MGG Pillai Commentary View

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Is it the power of Islam or the vote that reduces the National Front into impotence?

THE CANDLE-LIGHT VIGIL in Kuala Lumpur, which began after the High Court had refused to allow the Hindu wife of the Corporal Moorthy her right to know what is happening around her, after he is alleged to have become a Muslim in surpicious circumstances and buried as one, has been called off. It was to have continued till the end of this month, the number taking part increasing from about 50 when it started to about 500 when it stopped. It was not of course reported for it protested an official policy although many journalists from the mainstream newspapers took part. The organisers decided to call it off after the Chief Secretary (KSN) and the police requested. In the past, they would have arrested the organisers. Under Malaysia's laws, Corporal Moorthy's Hindu widow is left high and dry. But the defence ministry promised her a job, which she refused because it was too far, have ensured she would get the enhanced pension. Now it has asked the private sector to give her a job nearer her home when she refused the job it offered here because it was too far. The government went out of its way to prove its policies wrong. The beating of the breast and insisting that the law must take its course was its attitude then; today, it cannot do enough for the lady.

The Islamic women are also up in arms. The Islamic Family Laws Bill reduces them to second class citizenship. But the law was passed in stealth in the Lower House of Parliament, It became an issue when BN women senators rebelled. The National Government does not how to react to unexpected opposition, sent three ministers to placate them, promised amendment to the Bill to remove the offending sections, which is now in progress. The three Muslim women in the cabinet did not object because they considered their presence more important than their sex, and are generally hostile to Muslim women's demands. The position of Muslim Malay women is bad enough: many of Malaysia's social ills can be traced to the Muslim men taking wives in the area they are transfered to, and who are divorced when he goes to another area, where it starts again. The government has not addresses this, apart from making speeches that it is bad.

A third issue has come up. In Kuala Lumpur, the Islamic Department has a vigilante squad of snoopers in lover's lanes. They do not have power of arrest, and need not have qualifications. Even the prime minister, Pak Lah, has said it is wrong. But it was the National Front government which allowed it. It should not, by its own statements, interfere in the administration of Islamic laws. It has barried the civil courts from Islamic decisions. The newspapers, as usual, has supported these moves, has not allowed any protests. In the Star yesterday, several ministers. Moslems, voiced their opposition. One even asked if the snoopers were qualified. It has become an issue of electoral significance that extraneous and diversive news items are brought in to blur the Islamic move would affect votes. But this issue slaked the Islamic men's prurient interest than to see if Islamic laws are obeyed.

There are others which the National Front, in their arrogance from near control of the electoral process, had created in the states. Every development of Islamic law in Malaysia has happened in states it controls. It blames PAS for turning this country Islamic, but it introduces Islamic law by stealth. PAS has amended Islamic laws in Kelantan which the National Front intrudced when it was in power. Children are converted without their parent's consent, and prevented from seeing them. The Islamic authority digs up graves on its say so that they belong to a convert and reburied in a Muslim cemetery. It has been going on for years. The non-Muslim opposition will not raise it, or be concerned of it. But the worm is about to turn, whether it is the Muslim, non-Muslim or the woman.

It is the fear that the non-Malays, the non-Muslims, and the women – who form more voters that worry the National Front. It had refused to listen to the people who elected them to power, knowing it had the votes on its side. The National Front won Pengkalen Pasir but PAS had more votes than it collected last year. Despite the National Front's great effort and money to win it, all it showed was a pointer to the future. If PAS continues to gain more votes in future elections, it will be a matter of time before the National Front becomes an opposition party. This is assuming the non-Malay, the non-Muslim and the women are on its side. If these voters desert it as they threaten, it would be sooner. The National Front is Islamic, and is in power today because of the non-Muslims. Now the Muslim women are in revolt. If they join hands and vote against the National Front throughout the country in an election, the National Front would be in trouble.

At the Royal Selangor Club, one heard a different story. The successful Malay business man, who is because the National Front is in power. was dismissive. He blamed the women for not acting earlier to protect their interests. A retired civil servant, a woman, asked why the National Front was then frightened when the women, at the last minute, bared their teeth. By the rules, she said, the National Front should have penalised the women for opposing government intentions, Instead it became frightened of what the women did. The previous National Front – and its previous alliance – leaders took the non-Malay into account. And Malaysia was ruled by a Malay with the concurrence of the non-Malay. In East and West Malaysia.

The riots in May 1969 changed all that. Malay Dominance followed the New Economic Policy aimed at giving the Malay political and economic power. But it was decided the non-Malay should be marginalised. The non-Malay partners in the National Front went along, because its leaders served themselves not their communities. In Nibong Tebal, more than 1,000 MCA members joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat. In Sabah, many in UMNO and the National Front are poised to join it. But for a different reason: UMNO is seen as a colonial party, and the National Front its supporters. The locals would join any that is seen as not colonial. The National Front, and UMNO, held on to power with money and underhand means like restraining opponents in an election so that he cannot be a candidate.

It takes a generation – about 30 years – for a policy to fruit. Malay Dominance and New Economic Policy was initiated in the 1970s. It is faced with a revolt, hidden rather than in the open, in East and West Malaysia. It does not know why. Which is why it is defensive these days. It dominated the scene, and then acted because it had no opposition. Its leaders would rather keep quiet than say anything that would explain the issue. But when they say anying, they first take leave of the senses. This revolt of the non-Malay, non-Muslim and women are only because they have come to the surface. Many holding a contrary view do not come to the surface. The police action on supporters of the former deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, made sure of that. The National Front knows this opposition is real, but when that begins to affect its votes, it begins to worry. But is it too little too late?

M.G.G. Pillai
pillai@streamyx,com