From:
Date: 20 Sep 1999
Time: 20:11:18
Position Statement by Dr Abdul Rahim Ghouse
MALAYSIAN SOLIDARITY FOR DEMOCRACY AND REFORM
Position Statement 20th September 1999
A Year of People's Power in Malaysia
If the angel Gabriel was to descend from Heaven and tell Malaysia's dictatorial Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to resign, Mahathir would probably tell him to go to hell. After all, Mahathir has ignored his own people's persistent calls for him to resign. Malaysians are becoming increasingly disenchanted with Mahathir's regime after the expulsion of his once heir apparent, Anwar Ibrahim, and the subsequent almost fatal and cowardly assault on him by the Malaysian police chief while under detention.
When Mahathir expelled Anwar from the government and party in September
1998, he assured his party's leadership that he'll settle the matter within two weeks. Slightly more than two weeks later Anwar was arrested by baklava clad police commandos. Many of his supporters were also detained, probably with the expectation that this will preempt any response against the government's move. Instead, public sympathy and outrage swelled, especially after Anwar appeared in court with a black eye. A medical expert who examined him later testified that the blows received by Anwar could have been fatal. When asked by reporters about Anwar's injuries, Mahathir made the ludicrous claim that they were self-inflicted. Malaysians took to the streets to protest the injustice and called for Mahathir to step down.
Mahathir and the police could not understand what was happening because they had assumed that by detaining Anwar and his lieutenants, Anwar's infant reformasi movement would simply wither away. Instead, Malaysians who took to the streets were mobilized by unknown figures. Local leaders from all races spearhead the reformasi movement. Extensive networks penetrated urban and rural areas. Anwar's reformasi movement had now become a people's movement. Still, Mahathir assured the country that in three months Anwar will be forgotten.
A year later on September 10th 1999, Anwar was admitted to hospital after the result of a urine test found his body to have an unusually high level of arsenic i.e. 77 times the normal level and 33 times the danger level. According to medical opinion the fact that Anwar is alive is itself miraculous. Far from being forgotten, this poisoning attempt by his enemies stirred more sympathy for Anwar and directed anger at Mahathir. The cynical and outrageous comments by Mahathir and his sycophant stooges inflamed the situation further. To add insult to injury instead of waiting for the outcome of the medical investigation, the Attorney General made the ludicrous claim that Anwar was probably poisoned by his family. Another minister suggested it was because Anwar ate a lot of seafood. The local press focused on peripheral issues, such as how Anwar's urine sample was smuggled out of the country for testing in Australia and raising other issues to cast doubt on this murderous attempt. The poisoning of Anwar Ibrahim only further reinforced the allegation of a high-level conspiracy, also laying to rest the doubts of some.
In spite of this, public response to this episode was more defined and focused. The opening volley was fired by the President of the Malaysian Bar Council. He called for the setting up of a Royal Commission to investigate the poisoning of Anwar. He noted that police investigation into the assault on Anwar the year before got nowhere after dragging for several months.
However, the Royal Commission of Inquiry that was formed, after intense public pressure, took only 10 days to identify the chief of police as the culprit.
On September 18, Malaysians in several cities throughout the country organized rallies and marched to the palaces of the sultans (rulers) to present petitions expressing their fears and calling upon the rulers to intervene. In the northern state of Perak, 15,000 people marched to the sultan's palace to present the memorandum. Malaysians of all ethnic backgrounds joined the march. Representatives of the Chinese and Indian communities also spoke at the rallies. In the states of Selangor, Kedah, Pahang and Penang similar marches were organized with between 5,000-10,000 people joining the procession in each state.
What is significant about these marches is that it demonstrates that the disenchantment with Mahathir is not restricted to the Malay middle-class in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur only. It also demonstrates that the ability of the newly formed Parti KeADILan, which is headed by Anwar's wife, to mobilize the people is something to be reckoned with. Equally significant is that the sultans have shown their willingness to accept the memoranda. Even though Malaysia's sultans have a largely ceremonial role, they still enjoy the command and respect of Malaysians.
It will be difficult for Mahathir to simply dismiss these signs of growing disenchantment with his rule. His own rallies during his visit to the states were stage- managed and failed to attract comparable crowds. Even those who turned up were forced to attend and were bused in from other states and areas. During his visit to the National University of Malaysia, students were forced to attend a "dialogue" with him. Questions were set in advance and students were warned not to ask anything other than the approved questions. In fact, a rehearsal was held the day before he came to ensure everything went smoothly. On the other hand, a public talk held by opposition parties in Kuala Lumpur on the evening of September 18 attracted around 60,000 people.
On September 19, Malaysians gathered at the National Mosque to perform a special prayer for their beloved leader Anwar Ibrahim. Various press reports, including CNN and BBC put the crowd at 10,000. After the prayer, a delegation lead by KeAdilan party youth leadership which included Anwar's eldest daughter , Nurul Izzah left for the Istana Negara (National Palace) to present a memorandum to the King. The police cordoned the area, blocked the march and assaulted the marchers. This left them with no escape route and forced them to retreat back into the mosque.
The police continued their assault by shooting tear gas right into the mosque. Boxed into a position without any exit route, the marchers were left with no choice but to retreat. The action of the police must be seen within the context of the experience on September 18. The huge turnout in the state level marches and the willingness of the sultans to accept the memoranda was a warning to Mahathir. Various ministers realized this danger and started warning that the involvement of the sultans can spark a political crisis. Thus, the police were used on Sunday 19 September to prevent a repeat of the success of Saturday's march.
September 20th 1999 marks the anniversary of Anwar's detention. Far from being forgotten, he continues to haunt Mahathir and his fawning cronies. The reformasi torch lighted by Anwar is now carried by Malaysians all over the country. The spark that started this movement will burn until it consumes Mahathir's despotic regime.
Dr. Abdul Rahim Ghouse Malaysian Solidarity for Democracy and Reform Plaza Exim Penthouse, 31st floor Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 36-38 Jakarta 12190 Indonesia TEL: (62-21) 524 0030 (O) FAX: (62-21) 527 5354 e-mail: msdr99@hotmail.com