Mahathir a victim of his own propaganda

Last year, a group of Al Maunah members were arrested for breaking into an armoury and stealing army guns and ammunition. The group was later tried for treason and for waging war against the king.

Even though the Al Maunah members were caught red-handed with guns-in-hand, most Malaysians did not believe the government’s story that a group of civilians could actually break into an army camp and steal its guns. They were even less convinced that so many guns could fit into those few Pajero.

To convince everyone that this was no sandiwara (stage-play) and it could actually be done, the army conducted a demonstration - which Singapore’s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said was incredible as he knew of no country in the world where the government had to prove to its people it was not lying. But still the people were not convinced and the opposition – who were invited to attend the demonstration – refused to do so in order not to give legitimacy to it.

Then, in April this year, ten opposition leaders and Reformasi supporters were arrested for what the government says is their involvement in a conspiracy to bring in bombs, Molotov Cocktails, guns and ammunition to start chaos on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Five are still under detention in the Kamunting Detention Centre and when they will be released is not yet known.

Not long after that, another twenty PAS leaders and supporters were arrested; also for what the government alleges is their involvement in murders, bombings, arson, and so on. This new group, supposedly called the Kumpulan Mujahideen Malaysia or KMM, is alleged to be planning an armed revolution of sorts.

And as if this was not enough, Mahathir announces to the world that more arrests are expected as Malaysia is fast becoming a centre for Muslim terrorist activities. Mahathir tried very hard to convince Malaysians and the world at large that Malaysia had turned into a centre for terrorist activities. Mahathir warned the nation that if action was not taken and the many arrests had not been made, the terrorists would rampage on the streets of Malaysia. According to the government, already some people have been murdered and places of worship burnt to the ground.

Then, to top it all, Mahathir declares that Malaysia is already an Islamic State and has been all this while since independence in 1957 – much to everyone’s surprise who saw it as a move to one-up on PAS.

Malaysians may not have taken much notice of what Mahathir has been saying or doing this last one year. The United States, however, has. The United States is convinced, as Mahathir says, that Malaysia is a centre for terrorist activities. In response to this, the United States has put Malaysia on its list of 26 most dangerous countries. Now, Malaysians between the ages of 16 and 45 have to sign a special declaration form stating that they have not received any military training or been to certain countries and would have to wait at least 20 days for their visa application to be approved.

Mahathir has tried very hard to create an impression that Malaysia is a hotbed of Islamic terrorist activities. Mahathir wanted to prove to the world that the government was justified in all those arrests and that the arrests had nothing to do with politics but that those arrested were dangerous Muslim terrorists.

Well, Mahathir may have succeeded for the US is now convinced Malaysia is indeed a center for terrorist activists and all Malaysians between the ages of 16 and 45 would have to be screened carefully before being allowed into the US. Whether Mahathir realises it or not he has become a victim of his own propaganda.