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The Perlis mentri besar has another 'original idea'

THE PERLIS MENTRI BESAR, DATO' SERI Shahidan Kassim, is the 'original ideas' man. He is proud to be known that. But what exactly does 'original ideas' mean to him? It does not mean, as one could justly expect, a philosophical or political or intellectual tour de force that would make people sit up and look up in wonder. He is an original ideas man in the UMNO context: he is the first to talk of it as an UMNO member. It is, in truth, a cheap political move to make him stand out. If it had not been for his 'original ideas' he would not have been mentri besar of Perlis. He was making an ass of himself that even the UMNO president thought it was better he was out of harm's way. Now, with PAS at the UMNO ramparts, not only in Perlis, another 'original' idea has struck him.

He plans a seminar in Perlis on 'Mulut Orang Melayu' (The mouths of Malays) to discuss why Malays slander and hurl accusations at each other. He says of late there is more backbiting and slander. This in his considered view is proof of moral and religious decline amongst the Malays. How does he come to that conclusion: he has 'even' been accused of buying land cheap and selling them high, for a huge profit. If truth be told, and he is after all a truthful man, this would be the first time a National Front mentri besar who does not, be various methods, indulge in it. But there is also as yet in living memory a National Front (BN) mentri besar or chief minister, or indeed a cabinet minister, who has not acquired wealth as a consequence of where they are. He avers this is utter falsehood.

But every accusation of corrupt practice in a BN-controlled state inevitably leads to the mentri besar. The allegations against the Ampang Jaya municipal council in Selangor is only one: one could multiply that by hundreds and still not get to the problem. But he insists this 'mindset' - he does not clarify if it refers to allegations against him or to all in high office - 'must be corrected before they get to a point of no return'. These accusations come from the 'mulut orang melayu' in the BN and Opposition parties.

Who would chair the panel: three retired worthies. Have they accepted? No. But that is a small matter. He would shame them into accepting. Who are they? The retired (as he would in November) Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Mahathir Mohamed, and two retired vice chancellors, Prof Ungku Aziz and Prof Tan Sri Awang Had Salleh. Would this seminar ever take place? Would an iron tree blossom? At least he got his name into the front page of the New Straits Times. He is good at this. Does he seriously think that people would drop everything and rush to Perlis to attend a seminar amidst dramatic political events in Kuala Lumpur? When he knows he could well not be mentri besar of Perlis after the general elections, now probable in the early months of 2004. If he had got the new Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and others of similar presence, it would have been different.

Besides, he does not understand the nature of Malay politics. The feudalism inherent in it, in which an open challenge is 'derhaka' (treachery), makes a Malay unwilling to confront and resorts to 'surat layang' (literally, 'flying letters', anonymous missives sent out to all and sundry) to show displeasure at their leaders. In Malaysia, they rarely surface when all is well in UMNO, which began as the saviour of Malay cultural mores in 1946 when the British colonial power wanted to remove the feudal powers of the Malay sultans. But the Malay ground moved away after a feudal 'derhaka' and UMNO fights hard to return to its past role, so far with little success.

When too many surat layang surface, as now, it reflects fears and uncertainty in UMNO, not a deliberate attempt to libel individuals. I have observed this in four decades of reporting and observing Malaysian politics. I have recently seen many a surat layang about the new team led by Pak Lah. One should expect it. It is how politics is played out when come out into the open can result in bankruptcy, criminal trials, humiliation and worse. It is not that UMNO members do not know of that: it is drummed into them at every opportunity that if they are not with the leaders, they should expect the worst. Cabinet ministers have been sacked for daring to be outspoken or question the Prime Minister too intrusively.

The surat layang then is a safety valve. More so now. It is part and parcel of politics: the king is about to retire, the dauphin is ready to take over, The king's men and those left out would, in anger, fear or desperation, resort to surat layang in, often, a feeble attempt to change the course. If the dauphin had been in full debate and openness, and elected in an open contest, the need for surat layang does not arise. In UMNO, and in BN, this is not allowed. The leader decides. And the rest follow. Those who do not are sidelined and destroyed. When the stakes are so high, no one would even consider open treachery. The surat layang is the result.

The surat layang is believeable because it is the truth or there is sufficient truth in it to believe the rest. It is a fine art. In the seventies, when the fax machines were a rarity, these had to be typed to be resent. Even then, it reflects the anger that caused it for thousands of copies to be distributed. Today, with the internet, the personal computer, and other sophisticated means of delivery, it gets a wide readership. Often they tell the truth more than the mainstream newspapers and magazines. Often the subject cannot deny the contents for fear he would be caught out. So they keep quiet. The government occasionally bans them, but it does not help. The culture of politics makes this an effective way to disagree with the leaders, in safety.

Dato' Seri Shahidan and others can raily against the surat layang. But they cannot erase it. It is part of Malay political culture. When the price of dissidence is so high, other effective means are found. If an UMNO member defy his leader, he would find his contracts drying up, the banks recall his loans, his cars are repossessed, and it is made clear to him he would be reduced to penury if he does not see the light and humiliatingly eat his words. Even then, he is on notice. Many who recant are regarded with suspicion, and forced to eke out a living. If an example is needed, one is at hand: the jailed former deputy prime minister and UMNO deputy president, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Why is he where he is? Because he challenged the UMNO president. He fights back. But the lesson is not lost on any who even considers a challenge. Those in public office must resign to surat layang which speak of their misdeeds. If they are not true, they must react. None would. One must assume then there is more than a grain of truth in them. A seminar in Perlis cannot resolve this Malay conundrum.

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@mgg.pc.my