Malaysian democracy, victim of Sept 11?

by Tian Chua from Kamunting

While the American people are trying to recover from the shock and distress if the WTC attack, the Malaysia government was quick to seize the opportunity to turn the event to its advantage. Not suprisingly, the government exploits the incident to justify the much criticized ISA. The government argues that its authoritarian measure is now justified for the sake of preventing terrorism.

Nothing can be further than the truth. Such argument is not only illogical it also contradicts to the government  own international stand . immediately after the attack, Malaysian government pledged its full support for the US anti-terrorist effort. Prime minister, Dr. Mahathir said Malaysia will cooperate with the US and other nations to counter terrorism. However both the government and opposition appeal to the US government to act cautiously. Malaysia call upon the Bush administration not to launch its offensive until the culprits are positively identified.

One may accept that terrorist actions often originated from extreme oppression and the victims of oppression often have legitimate grievances. However, terrorism is indiscriminate :its violence is directed at innocent people. It is true that the U.S unjustly sided with Zionist Israel to oppression the Palestinians. But the retaliation on any individual is equally unjust. The crime of Zionist aggressors cannot be repaid by blood of innocent lives in the soil of America. As we have witnessed in the tragedy, people of all crates, black, white, Muslims, Christians, Asian, … perished in the blast.

Similarly, we urge the U.S administration not to act recklessly. Even if a handful of Arabs or Muslims were proven to be the conspirators of the terrorist act, the US government has no right to punish all the Muslims or Arabs. The Taliban regimes should be blamed for sheltering and sponsoring terrors, but not ordinary Afghan people.

It may be true that Osama Ben Laden is backing a series of terrorist activities. Yet he should not be punished unless a trial conclusively proves him guilty. Any unilateral action by the US will only provoke greater animosity from Muslim through out the world. It would be wise for the US to consult the international community before any retaliation. The activities to bring Osama to justice and future plan to counter terrorism should come from the United Nation Security Council. The UNSC should the possibility of a trial by the international court of justice similar the one prepared for Slobodan Milosevic, since the nature of their crime is rather similar.

Coming back to the issue of detention without trial in Malaysia. The principle is the same. The so called preventive arrest is a gross transgression of justice. No body deserved to be imprisoned for unproven crimes. In ISA, one is presumed guilty without the right of a free and fair trial.

Moreover, the USA is not an assurance for security. Instead it is an tool to perpetuate authoritarianism. We understand from history and the experiences of other countries that injustices breed turmoil and instability. Let justice prevails, we shall enjoy lasting peace and harmony. Democratization is the best answer to fanaticism. Rather than, repression, a society with openness and freedom to exchange ideas is most capable to resolve all forms of contradictions.

One should also be absolutely clear that terrorism is not the way to advance the struggle for justice. Terrorism in reality never hits at the “enemy”. Invariably people unconnected to the unjust deeds are the victims. If the intention of the New York and Washington attack was to target America imperialism, the action failed completely. The effects of the attack are the opposite. Islam and the Arabs become the casualty of heightened prejudices. Public insecurity only profits arm manufacturers, the defense industries, the intelligent services and the other hawkish pro-war political lobby. Security considerations may erode the standard of human rights and civil liberty worldwide. Religious or racial discriminatory practices may surface under the cover of national security. President George W. Bush is fantasy of “star war” defense system could be resurrected. And worse, the priority for welfare spending and productive investments will be shifted in favor of arm build up.

The situation pleases dictators like Dr. Mahathir. He is glad that the traumatic event in the US has over shadowed international criticism over his repressive regime. Several international forum such as CHOGM and his European trip had been rescheduled and he succeeded to avoid potential embarrassing pressure from democratic leaders for his heavy-handed suppression of opposition at home.

The new anti-terrorism international atmosphere gives the PM an opportunity to present himself as a moderate. Terrorism provides Dr. Mahathir a ready made bogey-man. Islam has been further demonized to implant seeds of fear within the multi-ethnic Malaysian society.

On the international arena, Dr. Mahathir loudly and unequivocally condemns terrorism and vowed to cooperate with the US. At home, the anti terrorist campaign becomes the excuse for more crackdowns, more repression of human rights. The draconian Internal Security Act (ISA) is justified in the name of preventing the rise of militant terrorists. This position is clearly projected in the government-controlled English language press such as NST.

On the other hand. In the local Malay media, Malaysian joins the rank of Osama Ben Laden, Saddam Hussein and Ghadaffi, hypocritically reprimands the US for its “international policemen” role. The US military mobilization that is targeted at the Taliban regime has been painted as a campaign against Islam. The government deliberately stirs up emotion  of Muslims in Malaysia in order to divert the people’s attention away from Dr. Mahathir’s domestic problems.

This is a double-faced game manipulated by Dr. Mahathir. He intentionally undermine the opposition PAS through the terrorist scare. PAS openness and moderate policies have gained gradual acceptance by trying to exploit the fear against Islamic fanaticism to win favors from the west, particularly the US. Knowing that his authoritarianism is unpopular in the west, Dr. Mahathir would trap PAS into an image of fundamentalists. He is partially successful. He finally got an appointment with bush in Shanghai during APEC meeting. Earlier president bush rejected Dr. Mahathir request for meeting unless Anwar Ibrahim is allowed overseas treatment and political prisoners are released. Now, we can be sure that a distorted description  of Islamic opposition will be presented in the forthcoming meeting between Dr. Mahathir and Bush.

Yet Dr. Mahathir is not sincerely interested to cooperate with the US or any Western democracies. Just in case he fails to impress the West, he will instantly revert to his ultra-nationalist rhetoric. In the face of foreign criticism over his abuses of power, Dr. Mahathir will pose as a third  world superhero  and whips up vehement anti foreign fervor.

In the juncture of turbulent international crisis, Dr. Mahathir is showing his great endowment as a machiavellian manipulator. To preserve his legacy, he is desperately to strive for his political survival. The Malaysian people and the world community must be watchful, lets not let Malaysian democracy become the unintended victims of Sept 11 terrorist attack.