He’s trying to make me go to rehab;
I said no, no, no.
I ain’t got the time
And if my daddy thinks Im fine…
He’s trying to make me go to rehab;
I said no, no,no.
– Amy Winehouse, ‘Rehab’ (2007)
So now its ‘political rehabilitation’, is it? As a corrective measure for kids who go to demonstrations and who have been ‘bad’ in the eyes of the government? That Malaysia’s leaders can even suggest such a thing speaks volumes about the extent to which the space of alienation between the state and the nation has grown over the years, and points to the lack of contact, communication and understanding between the powers-that-be and the real Malaysian nation made up of the rest of us. (1)
But are we surprised? After all this is the same country whose geography is now cluttered with a smattering of ‘faith rehabilitation centres’ that have been set up under the auspices of an Islamist project said to promote some skewered vision of a modern, pluralist, democratic Islam that is benevolent and accommodative: So accommodative in fact that it can accommodate dozens, if not hundreds, of Malaysian citizens deemed ‘immoral’, ‘deviant’, ‘apostate’ and out of the ordinary according to the norms set by an invisible and unaccountable cabal of Islamic experts in the pay of the state. We already have rehabilitation centres whose job it is to ‘turn over’ these alleged deviants and misfits and force them to conform to the normative praxis of Islam that is deemed correct by the state, so should we be surprised if the leaders of UMNO and the government can go one step further and call for the rehabilitation of children as well?
From the viewpoint of an academic who studies the development of modern postcolonial states, Malaysia seems to be a textbook example of postcolonial development turned awry. What began as a country with so much promise — its plural racial and ethnic composition, blessed with plentiful resources that was also strategically located at the cross-roads between East and West –has been squandered for the sake of one ruling party that seems to cater primarily to the needs and demands of one specific ethnic-religious constituency.
That Malaysia’s leaders still cannot understand and appreciate the extent of dissatisfaction, frustration and cynicism among the Malaysian public points to a state that has concentrated all power — including educational and mediatic — in the hands of an alienated ruling elite. Since the 1980s practically every institution of the state has undergone a serious compromise thanks to the dominance of the Executive at the expense of all other arms of the state apparatus: The emasculation of the judiciary, the tighter and tighter controls on the press, the depoliticisation of the universities (and the educational system in general), the promotion of a sectarian divisive politics based on race and religious communitarianism, the politicisation of institutions like the police, etc. have all created an increasingly small and narrow political arena that has come to be dominated by a small clique of power-hungry politicians and ruling families.
Worst still is the fact that the ruling elite of the country — made up as it is by a handful of key families of the UMNO fraternity — has come to believe its own rhetoric and the story they have spun for themselves: that they are the protectors of the Malay community and identity, that they and they alone are responsible for the fate and future of the Malaysian nation. Their continued reliance on the state-controlled media to disseminate this inbred
propaganda they have invented for themselves fails to note the fact that the very same Malay community they purport to represent is now fragmented, hybrid and plural, and that the younger generation of Malay youth, like their other Malaysian counterparts, no longer buy the stale and insipid narrative of a cohesive united nation led by a handful of Malay ruling families.
Dismissive accounts of demonstrations as being ‘un-Malay’ and ‘un-Malaysian’ have clearly fallen on deaf ears, as the younger generation of Malaysians could not care less about courtly protocol, the symbolism of UMNO and its nationalist rhetoric, the appeals to racial superiority and unity, etc. Despite the now tiresome brandishing of the keris and frothy speeches about Malay unity at the recent UMNO assembly, many of the thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets of Kuala Lumpur last weekend happened to be Malay: the very same community that is no longer beholden to UMNO and immune to its fanciful appeals to racial cohesion and unity.
So what does the future hold for Malaysian society and where will the events of 10th November lead us? It is clear that the Bersih demonstration had managed to do the one thing that the leaders of the Barisan Nasional dread above all: to bring together Malaysians from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds on one neutral issue that unites rather than divides their interests. The fact that the Islamists of PAS and the secular leftists of DAP could come together along with the activists of PKR and the NGOs suggests that the civic spirit of Malaysians is not quite dead, despite all attempts to squash any attempt at multi-racial and cross-communal political activism in the country.
Unable and unwilling to accept the new realities on the ground the political elite of Malaysia has resorted to the same worn out clichés and the call to rehabilitate the younger Malaysians who were present at the demonstration reveals the extent to which this ruling elite is so thoroughly bankrupt of ideas. No, it is not the younger Malaysians who are in need of rehabilitation- In fact the activist in me would say that activism and civic responsibility should begin from our school days and that every young citizen should be made aware of her and his rights and responsibilities as early as possible, as a rite of civic membership.
If anyone is in need of rehabilitation, it is the politicians and ruling elite of Malaysia themselves, who should learn that this diverse and plural society of ours happens to be a complex nation undergoing a slow democratic transformation and that the future of Malaysian politics should reflect this multicultural diversity. So I strongly suggest that the right-wing communitarian leaders of Malaysia sign up for their own rehab courses as soon as possible, for their and our own good, and learn the following:
- That Malaysian citizenship, and not race or religious identity, should serve as the basis of political participation and political rights;
- That the language of racial superiority and racial exclusivism is not only morally repugnant, racist and dangerous but outdated and has no resonance with the Malaysian public today;
- That the fundamental duty of all citizens is to demand that the state serves the interests of the nation as a whole and not just a coterie of landed elites living in their comfortable and alienated paradise of select privileges and luxury;
- And that the right to speak one’s mind and to demand that the state carries out its fundamental democratic functions are among the basic rights of all citizens, and not some outrageous demand by anarchists, mobsters and unruly nihilists.
And while taking these basic lessons in democracy, do leave the kids alone. At least they don’t go on the stage brandishing weapons and screeching about racial superiority… They are too matured to do such stupid things!
Note: (1): ‘Detained Children to be ‘Rehabilitated’- NST, 14 Nov 2007.
In American parlance, our ruling elite has got sh!t for brains. Years down the road, when the country is on its knees from the stealing, from the braindrain, the ministers will resort to doing what Mugabe’s ministers have done:
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/11/16/mugabe.witchdoc.ap/index.html
YB LIM,
It is so true, very well said, i am so touced…
The sad part really is they don’t get it that it is a good thing. They can’t appreciate that despite all their effort, those who participated did it peacefully, well organized and executed. Its something to be proud off.
The mistake would be to push it so that they turn violent and uncrontrolled.
Demonstration is a Malaysian culture where our founding fathers did so for independence and Malaysia ideals but we did it peacefully. If it turns violent, its not those that did it that we have to look at, but the government given so much advantage it cannot avoid it.
It’s scary that this government is becoming more tyrant by the day. I suppose, people who voted for oppositions will be sent to rehabilitation next!
Absolute power corrupts absolutely!
“political rehabilitation…faith rehabilitation centres”…while they are it, why not have “mat repit rehab centres, rapist rehab centres, etc”….
Well said Farish Noor
Maybe the government is seeking ways to keep all those surplus employees on its payroll.
Some of those kids just followed their parents and probably did not know they were going to be part of an illegal gathering.
Methinks a few of them can be influenced to become potential bomb masters. After all we did produce a few international terrorists of note.
http://malaysiawatch3.blogspot.com/2007/11/bersih-rallythe-aftermath.html
They are taking a leaf off Mao Tse Tung’s cultural revolution, sending Capitalist roaders off to rural farms for rehab. Maybe they should build a facility deep in the jungles of Sarawak to send deviants from Islam, Malay culture, demonstrators etc there to do 5 years hard labour.
Unfortunately, Mao’s rehab didn’t work, China has become more capitalistic than some capitalist nations.
Do not worry not much about ending up in rehabilitation centres, obviously the authority does not have fund to build so many. Even a simple, coarse building will cost as much as Agong palace, before you have chance to stay in, the building implore like cards house.
From outset it is very encouraging seeing DAP and PAS’s leaders walking hand in hand like lovers to present the memorandum. everyone knows this is just Hollywood movie in making, marriage for convenient won’t last long. Deep inside the heart, non bumis are very wary of PAS, their paramount spiritual male chauvinist leader Tok guru Nik Aziz is full of stupid, and out dated understanding and perception. We must be very cautious not to follow the footsteps of Iran, corruption epidemic never recuperate, public delivery system as hopeless as before revolution(some even perceive it is worse than Shah’s era), an even more fanatical, unstable, disconnected from reality leaders at the helm. If we end up in this state, Muslims could seek refuge from theirs religion by comforting themselve they are more pious now and therefore much nearer to the place they crave to go, whereas non-Muslim will be in foul hell.
Frankly, I believe a lot of us are at the crossroads, do not know what the future holds, each side has its own deadly boobytraps.
Racial superiority does exixt in rhetorics.
They have to prove in deeds and action that they are superior.
What we have here are people who like to shout that they superior. Who believe? Besides they themselves, no one else!
What a pity?
What more rights are they defending when they have taken everything conceivable in the country, from education, contracts procurement, jobs, employment, licenses…. except the brain and intelligence of other.
“…//…From outset it is very encouraging seeing DAP and PAS’s leaders walking hand in hand like lovers to present the memorandum. everyone knows this is just Hollywood movie in making, marriage for convenient won’t last long… non bumis are very wary of PAS, their paramount spiritual male chauvinist leader Tok guru Nik Aziz is full of stupid, and out dated understanding and perception. We must be very cautious not to follow the footsteps of Iran…//…†– tsn.
People are so fed up in the government that they revel in an assembly that the government issued no permit and yet could not stop. It is show of force of people’s power. It feels good when government has power and abused it for to long.
People don’t look at the other angle that people’s power was given meaning by Islamic revolutionaries who did not want to play by the rules of the written constitution.
How did Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seize power from the Shah of Iran backed by American amoury?
He initiated and organized a number of demonstrations in various cities to test waters, improve logistics and organizational methods before organizing bigger and more massive ones ideologically driven by anti-government sentiments progressively escalating with each instance of skulls being cracked, bones being fractured and lives being lost in the hands of security forces opposing the street demonstrations.
Why do you think that PAS supporters were so much easier to mobilize for a street show down and have played a dominant role both in Reformasi demonstrations of the past and the East Coast demonstration and Bersih’s March of late?
Sure our NGOs and Opposition parties support these demonstrations as they are for a good democratic cause and seem to be the only way to make the government listen and change.
But one successful demonstration begets more and more and bigger and bigger to come and who knows where this will all lead to…..
NGOs and Opposition Parties have demanded adherence to and upholding of the Federal Constitution in opposition to some within UMNO declaring an Islamic State. They have forgotten to ask whether a show of power via street demonstrations is consistent with abiding with and upholding the Federal Constitution in respect to political change!
Yes, there’s an argument here if UMNO Youth deputy Khairy Jamaluddin, could organise a demonstration in front of the convention centre that hosted the Asean Regional Forum (ARF), demanding United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to get out of Malaysia because “you have done nothing to stop the genocide and the murder of Palestinians and Lebanese”, why couldn’t the rest of us, in Bersih? A case of Kettle calling the Pot black!
But have no illusion about that : when did KJ say he would place the Constitution above the Islamic state? To which sector was he playing the gallery?
Demonstrating and demanding United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to get out of whatever place she is because “you have done nothing to stop the genocide and the murder of Palestinians and Lebanese” is exactly what Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini would have done were he alive today in another situation and in his own country.
“The death of democracy is not likely to be an assassination from ambush. It will be a slow extinction from apathy, indifference, and undernourishment”.
Robert Maynard Hutchins (American educator)
“Khairy Jamaluddin, could organize a (public) demonstration ….demanding United States Secretary of State Rice to get out of Malaysia because “you have done nothing to stop the genocide and the murder of Palestinians and Lebaneseâ€Â, why couldn’t the rest of us, in Bersih? A case of Kettle calling the Pot black!” Jeffrey
Nope. Just a case of double standards.
“The emasculation of the judiciary, the tighter and tighter controls on the press, the depoliticisation of the universities (and the educational system in general)…” Faris A. Noor
“Depoliticization” of education and educational system? Shouldn’t it be “politicization”?
Yes “double standards” which really discounts the moral cogency with which the government could urge the people to respect public order and not take to the streets and its decision not to issue police permit….
Police state – it means that if you do not agree with the Govt of the day, they will drag you away for reeducation – ie brainwashing. It means that you have no free will. Why does Malaysia need that ? Are we no different from the KGB during those day year of visiting you at night and dragging away for reeducation at the holiday camp at Siberia ?