CURRENT COMMENTARIES
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Will Mahathir learn from the recently concluded general election that the Anwar saga has split the Malays as well as damaged Umno grievously and take the necessary action to win back the Malay ground? The politically astute thing to do would be to allow Anwar a fair trial on the sodomy charge which means that the case will almost certainly be thrown out and this would go a long way towards re-conciliation with the Malay grassroots. More importantly, it will also help to restore back a little dignity to the much abused and ridiculed judiciary.

Although this would be politically astute, the chance of this happening is virtually nil with Mahathir’s megalomaniac psychological condition brought about by holding absolute power for far too long. His ego is bigger than the nation and Umno, he has pronounced Anwar guilty of sodomy and so the court must find Anwar guilty too to prove him right. This he will do no even if he has to drag the whole nation through mud and grime to satisfy his vindictiveness and ego.

The court may convict Anwar on the basis of one man’s unsubstantiated word against him but will Malaysians believe that he is guilty? The judiciary will merely confirm that is a subservient tool of the establishment and Malaysia will be further condemned and humiliated in the eyes of the world. Mahathir’s insistence on pursuing the meritless case is a testimony to his loss of reality with the sentiment of the public surrounded as he is yes men and adulated by the mainstream media. He still cannot come to terms with the public perception that Malaysian justice is deeply flawed and that Anwar’s conviction will damage him further.

All these legal attacks against a man who is incarcerated in prison and no more threat to him politically is unbecoming and detrimental to himself. To many people he is just out for revenge and lowering himself further in the eyes of the public. Truth is truth and the ordinary people are not the gullible fools he thinks they are. His fawning political cronies having sold their souls for power and money have no voice nor backbone to speak out against his cruelty and tyranny.

The Umno delegates may pay lip service to him but in their hearts they know that this xenophobic and hate-filled dictator has exceeded his used-by date. And to the international press he is like a raving spiteful old man lashing out against imaginary “foreign colonists” and haunted by the shadow of his ex-deputy.

Ben See

So we continue with the charade of a trial that convinces no one about Anwar's guilt, but everyone about Mahathir's evil. No unbiased judge would have convicted Anwar on flimsy charges of technical corruption in a seriously flawed trial; and no fair-minded judge would have impose a savage six years jail on a man simply for instructing police to clear his name of slander. Similarly, any honest judge would have thrown out the sodomy case by now, which rests on no better evidence than the words of a discredited witness. Are Malaysians expected to sit back while Justice is being raped in the country and the judiciary is being used as a tool of governmental oppression?

Whatever good Mahathir may have done for the country has been wiped out by his corruption of nearly every public instrument in the country, including the police. mass media, judiciary, attorney-general's chambers, anti-corruption agency and the election commission. National dignity and personal freedom cannot continue to take a back seat to economic well-being; even those who think only of their ricebowls would do well to consider how rampant corruption in high places has milked the public like a cash cow.

But so out of touch is Mahathir and so surrounded is he by boot-lickers and ball-carriers that he cannot see how damaging the trial is to his credibility and how it is shaming the nation. The cruel and vicious dictator may have the means to lock Anwar away for the rest of the latter's life if he wants to, but what he cannot do is score a moral victory. When the history books are written, it will be Anwar who has triumphed in the darkest hour for democracy in Malaysia.

Although Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is hardly known as a friend of democracy, few could have expected him to damage the institution so directly as to "advise" that his position and that of his deputy will be "no-contest" for the next Umno elections. Given his vindictive and iron-fisted nature, it is "advice" that any Umno hopeful not contemplating political suicide would do well to heed.

The positions in question are of such national significance that some have described their selection process as Malaysia's real elections in contrast to the general elections. To protect these positions from challenge under the pretext of party unity boggles any sense of either fitness or fairplay. One might just as well have cancelled the general elections just concluded on the basis of national unity.

No leader worth his salt should fear elections any more than a person who believes himself healthy should fear a medical checkup. Party unity can only be strengthened after the leadership have been confirmed in their legitimacy. The members of an opposing faction would be the more ready to accept defeat after a fair and free contest; otherwise, there will inevitably be a feeling of having been cheated, a feeling that is likely to persist until fair and free elections are finally held. If the practice of democracy promotes disunity, one wonders why most of the world hasn't crumbled by now. The fact is that not even countries at war will cancel general elections when the time becomes ripe for one.

Mahathir has long been known to diddle with Umno's electoral rules by way of entrenching his political ascendancy. We now see that there is no limit beyond which he will not go to ensure power for himself and his marionette. The fact that Umno's Supreme Council can support him so unreservedly is a measure of the extent to which he has surrounded himself with yes-men and sycophants. What exactly do Umno members have to unite against anyway? The Opposition, despite their commendable electoral showing, is still more an irritant rather than a real threat. And few can be so unintelligent as to believe in Mahathir's frequent warnings of the foreign bogeyman.

Now, it appears that the "no-contest" cancer has spread to both Umno Youth and Umno Wanita. This is a device that any leader past his or her expiry date can conveniently use to hang on to power. It is no extravagance to say that the stability of Umno impinges on the stability of the entire nation. Now, with Umno set upon a course that can only bring disaster, Malaysians have much to be worried about.

Tsu Nam

On Tuesday Jan 25, Anwar’s sodomy trial which is nothing more than a painful political circus will start anew. This is a trial which Anwar cannot win no matter how good his defenses and how weak the prosecution’s case. It is a kangaroo court controlled by Mahathir himself with no pretense of justice or fairness. In the end Anwar will be convicted by the unsubstantiated evidence of one unreliable accuser who can produce no witness and can remember no dates.

That judge Ariffin Jaka is prepared to go the way of Augustine Paul can be seen from his illogical admission of Sukma’s forced confession extracted by torture in the dungeons of the police HQ and repudiated by him as a free man. It is illogical because the repudiation of a confession should be enough to cast out the dubious affidavit with no further questions asked, yet it was still accept by the scandalous court even after Sukma had gone through a trial within a trial to detail graphic accounts of his torture. It was also affirmed that the magistrate did not follow the proper procedure in recording his confession and that should be enough to throw it out on a technicality, but Ariffin’s court was beyond technicalities for it had stooped to admitting false and dubious evidence to bolster the prosecution’s weak case.

Is there no brave judge left in the judiciary to stand up to the tyrant Mahathir? What can possibly be used to bribe a judge to sell his own country to slavery and oppression, to pervert justice and drag the dignity of the country through mud and grime and finally send an innocent man to jail? Are money and career enough to sway a man to sell his soul for a pittance or does judge Ariffin Jaka have some skeletons in his closet which the authorities are using to ensure his obedience? Why does he allow himself to be used as a political pawn and end up with blood on his hands?

In the end, Mahathir and his political cohorts will say that Anwar has been convicted by a public court and defended by many lawyers so the public should accept the judgement of the court, never mind that it was a stinking kangaroo court. They will ask Malaysians to be stupid and to suspend their intelligence. But we all know that Malaysia has joined the ranks of Stalin and Hitler in using show trials to crush political enemies. What a shameful legacy for Mahathir to leave the country in the sunset of his leadership, what a shame for Mahathir himself.

Wen Yih

The dark shadow of “no-contest” thrown by the Umno Supreme Council has fallen on Wanita Umno after casting its icy pall on Umno Youth. This is the result of the Supreme Council failing to set high standards for itself causing this dubious piece of undemocratic tomfoolery to be emulated in the lower ranks by minor tinpot dictators wishing to cling on to their positions without the inconvenience and risk of a contest.

It is tempting for an incumbent to sway the executive council for “no-contest” for his or her position on the basis of avoiding divisive politics. The excuse can used again and again ad infinitum, ad nauseam. However it rings hollow as majority consensus is what democracy is all about. A party which is so fragile that it cannot withstand a democratic contest for leadership should not be existing at all. It may as well self-destruct because that is what it will ultimately do.

That an attempt for no-contest should be made for Wanita Umno leadership which is shaping up to be a hot 3 corner fight should give one the chills. Is this an attempt by the incumbent Siti Zaharah to retain her position in the crudest way possible? Without bestowing the moral right to lead such tactics inevitably lead to divisive politics, resentment, factions, non-co-operation and erosion of support for the undeserving leader.

Instead of being the enlightened leaders rejecting no-contest for their posts, Umno incumbents seem to embrace such rulings. But what can we expect of a party which has gone to the dogs and whose leaders are no more than greedy power-hungry self-serving politicians who have no ear for the grassroot sentiments? There can be no soul-searching for Umno because Umno has lost its soul

Tze Han

Few democratic minded people will regret the removal of Kadir Jasin as Managing Director of the New Straits Times Press. His biased, one-sided pro-government views are painful to read and the NSTP group of newspapers are totally unbalanced government mouthpieces with no space for opposition views.

Many are puzzled at why this rabidly pro-establishment bigot should have been sacked. Was it for the few half-daring “soul-searching” articles which appeared after the elections? Was he not fawning and slavish enough to the BN viewpoint? How can anybody be even more sycophantic?

Whatever it is, this unexpected turn of events is an ominous sign for Malaysian democracy. Perhaps even those few “soul-searching” articles which dared to criticize and point out the flaws in BN are too much for the politicos to stomach. Perhaps the top brass wants someone who is even more hard-line and sycophantic in his praise of BN, notwithstanding the fact that Kadir Jasin and his dailies have lost much credibility and readership with the public.

If the Umno dullard leaders are of the opinion that a more fanatical editor will serve their interests better they had better think again. Many Malaysians already find the NST unpalatable. Any more obeisance and kow-tow-ing to the government will make it printed for the express purpose of wrapping fish.

The Lizard

It is the best of times, it is the worse of times for Dr. Mahathir. He is now even more firmly entrenched in power. Despite a stiff opposition challenge,his party has been returned with ¾ majority in the elections. The Umno Supreme Council is completely under his thumb, Anwar is in jail and the supporters purged from the party. All the instruments of government and democracy are in his power, even the courts bow to him. But it is also the worse of times. The opposition have loosely united, the Malays are swinging away from Umno and his leadership and criticism to his authoritarian rule is mounting locally and internationally.

If ever there is a time to make use of his strength to loosen his iron grip a little, it is now. Not from the goodness of his heart or even for making Malaysia a better place, but for certain benefits that even a dictator likehim can appreciate. If he wants to counter charges of authoritarianism, he should allow more democracy in Umno. There is no better way to counter Harakah’s popularity than by allowing some criticism in the mainstream media. To weaken the opposition alliance, he should pay more attention to human rights and justice so that people lose interest in being anti-government. To win back the Malays he should take the reconciliatory step of dropping the ridiculoussodomy charges against Anwar. In his position of strength he can well afford to trade some control for much needed support.

But what does Mahathir do? He browbeat the Supreme Council for a no-contest ruling. He harassed Harakah with eventual banning. And he arrests opposition leaders for under an archaic law for criticizing hisadministration. Anwar will probably be slapped with additional years in prison. Instead of fighting fire with water, Mahathir fights fire with fire. He is behavinglike a petty, vindictive, paranoid dictator who will galvanize and increaseopposition to his rule by his own actions until the forces are strong enough to push him out.

Dr. Mahathir in his moment of raw honesty and exasperation lashes out at ungrateful Malays who bite the hand that feeds them. I suppose the Malays resent being compared to animals who are hand fed by their masters. They would rather think that the hand that feeds them is their own. Despite this bad metaphor, Mahathir misses the point completely. He was refering to the special economic privileges of the Malays but then Malays have come to regard special privileges as their birthright, not something to be gatreful for.

Dr. Mahathir fails to realize that the Malays are maturing politically and socially. They are no longer the simple rural people content with cultivating their plot of land and accepting whatever the leaders tell them. The sons and daughters are educated and world-wise. They comprise the professionals, the managers and the elite. The Malays have come into their own and a new Malay middle class has emerged.

With better education, worldly exposure and opening of minds, new demands emerge. The new Malays demand social justice, democracy, accountability and transparency of those in power. They will no longer stomach the deep corruption in Umno, the money politics, the protection of the corrupt, the sweetheart privatization deals and the inequitable distribution of wealth. They cannot accept the humiliation and injustice meted out to Anwar Ibrahim. They will not sweep corruption and abuses under the carpet in exchange for crumbs thrown from the tables of the super-rich.

The Chinese middle class have traditionally shrugged off their ability to influence things politically. They are accepting and apathetic. They tend to maintain the status quo rather than rock the boat. But the Malays do not share their political helplessness. They have placed Umno in power and in their hands lie the power to change things. The non-Malays swinging towards Barisan Nasional through intimidation and fear is but a temporary respite like using newspapers to patch a leaking roof. If Umno does not transform itself into a party of justice, transparency and accountability, they will continue to lose the Malay ground for issues beyond Anwar Ibrahim.

Kevin K

Umno Youth leaders must be DENSE, I mean really THICK. We can't say they are senile but they do share one common trait with the Umno Supreme Council members - being completely out of touch with grassroot rank and file. In the face of a grassroot revolt over the Supreme Council's advisory to leave the President and Deputy President's posts uncontested, how else can one explain the intention of the said leaders of Umno Youth to do the same for their unit of (shock, horror) rank and file members?

Umno Youth has come a long way from being critical watchdogs of Umno to sycophantic "Yes, Prime Minister" small boys trying to be men. Perhaps the incumbent Youth leader Hishamuddin Hussein (a disgrace to his father, Tun Hussein Onn) wants to ape Mahathir so closely that he's taking a leaf from the PM's dictatorial style. But he should be forewarned that what works for Mahathir may not work for him. He hardly garners the fear and authority of the Prime Minister.

So what's the excuse this time? Same old song sung with the same tired music. Contest will divide and weaken the party. Bah! I beg to differ. Contests will strengthen and consolidate the party. But I suppose no-contest is more convenient for the incumbents even though it doesn't give them the moral sheen of entitlement to their positions. Perhaps we will have Wanita Umno coming up with no-contests for their top two posts to complete the flailing of democracy in Umno. Small wonder that Umno is losing young Malays to the opposition.

If Mohd. Ezam has been charged with distributing classified government documents which provided evidence of corruption of Rafidah Aziz and Rahim Thamby Chik, then what are the authorities doing over these corruption allegations? Justice in Malaysia has been turned on its head if the whistle blower instead of the wrong doers are punished. In the same light, one also recalls the depressing case of Lim Guan Eng who was jailed following charges arising from the broadly worded Sedition Act.

Can the attorney general and the police claim to be impartial if Mohd Ezam and four others have been arrested after a so-called "thorough investigation" as Abdullah Badawi put it, while absolutely nothing is done about the alleged corrupt practices of Rafidah and Rahim? The fact that evidence of such corruption is not only available, but has already been broadcast renders the inaction of the authorities even more glaringly deceitful. In this context, Abdullah Badawi's pronouncement that "It is necessary for us to respect the law," when commenting on these arrests rings particularly hollow. It is of no credit to the mouth of this marionette that the law should have been so selectively applied. It is of no credit to our democracy that the law should have been used to intimidate and silence opposition figures.

There have so far, been too few local voices of protest over these lastest crackdown on Opposition publications and Opposition figures. Even the normally fearless Bar Council has been uncharacteristically silent. Mahathir wins if we cower under this new climate of fear. Malaysians will then have to endure uncomplainingly, the moral bankruptcy of a government they had put into place.

Andy Lee

Fellow Malaysians, we must ponder these questions:-

(1) How is it duplicate copies of sign back agreements for share ownership beneficial to Daim Zainuddin by his business proxies held by Ezam (his reason being arrested and charged under the OSA) be related to national security? For crooked commercial dealings? The OSA (a pre-World War I British legislation) was specially amended by Mahathir (with applause from his minions) in November 1986 to cover up corruption. It was amended, being categorised under three categories: (i) cabinet and govt.papers; (ii) documents covering defence and national security; and, (iii) documents referring to foreign relations. Category (i) was included specifically to benefit Mahathir and gang. It just meant contracts, tenders, etc. using public funds became classified material. Yes, how they spent tax payers' money! How's this related to nationalsecurity? Badawi says if we can proof corruption, we can have the BN culprit arrested and charged for graft. So what about Daim, Rafidah Aziz, Ling Liong Sik, Muhyiddin Yassin, Samy Vellu, Rahim Thamby chik, Eric Chia, Mohd. Taib? So we now have another "Guan Eng" replay - victim is likely jailed whilst perpetrators go scot-free and resume plundering. In addition, they have the OSA to cover their ars#s.

(2) Why is Marina Yussoff charged for sedition by simply reading to the public Mahathir's racist, virulent letter (incidentally a thinly veiled threat) addressed to the late Tunku? If Mahathir wrote it, he should have the b@lls to admit his past misdeed. Mahathir must be arrested for writing that letter. It coincided with the May 13 incident, culminated by the likes of him upping the ante on the already tense situation. Marina publicly reading his letter could've cost him a huge chunk of Chinese votes. Mahathir's naked vindictiveness is once again revealed.

(3) What Karpal said in court is given legal immunity. But I believe him anyway. Mahathir is an evil carrion capable of ordering murder ala Jalil Ibrahim (ie the auditor murdered in the BMF Scandal) style - a man his age should be contemplating his final days before meeting his Creator. Pity the poor soul "stuck in the same boat" with Mahathir in the afterlife!

Today, the Star reported Vijandran proceeding with a libel suit against Karpal - (issuing statements whilst the man is conveniently incarcerated, unable to rebut). Vijandran is former Deputy Parliamentary Speaker, also a onetime hot unintentional porn star who ensnared gullible women with false promises of marriage, then videotaped his sexual escapades with unwary victims for his own perverted viewing pleasure (a vindictive nephew found his "treasure trove" and it later ended up in video rental oulets). Vijandran never forgave Karpal who came into possession of one of his "episodes" and exposed it to the public. We also know the then Home Minister (no need to guess!) ordered the copy and remaining others destroyed. Vijandran was never charged. So, like Mirzan Mahathir's biased judgement-settlement, the predicted verdict on DSAI, Karpal, Harakah, Ezam, Marina, and many to come, here's another "Guan Eng" replay.

TV

Prior to the last general elections, Opposition politicians and enlightened Malaysians warned that this would be our one chance of bringing an arrogant and corrupt government to its knees. Instead, Malaysians voted to give Mahathir a three-quarter parliamentary majority. This vile leader has now used the voters' mandate to further damage whatever little democracy there is still left in the country.

This latest attack against outspoken publications and arrest of vocal Opposition figures signal a new intolerance of dissent. Never mind that the judiciary is rotten to the core or that cabinet ministers rip us of billions; if you refuse to suffer in silence, you risked being charged with the vaguely worded Sedition Laws. It is a little hard to feel sorry for a country that has probably got what it asked for at the electoral booth.

What we are talking about is a government that refuses to recognise that opposing viewpoints are the hallmark of a healthy democracy, that the media should act as watchdogs and that the judiciary must be independent to curb the abuses of the Executive. Instead, we are ruled by one dictator and his band of sycophants, clowns, parrots and marionettes. Unfortunately, this vomitting band of misfits is of our own choosing.

After publications like Harakah have either been closed down or intimidated into dog-like obedience, after Opposition politicians have been punished and gagged, Mahathir's next challenge could possibly be the Internet. By using technology to filter out content unsuitable to the infantile minds of Malaysians, this dictator would have set us all back twenty years down the road to true democracy. A climate of fear has already been created with the National Union of Journalists shamefully keeping mum over the Home Ministry's assault on five independently minded papers; the normally fearless Bar Council has also been uncharacteristically silent over Karpal Singh's arrest and, according to one member, it will not be issuing a press statement. After blowing our one big chance, the country looks set to slide down to an Orwellian nightmare.

Tsu Nam

The latest vicious round-up of Opposition figures, including Karpal Singh, Marina Yusoff, Mohd Ezam and the Editor of Harakah is the desperate act of a morally bankrupt government. Coming on the heels of an assault on five independently minded publications, it is clear than Operation Lallang II is in progress and could involve further arrests. Has the Opposition's limited success in the last general elections frightened the government to so drastic a course of action?

It is characteristic of Mahathir that he should seek to rule by intimidation, bullying and oppression rather than by democracy and much-needed reform. One sees this in the "advice" given that UMNO's two top positions should go unchallenged at the party's next general assembly, an "advice" that any UMNO hopeful not contemplating political suicide would be well advised to take. Now, it appears that a judiciary that is rotten to the core will be used to punish those brave individuals who had dared to speak out against the gross corruption and abuses in the system.

Like an old dog that cannot learn new tricks, Mahathir continues to damage Malaysia's already disgraced democratic institutions. With the judiciary, mass media, Anti-Corruption Agency, police, attorney-general's chamber, Election Commission and just about every important public instrument already under his beck and call, his style of government is a dictatorship in everything but name. Thus, he can convene an unconstitutional session of Parliament despite Opposition protest; he can cancel party elections simply to secure his position and that of his marionette.

When will Malaysians, especially the easily frightened and money-loving Chinese, stand up and say that "enough is enough?" Or do we wait for the hand of God to remove this abomination from the face of the Earth? Given that dictators have long lives, we could be in for a rather long wait, by the end of which, we could be supping with the likes of Myanmar and China as far as human rights are concerned.

Tsu Nam

Mahathir has never been a champion of democracy. To him it is troublesome and inconvenient and it stands in the way of getting things done. He prefers more direct methods of eliminating opposition like arrest and jail. It is easier than answering charges of corruption, injustice and abuse because it is usually not easy to fight against truth.

The crackdown on opposition leaders like Marina Yusuf and Karpal Singh together with harrassment of Harakah and other opposition papers has been foreseen by those politically experienced with Mahathir’s methods. They expect this to happen if Barisan Nasional wins 2/3 majority. The cases of sedition are but weak excuses for their arrests. Talking about May 13 actually benefits Mahathir’s divide and rule by racial fear. An attorney legally enjoys immunity from things said in court. Mahathir is a dictator wearing the flimsy robes of democracy, an iron fist in a velvet glove, a Stalinist who thinks the best way of countering the opposition is to eliminate them. He has been threatened by the opposition like never before in the last elections and secure in his citadel he will now work to make sure they never threaten him again.

We have ourselves to blame for voting back this tyrant with a 2/3 majority in parliament. Had he not got his 2/3 majority, he would have been politically weakened, perhaps fatally, a beaten dog with his tail between his legs and shown the door by Umno. We had the chance in 30 years and we lost it mainly through Chinese votes of fear. Perhaps Malaysians have not suffered enough, we need another 5 years of Mahathir to convince us that we have a dictator in our midst. After that we can fervently hope that we are still able to change things.

Observer

The Home Ministry's recent crackdown on Opposition publications signals a disgraceful assault on whatever little free speech there is left in Malaysia. Not content with having reduced the mainstream media to the role of bootlickers and propagandists for the government, Mahathir now seeks to throttle the few independent voices. Perhaps they are blamed for UMNO's poor showing in the last general elections. Instead of being open to criticism, Mahathir has decided to embark on a tactic that smacks of Operation Lallang in 1987 when four of the most vocal newspapers, including The Star, were closed down. When allowed to re-open a year later, they were no longer the same; The Star today is a particularly nasty piece of work as far as journalistic standards are concerned.

The five publications under attack today, including Harakah, Detik, Eksklusif, Wasilah and Tamadun are all in the national language. That the Malays are today politically more aware than the non-Malays may be due in no small part to these publications. Those whose sole fare is The Star or the NST inevitably end up imbibing all the lies and hypocrisy with which these dailies are smeared with. Such were the misguided individuals who, in the last elections, returned Barisan Nasional with a majority it did not deserve.

That Abdullah Badawi is in charge of the Home Ministry's attack on outspoken publications should demolish any delusion that he is in any way committed to returning the country to genuine democracy. By this, Abdullah has clearly shown himself to be nothing more than a parrot and a marionette of Mahathir. His reward is, of course, the support of a repulsive dictator bent on handing over the reins of the country to someone made in his own image.

While Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia have taken one step further down the path of true democracy by liberalising their press, Malaysia has chosen to go further backwards. The reasons given for threatening closure are laughable: Wasilah was pulled up simply because it did not publish its full name, Al-Wasilah; Detik because it appointed an unfavourable Chief Editor; and Eksklusif for "spreading rumours." A government that cannot tolerate a variety of viewpoints is one that has got a lot to hide. It is to be expected that the Mother of All Liars should seek to infantilize the thinking public. However, with the continuing growth of the Internet, such attempts can only be ultimately self-defeating. Rather than trying to blindfold all eyes to his dirty underwear, Mahathir should perhaps start doing his laundry.

Tsu Nam

Is UMNO so weak and fragile that it cannot withstand an open contest for the President and Deputy President post? Or is the Supreme Council’s no-contest ruling an attempt by an aging dictator with tottering support to cling on to power without having to face any challengers?

This is an issue that concerns not just UMNO members but every Malaysian for the UMNO President and Deputy President automatically becomes the country’s Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively. In a democratic system, a leader must periodically renew his mandate from the people, not cling on to it by unfair means. It is a time to gauge his support and if he has no support from the majority then it is time for him to go.

The problem with dictators is that they try to bypass democratic elections and use whatever dirty means at their disposal to retain their grip on power. Power is intoxicating and addictive and the longer it is held to more pronounced its damaging psychological effects. This is why many countries have term limit on their leaders to avoid creating dictators. Unfortunately UMNO has no such checks on the top post. Mahathir practically controls the UMNO Supreme Council. He has no qualms about using his power to propagate his term.

That Mahathir is a dictator is without question. In his 18 years rule, he has systematically demolished all checks and balances of democratic systems and all opposition to his rule. He displays the most prominent hallmark of a dictator, namely the lack of morality in retaining his position. The means justify the ends and no means is too immoral to be used. Elections are inconvenient, if they can be done away with then so much the better. Otherwise a hollow election victory by all manners of dirty tricks is acceptable. The masses who do not support him are perceived as fools and inferior beings who do not know what is good for them. Dictators view themselves as superior beings elevated above the common herd.

UMNO is treading on dangerous grounds by allowing Mahathir to spread his poison throughout the party. He has split Malay unity and his continued persecution of Anwar will split it further. The party is deeply divided and fractionated at the middle level and the rank-and-file. Not allowing any contests for the top posts will make the party weaker and simmering tension will not disappear. A healthy contest which Mahathir wins may restore his legitimacy somewhat. But so paranoid is Mahathir that he cannot even stomach a contest in which he will almost certainly win.

Anti-Dictator

With the implosion of the Gerakan Party due to the resignation of one of its founding members, Datuk Lim Ee Heong and 400 others, all its dirty linen are aired for general viewing. Datuk Lim's letter of resignation was spiced with utter contempt for the present Gerakan leadership, calling them a "bunch of cronies" and describing them as "selfish" and "incompetent." The harsh language echoes that of the two Gerakan MPs who resigned earlier and is fitting for a party that is rotten to the core.

This is despite the fact that the party did well in thr 10th General Elections. It would appear that Penang voters must be exceptionally undemanding to have voted for leaders that have neither scruples or principles and whose underlying motive is personal power play as well as vulgar self-enrichment.

The fact is that the present Gerakan leaders, corrupt, selfish, and greedy as they are, have the staunch support of no less a person than the PM, Mahathir who, being himself a prime example of corruption, selfishness and greed, must be all the more forgiving of their faults. It was Mahathir who decided that Gerakan and not MCA form the Penang state government and that the former keep a number of exco positions not commensurate with its parliamentary strength. You can be sure that Mahathir's support is based not so much on a consideration of good governance as the quality of a person's sycophancy, the more knee-bending the better. As for the people of Penang, one can only advise: "Better luck next time."

Tsu Nam

The UMNO Supreme Council decision not to have any contest for the President and Vice-President posts is a prime example of sham democracy in action. As Mahathir is the head of the Supreme Council, it appears to be the action of one man who has no confidence to face a contest, but is desperate to cling on to his position in the crudest way possible.

The reason given of not wanting to split Malay unity by the no-contest ruling does not hold water. Indeed it will make things worse. UMNO is already racked by factions and seething with internal squabbles. A healthy contest means that such pressures can be brought to the fore and released. UMNO members may take sides and painful issues may be brought out but when the better man wins, the opposing team will accept the decision of the majority and rally around the new leader. There are no grudges if one has won by fair means. The party settles down to business and the elected leader has gained the mandate and the moral right to lead. Even his critics will have to put aside their differences and graciously accept the will of the majority.

Mahathir clinging on to his position by wielding a big stick will do nothing for UMNO unity. The party will continue to seethe with internal divisions made more bitter and resentful by his dictatorial action. He has not renewed his mandate nor has he gained the moral right to the post. But what can we expect of a man who has become a dictator in the mould of Suharto and Marcos? Like all dictators, he will only leave when forced down in a humiliating manner and thrown to the rubbish heaps of history.

Anon

While leaders around the world deliver messages of hope, joy and reconciliation as the new millenium dawns, in Malaysia-Boleh, Mahathir does not seem able to resist ringing in the Year 2000 with his characteristic spite against foreigners. Malaysians have much to be ashamed of in his millenium message warning of Western powers out to re-colonise us, impoverish us and demolish our boundaries. Does this senile old man think of anything other than imaginary foreign colonisers every day? A moment of global joy has been blighted for Malaysians by this disgraceful and un-called for attack on those with whom we should reach out and cooperate with in building a better world for all. Does Mahathir wish to insulate Bolehland from the rest of the world in the new millenium? Malaysians would do well to insulate the country from a vomitting leader long past his used-by date.

Tsu Nam

Will Harakah be banned by the government? The twice weekly newspaper of the opposition party PAS has been issued a show cause letter why it should not be banned. Stung by its election losses among the Malay voters there is every reason to suspect that this is but first step in revoking its publishing license.

Harakah has been blamed by Barisan Nasional ministers for printing lies and causing a split in Malay unity. But why would a government which has total control of the mainstream mass media be worried about Harakah printing lies? Can it not use the printing presses and TV stations under its control to refute the so-called lies?

The reason for BN’s intolerance of Harakah and other publications which do not toe the government line is obvious. It is a party which has lost support from the grassroots and so must use whatever desperate means it can think of to cling on to power. Maintaining monopoly of information is certainly one of the more important means for without this stranglehold on information, all the grubby electoral practices election dirty tricks are not enough. A government which is based on truth and justice does not need such repressive measures because truth will demolish lies anytime. Truth stands out and is convincing because it is the truth.

So this government can only allow us to hear what it wants us to hear. There is only one view of things allowed, the Barisan Nasional view. All alternative viewpoints are lies cooked up by the opposition. Malaysians are presumably not able to decide for themselves which are lies and which are truth and so must be protected from alternative sources of news. On the other hand, the official view may be that Malaysians are too clever at being able to discern the lies and deceit of the BN once given a whiff of the truth so all opposition papers must be suppressed. This ban on opposition news is certainly not to protect the public, it is to protect a corrupt regime trying to prolong its rule.

Observer

Are Malaysians stupid? This seems to be the unflattering opinion that Mahathir has of us. In this era of globalization and open markets it is embarrassing to hear our Prime Minister keep talking about foreigners trying to re-colonise Malaysia. Of course inventing a common enemy, preferably foreign is a favourite tactic of politicians trying to divert attention from internal problems. But really this foreign bogeyman ploy has been played so many times that as the saying goes, it is “flogging a dead horse”.

The irony is stupendous. On one hand Malaysia tries its best to woo foreign investments and even foreign funds into the KLSE. But on the other hand our PM is berating foreigners for trying to re-colonise Malaysia economically. If we are to believe Mahathir we may as well close our borders and forget about the benefits of globalization and international trade. We can withdraw into our shell and throw up defences against the barbarians at the gate. While other nations advance, we prefer to go backwards to a closed economy to prevent the country falling to the big bad foreign wolf.

Mahathir has demonstrated yet again that it is time for him to go. He is still stuck in the 1950s style of politicking. Instead of taking concrete measures to heal Malay unity, he prefers to raise rhetorical fear of the foreign bogeyman hoping that Malaysians are too dense to see through his lies and deception.

B. Gan

Adding to MGG Pillai's article A proclamation of undying love(at Free Malaysia), let me share my own experience:- In late 1997 around 8:00pm, as my friend and I were waiting at the Jalan Semangat traffic light in Section 14, Petaling Jaya (turning into Jalan Kemajuan, i.e. before Jaya Supermarket) - a huge, dark metallic blue late model Bentley limousine with tinted glass cut the queue and pulled alongside my friend's 1991 Nissan Sentra. The really dark tinted glass probably contravened traffic laws. But which constable would dare stop a multi-million dollar car with honorific metal badges?

The driver's electric window wound down. I instantly recognised the driver being none other than Tun Ghafar Baba. Seated besides him was a twenty-ish looking, fairly attractive (albeit slightly plump) Malay lady wearing a tudung. I wound down my window and Y.B. asked us for directions to Subang Jaya. Since we were headed towards Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (closeby to the NKVE), my friend and I obliged to help and led him to the Section 17 vicinity of Jalan Damansara, then directed Y.B. to the NKVE-Subang interchange. He thanked us and drove off.

What really astonishes me is despite Y.B. staying what I assume would be a good two decades in the Klang Valley, Y.B. still doesn't know his way to Subang Jaya (a huge, long established suburb which by then encompassed USJ and which is about 20 kilometres away from the upmarket Bukit Damansara-Bukit Tunku precinct, where Y.B. presumably resides). Bearing in mind then he was JUST retired. Do all Bolehland bigwigs lives merely revolve around golf courses, sponsored shopping trips to London and Paris, sumptious palatial hotel banquets, casinos? I wonder whether the other geriatric Bolehland bigwigs such as His Imperial Worship The M-peror, his eunuchs like Ling and Samy are equally out-of-touch with us lowly peasants?

Anonymity Requested

PAS has already agreed with their coalition partners that no kharaj tax will be imposed on non-Muslims if they do not want it. If kharaj is proposed it will replace some existing taxes such as assessment and quit rent and non-Muslims will be given the choice to choose in an entirely democratic manner. But MCA appears not to have got the message or are deliberately ignoring new developments. They are flogging the kharaj issue with a political vengence.

A few days ago the MCA controlled Star criticized DAP's visit to Kelantan andTerengganu and again raised the kharaj tax issue as an example of what non-Muslims stand to lose out under PAS rule. Then in Parliament on 23 Dec, BN's MP for Klang, Dr. Tan Yee Kew deviated off-topic in parliament and spoke of kharaj tax as denying the constitutional rights of non-Muslims as if totally ignorant of PAS' new stand, even taking a swipe at DAP for co-operating with PAS.

MCA appears to be playing the old game of dishonest information monopoly and manipulation as if people only read the local dailies. In this age of internet and information technology, of porous borders and open skies, such tactics should by now be relegated to the ranks of the desperate and the foolish.

Anonymous

After more than a year, there is still no solution in sight for the CLOB shares debacle. The patience of Singaporean investors whose funds are trapped are wearing thin and Malaysia's reputation as an attractive place for offshore investments is similarly wasting away.

It was first of all, not a good idea to suddenly freeze all those billions' worth of shares on the flimsiest of excuses: that CLOB was an illegal market when, in fact, it had been trading that way for some eight years. The fact that Malaysian authorities did absolutely nothing for so long a period of time gives it a de facto legitimacy. But if the purpose was to get rid of this market -- which, by the way, had done much to fuel the KLSE -- it would have been far better to wind it up in an orderly manner. By suddenly shutting the door, Malaysian authorities created the CLOB problem.

Why do something that so clearly damages the country's reputation in the eyes of foreign investors? The answer can perhaps be found in the greed of Finance Minister, Daim Zainuddin and his cronies. We hear of one offer after another to buy up CLOB shares at a steep discount as though Singaporeans are either stupid or generous or both, offers that can only have the backing of the highest powers in the Land of Corruption and Cronyism. Singaporeans have rightly refused these attempts at daylight clobbery.

The fact that the Singapore Stock Exchange has raced ahead to way past pre-crisis levels while the KLSE still languishes must be due in no small part to CLOB. No way would bitten Singaporeans have returned to be bitten once more.

Will the CLOB shares be nationalised by the Finance Ministry after the December 31 dateline as threatened? Daim may be rubbing his slimy hands in anticipation, but clobbered Singaporeans have Stanley Morgan and a world of foreign investors behind them. Should the shares be seized, the greed of Daim and Mahathir will be fit to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.

Tsu Nam

Mahathir's rape of the Malaysian Constitution in calling a parliamentary session that did not comply with its strictures is nothing new. He has raped the Constitution with such ferocity over his 18 years in power that the document may justifiably be said to be full of holes.

Far reaching changes have been made to the Constitution that greatly increase the power of the Executive at the expense of the Judiciary. Such changes would have required a referendum in many democratic countries, yet in Malaysia, are passed by a rubber-stamp Parliament with a minimum of debate. Once, when Mahathir felt uneasy about fighting a by-election in Sabah, he had the Constitution changed so that no by-election need be held if it were within two years of the next general elections. Simply for political expediency, Mahathir thereby deprived some electorates of representation for a full two years, which, when you think about it, is no small amount of time.

Mahathir's utter contempt for Constitutional niceties is also seen in his sacking of Anwar Ibrahim which legally can only be done by the King on the advice of the PM. However, Mahathir sacked Anwar first and informed the King later.

Why does Mahathir dare trample on a supposedly sacred document that enshires "rule by law?" Because he knows that he can get away with it without so much as a slap on the wrist. The Judiciary in a democracy has a role in interpreting the Constitution, but Mahathir knows he can survive any legal challange because the courts belong to him. Thus, when Anwar sued on the basis that his sacking was unconstitutional, a morally flexible judge threw out the case as being "vexatious" and "frivolous."

Indeed, if rule by law is to be "vexatious" and "frivolous," if the law is simply what one man says it is, then the government of this country deserves a more proper name: dictatorship.

Tsu Nam

Aliran has released a detailed financial report going back 8 years to refute Datuk’s Murad unsubstantiated allegation that it received RM5 million funding from ex-DPM Anwar Ibrahim, however news of this has been blackout by the press. Similarly, PAS agreement with DAP not to impose kharaj tax against the wishes of non-Muslims has been roundly ignored by the local press despite the fact that both issues were widely publicized by the same press.

This is yet another example of how the supine press shapes public opinion. Unsubstantiated accusations and negative reports against political enemies and the opposition are given wide coverage while rebuttals, explanations and positive reports about them are given scant attention. The press continue to prop up the Mahathir regime by their politically biased reporting. Malaysians are the losers in this information manipulation by a corrupt regime.

Such biased journalism runs counter to the growing aspiration of the people for more transparent and accountable government. Information is getting more and more difficult to monopolize with the widespread use of the internet and the impossibility of maintaining a “closed skies” policy forever. Unless the local press change to accommodate more fair and balanced reporting, they will find themselves on the wane as people turn to alternative sources of news.

BKG

Mr. A. Vaithilingam, the President of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) must be a disillusioned man these days. In the heat of the general election campaign, he openly supported the BN with full page advertisements without consulting Council members. Although the members of the MCCBCHS later denied endorsing BN or any other political party, the damage had been done with the habit of the biased Malaysian press for sidelining replies and rebuttals which does not suit their political flavour. Mr. Vaithilingam had solitarily declared support of the Council on the basis of the BN’s supposed tolerance and freedom of worship for other religions.

Now that the BN government has revoked the work permits of 40 Hindu priests, Vaithilingam’s call for the government to reconsider its decision must be a bitter lesson in reality. That the call is doomed to fall on deaf ears is almost a certainty. Considering BN’s track record of restricting propagation of other religions besides Islam, Vaithilingam should have been wiser than to support a regime’s desperate bid to cling on to power via lies and falsehoods. Like many other non-Muslim Malaysians who voted BN over an misinformed fear of PAS, they now face the prospect of increased Islamisation instead of the religious tolerance exhibited by PAS in Kelantan and Terengganu.

BKG

The government’s revoking of the work permits of 40 Hindu priests appears to spell a new round of religious intolerance by the UMNO-led coalition. Against this, the PAS-led governments of Kelantan and Trengganu have shown far greater respect for the culture and religions of minorities. In Trengganu, the ban on pig-farming imposed by the previous BN state government has now been lifted and the new Chief Minister promises to look into applications for new Buddhist temples that had stalled with the previous state government. The Kelantan authorities during the tenure of PAS has been far more generous to non-Islam religions than the rest of Malaysia where the construction or enlargement of non-Muslim places of worship are hedged about with so many restrictions that shophouses have to be used in several instances.

Bare-faced lies were propagated by MCA and Gerakan to win votes during the tenth general elections, to the effect that under Barisan Alternatif, Chinese culture would be destroyed, that Chinese would not be able to eat pork or drink liqueors. Unfortunately, these lies worked for a large sector of an easily frightened community. Now that they have been shown up for what they are, there is little that non-Muslims can do except pray to High Heaven that Barisan Nasional will spare their religious sensitivities, that is if they can find a temple to do so. As for the despicable leaders of MCA and Gerakan, you can be sure that those who feast at the banquet of corruption have no religious sensitivities whatsoever.

Kevin Gan

In applying to strike out Professor's Jomo's suit, the Election Commission appears to have considered the voting rights of 680,000 to be "vexatious and "frivolous." Only in the most sham of sham democracies can the legitimate rights of fully 7% of the electoral roll be described in such denigrating terms. Going by the large number of seats that were won by BN on very slender margins in the last elections, it is clear that these disenfranchised voters would have altered the political landscape in no small way.

Many irregularites have been reported during the elections, including that of waxed ballot papers, surely a world first in the annals of creative electoral cheating. The fact that the Election Commission has not bothered to investigate this most farcical element of the electoral process bespeaks an astonishingly corrupt organisation, one that works not to ensure free and fair elections, but that one coalition should be returned to power. Unfortunately, they are bound to be supported by an equally tainted and corrupt judiciary.

Kevin Gan.

Will this be Mahathir's last term? Somehow, I have my doubts. This is a guy who has talked about retiring every year for the last ten years. What bothers me are two things: firstly, dictators have got long lives and, secondly, they never give up power willingly.

Why do they possess such longevity? Because they have already created their heaven on Earth, hence, the afterlife can only get worse. And as long as they live, they need to feed their addiction to power. Lee Kuan Yew was PM for 30 years, and is still a Senior Minister today, wielding enormous influence over the Singapore government; Suharto, after 32 years of raping Indonesia, was quite prepared to give himself another term before things got nasty. As for Marcos, he would have used any means to remain in power if the armed forces hadn't withdrawn their support.

You would be foolish to go by Mahathir's own words. He has proven himself time and again to be the "Mother of All Hypocritical Liars." There's always some reason for him to stay around a little longer, and a little longer. If he is planning this to be his last term, then why isn't he bringing up a credible deputy? The only two persons who might have challenged his position at the next UMNO General Assembly have been sidelined: one sneeringly refused a Cabinet position and the other insultingly demoted to an inferior Ministry. As for Abdullah Badawi, Mahathir made him and Mahathir can un-make him at the snap of a finger. He was chosen precisely because he has got no power base within UMNO, and when Mahathir finally goes, so goes Badawi.

As long as Mahathir has his senses about him, he will still be PM, never mind what age.

Despite the massive Chinese swing towards BN in the elections just concluded, Mahathir’s new Cabinet lineup refuses to acknowlege the importance of the community’s support. There are no additional minister or deputy minister for MCA and Gerakan and, as before, these parties do not head any key ministry. And talk of a Chinese in a secondary DPM postion have remained just that: empty blabber.

After scaring the Chinese into giving away their votes, BN intends to take them for granted. One can be sure that the leaders of MCA and Gerakan will not be pulling any more weight in the government. The rewards of cronyism and corruption will ensure that these leaders remain slavishly sycophantic towards UMNO. Do not expect a Chinese University any time soon, not when the MCA itself does not support the idea, or the crumbs of scholarship for non-Bumi students. If Malaysian politics is still divided along racial lines, then one race is still being treated like poor cousins. Unfortunately, the tenth general elections has shown that this particular race has no one to blame but itself.

MC Dec 11

Continuing with the Mahathiran tradition of having Federal Ministers and Chief Ministers declare their assets to him in confidence, this worse than useless practice remains unchanged. What is the use of such declarations when the holder of this information is no guard of public morals, but tolerates corruption for personal loyalty? Perhaps such information will be useful if Mahathir needs to keep somebody in line or wants to harass someone who has fallen out of political favour with him. Other than that declaring assets to him in private has no useful meaning. His ministers know that they are safe under this "Protector of the Corrupt" as long as they remain loyal. In fact one may gauge how corrupt a Minister is by how rabidly loyal he or she is to Mahathir. Ling Liong Sik must surely take the cake with Rafidah Aziz in hot pursuit.

Can we hope for more transparency by getting public servants to declare their assets in public like the PAS government? Let's not delude ourselves. As long as Mahathir holds the reins of power corruption will continue to fluorish under his patronage system.

Anonymous

Quick to jump to the defense of Mahathir, Rafidah Aziz has a few choice words for the less than enthusiastic response of the U.S. to BN's election win.

"We have to be very cautious and ensure that we do not fall into the hands of foreigners …. we must continue to suspect that foreigners have an interest in the country," she warned darkly apparently believing wholeheartedly Mahathir's foreign bogeyman ploy.

"The country must not be pawned," she declared and "the U.S. has ulterior motives", she intoned with conviction.

She also has harsh words for those who solicit help from abroad. "They are traitors and have sold the country for self-gain", Rafidah Aziz charged.

Coming from the Minister of International Trade and Industry whose job is to woo foreign investments back to Malaysia, one wonders how this rabid anti-foreigner can do her job. Small wonder perhaps that foreign investment to Malaysia has declined drastically quarter after quarter.

Perhaps we should close down the Ministry of International Trade and Industry if Rafidah Aziz is to be believed. After all, we don't want to be branded traitors for seeking foreign economic investments from evil foreigners who have ulterior motives do we?

Anonymous

While PAS is realising the worst fears of the non-Muslims -- hudud laws, kharaj tax and Islamic kindergartens -- the few statements by UMNO politicians have been extremely cautious. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that the government and UMNO have never objected to either the Islamic state or hudud laws as long as they are fair to all parties. UMNO Youth chief, Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein is on record as saying that he personally had no problems with the kharaj.

Even Mahathir, when asked whether he would engage in competitive Islamic policies with PAS, remarked: "We have always been an Islamic party." It is clear that the party fears being seen as insufficiently Islamic among the Malays. MCA, Gerakan and MIC may bluster at PAS, but they can do absolutely nothing that UMNO does not also support. These lapdog parties have, in the past, voted in favour of laws permitting minors to be converted to Islam without the parents' prior permission simply because they were tabled by UMNO. Combined with the possible Islamisation of schools, this would be enough to send shivers down the spines of all non-Muslim parents.

With UMNO in a corner, those terrified of religious bigotry should not expect it to come out fighting for their religious freedom when the party has had a record of encroaching on this freedom in the first place.

Tsu Nam

Where can Malaysians turn to redress election cheating? The Election Commission is in cahoots with the ruling party so don’t expect any complaints to be taken seriously. Also the courts have lost their independence to Mahathir, the police will sweep reports under the carpet and the ACA has become a faithful establishment guard dog whose job is to harass the politically unfavoured. The press and the electronic media will not publicise your grievances. So where can you turn to?

Malaysians have already lost all the institutions of democracy that act as checks and balances to power. All because of a ruthless man called Mahathir who will stop at nothing to consolidate absolute power for himself. The Philippines have thrown off the yoke of Marcos and the Indonesians have pried themselves from Suharto’s grasp. Perhaps only death will free Malaysia from the tyranny of Mahathir.

Against Tyranny

Reports that Chandra Muzzafar is resigning as No 2 man in Keadilan must surely disappoint many. This brilliant and outspoken academician was motivated to fight for justice after the outrageous injustices perpetrated by Mahathir against Anwar Ibrahim. For his pains, Chandra's contract with the University was not renewed. It is very much to be regretted that Chandra lost narrowly in his contest for a parliamentary seat as he would have brought much intelligence to a parliament dominated by BN robots. That Chandra lost to a brainless MCA goon is all the more saddening. One can only wonder about the voters' motivation. Do they want a representative who is sincere, brave and brilliant or someone who's only in it for the pickings of cronyism? Chandra's loss indicates just how much the politics of fear unleased by Mahathir have won out over simple commonsense. Oh, what a disgrace!

A Malaysian

MCA President Ling Liong Sik proves that he is Mahathir's docile and ever grateful lapdog by publicly declaring that the MCA would not be seeking additional ministerial or deputy ministerial positions in the as yet to be announced Cabinet lineup. This is despite the large Chinese swing towards BN that was instrumental in helping the Coalition maintain its 2/3 parliamentary majority. For being so self-effacing on behalf of the Chinese, Ling certainly deserves a vote of thanks -- from UMNO who allowed him a safe Malay majority seat in Johore. This is one Chinese "leader" who dare not stand in a Chinese majority electorate.

In fact, it required the Opposition DAP Chairman, Lim Kit Siang, to call for additional seats for the MCA, Gerakan and MIC as though these timid component parties of BN can find no voice of their own. While Barisan Alternatif parties healthily disagree with one another, the relationship between UMNO and its partners in BN is like that of a Master and his quietly submissive concubines.

Observer