KUALA LUMPUR: The present Government led by Datuk
Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that
he promised during the last elections, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat
deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali in an interview with SK Digest.
He mentioned as examples two important issues. Firstly, Pak Lah
has completely reneged on his promise to fight against corruption,
which has deteriorated since he became PM four years ago.
"There is grave suspicion of political interference that led to the
instructions by the AG to close investigations on corruption charges
against a serving Deputy Minister, the present police chief and an
ex-Director of ACA," Syed Husin said. The acquittal of Eric Chia
has also raised many question marks, he added.
Secondly, media control has never been as bad as it
is now, said the former academic. "The media are often instructed
what to publish and what not to. There is a standing directive to
mainstream media, owned, controlled or influenced by government
parties not to give any publicity to Anwar Ibrahim and PKR,"
said Syed Husin, who had turned to become full time politician
when University of Malaya authorities terminated his professorship
on alleged infringement of the Universities and University Colleges
Act in 1990.
Bloggers who take independent and critical positions
are hounded and detained by the police, as testified by recent police
actions against Raja Petra Kamaruddin and wife, also against a PKR
webmaster Nathaniel Tan, plus civil suits of defamation against Jeff
Ooi and Ahiruddin Atan aka Rockybru by a government-linked
mainstream newspaper and cronies.
"Although the PM had promised about ten months ago
in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara Keadilan, the party
newspaper, he has conveniently ignored it, despite constant
reminders," he added.
YL Chong observed that in March 2004, there was general
acknowledgement of a "feel good" factor given that it was Abdullah's
first General Election he was leading as UMNO and BN chief, and
asked Syed Husin about the current sentiments from the grassroots
for the forthcoming GE.
Syed Husin stated that the popularity ratings of both
Abdullah and UMNO have slipped since the last GE, although
apparently more with the latter than the former. "Generally,
the public has become more disappointed with Abdullah's
leadership, that is perceived to be weak, ineffective as well
as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to
be not sensitive to the plights of the ordinary people."
Furthermore, the cost of living has gone up, largely
as the results of increasing prices of food and
petroleum, higher charges for tolls, water and
electricity, and other factors affecting the common
folks most.
"In the run up to the next GE, the government is
trying to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of
financial incentives e.g. through pay rise of
government servants and hurried introduction of
so-called development projects," he added.
Despite all these, overall, from independent polls
carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous by-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays.
"The presence of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added
advantage. Even if he is not allowed to stand as a
candidate, he will be free to campaign actively
during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections, Syed Husin predicted. (The GE is
expected to be held by year-end or latest by March 2008
as PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would
still be barred from contesting till mid-April 2008.)
YL Chong also posed to the well-respected veteran
the question that after 50 years of Merdeka, of the
state of nationhood today as compared with the first
decade on achieving Independence -- Sept 1957-1967,
requesting him to summarise the main challenges facing
Malaysians as we march towards the year 2020.
Syed Husin acknowledged that there is undoubtedly
some economic development, but the progress made by
Malaysia is way behind that achieved by Singapore,
Taiwan and Korea, although they started almost on par
in 1960.
"The per-capita income of these three countries is
respectively 5 to 3 times bigger than that of Malaysia.
"Although incidence of poverty has been reduced,
income and socio-economic inequities have widened,
as a result of concentration of wealth in the hands of a
few through cronyism, corruption and commission.
Despite all the governmenttalk about it, environmental
pollution and destruction continue without control,”
he lamented.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to
have failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become
more marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education, from the lowest to
the highest levels, have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment.
“Corruption is undermining the whole fabric of
society; social and ethical standards are sliding
down; there is increase in criminal and immoral
activities. The future of the country and the people
has become more uncertain,” Syed Husin said with
deep concern.
-----
Some Q and A extracts:SH: The idea of merger was mooted by Anwar Ibrahim,
who was then in jail, and first discussed through secret
communications with Syed Husin Ali, as President of
PRM. The idea was deliberated upon several times by
the PRM leadership and tabled at two National
Congresses of the Party. Finally, the merger of PRM
with Keadilan Nasional to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat
was agreed upon by about 80% of delegates present at
the PRM Congress in 2002. It was accepted that through
the merger, the alternative force would be stronger to
challenge Umno-Bn, and the struggle for social justice
and democracy could be more effectively carried out.
Q2. Do you think that the present Government
administration (under Pak Lah) has delivered on its
key pledges as promised by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi in the March 2004 General Elections during
which the Barisan Nasional achieved a landslide
victory (taking some 90% of the 219 Parliament seats)?
Abdullah Badawi has not fulfilled practically all that
he promised during the last elections. I will mention
here two important issues. First, he has completely
reneged on his promise to fight against corruption,
which has deteriorated since he became PM. There is
grave suspicion of political interference that led to
the instructions by the AG to close investigations on
corruption charges against a serving Deputy Minister,
the present police chief and an ex-Director of ACA.
The acquittal of Eric Chia has also raised many
question marks.
Two, media control has never been as bad as it is now.
The media are often instructed what to publish and
what not to. There is a standing directive to
mainstream media, owned, controlled or influenced by
government parties not to give any publicity to Anwar
Ibrahim and keADILan. Bloggers who take independent
and critical positions are hounded and detained by the
police. Although the PM had promised about eight
months ago in Parliament to issue KDN permit to Suara
Keadilan, the party newspaper, he has conveniently
ignored it, despite constant reminders.
Q3. In March 2004, there is general acknowledgement of
a "feel good" factor given that it was Pak Lah's first
GE he was leading as UMNO and BN chief. What is the
consensus from the ground/grass roots this time around
for the forthcoming GE? (expected to be held by
year-end or latest by March 2008 as PKR de-facto leader
DS Anwar Ibrahim would still be barred from contesting
till mid-April 2008...).
The popularity ratings of both Abdullah and UMNO have
slipped since the last GE, although apparently more
with the latter than the former. Generally, the public
has become more disappointed with Abdullah's
leadership, that is perceived to be weak, ineffective
as well as without any clear policy direction, and
also with the government, which is seen to be not
sensitive to the plights of the ordinary people. Cost
of living has gone up, largely as the results of
increasing prices of food and petroleum, higher
charges for tolls, water and electricity etc.
In the run up to the next GE, the government is trying
to buy votes, by introducing all kinds of financial
incentives e.g. through pay rise of government
servants and hurried introduction of so-called
development projects. Despite all these, overall, from
independent polls carried out especially by Merdeka
Centre and results of the four previous bye-elections,
there appears to be voter shift to the opposition now,
especially among the Chinese, although the situation
remains almost constant among the Malays. The presence
of Anwar Ibrahim provides an added advantage. Even if
he is not allowed to stand as a candidate, he will be
free to campaign actively during the elections.
Indications now show that keADILan and the other
opposition parties will fare better in the forthcoming
general elections.
Q4. From your vast political experience and long
university career -- an academic involved in partisan
politics -- can you identify if our campuses and
acadmeic staff and the undergraduates have become
constrained and cocooned from playing a meaningful or
effective role in national affairs ...with the Universities
and University Colleges Act, 'Akujanji' pledge, etc...
The standards of all public universities have
deteriorated. Among factors causing it:
(a)
quality of student entering university has slipped owing to
falling standards of primary and secondary education,
despite more students scoring more A's;
(b)
appointment of VCs, majority of whom are
pro-government and of questionable academic merit, who
are only too keen to serve their political masters as
government servants or even as policemen at the
expense of academic autonomy and excellence;
(c)
promotion as professors/ associate professors and
deans/ heads on the basis of their political positions
and administrative loyalties, rather than recognized
scholarship and good administrative skills;
(d)
constant interference if not control of the
universities through a direct political master, in the
name of Minister for Higher Education, to such an
extent that there is no more semblance of university
autonomy left; and (e) stranglehold on staff and
students through UUCA and 'Akujanji', for example, which
render them to be academic eunuchs stripped of
academic creativity and critical mind.
Small wonder that the universities as academic
institutions - owing to the quality of teaching,
research and publications as well as the crippled
minds of the students - are slowly going down the
drain.
Q5. "Socialism" as an ideology did not make headway
for decades within Malaysia's parliamentary system,
yet there are pockets of believers still travelling
that path. Any messages to your (former) party mates
like those still trying to get PSM registered?
What were the chief reasons leading you to spearhead
PRM's merger with Keadilan to form the PKR just three
years back?
The PRM-PKN merger was a historical necessity, I felt.
It provided a bigger platform to fight for justice,
democracy, national unity, transparency and welfare of
the people. It was supported by vast majority of PRM
membership. The few people who are trying to continue
PRM now are going against the majority decision of the
Party Congress. Indeed a good number of them, as
delegates, voted for merger during the Congress in
2002. In fact, the person who now claims to be their
leader shed tears during his speech to persuade
delegate to support the merger plan as tabled at the
Congress. He later assumed position as Deputy
Secretary General of Keadilan Rakyat, after merger.
But suddenly and surprisingly he changed direction.
They are not making any progress. I would advise him
and his handful of friends to carry out their struggle
through the bigger political vehicle of keADILan.
Q6. In the lead up to Aug 31, 2007 celebrations
planned by the BN government, year-in-year-out we hear
ministerial exhortations to the rakyat, corporations
and SME businesses to fly the national flag?
Are there some underlying causes that prevent a
spontaneous demonstration of such perceived
"patriotic" spirit? -- To the extent when the
Information Minister has to resort with threats to
capture on camera those business establishments NOT
flying the national flag.
I think that they are demonstrating their opposition
to and disappointment with the government policies and
leadership. By the way, patriotism is not something
that is nurtured or obtained through threats and
force.
Q7. After 50 years of Merdeka, how is the state of
nationhood today as compared with the first decade on
achieving Independence -- Sept 1957-1967?
(a) What are the main achievements positive changes we
can be proud of?
(b) What are the main drawbacks/defects?
Summarise the main challenges facing Malaysians as we
march towards the year 2020...
There is undoubtedly some economic development, but
the progress made by Malaysia is way behind that
achieved by Singapore, Taiwan and Korea, although they
started almost on par in 1960. The per-capita income
of these three countries is respectively 5 to 3 times
bigger than that of Malaysia. Although incidence of
poverty has been reduced, income and socio-economic
inequities have widened, as a result of concentration
of wealth in the hands of a few through cronyism,
corruption and commission. Despite all the government
talk about it, environmental pollution and destruction
continue without control.
The national unity agenda mooted as one of the
objectives of the Merdeka struggle can be said to have
failed; ethnic tensions and divisions have become more
marked as a result of racial and divide and rule
policies. Standards of education from the lowest to
the highest levels have gone down; there is huge
number of graduate unemployment. Corruption is
undermining the whole fabric of society; social and
ethical standards are sliding down; there is increase
in criminal and immoral activities. The future of the
country and the people has become more uncertain.
Q8. Some of your comrades eg Kassim Ahmad, were wooed
over by UMNO. Were you ever in two minds about joing
the establishment UMNO party/any of BN components?
Will you offer yourself as a Candidate for the
forthcoming General Elections? I will understand if for
strategic reasons you may not want to detail such GE
plans, but a general sharing will do:)
A number of UMNO leaders (including Musa Hitam) tried
to persuade me in the sixties to join UMNO. Once I
convinced them of my principled pro-people,
pro-justice and pro-democracy stands, they never
bothered me any more."
