Another open letter...not from me.

Received from an email


Vanakkam,


The real problems facing Malaysia are actually about the Malaysian Govt's INEPTNESS and RAMPANT CORRUPTION across institutions (in the Courts, Police, Election Commission, besides deaths in police custody; high crime rate; Mongolian beauty murder scandal involving a promintent poltician; etc..) as well as DISCRIMINATION against the MINORITIES, which have gone unanswerd for too long; and the growing UNDERCLASS across all races. Hence the protest marches by BERSEH, HINDRAF and others in November and December, comprising Malaysians from all racial and religious backgrounds against their government. This is the very government that obtained the people's overwheming mandate just a few years ago, with Mr. Abdullah Badawi as its head. What went wrong and how did their government in such a short period betray its people ?


Therefore, it is obvious that the problem is NOT between the races, as Malaysians of all races and creed do live peacefully side by side.


To be specific, it is the UMNO extremists who are trying their best to paint it as RACIAL for their OWN (not for their NATION's) survival in the face of growing discontent with the present self-serving coalition govt (Barisan National); and increasing support of the people for the opposition, and the expected loss of Malay votes to PAS and Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan Party at the forthcoming General Election in 2008. UMNO has been trying to project the Malays as one united constituency for their picking. Alas, it is not so, in reality, as the Malays too, have their own problems including the rich-poor divide and other deep-seated grouses.

On the recent peace march by about 30, 000 to 50, 000 people (some govt reports stated that it was about 10,000) from the Indian Community and other supporters in KL last week, in order to understand the situation better, I had spoken or met some of my Malaysian friends - Indians, many Chinese friends, and Malays (incl a taxi driver, teh tarik shop owner, petrol kiosk attendant, some executives - esp the older ones) over the phone and in my recent trip to Malaysia.
I had also read some of the media reports, too.

Let me try to summarise these inputs for the benefit of and further discussion by the rest of us in this Forum:
(at least to provide a clearer perspective) .

Actual Background:

The problem has been simmering for the past 40-50 years, with some politicians (the usual culprits in many countries) in their brinkmanship and upmanship - what we called 'playing to the gallery ' - garnering votes from the majority - their Malay and Muslim constituents.

It is ironic that this year (2007) is the 50th Anniversary of Malaysia's Independence; and the people of Malaysia should proudly take stock of their achievements and progress as a nation.

The fact is that many of the Malaysian political parties are racist in origin. Some are religious - in origin or by their actions (eg PAS and UMNO).

Just reading the speeches by UMNO delegates at their Annual General Meetings will be sufficient for us to get an idea.

So the accusation of HINDRAF ( which is actually a coalition of about 30 NGOs) being racist, is misplaced and mischievous as the Malaysian govt is trying to discredit the peace march, using the media with disinformation.

This is being claimed as if none of the other organisations' actions (especially UMNO who is behind the steady introduction of the Shariah Law) are racist or religious in nature. The Shariah Court takes precedence over the Civil Court, even in cases involving people from the other religious backgrounds.

And PM Badawi, as reported in the press, appears to drag his feet to resolve this, losing his credibility as a just leader in the process.

The term, 'Mr Nice Guy' given to him by the press is actually misleading, as he had actually allowed many 'not so nice' policies to be implemented.

The Malaysian people would have preferred if he is called 'Mr. Fair Guy', instead and if he lives up to this slogan.

Incidentally, PM Badawi was a Muslim Scholar. Unlike Mahathir, PM Badawi is perceived by many Malaysians (incl Malaysian Malays) to be 'slower' or even 'laid back', in implementing changes and ' more tolerant' of UMNO ultras. Their simple observation is that the public did not hear about or see the brandishing of the keris at UMNO General Meetings during PM Mahathir's tenure. It is not that the Govt under Mahathir is free from blame for today's situation. This will be another subject.

One of the last straws was the wrongful conversion of Hindus and others to Muslims, in spite of their affected families' strong options and the disrespectful treatment of these affected bereaved families by outsiders. This included the late Malaysian Indian Commando, the frst Malaysian with another climber, who scaled Mt Everest and brought honour to Malaysia. He died later of other unrelated medical complications.

There are so many other cases of religious insensitivities. These include Ms. Joy who wanted to convert to Christianity from Islam; child custody cases, where the children were compelled to convert to Muslims, regardless whether one of their parents had objected; separation of children from their natural mothers who are non-Muslims; cases where Shariah Court decisions overruled Civil Court decisions, thus adding confusion to the Malaysian people. An UMNO member had recently asked that crosses/statues in missionary schools be removed. Fortunately, in the light of the Nov 25 protests, the govt retracted and allowed these missionary schools to display the cross and statues of Virgin Mary (New Straits Times (NST) dated 10 Dec, Page 4). In 2006, the Mufti of Sabah had the audacity to issue a decree to stop construction of Buddhist statues, and the Goddess of the Sea statue in Sabah, as they are considered 'haram' (forbidden) and this decree was allegedly issued to 'protect the sensitivities of Muslims in Sabah specifically, and Malaysia, in general'.
On a separate occasion, the Mentri Besar, Khir Thor ordered the recent destruction of the Hindu temple that triggered the HINDRAF rally on 25 Nov, which the govt now realised was insensitive and high-handed.

None of these perpetrators (esp the Mufti, the Metri Besar and certain UMNO activists) were arrested for inflaming racial and religious hatred, the very accusation the govt levelled at HINDRAF and other NGOs, now. PM Badawi's remarks on 11 Dec that 'if somebody breaks the law, he has to face the consequences' , in this context appeared hollow, when the original instigators to disrupt peace and public order were left untouched.

The other last 'straw' is the continual destruction of Hindu temples till today with impunity - many of which are not even reported in the govt controlled press. And these were not taken up effectively by most political parties, as probably being opportunistic, they thought it was not their problem. The past weeks' large scale protests has now come to haunt every one of these parties, as they are also guilty of dereliction of duty to protect the public from over-zealous officials and their abuses of power.

By the way, the destruction of some temples were recorded in DVDs by concerned Malaysian citizens. These DVDs should be submitted as evidence at an Independent Board of Inquiry.

Even MIC Supremo Samy Velu could not stop the destruction, when he went to a temple site in person to appeal against its demolishment.

The poor gets poorer and neglected. Most of their schools in the estates are run-down, and without govt funding. On the other hand, we do not see any of the Chinese and Malay vernacular schools being in such a state. The Indian underclass is growing and is worse than the Chinese and Malay Underclass.

Poverty and Lack of Job opportunities lead to Unemployment that leads to Crime (eg Klang Valley).
This is a classic case study found everywhere in the world.

(MIC Mr. Samy Velu, in a feeble and belated attempt to deflect criticisms, outlined the achievements of the Indian Community - ref: New Straits Times (NST) papers dated 10 Dec. and repeated in the Singapore Straits Times dated 11 Dec. However, Samy Velu conceded that 'the bottom 30 % of low-income families lacked institutional public sector support. We have requested the federal and state govts for an effective delivery mechanism to assist the Indian Community'. This important part of his speech was not even carried in our local Singapore papers.

It is left to the reader to conclude whether his statement will eventually lead to actual results OR continue to be like those hollow promises made over the past decade. Reading his statement closely, one can conclude that the MIC leader admits that there has not been sufficient effective measures to alleviate the large proportion of the Community out of the poverty trap.

DESPERATION leads to ACTION (in the form of HINDRAF and BERSEH, etc..) which we had witnessed the last few weeks.

On the other hand, we read of OTHER organisations now commenting in the press ('pontificating' is the more appropriate word, here) ' from their pedestals' and giving their 'unsolicited and obviously belated' advice. Isn't it a bit too late ? None of them had suggested any good solutions to these problems.
These include several political parties; and certain NGOs eg Social Strategic Foundation, etc..and even the Press.

Some of these 'pundits' claimed that there is no room for extremists. Rightly so.

On the other hand, there are so many 'extremist' elements within the BN coalition and the establishment, pandering to various religious and racial objectives.

Where were these NGOs and commentators and the press - when these extremist elements within the establishment got their ways ?

In this context, the peace march by HINDRAF is a cry for help - as a last resort.

Many of these parties have not done much to resolve long standing issues. We do not get to hear much of them.

(Of course, there will be exceptions, but it is a case of FAR TOO FEW of them and TOO FAR in between; and TOO LATE and sadly with not much significant progress). One exception I can recall is the MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau that regularly helps and publicises the people's plight (incl those of the other races) under veteran Datuk Michael Chong. The MIC is NOT even able to do this.


DISINFORMATION and Untruths:

The problem is also between the Malaysian Government and the Indian Community of which the majority are Hindus.

Malaysia is now trying to use UMNO-controlled NST, etc.. and the media to sow disinformation that the problem is between the Races; when it is NOT in the first place. Apparently, Malaysians generally, are aware of their govt's ploy.

It brings to my mind what the former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Ngiam Tong Dow said in his speech at Sunday's (9 Dec) NUS Economics Alumni annual dinner about 'reality checks' and TODAY Newspaper banner headline (10 Dec): "Facts on the ground more eloquent than statistics".
Though Mr. Ngiam was referring to another matter about economics, his comments hit the nail on those 'pundits' and 'scribes' who continue to mislead the public , wittingly or unwittingly, about the actual situation by projecting their 'own statistics' or 'myopic views'. This is where the newly accepted 'mainstream media' -(and which is no longer considered as an 'alternative media') - the Internet, plays an important role in disseminating the truth or alternatives to the traditional media (eg printed newspapers and TV/Radio). Youtube is just one example of this powerful and more eloquent form of media.

WHY the attempts by the authorities for Disinformation?

The Hindraf issue though it focuses on the problems faced by the Indian underclass - - will ALSO lead to the AWARENESS that the Malays and Chinese UNDERCLASSES have also been taken for granted by the establishment of the country. This will further blow the myth that all Malays are behind UMNO. It is no longer anymore as UMNO had also let down the Malays.

(in actual fact, the poor Malays are angry about so many aspects of the skewed Bumi policy, too -- eg I was reminded about the AP permits where privileged people were given licences to import foreign cars - causing the country to lose millions in import taxes for the benefit of the privileged few; etc..)

Past reports incl research by academics have predicted that in Malaysia, there will eventually be big problems between the RICH Malays and the POOR Malays and with their Govt.

The Malaysian Govt cannot afford to 'wake up' the Malay Underclass that may go against against the Govt.
(even former PM Mahathir had lamented that the Bumiputera policy had only benefited a small section of the Malays, esp the Rich Malays).

Hence, the Malaysian Govt is trying its best to rally the Malays behind them by claiming that the HINDRAF issue is between races, when in ACTUAL FACT it is between the Govt and the Indian Community. It is a case of divide and rule.

Furthermore, the US Congress had mentioned of the plight of Malaysian Indians, accurately, too.

[SAME PLOY during former DPM (and later PM) Tun Razak's tenure in 1969. Today the late Tun Razak's son - Najib - is the DPM. How uncanny can it be ? And how leopards and offsprings do not change their spots].

Also, it is FALLACY to think that Malaysian Malays have never gone to the streets in big demos, as wrongly reported in the Straits Times (dated 7 Dec) by Janadas Devan, when he quoted an UMNO Supreme Council member. Such report does a disservice to Singaporean readers and others alike. In the same month, there was a much bigger ("Berseh') demo led by Anwar Ibrahim - most of whom are Malays.

In a PAS protest earlier this year, some Malays (rumoured to be planted by a political party within BN to cause embarrassment to PAS) had even burnt the Malaysian flag. No arrests have been made till now, even though it was committed in broad daylight.

The point is that a more balanced report and understanding on the ground is needed. There have been some other street protests by the Malays (PAS, etc..incl demos against foreign embassies eg Danish Embassy in 2006 over cartoons in their local Danish papers; US Embassy over Iraq; etc...).
Papers (including some of our own local papers) continue to give the impression that public protests are 'rare' in Malaysia. It does not convey a very accurate picture.

On the contrary, this is the FIRST time in Malaysia's history, the Indian Community (some reported to be as large as 50, 000) has come out in this protest march. It was also reported that there were several thousands more waiting to join, but they were not able to come due to road blocks leading to KL on Nov 25.

Based on observation and press reports, the Malaysian Indians, in general, are more accommodating and had tried their best to bring their problems to the Malaysian leaders over at least 10 years. It is usually the Malays and the Chinese that we get to hear most as they are the most vocal.

Culturally, the Malays and Indians are closer. Malays do love Indian movies and songs. A number of Malay words have their origins in Sanskrit and/or Tamil. Wayang Kulit, Batik, certain food and games share a common heritage with Indians.
Furthermore, a substantial number of Malays today have Indian ancestry through mixed marriages over the years.
Indian cultural influence was widespread in SE Asia during the Sri Vijaya and Mahapahit (and Chola) Empires.

Some have now asked the contrarian question, 'WHY it took so long for the Indian Community to come out, when all channels (through their MPs, MIC, Barisan National MPs, Courts, Press, etc.) have failed them a long time ago ?'

Janadas' article by quoting a UMNO member as saying 'do not force us to do so as we will draw our parangs to defend our country's sovereignty' , I feel, may unwittingly play to the agenda of UMNO, who is trying their best to garner the Malay and Islam votes, with an eye on the next General Election, rumoured to be held by mid, 2008. The Barisan National (BN) - comprising UMNO, MCA, MIC, etc.. have a bigger fear of Anwar and PAS, and like in many countries, minorities are taken as scape goats. UMNO is afraid to alienate the Malay votes, if the issue is the widening income gap for their Community, too (besides discrimination faced by the Indian Community).

Janadas correctly mentioned, however, that the UMNO-led ruling coalition govt, in desperation of "losing substantial support from Malaysia's minorities will find itself having to depend even more on Malays to preserve its two-thirds majority in Parliament, may be 'tempted to ratchet up their 'parang' talk. That is a dangerous game".

REALITY ON THE GROUND:

Many Malaysians also believed that the authorities had planted 'trouble makers' amongst the crowd who had assembled to proceed to the British High Comm.

The Batu Caves Temple, where the people had assembled to rest is the site where the Malaysian police had lobbed tear gas, etc...The people consider this as sacrilegious. There was nothing to provoke the police to enter the temple grounds.

Again, an independent inquiry into this incident (as well as the ' Berseh' protest march led by Anwar) will be
important to get to the truth of the matter.

HYPOCRISY:

It is 'funny' or 'hypocritical' to many Malaysians that Minister Nazri (of the PM Office) dare not tell the US to 'lay off' after the US Congress rebuke.

His rude remarks to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister smacks of arrogance, ignorance and hypocrisy.
Janadas Devan's article, incidentally, mentioned 'that any other ASEAN govt would have done the same'.
On the contrary, with the recently concluded ASEAN Conference in Singapore, the proposed ASEAN Charter (though watered down) will allow ASEAN govts to 'interfere' in another member's affairs (re: Myanmar). ASEAN members were under pressure from the US, EU, etc...to do so, rather than conveniently depending on the UN, only to do their biddings.

PM Lee Hsien Loong had also mentioned of the difficulty to get all the ASEAN members to agree to this 'interference in each other's internal affairs' clause in the ASEAN Charter which will be inevitable in the long term, if ASEAN is to be taken seriously by other nations.

On the issue of non-interference, Malaysia should first set an example by not interfering in other countries' affairs be it in the Middle East; Thailand, Singapore; Denmark (re the issue on cartoons).

Incidentally, China had also showed concerns when Indonesians of Chinese descent were killed or raped in Indonesia... in the 90s, and even in the 1965 during the large anti-Communist purge when Gen. Suharto came into power. And even for Malaysian Chinese in the past.

This is nothing new.

Even MM Lee Kuan Yew had mentioned about these 'premodial instincts' - where Singaporean Chinese and Singaporean Indians and Singaporeans Malays have understandable cultural attachments to their respective countries of origin. Singapore's links to China are on the same basis.

WISHING MALAYSIA WELL:

In conclusion, readers are advised to obtain their own feedback and make their own independent assessments of the situation in Malaysia.
As is said, the 'facts on the ground are more eloquent than the statistics'.

Furthermore, we also have to be wary of newspapers and keep track of certain journalists who penned their reports from KL or elsewhere, with a certain spin.

It pays to be kept accurately informed, rather than being subject to news reports by scribes and organisations with incomplete information or worse, with an hidden agenda.

It is also important for all Malaysians to take cognisance of opportunistic politicians who do not seriously work towards finding lasting and just political solutions.

The Government needs to sit down with the Community and arrive at genuine long-term solutions. Tough action and standoff against a section of the community, without justice, will back-fire, as the government attempts to divert the attention of their citizens from other seemingly intractable and deep seated problems mentioned at the beginning of this article.

While, as non-Malaysians, we may not wish to interfere in their affairs, reality on the ground, however, will prompt any concerned ASEAN citizen to feel sad and wary of the situation next door. As neighbours, we, too, wish the government and people of Malaysia well and peace and harmony.

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year