDC, they are afforded vir- In a recent video report by Al may not reach their intended re- tually no privacy even when hav- Jazeera (YouTube, 28 November cipients.* ing a bath. Women and children 2009), detainees expressed their are usually housed together. Preg- revulsion for their diet, which a Corruption tends to flourish es- nant women, mothers with babies detainee described as food that pecially in places where its vic- newly delivered inside the IDC or “even a dog would not eat”. The tims are prevented from voicing arrested nearly immediately after report also said that the food their grievances or having any delivery are not given any facili- “stank: with a strong odour. Food notice taken of their complaints ties for confinement or post-natal trays were filthy, encrusted with and difficulties. Perpetrators care. There are also no facilities or a ‘black substance’ possibly due bank on the fact that these provisions for young children or to them being poorly washed and people are considered criminals babies detained with their moth- re-used with the dried remains of and outcasts, apart from being ers in the camps.(Joint press state- previous meals still sticking to foreigners for whom there will ment: “Deaths and conditions of de- them. be no public sympathy. tention of migrants and refugees”, 24 April 2009 MWG-Jump) Ex-detainees and some of their Will the public allow themselves friends interviewed by the author to be so insulted, by having their The spread of fungal skin infec- revealed that those visiting in- capacity for compassion and hu- tions is rife in IDCs where the mates in the IDCs were not al- manity under-estimated? Apart squalid, dirty conditions and the lowed to bring food, medicines, from this, how will they react to difficulty in obtaining soap, deter- bath soap and other basic neces- the knowledge that health care gent or any kind of disinfectant to sities from outside for the detain- and hygiene should be given pri- maintain personal and environ- ees. They were allegedly charged ority in such facilities and that all mental cleanliness worsens the a flat rate of RM50 for any item/s detainees in correctional facilities condition.* they had to order from the deten- have a basic and fundamental (Note: * Facts gathered from inter- tion centre provision store, for the right to health? Denial of the right views with ex-IDC detainees) detainee they intended to give to health is a human rights viola- these supplies to. Whether or not tion and is not part of the sentence ”Food a dog the detainees received the sup- served. wouldn’t eat” The food supplied to inmates con- sists of a small portion of rice, a thumb-sized piece of meat or fish, and a minuscule portion of veg- etables with a kind of watery gravy. At some IDCs, detainees are given ‘tea breaks’ consisting of a few biscuits and watery tea. There are complaints that the food is of- ten stale or “going-off”. It was re- vealed that detainees in Belantek Sik IDC were given beef curry that was already “fermenting”. As a result of eating this bad food, there

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 17 Human beings treated ees. He confirmed over-crowding gether in this article) of deaths like animals as one of the causes of detainee and the inhuman conditions in frustration that could lead to inci- which immigration detainees As a consequence of overcrowd- dences like these. (http:// are imprisoned reveal a horrific ing, bad sanitation, insufficient www.asiapacificforum.net/ picture of IDCs in this country. and bad food, inadequate treat- news/malaysia-detention- Yet, the glimpses are only the tip ment and restricted access to medi- camps-must-be-improved.html) of a very black and foul iceberg cal facilities, the spread of dis- floating in the sea of humanity eases in these IDCs and prisons In the same public statement, the within our country. Evidence of may be more rampant than the Suhakam Commissioner said dis- the cruelty, degradation and in- public is led to believe. This is due cussions “on ways to improve the humanity perpetrated in these to the secrecy in which these iso- infrastructure and efficiency of migrant holding places is un- lated places of incarceration are the country’s 17 detention camps speakable and overwhelming. still shrouded. The glimpses we for illegals” would be held with Criminal acts of sadism, rape, have had so far have revealed the Home Ministry (Ibid). Up to sexual abuse (Amnesty Interna- squalor, filth and sordidness in now, nothing much had been said tional Report 2004) and other acts ‘corrals’ that appear more suited or heard regarding improvements of violence against man, woman to holding animals rather than to infrastructure in IDCs with no or child committed within the human beings. In one such IDC, hint of improvement in detention walls of these hell-holes may go these ‘corrals’ and ‘cages’ said to centres to eliminate these shock- unpunished or unaccounted for have a holding capacity of 1,200 ing and dehumanising condi- as migrant detainees may be de- were instead crammed with about tions. ported or unscrupulously traf- 1,400 human beings (Al-Jazeera ficked before any report or inves- video, 28 November 2009). However, in reply to a Parliamen- tigation can be made.(Ibid)* tary question raised by Batu MP That over-crowding, squalor and Tian Chua on 9 November 2009, Instead, this debasement and in- degradation rule in IDCs is noth- the Home Affairs Minister listed human treatment are justified by ing new. The Government has eight measures that were being criminalising people whose only been aware of this for a consider- taken to improve hygiene and offence may be to enter our terri- able length of time; yet change is safety conditions in IDCs. tory without identification docu- slow and progress appears negli- Amongst these measures were ments or legally recognised travel gible. In a press statement on 24 that detainees health complaints documents. To turn a blind-eye to April 2008 , Suhakam Commis- would be quickly referred to gov- the deplorable conditions they are sioner N Siva Subramaniam de- ernment health clinics, clean and subjected to is to condone a crime scribed the situation in IDCs such better quality food would be against humanity. Can we live as Lenggeng camp as “like a time- served to detainees in all IDCs in with this? q bomb and we must take a serious the country and that detainees view of this”(Bernama). and IDC staff would be given immunisation against diseases He acknowledged that conditions like Hepatitis and H1N1. Rat poi- Angeline Loh is an Aliran in other IDCs e.g. Pekan Nanas, son would also be put around exco member with a spe- Semenyih, and Macap Umboo, IDCs to control occurrences of cial interest in the rights were “critical and there was ur- Leptospirosis (Pemberitahuan of migrants and refugees. gent need to improve the infra- Pertanyaan Bagi Jawab Lisan Dewan This article includes in- structure and facilities”. The main Rakyat, Rujukan 2098.) The effec- formation gleaned from reason for the commissioner’s tiveness of these efforts remains interviews with ex-IDC visit to Lenggeng at that time was to be seen. detainees who prefer to the outbreak of a riot in the camp, remain anonymous for where the administration build- Conclusion safety reasons. ing and fencing had been report- edly destroyed by 60 male detain- The scattered reports (put to-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 18 Welcome whistleblowers

It is encouraging to note that the management of PKFZ has decided to encourage whistleblowers in the administration to discourage malpractice and corruption. The PKFZ is bolting the stable door af- ter the horse has bolted! Anyway, it is a good start.

Other government departments are bound to jump on the bandwagon, as always, and declare that they too will welcome whistleblowers to stem the ever- rising tide of malpractice and corruption. The rakyat is quite used to these kinds of pious declarations and at the end of the day words will speak louder than actions. BTN course But who will protect the whistleblowers in a land The tiff between Nazri and Mahathir over the BTN which does not even have a Witness Protection Act? course reminds me of a court case somewhere in the For sure whistle-blowers will become an endan- world I read about. Even before the court went into gered species. They may need to form a union and session, the prosecuting lawyer called the defence employ special bodyguards to protect themselves counsel a devious moron and the swift retort from and their families because in Malaysia the corrupt the defence counsel was, “You’re an idiotic liar”. and the evil walk the corridors of power and will be out to blow them into smithereens with C4. The learned judge responded, “Now that both the counsel have identified themselves, I shall proceed Deep Throat with the case.” UMNO a racist party? Now that Nazri and Mahathir have identified them- selves as ultra racists, can we scrap the disgraceful The Prime Minister called on Malaysians not to la- and destructive BTN Course to at least partially res- bel UMNO a racist party. cue 1Malaysia from becoming a big joke? UMNO’s rallying cry to get Malay support has been to appear as the champion of Islam as the official Pro scrap religion of the country. Their battle cry has been Without fear or favour Malay supremacy, Malay hegemony, Ketuanan Melayu and even Malay racial superiority, the pres- ervation of special privileges for Malays and an Our police when investigating some scandal always UMNO-dominated BN government. say that they will do it without fear or favour and assure the public that there will be no cover-up. UMNO is not a racist party. It is a Islamo-fascist party for which only one race and one religion is This always reminds me of a joke about a nudist important in the country. Just look at not only the colony that I read about when I was in UK. The ethnic composition but also the power structure in nudist colony was ensconed on a beach surrounded some important institutions in the country for con- by a high hedge. The secretary had complained to firmation – the Cabinet, the various ministries, the the local police that somone had cut a hole in the Civil Service, the Education System, the unelected hedge and that it was a gross violation of their pri- town councils and rural district councils, the Po- vacy. The sergeant replied to her letter deploring lice, Army, Navy, Air Force, the Judiciary, the Diplo- the fact that someone had cut a hole in the hedge matic Corps, the Quasi-government bodies, GLC’s and assured her that the police are looking into it! etc. etc. etc. They are totally dominated by Malays. He further assured her that when the culprits are caught there will be no cover-up! So please do not call UMNO a racist party. It is simply not. Correct, correct, correct Fair minded

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 19 ARTS AND CULTURE Ko-Tai : Penang’s untold story Bringing George Town’s local history to life through song, dance and dialogue on stage in a form that is inclusive of the major players who deserve a mention by Shakila Abdul Manan

t was a trip down memory lane II for many residents in Reservoir III Garden, Penang as they were treated to a captivating 40- minute Ko-Tai (Hokkien for stage show) community performance in the early part of the new year. A sequel to the highly acclaimed Kisah Pulau Pinang (2006) and Ronggeng Merdeka (2007), this musical drama retold the story of Penang’s colourful past since Merdeka through the eyes of a once popular Ronggeng dancer and a famous street story-teller. Air Itam, Reservoir Gardens It is from their perspective that we learn about the trials and tribulations of ordinary city folk as they deal with the effects of a drastically chang- ing cityscape upon their lives over time. Songs, dances and dialogue between the characters on stage accompanied the narration.

The performers that night reminded the audience of the role played by George Town as a city that pro- vided leadership in the initiative towards establish- ing local democracy. A series of street demonstra- tions broke out from 1957 to 1969 - protests against Vietnam, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, the plight Cik Rokiah, Ratu Ronggeng and Tan Tong Tong, of workers-peasants and, last but not least, the peace- storyteller ful Penang Hartal on 24 November 1967 over the devaluation of the Straits Dollar. George Town was Traditional multi-cultural performances such as the also the first city in the country to elect the Socialist Chinese Opera, Ko-Tai, Boria, and Dondang Sayang Front as its local government and one of the party were celebrated together. These performances did leaders as mayor in 1957. not just provide a source of entertainment but they also helped to integrate the various races of Penang. Multicultural performances This is reflected in the following lines of the original theme song, which has incorporated both Malay and It was a relatively peaceful time then as the different Hokkien, a form of linguistic blending – perhaps to ethnic groups lived harmoniously with one another. the chagrin of the language purist:

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 20 Come and see kotai Community audience joins in

1957 wa lang (kami) merdeka for her generosity (a fact rarely highlighted), and Di situ kami hidup berbilang bangsa Tan Tong Tong @ Lang Ding Dang, the famous street Sama-sama keong hee (tahniah) story-teller, who sang about the fortune of his cli- Sama sama hua hee (gembira) ents using soothsaying sticks, were projected on the Malaya bian sin sei kai (menjadi taman hiburan) screen in the background. The singers and dancers re-enacted the acts of these famous personalities, Ramai-ramai kami gembira drawing much applause from the audience. Di situ persembahan berbilang bangsa Sama-sama menyanyi, sama-sama menari Exodus and loss of community Yiao kin lai kua Ko-Tai! (penting datang tengok Ko-tai) Needless to say, the community performance re- kindled people’s memories of the vibrant urban cul- Directed by Ho Sheau Fung (drama), Tan Sooi Beng ture which characterised life in George Town’s in- (Music) and Aida Redza (Dance), the Ko-Tai com- ner city till the late 1970s. This was before rapid munity performance, presented by Ombak-Ombak urbanisation and industrialisation sparked a steady Artstudio, resurrected typical multicultural scenes exodus of people from the urban areas to the sprawl- of bygone days. The songs (as shown above and ing suburbs in search of newer employment oppor- others) that were featured were crooned in a mix- tunities in factories in Bayan Lepas and affordable ture of Malay, Hokkien, English and Tamil. Danc- home-ownership through the Penang Development ers donned colourful ethnic costumes and swayed Corportion’s housing projects in Bayan Baru. along to the fusion of sounds: the rhythmic beats of the Chinese drums and the Indian tabla, the lilting Soon pre-war landed properties in the inner city area, hypnotic sound of the Malay gamelan, and the sooth- which were once protected by the Rent Control Act ing strings of the Western violin. Dance steps inte- in 1966, had to make way for ‘redevelopment’ fol- grated the slow beat of the cha-cha-cha with the lowing a repeal of the Act in 2000. As rentals soared rhythmic Inang, the lively upbeat tempo of the after the repeal, many city dwellers such as crafts- ronggeng, and the ever graceful and soulful men, coffee shop owners, petty traders, and hawk- Bharatanatyam. ers were forced to relocate. The song ‘Jin Tian Bu Hui Jia’ (‘Tonight No One is at Home’) aptly describes Singers belted out famous Malay and Hokkien songs the deadness of the night in George Town as a re- which were all-time Redifusion favourites in those sult of the move to the suburbs. Redevelopment of days. It was through these songs that the untold the inner city area enticed new developers and story of Penang was chronicled. Spell-bound, the speculators who spruced up old buildings to pro- crowd interacted by singing along, clapping and cure new business tenants. swaying their bodies. Slides depicting famous per- sonalities such as Rose Chan, the Queen of Strip- The Komtar project and rapid urban growth led to tease in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, who was also known the construction of high-rise buildings and flats. The

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 21 performers lamented on stage about their isolated, Penang, empty shophouses, neglected houses, old anonymous lives in high-rise flats: without a com- cinemas, kampung houses and trams in the inner mon community space, people no longer had the city to the accompaniment of P Ramlee’s evergreen opportunity to interact with one another and kept ‘Di Manakah Ku Cari Ganti’ and Theresa Teng’s mostly to themselves. With the repeal of the Act, ten- famous ‘Goodbye My Love’. The once lively George ants were displaced as they could no longer afford Town, home to many a city folk, had turned into a to stay in the inner city area anymore. The sense of ghost town at night. displacement and alienation felt at that time was evoked by the performers through the following Social commentary statements and questions in the song ‘Blue Sky’, composed by Penang’s famous pop singer, Ah Gu: In this regard, the Ko-Tai community performance provided a strong social commentary on the over- Di sini dulu rumah saya dibinakan sight of the then Barisan Nasional government, Diganti bangunan baru setinggi-tingginya whose policies led to the destruction of traditional Berdiri saya di tanah yang ku sayang performing arts and professions that are irreplace- Berasa semakin jauh darinya able. Di mana rumah dan tanah yang ku cinta? According to music director Professor Tan Sooi Beng, A vibrant city becomes soulless an ethnomusicologist lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia, this “untold” story of Penang was ob- As the original residents were forced out, George tained by the performers themselves as they con- Town’s inner city became soulless, like many other ducted their own interviews with their grandpar- modern cities. The bright lights and consumerist ents, uncles and aunts and former residents of the culture eclipsed the once popular traditional per- inner city area. From these interviews, they were able forming arts which had flourished in the 1960s and to discover the effects of government redevelopment 70s. Shopping malls and complexes, built to pan- policies and rent repeal on the personal lives of der to the tourist dollar, replaced traditional creative George Town residents. art forms. The latter’s slow demise was illustrated symbolically on the screen with the passing away The performance also tried “to recreate the Ko-Tai of cultural and pop icons such as P. Ramlee, Jimmy song stage of the 1970s and 1980s, which used to Boyle, Datuk Chua Thean Teng (father of batik paint- include short skits which were didactic,” added Tan, ing), Cikgu Baha, Pak Alias, Mak Minah, Le Yee (a who has conducted extensive research on the form. famous Chinese pop singer) and Loga (of Alleycats These skits advised audiences to work hard and fame). not to get involved in social ills such as gambling, drinking or taking drugs. Sadly, today’s Ko-Tai has The sense of abandonment was further fortified done away with these skits and replaced them with through the projection of images of old buildings in karaoke singing.

On the whole, it can be said that the Ko-Tai commu- nity performance was a recuperative project, an at- tempt to recover Penang’s untold story by fore- fronting various issues that have not been suffi- ciently highlighted in history textbooks. In other words, Ko-Tai Penang can be read as an initiative to rewrite local history in a form that is inclusive of the major players who deserve a mention in the pages of Penang’s history. q

Shakila Abdul Manan is a senior lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia. Penang Hartal

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Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 23 TRIBUTE Abdurrahman Wahid (7 Sept 1940 – 30 Dec 2009) Gentle, friendly face of Indonesia and Islam by Greg Barton

hen the former Indone- mitment to idealistically champi- in establishing NU in 1926, and WWW sian president oning reform despite a lack of po- his father, Wahid Hasyim, was Abdurrahman Wahid litical backing for which he is cur- minister of religious affairs under succumbed to a long rently being remembered, as much Sukarno and one of NU’s most battle with kidney disease and as for his contributions as an Is- prominent leaders up until his diabetes, President Susilo lamic intellectual and Muslim death in 1952, when the car in Bambang Yudhoyono called for community leader. He was the which he was travelling with his seven days of national mourning. wrong man for the job but it was son, the future president, skidded For many millions of Indonesia’s the right man for the time. on a mountain road. As the eldest 240 million citizens, the mourn- of six children, Wahid felt a heavy ing was very personal. Born into one of Indonesia’s most responsibility to follow in his prominent families of ulama, or father’s footsteps. His solid pedi- Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, Islamic scholars, Wahid went on gree gave him a commanding po- although a controversial presi- to lead Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) for sition to call for reform within NU dent, was deeply loved and ad- 15 years from 1984 until 1999. He and to challenge the Indonesian mired. Even before becoming succeeded in transforming the military, including president Indonesia’s first democratically culture and orientation of this tra- Suharto, on human rights abuses, elected president in October 1999, ditionalist Islamic association; corruption, nepotism and abuse he had built a towering reputation with a membership of about 40 of power. Gifted with a brilliant as a progressive Islamic intellec- million people, it is the world’s mind and near photographic re- tual and as a leading dissident. largest Islamic organisation. call, he blitzed through his In fact, many feared that his un- Along with like-minded col- pesantren studies as a teenager expected entry into political office leagues he helped ensure that the while sneaking off to the cinema would tar his reputation as a so- NU pesantren, Islamic boarding as much as he could. cial reformer and religious leader. schools known elsewhere as madrassa, completed a transition Informal learning Never meant to becoming modern schools of- to be president fering the secular state curriculum He also developed a love of litera- alongside religious instruction. ture. His mental gifts, if not his They were right to be afraid. He This ensured that their mostly personal discipline, meant that was never meant to be a president. poor rural students were able to when he arrived at Cairo’s famous It wasn’t just that his style was enter fully into modern Indonesia al-Azhar University to study Is- too unconventional, it was that he society. lamic studies in 1963, he quickly refused to play by the rules of the found the sort of traditional rote game and to do the sort of deals Wahid’s two grandfathers, learning in place there to be a dis- that politicians need to do. Ironi- Hasyim Asyari and Bisri appointment. Neglecting his for- cally, however, it was this com- Syansuri, had been instrumental mal studies, he spent his time in

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 24 informal learning, extending his Forum Demokrasi signed to garner the support of earlier studies to include French members of NU but founded on cinema and Western literature To oppose this Wahid joined principles of secularism. The suc- (read in the library of the Ameri- Djohan Effendi and others in es- cess of this party, PKB, in the 1999 can University) as well as hours tablishing Forum Demokrasi to elections set him up for a role in of coffee shop debates in the cafes openly criticise the president’s government. No one, however, re- of Cairo. use of sectarian sentiment for po- ally expected him to become presi- litical purposes. In 1994, Wahid dent. Wahid was working at the Indo- and Djohan accepted an invita- nesian embassy in Cairo at the tion from Shimon Peres to visit Is- That occurred because Habibie, time of the 1965 coup that saw rael; they participated in the in- who wanted to turn his transi- Sukarno toppled and hundreds of auguration of the Peres Centre for tional presidency into a full term thousands of alleged communist Peace. Later, as president, he through election, was thwarted sympathisers brutally murdered. sought to open formal relations when he supported the referen- He translated diplomatic cables between Indonesia and Israel. dum in East Timor and Islamist and letters reporting events from Despite this bold move his popu- elements and others within par- back home and was all too aware larity among his support base in liament moved to block the ascen- of the culpability of NU members NU remained undiminished and sion of Megawati Sukarnoputri. in aiding and abetting the vio- he declared that he was now pre- She eventually became president lence. This led to a lifelong com- pared to run for a third five-year in July 2001 when parliament ef- mitment to speaking out on hu- term as executive chairman. fectively voted Wahid out of office. man rights abuses, including Suharto did all that he could to those linked to his own commu- block his re-election but Wahid’s Wahid is remembered today nity. As president, he sought to re- triumph established him as one largely for his role as a reformist habilitate former political prison- of the few people who could take president, but history is likely to ers. on Suharto and get away with it. also remember him as one of the 20th century’s leading Islamic in- Bored with al-Azhar, he moved to Nevertheless, he was forced to tellectuals and as someone who Baghdad University in 1966, seek a rapprochement with demonstrated how a traditional where he completed a degree in Suharto following the latter’s oust- Islamic scholar can also be mod- Arabic literature. Back home to ing of Megawati Sukarnoputri ern, democratic and humanitar- Indonesia in the early 1970s, he from the leadership of her own ian. q threw himself into NGO activism. party in 1996 and the violent sup- Like his father, he enjoyed broad pression of her supporters. But friendships across all communi- when the Asian economic crisis ties and was an early proponent hit Indonesia in the 1997, he was Professor Greg Barton is of inter-religious dialogue. He again at the head of the movement Herb Feith Research Pro- was also a champion of the rights for reform. fessor for the Study of In- of minority communities, includ- donesia at Monash Univer- ing Indonesia’s Christians and Reformist president sity, and acting director, Chinese, and later as president Centre for Islam and the sought to advance their interests. A near fatal stroke in January 1998 Modern World. He is also robbed him of what was left of his the author of Gus Dur: the His leadership of NU positioned failing eyesight and meant that he Authorised Biography of him to fearlessly critique Suharto spent the first half of 1998 in Abdurrahman Wahid... and his regime, especially when, physical rehabilitation rather beginning in the early 1990s, than in leading the push against This piece was first pub- Suharto sought the support of the Suharto. Still, following Suharto’s lished in the theage.com.au radical Islamist elements that he resignation in May, Wahid was previously persecuted. able to establish a new party de-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 25 TRIBUTE Aids and Impediments to the Realization of Humanity According to Islam by Abdurrahman Wahid

here are two perspectives of bringing happiness and wel- as in the hereafter, Islam tries to TT to the topic ‘Aids and fare to everything that is in the link humanity to the goal of ful- TTT Impediments to the heavens and on earth. But his filling both material as well as Realisation of Humanity main concern was with fellow spiritual needs. Thus the spiri- in Islam’. One, the aids and im- human beings. tual aspect of every deed is tied to pediments in the teachings of Is- this well-being or goodness. This lam, and two, the aids and impedi- Welfare as espoused by Islam, re- is the main point about humanity ments existing within the Muslim fers not only to the eternal happi- in Islam. community. ness that is to succeed this earthly existence, but also the realisation The uniqueness of Man The teachings of Islam demand of a meaningful life on this earth. that there must be humanity. As Therefore, earthly welfare goes What differentiates human beings the Qur’an says, God had be- together with the subsequent eter- from all other creatures? Man has stowed upon human beings the nal happiness in the hereafter. In been endowed with a distinct per- highest station. Compared to all fact, earthly welfare is a prepara- sonality that is absent in any other other creatures, human beings are tion for eternal happiness. The creature. Firstly, man’s personal- the noblest. Since the human be- term used in Islam for this state of ity has the composite elements of ing possesses the capacity not welfare and happi- the absolute truth. found in any other creature, it is ness is hassanah which Thus, a human being natural that Man be also given the literally means ‘hap- has the capacity to noblest task, i.e. to create goodness piness’. Thus, in their fight till death for a and welfare on earth. daily prayers, the be- cause he or she be- lievers implore God to lieves in. The second Welfare ‘give us goodness on element is that ratio- earth, and goodness nal or calculated way The term used in Islam to denote in the hereafter’. of doing things, welfare is rahmah, meaning broth- which is related to erly or familial affiliation. This This sense of well-be- the advances made shows the existence of human be- ing, which cannot be in science and tech- ings in a particular social setting, separated from other nology. The third el- primarily in familial affiliation. types of goodness like the perfor- ement is the capacity for aesthetic This affiliation bonds a human mance of noble deeds, denotes the appreciation. The fourth is his being to other human beings. The qualitative dimension of the exist- inherent solidarity with fellow last prophet of Islam, Prophet ence of human beings. By asking human beings. The composition Muhammad (may peace be upon its followers to realise goodness of these elements is different in him) was entrusted with the task or well-being in this world as well infinite ways from man to man,

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 26 from an individual member of so- an ever increasing well-spring of the dominance of religious laws ciety to another. This then creates God-consciousness. It is therefore and a rigid moral code accepted the necessity of preserving the in- natural that Islam spells out sev- by Muslim communities every- dividuality of a human being. eral rules and norms in the form where, and thereby place greater of religous laws and codes of mo- impediments upon the develop- The essence of humanity as de- rality. By following the moral ment of humanity and individu- scribed by Islam and as reflected code and adhering strictly to reli- ality, or reinterpret the teachings in the well-being of man thus has gious laws, a member of society of Islam in such a way that its fun- a direct bearing upon the question will be able to preserve the balance damental values and ideals will of individuality. As long as a hu- between himself as a unique indi- be able to assist in the realisation man being is given the opportu- vidual and the interests of others of humanity. nity to develop his or her unique individuals in the same society. individuality, there exists a way It is for this reason that religious As there has been no fundamental or realising humanity. Each per- laws and moral codes were pre- reinterpretation of the laws, the son has the freedom to pursue scribed even at the beginning of teachings of Islam have so far failed whatever cause that may appear the revelation of the Qur’an. to find solutions to many of the to be correct and imperative. problems facing mankind. Wrong Rigidity interpretation has instead com- Seen from this perspective, the pounded some of these problems. impediments to the realisation of However, in the wide space of his- Muslims, and mankind as a whole, humanity are those traits and torical time, these religious laws must realise the importance of the weaknessnesss which obstruct and rigid moral codes which are interdependence of humanity in the realisation of individuality. time-bound have not only failed solving global problems. They can Greed, is, one example of such to aid the individual in the devel- only be solved by the joint efforts of weakness. Through his greed, a opment of his distinctive charac- all the different sectors of mankind, man may deprive others of the ter, but has had the counter effect sectors unconnected and unrelated opportunity to realise his own of hampering him from realising to each other. capacity or potential. This may his own individuality and cre- happen when he accumulates ativity. The present development The human race is now faced with wealth for himself and deprives of a rigidly normative and legal grave problems that must be solved others of their share. formalistic outlook among Islam’a not within a single framework but own establishment curtails the within different frameworks related Thus, negative traits like greed, expression of individuality and to each other. Thus, we have to estab- lust for power and the like are creativity. Through time, this has lish co-operation and full understand- impediments to the realisation of hampered the realisation of hu- ing. We have to develop respect for humanity. A hedonistic attitude manity in Islam. If everything in each other. This necessitates human towards life and the inability to human life is subjected to the fil- beings everywhere to forget past con- control one’s desires, are impedi- tering effects of religious laws, flicts and to re-examine every aspect ments to the realisation of human- then, when these laws become os- of life. q ity. There should be a balance in sified, the evolution towards the the relationships between mem- realisation of creativity and indi- bers of a community, where each viduality faces many constraints. This article first appeared person will be able to fully realise in The Human Being: his or her capacity, or potential. After 1,400 years of religious laws, Perspectives from Differ- it is no wonder now that Muslims ent Spiritual Traditions,,, In order to achieve goodness and are facing many impediments (Penang: Aliran, 1991). to help realise the unique indi- from their own religious teachings This article was presented viduality of each person, Islam rather than from external pres- in an Aliran conference enjoins the individual to uphold sures. Thus, Muslims now face the which Gus Dur attended. values such as truthfulness, hon- dilemma of whether to continue esty and humility and to generate with the status quo, which upholds

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 27 TRIBUTE Howard Zinn: Small acts multiplied by millions by John Dear

e have lost one of the We’ve all been told that history is Russia, East Germany, Poland, WW great original voices in the story of the rich, the powerful, Hungary, and Romania. Think of WWW the nation, 87-year-old the war-makers. Howard Zinn Argentina and South Africa and historian and peace ac- taught us that true history is the other places where change looked tivist Howard Zinn. His was a story of the non-violent, the peace- hopeless and then it happened. unique voice — of truth, clarity, making, the resisters who Remember Somoza in Nicaragua wisdom, sanity, humanity. He struggled for justice and peace, scurrying to his private plane, was the first of his kind, and his from Jesus to Dr King. With this Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos history lessons influenced mil- truth, we know that each one of hurriedly assembling their jewels lions. us can make history, as Howard and clothes, the Shah of Iran des- himself did. perately searching for a country A combat veteran of World War that would take him in as he fled II, Howard Zinn taught political “People, when organised, have the crowds in Tehran, Duvalier in science at Spellman College and enormous power, more than any Haiti barely managing to put on Boston University and authored government,” Howard wrote in his pants to escape the wrath of dozens of books. A long-time ac- his book, A Power Governments the Haitian people. tivist, he addressed peace rallies, Cannot Suppress. “Our history wrote countless essays against runs deep with the stories of I knew Howard for more than 20 militarism, and repeatedly com- people who stand up, speak out, years through our friend Jesuit mitted civil disobedience against dig in, organize, connect, form Fr. Daniel Berrigan. Howard war and landed in jail. networks of resistance and alter wrote a chapter for my 1996 the course of history. book of essays in honour of Dan, Power of the Apostle of Peace. There, Howard non-violent There is a basic weakness in gov- told in detail the story of their ernments, however massive their famous January 1968 journey to But it was his breakthrough, armies, however vast their wealth, Hanoi, where they suffered un- two-million-copy-selling mas- however they control images and der US bombs and received terpiece, ‘A People’s History of information, because their power three US airmen who had been the United States’, that opened depends on the obedience of citi- held as prisoners of war. Later the door for many to embrace a zens, of soldiers, of civil servants, in Boston, in 1970, Howard new vision of peace. In this clas- of journalists and writers and hosted Dan while Dan evaded sic work, he told not an “alter- teachers and artists. When the citi- FBI agents hot on his trail. Like native” history of our nation, but zens begin to suspect they have Dan, Howard took bold risks for the real history — the story of been deceived and withdraw their justice and peace. He practised the movements that resisted sla- support, government loses its le- the lessons of history he taught. very, oppression, sexism, rac- gitimacy and its power. We have ism, greed, the story of ordinary seen this happen in recent de- “Of course Dan violated the law, people who changed the coun- cades all around the globe. It’s the but he was right,” Howard wrote try. It is a history that few knew history of the Philippines, Indo- about Dan’s “Catonsville Nine” about it, much less taught. nesia, Greece, Portugal, Spain, action.

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 28 And it is the mark of enlightened san Sarandon transforming celeb- ago, Howard told a group of us citizens in a democracy that they rity into activism; Joan Baez and that after a lifetime of studying the know the difference between law Pete Seeger, transforming music history of US social movements, and justice, between what is legal into political action; Thomas he had come to a conclusion. He and what is right. It is the mark of Gumbleton, Joan Chittister, and said every major movement for wise men and women to know Daniel Berrigan transforming social change in our history was what is important and what is un- church routine into steadfast hopeless. Here, I thought, was a important. The flesh of Vietnam- peacework; and so many others. discouraging word. ese men, women and children, the blood of young American sol- Howard laid the groundwork. He Hopeless from the beginning, diers, the anguish of parents griev- showed us that the purpose of hopeless through the middle, ing over lost children — that is im- academic work and research, in hopeless up to the very end — portant. The papers and para- his case, history and political sci- people labouring toward a hope- phernalia of the system that se- ence, is to help the global less goal. But then, like a bolt out lects people for war — these are grassroots movements of social of a blue sky, a breakthrough. The unimportant. Let us hope that our change for justice and peace. He key, he said, was that ordinary country will become wise. But taught us the past, precisely that people kept at it despite all evi- until it does — indeed, in order we might all work to create a new dence. Ordinary people doing that it should — we as its citizens future. their small acts for justice every must act in the wisdom of our own day — here was the key. Over time conscience. “The challenge remains,” he peaceful acts add up to something wrote. big. What the powerful fear most, Small acts he said, are the grass-roots move- On the other side are formidable ments that won’t go away. Over the years, I met him on vari- forces: money, political power, the ous occasions — at events and major media. On our side are the So our job is not to give up, give gatherings — and I invariably people of the world and a power in, or go away. Take action, speak found him friendly, warm, and greater than money or weapons: clearly as you can, and trust the kind. He always encouraged my the truth. Truth has a power of its lesson of history — a kind of holy efforts to make peace. Last month, own. That age-old lesson — that principle in the nature of things. I sent him my new book, ‘Daniel everything we do matters — is the Truthful, non-violent movements Berrigan: Essential Writings’, meaning of the people’s struggle are destined to win. which I knew he would enjoy. here in the United States and ev- erywhere. A poem can inspire a “Small acts, when multiplied by That warm smile, shock of tousled movement. A pamphlet can spark millions of people, can quietly be- hair, the truth that he spoke so a revolution. Civil disobedience come a power no government can casually — Howard was an origi- can arouse people and provoke us suppress, a power that can trans- nal. He belonged in that rare pan- to think. When we organize with form the world.” theon of original voices who de- one another, when we get in- spite long odds somehow keep the volved, when we stand up and Never give up disparate parts of the movement speak out together, we can create moving — Amy Goodman, trans- a power no government can sup- Over these last painful years, forming the media through “De- press. Howard became a true prophet to mocracy Now;” Michael Moore, the nation. He preached that we transforming film through docu- “Look for a peace movement to mustn’t depend on governments mentary; Paul Farmer, transform- join,” he told students last No- to abolish war — national and ing medicine through his prefer- vember in a talk. “It will look economic interests are too en- ential option for the poor; Helen small, pitiful and helpless at first, tangled in militarism. He Prejean and Kathy Kelly, trans- but that’s how all movements preached a radical inclusiveness, forming charity work into power- start.” where we regard the world’s chil- ful advocacy for justice and dis- dren as our own. He preached the armament; Martin Sheen and Su- Over lunch in Santa Fe a few years end of war isn’t just desirable; it’s

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 29 necessary for the survival of the Even Malays Are Leaving Malaysia world. With that, Howard joined a long legacy of prophetic vision- By Neville Spykerman aries who reclaimed the imagina- tion for a disarmed world. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — relations are getting increasingly Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah is strained because of divisive poli- How abolish war? he asked. concerned that even Malays are cies. getting disillusioned with the Perhaps it will take a combination state of the nation and leaving the He said the government can stage of factors to end war. It will be- country. as many open houses as they like come intolerable for the people but there’s no warmth. and impractical for the Establish- “Something must be wrong in this ment. And the crucial factor mak- so-called Malay Land (Tanah “Of course people will come if ing it impractical will be, as it was Melayu) when they (Malays) are there’s free food but it’s not genu- for the Soviet Union in Afghani- leaving.” said the Kelantan prince ine.” stan and the United States in Viet- during an interview with The Ma- nam, that the citizens of war-mak- laysian Insider. He pointed out that despite the ing nations will no longer toler- recent assurances on the crime rate ate the deaths of their offspring The Umno veteran and Gua coming down, people are still in- and the theft of their national Musang MP said people, espe- secure about their safety. wealth. There is still time to make cially the young, are feeling un- this twenty-first century different easy over developments in the “Even my wife is afraid to go out. from the last century. But we must country and didn’t mince his Why should we be afraid in our all play a part. words when he pointed out that own country?” there are signs of decline every- In his 2005 commencement speech where. He lamented the corruption in the to Spellman College, where he be- country and how Air Force jet en- gan his academic career in 1956, “There are many Malays in Lon- gines that weigh a ton can go he encouraged the graduates to don who are professionals, mak- “missing” or how the nation’s look beyond government chica- ing good money, who will not re- first submarine, which cost bil- nery and media deception. He told turn because the environment is lions, could not initially dive. them to trust the resiliency of truth not right in Malaysia.” — and trusting truth, work to- “Now that it can dive, we’re not ward building a world we can be He added that the negative public- sure if it can come up again.” he proud of. “My hope,” he said, “is ity generated by the caning of three said, adding that it may sound that your generation will demand Muslim women and controversy comical but it is alarming. that your children be brought up surrounding the use of the word in a world without war.” “Allah” is not helping the country. On the streets, he said, corruption have allowed drugs to flow in. Howard did his part by giving us While the caning may have been hope and vision. He’s gone from in accordance to Syariah laws, “Malaysia is only a small market us now. Now it’s our turn. Let’s Razaleigh said it still negatively compared to New York, but be- do what we can for a future of impacts the country when it cause people are corrupt they al- peace. And like Howard, let’s makes headlines around the low drugs to flow in.” he said, never give up. q world for the wrong reasons. adding that young minds and lives are lost because of it. holding hands and cited a case John Dear is a Jesuit where Islamic authorities barged “These are signs of decline which priest, writer and activist into a room where a foreign couple were never here before,” he con- was staying. cluded. q Source: ncronline.org Razaleigh also decried that race Source: themalaysianinsider.com

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 30 Maternity leave in Asia

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 31 NO TO THE REGRESSIVE GST Continued from page 40

At a panel discussion on the 2010 Budget (reported strategy would be to start at a low rate and pull it up in NST Biznews B9 on 29/10/09) the speaker from every few years,” he is reported to have said. “As in Earnest & Young spoke the truth when he com- most countries with the GST in place, a reduction of cor- mented that the GST would benefit business. “The porate tax and personal tax will follow suit.” This then is the real reason that the GST is being brought in – M’sian Income Distribution 2007 to make Malaysia more “business friendly” by cut- ting corporate tax (which has already been reduced Monthly Income % of Households markedly from the 40 per cent level in 1988 to its current 26 per cent). The tax burden is to be shifted < RM1,000 8.6 to the marhaen! RM1,001 – 2,000 29.4 RM2,001 – 3,000 19.8 60% of populace mired RM 3001 – 5000 21.5 in financial hardships RM 5001 – 10,000 15.8 The official government position is that Malaysia has virtually overcome poverty. The poverty rate > RM 10,000 4.9 according to the government is now only 2.3 per Source: PM’s Department in an Answer in Parliament cent - down from more than 40 per cent in 1976. Very impressive, at least until one finds out that the government defines poverty as household incomes The Government Spin

Government Argument Counter Arguments

The rich consume more. The rich consume a smaller portion of their income. Lets say a man Therefore the GST will earning RM10,000 saves or invests 50 per cent of his income, he only burden them more. So it pays GST on the 50% that he spends. is a fair tax. The poor tend to spend all their income. So the percentage of their in- come that they pay to the government as GST is double the percentage of the income that the rich man pays as GST.

Basics like rice, flour, But the inputs into rice production such as fertiliser, electric charges for fresh food and medicines the milling, plastic for the bags, diesel for transport, electricity for the will be exempted. stores retailing it, will all attract the GST. Therefore the price of rice will go up even though there is no direct tax on rice!

The current sales tax of The current sales tax is more progressive than the GST as it tends to tax 5-20 per cent will be abol- luxury consumption.Another important point is that most governments ished. have introduced the GST at low levels to reduce the resistance to it. But after a few years they hike up the rates. This happened in Singapore – the GST came in at 3 per cent. Now it has risen to 7 per cent. In New Zealand it has been pushed up in stages to 20 per cent!

Malaysia must introduce Here the government seems to be acknowledging that the GST will slowly the GST so that it can at- shift the tax burden to the ordinary citizens permitting the government tract foreign investments. to reduce company tax rates.Investors come in for a whole lot of reasons including a good multilingual work force, good infrastructure, an inde- pendent and fair legal system, and clean and efficient government. Why can’t we work on these aspects?

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 32 of less than RM720 for a family of five in Peninsular If it can be assumed that the true costs of the pro- Malaysia! vision of services and supplies as well as the de- velopment expenditure are unreasonably inflated However in a rare moment of candour, Datuk Raja by an average of 30% by the crony companies that Nong Chik, the new Federal Territories Minister, the government is dealing with (and this is a very opined, “If you have three children and your conservative estimate!), then a sum of about RM22 household income is less than RM 3,000, you are billion [(20.8 + 53.2) x 0.30] is being siphoned off almost at the poverty line.” from the Federal Government Budget every year.. This sum itself is much higher than the RM11 “The number of urban poor and slum dwellers in billion annual revenue that is expected from a the cities is rising” he added. (The Star, 26 October GST of 4 per cent. 2009, N14). If the Minister’s RM3,000 level is taken as a cut-off point, then the level of poverty in Malay- The amount of wastage due to corruption and sia is still about 58 per cent - not much better than incompetency could be much higher than RM22 that of the 1970s. billion per year if there is also similar misuse of the RM74 billion allocated for ‘grants and The inflation that would be unleashed by the imple- charges’ (73.9 x 0.30 = RM22.2 billion!). mentation of the GST would aggravate the economic problems of the families earning less than RM3,000. This hemorrhaging from Government coffers must be staunched first before the government decides Curbing waste to introduce a tax that will burden the ordinary and corruption first Malaysian. Failure to tackle these serious leak- ages from the public purse to private pockets will The Government says that we have a large bud- only encourage those involved or responsible for get deficit and the national debt is growing. This public funds to continue raiding public funds to is why the country needs another tax – according produce super-profits for a small number of well- to government estimates, the a GST of 4 per cent connected companies. We should demand that will bring in RM11 billion per year at the current there be no new taxes until the widespread pil- level of consumption. But what about the wast- fering of public funds is stopped! age and the leakage of public funds into the pock- ets of the well connected. We have heard of RM25 The poorer 60 per cent of Malaysians – those with screw-drivers being bought through tender at a family incomes of less than RM3,000 per month – price of RM200; commissions running into mil- are still struggling to adjust to the drop in in- lions of ringgit for the purchase of Sukhov jets come due to the effects of the economic slowdown and submarines; and billions swallowed in the of 2009. (Many workers have lost overtime in- PKFZ scandal. The sums involved are astronomi- come. And when workers’ income shrinks, small- cal! Then we have newly built hospitals that can- scale businessmen are also affected, as workers not be used, court room complexes with ceilings make up a large portion of their market.) about to collapse and stadium roofs that collapse in the absence of even a small earthquake! Wast- At the same time, these poorer families have to age and leakage of public funds make up a sig- contend with price-hikes of petroleum and basic nificant portion of the federal budget. foodstuff. Many of them have had to borrow and are now tottering under the burden of high inter- The Federal Government Budget for 2010 came to est payments. A GST-driven inflation is a calam- a total of RM196.3 billion, with the breakdown ity that they can do without. q as follows -

Operating Expenditure Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, an Emoluments RM42.2 bil Aliran member, is the Services and supplies RM20.8 bil Member of Parliament for Grants and charges RM73.9 bil Sungai Siput Development Expenditure RM 53.2 bil

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 33 tenure of a half-past six Prime The patriots and nationalists Minister, who violated the Con- have sacrificed much and suffered stitution and passed many draco- a great deal for the courage of their nian laws and recklessly used convictions to bring about change them together with the ISA against and build a better Malaysia. his opponents. The Bad and the Ugly incarcerated the Best – free- As concerned Malaysians, we dom fighters, civil rights fighters, must act with disgust and revul- fighters against corruption, fight- sion at the brutality and cruelty ers against abuse of power, fight- inflicted on these noble people. Letters must not exceed 250 ers for transparency and account- We must demonstrate our outrage words and must include the ability in governance and defend- when the 13th general elections writer's name and address. ers of justice. take place. We must send a clear Pseudonyms may be used. Send message that such abuse of power letters or emails to Editor (see The victims were from the Oppo- will not be tolerated. Otherwise page 3 for address details). sition, NGOs, women’s we fail as a people and as a na- Views expressed need not reflect organisations, trade unions etc. tion. those of Aliran. If e-mailing, The actions of the Bad and the include message in the e-mail Ugly have caused untold suffer- Pro Justice body itself. ing to the victims as well as their families. The catalogue of suffer- Who is governing The bad and the ugly ers is a long one but suffice it to the country? incarcerate the good! mention a few names to bring home the point: Under the Constitution we are a Every country has in its popula- secular democratic state. Malay- tion and across every spectrum the 1 . Syed Husin Ali sia is a constitutional monarchy. Good, the Bad and the Ugly. In 2. Lim Kit Siang We elected a government to rule all developed countries which are 3. Karpal Singh the country but I sometimes won- secular and democratic, one will 4. Lim Guan Eng der whether they wield the real never find the Bad incarcerating 5. V David power to govern the country. the Good. Only in totalitrian 6. Raja Petra Some disturbing developments states, like Hitler’s Germany and 7. Anwar Ibrahim have taken place to bring to doubt Idi Amin’s Uganda, to name just 8. Teresa Kok whether power resides in the two, will the Bad and the Ugly 9. Aziz Ishak elected government. completely wipe out the Good. 10.James Wong 1 1 .Kua Kia Soong Quite often government decisions This disturbing trend commenced 1 2 .Tan Seng Giaw are announced and almost imme- with the passing of the draconian 1 3 .Kassim Ahmad diately reversed. This flip-flop ISA, a law originally intended for 14.Chandra Muzaffar policy reflects badly on the gov- action against those who through 1 5 .Irene Xavier ernment. Under the BN govern- armed rebellion attempt to over- 16.Chow Chee Keong ment the Cabinet took the decision throw a legitimately elected gov- 1 7 .Ahmad Boestamam Al-Helmy to allow the Herald to use thd ernment. Tunku gave a solemn 18.Dr Burhanuddin word Allah in its publication. It undertaking in Parliament that 19.Dr Rajakumar was almost immediately with- the law would not be abused es- 20.Samad Ismail drawn because of protests from pecially against the Opposition. 2 1 .P Patto Muslim groups. Strangely a word He reneged on that promise and 22.Mohd Sabu has become a threat to national set the trend. 23.Bro. Anthony Rogers security! Now the High Court, in keeping with constitutional pro- This disturbing trend, manifested Our hearts go out to them and we visions, has declared that the Her- itself especially during the long pray for them and their families. ald has the right to use the word

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 34 Allah in its publication. The Home Ministry has filed an appeal. Given the state of the Judiciary, the Clarification on “Lembu punya Appeals Court – well-known for susu, sapi dapat nama” reversing almost every High Court decision – will apparently play its usual role! If the govern- This is regarding ment so far. Instead, in his au- ment wins the appeal, I wonder the back cover tography as well as biography, whether the country needs a Con- article of Aliran Ishak is said to have attended stitution at all. It would appear Monthly Vol 29 the Greater East Asian Writ- the lunatic fringe is dictating ev- Issue no 9 ers’ Congress held in Tokyo be- erything and is ruling the coun- “Lembu punya tween 17 and 19 November try! susu, sapi dapat 1943 (i.e. during the Japanese nama”. occupation). At that time, the On the conversion issue, the Cabi- Japanese called him Isako-san. net made a decision not to allow Hishamuddin Yahaya says the conversion of underaged chil- that Ishak Hj. Mohammed (Pak Hishamuddin also says dren when one spouse in a non- Sako) surreptitiously visited Ja- PKMM was formed in early Muslim marriage converts to Is- pan before the Japanese occu- 1946 (p.25). Shouldn’t it be late lam. As usual, the lunatic fringe pation. If this is a fact, it must 1945? got to work and had its way. The really be a historical step of the government flip-flopped once Malay nationalist movement. Shouldn’t ILO (p.26) be read again. Therefore, I would greatly ap- International Confederation of preciate it if the author kindly Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)? In a democratic country, the shows where he found the People’s Will should reign su- document referring to this fact. Prof. Hara Fujio preme. In Malaysia the People’s I have never seen such a docu- Nagoya, Japan Will is circumscribed, circum- vented or defeated with impunity. In respect to Mr Hara Fujio’s letter of 24 December 2009 What happened in Perak is a clas- my clarifications are as follows: sic example. The name ISAKO is found on nesia (17th August 1945) and The two issues highlighted above page 6 of the book Anak before the formation of UMNO are examples of Cabinet impo- Merdeka, it was not ISAKO- (June1946). tence. Come to think of it, do we SAN as mentioned by Mr. need elections, which are neither Hara Fujio. The author of the book, de- free nor fair anyway, to elect a gov- pended a lot on his memory ernment which often abdicates its It was Pak Sako himself who when writing the book and the responsibilities to the rakyat and related to his friends about his “ILO” was only a general term fails to govern as it should. trip to Japan (together with the used to refer to the Interna- Indonesian delegation) to so- tional Labour Organisation Dear Malaysians, wake up. Mob licit Japanese help to gain their based in New York. The use rule appears to be the order of the respective country’s indepen- of the term “ILO” is found on day – something really frighten- dence. This is found on page 7 page 19 of the book. ing! Assert your rights and of the book. through People Power win back I hope this will enlighten Mr the legitimacy of People’s Will It’s difficult to ascertain the Hara Fujio. through the ballot box. If change exact date of the formation of does not come, we are doomed. PKMM but it was certainly af- Dato Hishamuddin bin Haji ter the independence of Indo- Yahaya Patriot

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 35 scoundrels so that the weight of the law would land on them heavily before they attempt to do more damage.

P Ramakrishnan President 27 January 2010

Undemocratic action against Mediact in South Korea

We are appalled by and condemn the decision to dismantle Mediact, South Korea’s renowned public A record of Aliran'sAliran'sAliran's stand on current affairs. media centre, and force its staff to resign. Mediact has been involved in the promotion of communica- Wild Boar head dangerous and damaging to our tion rights and democracy, media incidents: fragile ethnic relations which has literacy, intellectual property Aliran outraged come under extreme test follow- rights and public interest media. ing the “Allah” issue. Aliran is outraged by the sense- The Korea Film Council (KOFIC), less acts of sacrilege committed by It is worrying that there are op- which had been funding the ac- mischief-makers who had delib- portunists and extreme elements tivities of Mediact, recently de- erately left wild boar heads in two at large who are intent on exploit- cided to end its funding. This will mosques in Petaling Jaya. This ing this emotive issue to stir up certainly cause immense damage morning, worshippers found trouble and cause disunity. It is to the Korean media industry and these heads at the Masjid very apparent that certain quar- freedom of expression in the coun- Jumhuriyah in Taman Dato ters will stoop very low, not both- try. Harun and the Al Imam Al ering about the consequences of Tirmizi mosque at Taman Sri racial strife. The larger backdrop is that the Sentosa. democratic advances previously Aliran would like to appeal to the secured in South Korea are now Whoever committed this unforgiv- vast majority of Malaysians who in danger of erosion. Over the last able sin clearly has no respect for are rational, peace-loving and ac- two years, the Lee Myung-bak re- the sanctity of places of worship. commodating not to subscribe to gime has introduced new media Coming as it does after a spate of the the intolerance propagated by laws and attempted to curb the desecrations of places of worship unruly elements in our midst bent country’s free and independent involving 11 churches and a con- on wrecking our unity. We should media. vent, a Sikh temple, a mosque and reject these unscrupulous and two suraus across the country, it misguided elements and stand We urge the South Korean govern- is very obvious that trouble-mak- solidly together to preserve and ment to instruct the KOFIC to- ers are hard at work to destroy our protect our peace and harmony. gether with the Ministry of Cul- peace and harmony. ture, Sports and Tourism to re- We call on the police to be relent- verse this decision immediately. Whether it is politically motivated less in bringing these dangerous Such a move would not only be or otherwise, the repercussions of people to book. Their priority honourable but also go a long way these criminal acts can be very should be in tracking down these towards promoting arts and cre-

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 36 ativity, and freedom of expression He even had the audacity to of Umno to take a firm stand on in South Korea. threaten that the government this issue. But recently that three- could revoke the citizenship of year suspension was lifted, dras- Dr Mustafa K Anuar & Anil Netto Indians any time if excessive de- tically reducing the sentence and Coordinators mands were made by the commu- making Ahmad’s crime appear Charter 2000-Aliran nity. not that grave after all. 27 January 2010 Another outlandish claim by him Then we had the cow-head inci- Why hasn’t the PM - that the (federal) constitution was dent, the Allah demonstration, the taken Nasir to task? drafted by Umno and that other Perkasa launch all of which only parties were not involved - only demonstrated that there is no stop- Aliran is totally disgusted with goes to show how daft he could ping of people who go overboard the way certain so-called political be. Let’s not forget history. The with their offensive remarks. If leaders behave and express them- Federal Constitution is the prod- only the Prime Minister and his selves, completely ignoring the uct of our shared and joint com- Deputy had condemned the reality of this country and dis- mitment to the creation of an in- behaviour of these elements in missing the history of this land. dependent state which was then very strong and unequivocal Without a care, they spew filth known as Malaya. Does he even terms from the very beginning, from their dirty mouths and seem realise that there was a Malaya then the message would have hell-bent on creating havoc. before Malaysia? been conveyed that no nonsense would be tolerated. We would not It is rather unfortunate that our top He had, of course, denied having be in this difficult situation today leaders do not castigate them or said all these offensive words. – simply because they failed us as take them to task for the harm they That’s what they all say whenever our national leaders. are likely to cause to the unity of there is a strong reaction to their the various communities. They derogatory remarks. If Nasir did If the PM does not address this are very dangerous and can cre- not utter these seditious words, serious issue sincerely and forth- ate misery for the majority of Ma- and if he was indeed misquoted rightly, it will be the undoing of laysians who do not approve the and misrepresented by those who his premiership; it will be conduct of these troublesome ele- were present, then Datuk, sue goodbye to his 1 Malaysia slogan. ments – in fact most Malaysians them! That is the only solution While he is trying to proclaim his condemn such unscrupulous before you to safeguard your dig- 1 Malaysia policy, there are ele- behaviour. nity and preserve your integrity. ments all over the country undo- You cannot hoodwink the rest of ing our unity and harmony. We The latest outpouring of venom the country with your unconvinc- have them in our schools, our uni- comes from the very top, from ing explanation and denial. versities, in the police, in the judi- someone close to the Prime Min- ciary, in the civil service and other ister himself. His top aide, Datuk When people like Nasir are not places of influence and power Nasir Safar, threw caution to the taken to task and disciplined pub- poisoning minds and polluting winds, revealed his puerile mind licly, we have a situation where it the body politic. and uttered some rubbish that is is assumed that there is a tacit ap- not supported by facts. proval from the top to carry on. If they are not weeded out and se- verely punished, we will no His offending remarks at a two- We have the case of Datuk Ahmad longer be the model country for a day 1 Malaysia seminar in Mal- Ismail of Penang who was plural society. acca yesterday were outlandish: slapped with a three-year suspen- “Indians came to Malaysia as sion of his Umno membership for Nasir’s resignation is not going beggars and Chinese especially calling the Chinese “pendatang”. to obviate his crime or lessen his the women came to sell their bod- The strong reaction from the Chi- offence. He owes an apology not ies.” nese community, forced the hand only to the Chinese Malaysian

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 37 and Indian Malaysian communi- himself as a judge in his case. Of The reporting seems to suggest ties but to the entire nation whose course, he refused stating that he that sodomy has taken place when peace and harmony could have won’t be biased. That was a ri- the truth is that it has not yet been been affected by his callous re- diculous decision. The judge did established as a fact at this stage marks. not understand the implications of the proceedings. of what constitutes bias. It is not sufficient for the PM to Anwar’s lead Counsel Karpal distance himself from Nasir’s in- Unfortunately there is this wor- Singh wanted the paper to be cited sensitive and seditious remarks. rying perception that many of for contempt or cautioned for its He must order him to apologise our judges do not have a proper prejudicial reporting. This was unreservedly. The PM must en- notion of justice and fairness. denied. And that was why Karpal sure that Nasir is not recycled to They are not really troubled wanted Judge Zabidin to dis- head other entities or appointed a about the question of bias. They qualify himself. director to any business concern. don’t seem to be bothered about He must be punished and must what impression they create in Following Zabidin’s refusal to be seen to have been punished. the minds of fair-minded Malay- step aside, Anwar commented, Only then would it be seen as sians. They are not concerned “As a result of the rulings made meaningful redress of this griev- about what impact their judg- by the trial judge, there has been a ous wrong. ment would have on the judi- departure from the standard of ciary and the public perception even-handed justice which the P Ramakrishnan of our system of justice. law requires.” President 4 February 2010 But the point is shouldn’t it be in- We have a situation here where cumbent on a judge to recuse him- Anwar is facing a very serious self when a party to the dispute charge which he contends as be- Are we entitled to a imputes that they don’t have faith ing manufactured to smear him fair, unbiased trial? in him as a fair person to sit in and convict him in order to re- judgment in their case? move him from the political scene and contain the danger he poses A litigant’s confidence in the to the Barisan Nasional. The con- judge should not be affected to the sequences to his personal liberty extent that he is forced to request are serious and his right to mount for another judge to hear his case. a challenge to the BN is in jeop- In that eventuality, a fair-minded ardy. And that is why he deserves judge would step down gra- to be given every opportunity to ciously in order to safeguard the defend himself in a fair and im- people’s confidence in the judi- partial court. ciary. The way the courts have been rul- In this present case, Utusan ing to deny him crucial evidence Judge Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Malaysia’s reporting of the Sod- that would be so vital for his de- Diah did not disappoint the dis- omy 2 trial was deemed to be fence is questionable. Though the cerning Malaysians. They did not prejudicial to Anwar. There is a trial has started, the list of wit- expect him to rule otherwise. They moot point for consideration nesses to be called has not been expected him not to recuse him- when it reported, Tak Rela supplied to him. He is entitled to self. Diliwat Lagi (Unwillingness to it without question. be sodomised again) and This is a replica of a previous judg- Berhenti Kerana Tidak Mahu The way the courts have con- ment in Sodomy 1 when Anwar Diliwat Lagi (Quit to avoid be- ducted themselves also creates an wanted . Augustine Paul to recuse ing sodomised again). indelible impression of bias in the

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 38 minds of Malaysians. In fact, it Continued from page 7 sponded “I don’t know if I am.” has also been stated that it is not Anwar who is on trial but the way Pakatan was being por- The maverick politician said he Malaysian judiciary is the one trayed in the media. was only doing what was right that is on trial. and reminisced about previous While on the opposition, Umno leaders, such as Tun Under the circumstances, in order Razaleigh also to salvage the tattered and bat- voiced his respect for tered image of the judiciary Datuk Seri Anwar Zabidin should have stepped Ibrahim. aside in the interest of justice. “It’s admirable that Lord Denning’s statement, as he has done so well,” quoted by N H Chan in his book, he said, adding that Judging the Judges, is worth re- the opposition leader producing here for the benefit of had fired up the our judges and for proper under- imagination of voters, standing of the issue of biasness: particularly with the young. “The court looks at the impres- Despite the bleak out- sions which would be given to look for his own other people. Even if he was as party, Tengku impartial as could be, neverthe- Razaleigh said all less if right-minded persons was not lost for would think that, in the circum- Umno, provided they stances, there was real (danger) listened to the people of bias on his part, then he and introduced re- should not sit. And if he does forms. sit, his decision cannot stand. AM20(2)AM20(2)AM20(2) ...The court will not inquire “It’s not too late. The whether he did, in fact, favour people are crying for change, not Hussein Onn, Tun Abdul Razak one side unfairly. Suffice it that just housekeeping.” Hussein and Tun Dr Ismail Abdul reasonable people might think Rahman, who were respected he did. The reason is plain Tengku Razaleigh has been de- even by non-Malays. enough. Justice must be rooted scribed as the conscience of Umno in confidence: and confidence is but when asked about this, he re- As for the first prime minister, he destroyed when right-minded said “Tunku (Abdul Rahman) people go away thinking: ‘The was not only respected but re- judge is biased’.” vered.”

Aliran is concerned not because He said these past leaders gained it is Anwar who is on trial. We are the respect of the people, and even of opposition politicians like Lim concerned whether any Malay- Kit Siang, by being fair and up- sian is entitled to a fair trial in our holding the Constitution. courts. “So it’s nothing new, I am just P Ramakrishnan emulating them.” q President 18 February 2010 Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman Source: themalaysianinsider.com

Aliran Monthly : Vol.30(1) Page 39 ECONOMY Action stations! “No” to the regressive GST! A GST-driven inflation is a calamity that the struggling lower-income group can do without by Jeyakumar Devaraj Government Tax Revenue in 2008 he Barisan Nasional Government has de- Personal Income Tax RM 15.0 bil cided to push ahead with the regressive Company Tax RM 37.7 bil TTT GST (the Goods and Services Tax). The GST Petroleum Tax RM 24.2 bil Bill was tabled in Parliament at the end of the Budget sitting that ended on 17 December 2009. At its first reading, the bill was just mentioned, but Export and import duties RM 5.4 bil there was no explanation of the bill or any debate. Excise duties RM 10.7 bil The second reading is when the bill is open for de- Sales and Services Tax RM 11.7 bil bate and proposed amendments. This may come as early as March 2010 for the GST Bill. Once approved at the “second reading” - and this is a certainty given sive for they tax the richest individuals and the com- the BN majority in Parliament - the new tax can be panies that are making profits. Progressive taxes do implemented as early as 2011 not burden the poorer sectors of society. Progressive taxes tend to equal out income differences between The government has already started its propaganda the rich and the poor in society. in support of the GST bill. The front page of the Sun- day Times on 20 December, for example, had these Regressive tax regimes, on the other hand, burden headlines: “BIGGER $avings – Pay less for phone the poor. Sales taxes are generally regressive as they bills, food and beverages under the GST.” It is there- tax consumption and not income. But sales tax in fore very important that we put the facts clearly be- Malaysia has different rates for different types of fore the Malaysian public. goods and the government can make them less re- gressive by levying sales taxes exclusively on good A regressive tax that are consumed by the richer sectors of society such as expensive cars, big houses, overseas travel, First, the GST is a regressive tax in that it burdens expensive restaurants and other luxury items. the ordinary rakyat more than the richest 20 per cent of society. The adjacent table lists the government’s The Goods and Services Tax, however, is even more tax revenue for 2008 which contributed RM112.9 regressive for it is levied at a flat rate on a very wide billion or 70 per cent of total government revenue. range of products including many items that the poorer people need to buy. It will lead to a rise in As shown in the table, the biggest source of tax rev- prices and will definitely hit the poorest the hard- enue is company tax, which at 26 per cent of de- est. The government has been downplaying this ef- clared profits currently brings in RM37.7 billion into fect. Let us tabulate some of the arguments that the government coffers. Petroleum tax makes up the sec- government has been advancing as well as the fal- ond biggest tax item while the tax levied on the 1.5 lacies behind these arguments. million individuals who are now currently paying personal income taxes in Malaysia makes up the third biggest. All these taxes are deemed progres- Continued on page 32

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