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Herald permit: Divide-and-rule rears its ugly head?

Anil Netto

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24 Dec 2007

Publication permit in doubt: The Herald has provided prominent coverage of recent demonstrations and other human rights issues even as the mainstream media abdicate their responsibility

Four years ago, Christian Malaysians were overjoyed when Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi sent Christmas greetings to their various churches and congregations. It was an astute gesture that touched many Christians, and many of them voted in droves for the BN in the 2004 general election. How times have changed. Now, as we observe Christmas 2007, the mood in many churches is decidedly sombre. The Catholic Church has not yet received its new publication permit for its weekly Herald newspaper for the coming year, ostensibly because of its use of the term “Allah” to refer to God in its Malay-language section. As a columnist for The Herald, I am deeply disappointed. The Herald’s use of the term “Allah” is nothing new; it has been using the word for years in its Bahasa Malaysia section. See the Aliran statement here. In fact, “Christian Arabs of today have no other word for ‘God’ than ‘Allah'” (Wikipedia). So why has this become an issue now? This is similar to the issue of crucifixes in mission schools. In many mission schools, the crucifixes have long been taken down as local heads replaced the Christian La Salle brothers. So why did BN MPs resurrect this issue in Parliament recently? I suspect it has something to do with playing the old game of divide-and-rule and trying to pit one group against the other to shore up support from their own constituencies. Especially at a time when the BN has to deal with a host of genuine grievances that threatens to erode support for the ruling coalition. If there is one thing the BN fears more than anything else, it is the coming together of all the different ethnic groups in the country to demand justice. In recent weeks, we have seen Malaysians of all ethnic groups demonstrating for justice and accountability. The BN’s PR and attempts at crisis management have been disastrous: it has succeeded in alienating, in turn, workers demanding a minimum wage, the lawyers, civil society groups clamouring for electoral reforms (backed mainly by Malays), Indian Malaysians and now, the Christians. What better time, from the BN’s point view, to try and prevent all these Malaysians from coming together. So the coalition raises divisive issues. And it is so ironic that it is using a widely accepted term for God to divide His people. Malaysians, don’t fall for this! Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and others are our sisters and brothers. Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists and others share noble universal spiritual values such as love, justice, renunciation and compassion for the poor and oppressed. To use the term “Allah” (God) to divide groups takes the cake. Correct me if I am wrong: don’t Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet of Allah? The Bible says that when Jesus was suffering in anguish on the cross, he cried out: Eli Eli, lama sabachthani? (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) Now, I ask you, what does Eli (or Eloi) sound like? Anyway, I hear the church has already filed a case in court over the usage of the term “Allah” among other things. I don’t normally put my Herald articles in full out here. But given the extraordinary circumstances, allow me to do just that. (This is an unedited version of the article that appears in the latest Herald, the last for 2007. After that, who knows…) Dark times for Malaysia by Anil Netto

So after weeks of preparing the ground and vilifying the Hindraf leaders, the Abdullah administration has used the ISA against them.

This is a backward step for democracy. It reveals an administration that has run out of ideas, that is even afraid of its own shadows, afraid of people on the move, unwilling to respect basic rights.

In recent weeks, top officials have said they would use the ISA as a “last resort”. That point has been reached. So, now what?

The crackdown began ironically on the eve of International Human Rights Day, when a string of lawyers, political activists and other concerned Malaysians were arrested. After them, the Bersih activists were targeted for arrests. And then came the ISA crackdown on the Hindraf leaders.

The swoop on the Hindraf leaders does not come as a surprise. For days, the government and its controlled media had been vilifying the movement with one-sided reporting and allegations not supported by evidence. Sycophantic newspaper columnists prepared the ground for the ISA crackdown by conveying the impression that Hindraf leaders were reckless and a threat to national security.

Some believe that certain words used or claims made by the Hindraf leaders bordered on exaggeration or were not particularly accurate.

But how were they able to mobilise so many Indian Malaysians? Simply because many of the the grievances could not be totally dismissed as without having any basis whatsoever, the Hindraf leaders were able to tap into a reservoir of discontent among the marginalised of the Indian Malaysian community.

The government may have presented official statistics that showed a low poverty rate among Indian Malaysians.

But what was the monthly household income level used to calculate that poverty rate? The 2.9 per cent poverty rate for Indian Malaysians in 2004 was based on a ridiculously low poverty line level of RM543 monthly household income. And that was before the latest round of petrol and food price hikes.

Would RM543 – or even the new Poverty Line Income levels of RM687 and RM698 for urban and rural areas – be enough for families to afford decent housing, health care, a balanced diet and proper education?

This column has on many occasions insisted that the official threshold for measuring poverty is too low and unrealistic. Even a senior MIER research official has reportedly admitted that a monthly salary of RM1,200 to RM1,500 is not sufficient for urban dwellers, “given that house rentals alone cost about half of these amounts in the cities”.

I challenge our policy makers to raise a family on say, RM800 a month (above the poverty level income) for a year, before they dismiss the problem of poverty in Malaysia so tritely.

Samy Vellu was reported as saying that that the average monthly household income of Indian families was RM3,456 compared with the national average of RM3,022. Try telling that to the urban pioneers and the ex-plantation workers about to be evicted from their homes. How much is the price of a low-cost flat these days? And are there enough to go around in the first place?

Everyone now knows that the gap between the rich and poor of all ethnic groups is so wide – one of the largest in Asia – that average household income figures (whether by ethnic group or in overall terms) are virtually meaningless. Thus, the figure of RM3,456 probably includes the incomes of the Ananda Krishnans, the Tony Fernandeses, the rich Indian doctors, lawyers and other professionals among the 7 per cent Indian Malaysian population. Similarly for the other ethnic groups.

That said, Hindraf should adopt a more inclusive approach to its struggle. When one angry Hindraf supporter phoned me the other day, I reminded him that the struggle for justice should not be viewed from a purely ethnic perspective – for the issues of marginalisation, exploitation and oppression cut across all ethnic groups. I reminded him of the Penan displaced from their native customary land, the poor indigenous communities living in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak, and the struggling Malays on the east coast of the peninsula – who ironically remain poor despite the considerable offshore oil reserves in these regions.

The wages of workers – especially the Malay and Indian Malaysian blue-collar workers – have been depressed by a policy of importing cheap migrant labour to increase the profits of the corporate class (comprising all ethnic groups). I believe it is also the top-down approach to economic policy making – which favours the large connected corporations – that is responsible for so much of the marginalisation we see today.

The Hindraf leaders, like many others before them, do not deserve the unjust ISA. Nobody does – for nobody should be detained without trial. Detaining the Hindraf leaders and other critics under this harsh law will not resolve the underlying causes of the disenchantment among the public. It will not solve the grievances expressed. Many will view the crackdown as aimed at suppressing legitimate dissent ahead of the coming general election.

On the day the crackdown began (9 Dec), the readings from the Sunday Mass spoke of a God deeply concerned that his people, especially the poor and the oppressed, shall be ruled with Justice.

… he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. (Isaiah 11:4-5)

And from the Psalms:

O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings; That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment, That abundance may flourish in his days, great bounty, till the moon be no more. For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help. He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor. (Psalms 72:2,7,12-13)

Samy Vellu booed on “live” TV; are his political days numbered?

Anil Netto

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23 Dec 2007

43

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPu1CwGix_0&rel=1] MIC president Samy Vellu was booed and publicly humiliated when he turned up to officiate at the Aattam 100 Vagai 3 (100 types of dance) performance at the Penang International Sports Arena (Pisa) last night. Sources tell me the crowd of 2,000-3,000 shouted obscenities at him including “po-dah” (the rude version of “get lost”) and he didn’t get a chance to complete his speech. One source told me he was surprised to hear that the women in the audience appeared more aggressive in admonishing Samy. Bear in mind, this was a cultural event and not a political forum, so it would have been attended by a diverse crowd of Indian Malaysians – who have now become politically awakened as never before. The event was supposed to be telecast “live” by Astro Vaanavil (Channel 201) and beamed to India, Singapore, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Apart from Astro, the media partners supporting the dance show were Sri Lanka Rupavhini (TV) Corporation, Jaya TV India, Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation and Media-Corp TV12 Singapore Pte. Ltd. So Samy’s image in the region would have suffered more than a little dent. Earlier yesterday, Samy Vellu was huddled with Penang MIC division heads in a closed-door meeting at the Equatorial Hotel near Pisa, probably discussing the Hindraf developments. I gather that 40-50 outsiders, probably Hindraf supporters, were prevented from nearing the hotel during the day. Such is the anger on the ground among Indian Malaysians that Samy Vellu’s political days could well be numbered. In fact, I would say he has become a major political liability for the BN – but then who else have they got in the MIC? Then again, it’s not any single individual that Indian Malaysians are upset about (though Samy is probably the focal point of their frustration in view of scandals such as the Maika fiasco) – it’s the whole system they are railing against: the sense of being economically marginalised and disempowered for so long (in the same way that many other Malaysians of other ethnic groups are). If at the last general election, the MIC delivered 80-90 per cent of the Indian Malaysian vote to the Barisan, several Indian Malaysians I have met are predicting that this time the MIC would be hard-pressed to deliver even 10 per cent. That may be wishful thinking – and an underestimation of the BN “machinery” and mastery of racial politicking – but all indications are that the MIC is going to suffer a serious setback at the polls. (It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out!) And that could spell trouble for the BN in a string of constituencies, especially in areas where the majorities were wafer-thin in the 2004 general election. Meanwhile, Anwar Ibrahim has been hitting the hustings in Penang over the weekend, holding a series of talks and forums in the state. From what I hear, he has been drawing significant multi-ethnic turnouts at some of these events including a session with Indian Malaysian squatters in Bukit Gelugor who are facing eviction. He promised them that, if elected, he would try and do something about their plight. He appears to be having some impact, working the ground. Have a look at this Malaysiakini videoclip to see the rapport he has struck with Indian Malaysians at an earlier rally in Jalan Kebun, Klang on 14 Dec attended by 4,000 people. The BN has good reason to be worried. All of a sudden, cracks are appearing in the BN fold and the juggernaut appears to be creaking. Will Samy dare to show up at any other public event in the future? Stay tuned…

Why are Malaysians so restless these days?

Anil Netto

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18 Dec 2007

6

What is fuelling the protests and rallies and candlelight vigils and prayer gatherings? If we look at the Hindraf protest, it would be easy to conclude that the main issue is ethnic and religious discrimination, which has left many Indian Malaysians feeling disgruntled. But then again, it is not only Indian Malaysians who have protested. In the case of the Bersih rally, large number of Malay Malaysians, many of them low-income, have also turned up to voice their unhappiness. Prior to that, during the MTUC demonstrations to demand a monthly minimum wage of RM900 and a cost of living allowance of RM300, the vast majority of those who protested were also Malay Malaysians. There is a common denominator in all three of these protests. The majority of those who protested were from the low-income group. Why was this, I wondered. Could it have something to do with the wide gulf between the rich and the poor in Malaysia – a disparity which is the highest in the region? And if so, what has contributed to this huge divide, which cuts across all ethnic groups in Malaysia? From my conversations with various people, I narrowed it down to two factors:

abuse of affirmative action policies under the New Economic Policy to benefit a small group of the elite, their cronies (from all ethnic groups) and their favoured corporations;

neo-liberal policies that have favoured a select group of well-connected individuals and corporations while undermining the working class. In the process, a new underclass has emerged, which is struggling to make ends meet;

and, this is something that Rustam Sani suggested, a betrayal of political leadership – promises of reforms unfulfilled (remember how the Abdullah administration promised so much, raising the bar of expectations higher); a vision unrealised (whatever happened to all the hype of Vision 2020? We were supposed to be heading to the Promised Land of 2020, Bangsa Malaysia and all that)…

No wonder ordinary people are disillusioned and disgruntled. That is why, I believe, there is an air of restlessness in Malaysian society today as more and more Malaysians demand justice and accountability. RIGHTS-MALAYSIA: ‘Neo-Liberal Policies Fuelling Protests, Not Race’ Analysis by Anil Netto PENANG, Dec 18 (IPS) – After a series of street demonstrations in recent weeks top analysts and activists say the government is not tackling the economic roots of grievances among marginalised Malaysians, but appears stuck in its old mould of race-based thinking. Full article

Activists hold candle-light vigil in Penang on a dark day for democracy

Anil Netto

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13 Dec 2007

8

Some two dozen activists and other concerned Malaysians held a candlelight vigil in central George Town, Penang to uphold the right to freedom of assembly on a day which saw five Hindraf leaders detained under the ISA.

The small crowd, which included Aliran and Suaram members, gathered at 8.50pm at the Penang Road/Kimberley Road junction, under the watchful eyes of Big Brother. A couple of dozen police personnel were present, too close for comfort. According to a source at the scene, quite a few others in plainclothes were loitering about, apart from about 20 reporters covering the event. The police did not allow those gathered to use a loud-hailer or to read out their declaration in three languages. They even blamed them for causing traffic congestion! So, the small crowd was ordered to disperse but not before these concerned Malaysian broke out in song – “We shall overcome”. Total vigil time allowed – 20 minutes. As the Aliran executive committee said, in a statement condemning the ISA arrests, the BN has criminalised all our freedoms.

We cannot walk as a group, we cannot put up a banner on our own building, we cannot have access to information, we cannot challenge any ministerial decisions in any court of law, we cannot have a reasonable campaign period prior to election, we cannot have equal radio and TV time for all registered political parties to reach out to citizens to explain party policies, we cannot have a licence as a matter of right to publish. Our basic fundamental rights and freedoms have all been taken away through subsidiary laws and regulations. We are reminded by what was said way back in 163 BC: Extreme law is often extreme injustice.

But we shall overcome. No matter how dark the night might be, all it takes is a single candle to break through the darkness. Imagine, the authorities are afraid of a candle-light vigil! That says a lot. It suggests a government that is afraid of its own shadows – shadows dancing on the wall, as the people pour into the streets, like a sea of candles, flames flickering and illuminating the dark, musty corridors of power. The ISA arrests today mark a new low in the administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. It is the first time that Abdullah has used the ISA against prominent critics of his adminstration. It also reveals that the government has run out of ideas, unable or unwilling to tackle the root causes of the problems that plague the people. Earlier this evening, I received a phone call from an angry Indian Malaysian – furious with the ISA arrests, angry with the government-controlled media and certain columnists who have demonised Hindraf or played down their grievances, frustrated with the more affluent non-Tamil Indian Malaysians (Punjabis, Gujeratis, Malayalis, etc) for not sympathising with Tamil Malaysians. He told me there are many other Indian Malaysians who are ready to follow the Hindraf Five into the Kamunting detention centre. His tone was one of anger and defiance. He could not accept that the Hindraf leaders’ poor choice of words had weakened the way they had articulated their legitimate grievances and exposed them to criticism. From what he said, it appears that the Hindraf movement is largely Tamil-based and includes sympathisers from a small group of wealthier Tamil Malaysians. Even though these sympathisers may be better off now, they remember how hard it was for them to escape from the cycle of poverty, he said. I suggested to him that the movement should broaden its worldview to perceive the struggle for justice in broader, more multi-ethnic terms – for the issues of marginalisation, exploitation and oppression cut across all ethnic groups. I reminded him of the Penan displaced from their native customary land, the poor indigenous communities living in the interior areas of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Malays on the east coast of the peninsula – who ironically remain poor despite the considerable offshore oil reserves in these regions. But his frustration and anger over the grievances was so palpable that he could not see beyond ethnic boundaries for now – though he did tell me he would like to see the Bersih and Hindraf movements coming together. Meanwhile, there is a crisis of democracy – a crisis because the BN government has become increasingly afraid of people on the move. It has resorted to brandishing the familiar ISA, which by its own admission, would only be used as a “last resort”. That “last resort” point has been reached. Now what?

Wielding the big stick and sweeping issues under the Putrajaya rug

Anil Netto

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11 Dec 2007

5

More arrests today. This time largely targeting the Bersih group and the Hindraf leaders. I have lost track of the number of people arrested, released, re-arrested, denied bail, charged with illegal assembly, “causing mischief”, “attempted murder”, sedition… All this while the Attorney General personally appears in court and tries to deny people bail. What on earth is the administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi trying to do? Doesn’t he know this does not reflect well on him – and on Malaysia? It reveals insecurity, lack of confidence, and an unwillingness to really analyse the root causes of the unhappiness and disenchantment. Perhaps that unwillingness to analyse the issues indicates that they already know what the underlying grievances are – and it’s not a pretty picture for it would point squarely to the BN, their cronies and the system that promote vested corporate interests. It would reveal that workers in the country are struggling to make ends meet largely due to the policy of importing cheap labour( thus depressing overall wages), along with all the neo-liberal policies introduced such as privatisation. It would show that schools in rural areas have been neglected, the ranks of the unemployed bloated, social ills mounting, our economic model of top-down economic growth proving unsustainable, corruption rampant… So it is far easier to wield the big stick so that these issues can be swept under the carpet ahead of the general election. In the process, they are aided by the mainstream media, which has embarked on a relentless campaign to vilify and demonise Bersih and Hindraf. In the end, it is the country that suffers while the ruling elites and their vested interests make hay while the sun shines (and even then, with all the haze and smog, it is not shining as brightly as before). These are sad and bleak times for Malaysia. MALAYSIA: Arrests of Peaceful Protestors Mar Rights Day By Anil Netto PENANG, Dec 10 (IPS) – Malaysia is observing World Human Rights Day under a cloud, as the administration of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, rattled by a series of street protests over the last month, launches a tough crackdown against peaceful demonstrators. Sunday was marred by a string of 23 arrests involving human rights lawyers, activists and opposition politicians. Full article

Climate change: Too little, too late?

Anil Netto

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10 Dec 2007

1

This snippet from a World Development Movement blog entry from the UN Framework Conference on Climate Change in Bali got me worried – as it should you too. While we carry on our lives as usual, we remain blissfully unaware that the very survival of our planet is at stake.

”The science says that with an 80 per cent cut in carbon emissions — the absolute upper limit that is even being considered here by the politicians — we have a 50/50 chance of keeping the rise in average global temperatures to 2 degrees Celsius beyond pre-industrial levels.” ”Think about that for a second. The absolute maximum effort many governments are prepared to make will give us a worse chance of success than if we were playing Russian roulette. That’s insane!”

The key issue we are not tackling is our consumerist, materialistic life-styles fuelled by policies that promote relentless economic growth. We have been indoctrinated into believing that our economies must grow ad infinitum – never mind if it threatens the survival of our planet. We MUST change our life-styles and cut back on greed and consumerism, to lead simpler lives. And we must protect the environment and preserve our existing green spaces from so-called “development” projects that enrich the coffers of large corporations.

CLIMATE CHANGE: No Deal in Sight at Bali Analysis by Anil Netto PENANG, Malaysia, Dec 10 (IPS) – As a major United Nations ‘framework convention’ on climate change (UNFCCC) crossed into its second half on Monday, the official view is one of optimism that progress has been made in laying the ”building blocks” for a future agreement. But others say the discussions are hopelessly deadlocked and that proposals could fall far short of the drastic emission cuts required to curb global warming. Full article

On the eve of World Human Rights Day, a string of arrests…

Anil Netto

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9 Dec 2007

16

Five lawyers and three activists were arrested this morning when they attempted to march in Kuala Lumpur ahead of World Human Rights Day tomorrow. That they should be arrested while trying to uphold the right to freedom of assembly shows us just what the authorities think of human rights. It reveals utter contempt of basic rights by a morally bankrupt administration. Those arrested were among 50 Malaysians marching to demand their basic rights. A huge press contingent of another 50 were on hand to cover the march. The eight are:

Sivarasa Rasiah
N Surendran
Amer Hamzah
Eric Paulsen
Anthony Andu
Noorazah Othman
Latheefa Koya
And one other individual

Read Aliran president P Ramakrishnan’s statement here. Apart from the eight, Bar Council human rights committee chairperson Edmund Bon has also been arrested for allegedly trying to prevent local authority personnel from removing banners outside the Bar Council’s headquarters in KL. A Bar Council official told me that the banners had been placed on the exterior of their building, “clearly within our property”. Bon was arrested after he tried to prevent the authorities from taking away the banners. How ridiculous the authorities look in the eyes of the world. For a government that is so concerned about its international image, this is not going to help. Update: And now, Malayiakini reports that police have arrested Keadilan’s Tian Chua, Pas’ Mohamad Sabu and a dozen others, mainly from Pas’ Unit Amal, who took part in the 10 Nov Bersih rally. All those arrested are lawyers, opposition activists and other concerned Malaysians who are worried about the erosion of democracy and human rights in Malaysia. People like Bon, Latheefa (whom I sometimes talk to when writing articles for IPS) and Amer Hamzah (who has contributed articles to Aliran Monthly), Eric Paulsen and Sivarasa represent the best of Malaysians and give us hope. They are courageous lawyers who are passionate about human rights, irrespective of ethnic and religious considerations. They champion the underdog and those whose rights have been trampled upon like real lawyers are supposed to do. Latheefa has done some sterling work in championing the rights of migrant workers, Amer Hamzah in highlighting the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, Bon in promoting the cause of human rights among lawyers, Sivarasa and Eric Paulsen in their exemplary campaigning on human rights issues. These are true Malaysians we can all be proud of. This morning at Sunday Mass, I couldn’t help thinking of ordinary Malaysians crying out for justice and an end to oppression and poverty. Today’s official scripture readings during the season of Advent (to prepare for the birth of Christ on Christmas) seemed particularly apt. It reveals a God who is deeply concerned about his people – especially the poor and the oppressed – and who wants them to be ruled with justice and peace. In these times, when it has become so easy to use religion to create divisions among us, let us remind ourselves that we are children of the One God. No matter what our religious beliefs or affiliations, let us join hands and ask the Lord to release all those unjustly detained in Malaysia and to bring about justice and compassion in our land. The priest, in his sermon this morning, said that justice would not come by itself. We have to go out and create justice in our everyday lives wherever we are. At about the same time this morning, Latheefa, Bon, Amer Hamzah and the others were arrested for doing just that.

Isaiah

Chapter 11

1: But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
2: The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, A spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
3: and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide,
4: But he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
5: Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.

Psalms

Chapter 72

1: Of Solomon.
2: O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings; That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment,

7: That abundance may flourish in his days, great bounty, till the moon be no more.
8: May he rule from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.

12: For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help.
13: He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor.

17: May his name be blessed forever; as long as the sun, may his name endure. May the tribes of the earth give blessings with his name; may all the nations regard him as favoured.

Farmers lose autonomy as MNCs take control of agriculture

Anil Netto

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6 Dec 2007

0

Farmers are under increasing pressure from multinational corporations, which in many parts of the world are planning to take control over the entire food production and distribution chain. This leaves farmers at the mercy of these MNCs for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, sales and distribution. In the end, the farmers will lose their autonomy and independence and become integrated into the corporate system. It probably won’t be long before they are forced to accept genetically engineered crops – which could be introduced by stealth. In Malaysia, keep a sharp eye on what is happening with Sime Darby and agriculture in the Northern Corridor Economic Region. DEVELOPMENT: ‘MNCs Gaining Total Control Over Farming’ By Anil Netto PENANG, Dec 6 (IPS) – Food security campaigners are now more concerned than ever that farmers are turning dependent on large multinational corporations (MNCs) for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and other inputs while also becoming more vulnerable to pressures to produce genetically engineered crops. Gathered here over the weekend, for the Pesticide Action Network (PAN)’s 25th anniversary, many expressed concern over the predatory nature of corporate agriculture and its attempts to corner the entire chain of food production from seeds to sales of food products. Full article

“The Light” and PGCC cast a shadow over Penang

Anil Netto

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4 Dec 2007

8

What they showed you: Night view (towards George Town) of the PGCC’s “iconic towers” (Image from the official PGCC launch booklet)

What they didn’t show you: Add in 37 towers (Image editing by the PGCC Campaign Group) Even before the PGCC can take off, another massive project, dubbed “The Light”, has been unveiled. The extra commercial space from this waterfront development could lead to a commercial property glut, if there isn’t already one in Penang. It could also “kill off” the PGCC project even before the latter has got off the ground, given that IJM is a far more established developer than the PGCC’s Equine/Abad Naluri. (But then again, Equine/Abad Naluri has already made a “killing” from the revaluation of the property following the authorities’ irresponsible and highly questionable conversion of the Turf Club land from open recreational area to mixed development use. Abad Naluri bought the property at RM43 per sq ft but after the conversion, the value has shot up to RM250-300psf – a staggering profit before the first bulldozer can even rumble in. Who said it’s difficult to become a billionaire!) Yesterday, I was driving along the Jelutong coastal road, trying to spot the exact location of “The Light” project, when I spotted a small IJM signboard. It was located on the sea-front halfway between Tesco and the Penang Bridge, somewhere almost opposite the E-Gate complex, just north of the Penang Bridge. I could see some land reclamation work already in progress.

More “iconic towers”: What “The Light”, just north of the Penang Bridge, will look like (Image credit: IJM)

Oh, my word!: Model of “The Light” from a vantage point directly above the island side of the Penang Bridge, looking north towards George Town (Photo credit: IJM)

“The Light” is part of the Jelutong Expressway privatisation project, which IJM was involved in. The Penang state government must reveal the exact financial details and terms of the deal. How much did the expressway cost to build? And what exactly was agreed with IJM for undertaking that project? Did the deal take into consideration the current value for reclaimed land? The first question which comes to mind is, how many low- and medium-cost houses will IJM build in this project? If I am not wrong, the entire land reclamation plan (not just for “The Light) calls for more than half of the homes (5,500 homes) to be low- and medium-cost while there will only be 4,600 “other residential units”. So why is it there is no talk about such affordable housing in press reports, which leaves the reader to assume that “The Light” is only for the well-heeled. In fact, a Star report on the IJM website says: “There will also be waterfront homes with private jetties and high-end condominiums for those who can afford them. ” (emphasis mine) Another Star report says the residential component of “The Light” will comprise 1,000 luxurious low-rise, high-rise and landed residential homes over 42 acres and it will be a “gated community”. It raises the highly pertinent question: Development for whom? for whose benefit?

IJM Unveils RM6.5 Bln Residential, Commercial Development Project

PENANG, Nov 23 (Bernama) — IJM Properties Sdn Bhd is set to transform Penang into a world class economic and residential hub with the unveiling of its project, The Light Waterfront Penang. IJM Corp Bhd chief executive officer/managing director, Datuk Krishnan Tan, said the RM6.5 billion mixed residential and commercial development was the island’s first integrated waterfront city and would be built on part of the 137 hectares of reclaimed land along Penang’s eastern coastline. “The Light will feature 62ha of breathtaking development on the reclaimed land and will be developed in three phases,” he said at ceremony to unveil the project here today. He said under phase one, covering 17ha, six parcels of high-end waterfront residences, comprising 1,186 units, would be developed. “The development is expected to be completed in three to five years,” he said. Tan said under phase two, a commercial and retail city, comprising Gateway Towers, hotels, signature offices, showrooms, banquet and conference facilities, cultural hall, visitor centre and waterfront amphitheatre would be developed on 41.7ha. “One unique feature of the city is the floating stage and a floating restaurant. The entire city will also be interconnected by water taxis,” he said. He said The Light would also feature three ha of seafront park under phase three of the development. Tan said the project, which will developed by IJM Properties Sdn Bhd’s subsidiary, Jelutong Development Sdn Bhd, was expected to be completed in 2017. “Land reclamation is in progress and construction will start by the end of next year,” he said. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=298086

All in, 325 acres are to be developed (including 275 acres to be reclaimed) along the entire Jelutong Expressway coastline. The total net built-up area (residential, commercial, industrial) comes to a breathtaking 28 million acres. Which brings us to the question: how much is the state government getting from IJM out of this? Do we really need all these types of massive development projects catering to the elite and the well-heeled? What’s with all these “iconic towers” anyway, almost as if we are sticking two fingers out to the world? Do we honestly believe that other Malaysians and tourists are dying to see more skyscrapers, that they will come all the way to see our “iconic towers”? Here’s what one urban planning expert has to say about these massive projects:

Unfortunately the developers keep on missing the point, or rather their eyes have been blinded by $$$$$! The best urban places in the world that attract millions of tourists (e.g. Venice or Siena in Italy and Curitiba in Brazil) are places with authentic, unique charms in their people, culture, vernacular architecture and natural assets – not empty spaces with high-rise towers and so-called world class shopping complexes. After some decades, La Defense is still nowhere close to good old Paris in terms of sense and spirit of place! Tourists and locals enjoy old Parisian quarters and streets, not sterile spaces in La Defense! Both the Light and PGCC are not desirable forms of development. Most local Penangites (people in the street like us) won’t gain a bit from them. Having one is a nightmare, having two is “I-can’t-think- of-a-suitable- adjective”! Why do our developers not have any sense of what more sustainable and liveable development should be like? Why does our local authority not reject development proposals like these and put forward a vision and masterplan to make Penang the world capital for sustainable and liveable development? These are not theoretical questions; many world renown architects and masterplanners have successfully designed development projects that are more sustainable and liveable in other countries. Sustainability and liveability are as practical as they may sound theoretical. Penang should not follow the footsteps of Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and the like. Penang should be just Penang in its most original, sustainable and liveable manner and it is this quality that will eventually bring tourists in.

I think he makes a lot of sense, don’t you? More than that, it is this original, liveable Penang for ordinary people that has endeared itself to Penangites, other Malaysians and tourists for generations. Not the highways, “iconic towers” and the massive shopping malls. But the simple life-style: the charming streets of George Town, full of character, lined with majestic heritage trees… life on the slow-lane… public spaces for ordinary people such as the Esplanade promenade and the newly renovated hawker centre there… the historical shophouses, complete with peeling plaster… the old family-run businesses and coffee-shops offering hawker food – which draw people from all over the country and beyond… Ahh… the stuff of childhood memories and dreams. Once that is gone, it will be lost forever, as Singapore has found out too late. Is it too late to save Penang from marauding developers?

Just a reminder: Have you registered as a voter?

Anil Netto

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2 Dec 2007

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Make sure you check your voter registration details. Click here to verify.

Umno state assembly member criticises PGCC project

Anil Netto

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1 Dec 2007

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This is an actual picture of the Turf Club land and the surrounding low-rise properties. (Photo credit: PGCC Campaign Group)

This is what it would look like with towers… gulp! The towers here are replicas of 37 existing towers from all over George Town transplanted to the Turf Club site (The wonders of image editing by the PGCC Campaign Group!)

This is what they showed you – view of George Town (image from the official PGCC launch booklet)

What they didn’t show you – the view with 37 towers added in (Image editing: PGCC Campaign Group)

It is not just the PGCC Campaign Group and ordinary Penangites who are critical of the Penang Global City Centre project. Now, the Umno state assembly member from Bertam, Datuk Hilmi Abdul Rashid says the project is too costly. “If it is too expensive, no locals or companies will be able to afford any of the commercial lots. In the end, the project will fail because there will be no buyers, or no tenants if the lots are leased out at a very high rate,” he was quoted as saying in theSun (27 November 2007).

He said five years down the road, the government may have to step in to save the project and force government agencies and departments to take up lots there. (Like they did for Komtar?) “I am not against development as we need investments to generate income but we must monitor the investments to ensure they are not at the expense of the public,” he said.

Wise words, Hilmi. Of course, there is also the need to save the green lung that is the Turf Club land and ideally turn it into a Penang state park as a legacy for future generations. Now that would be really zero carbon and sooooo eco-friendly!

Look who’s breathing down Patrick’s neck…

Anil Netto

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30 Nov 2007

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Priceless moment: A bemused Patrick Lim, the developer of the Penang Global City Centre, turns to look at heritage conservationist Loh-Lim Lin Lee as she presents the PGCC Campaign Group’s grave concerns about his mega project during the Penang Local Government Consultative Forum on 23 November. On Patrick’s right is Nasrine Seraji, the PGCC master planner. Seated behind the pair are half a dozen activists and others critical of the PGCC, including environmentalist Gurmit Singh (in blue shirt) who mocked the proposal to put up wind turbines, pointing out that the country just doesn’t have enough wind for it to work. Lots of hot air, yes… but just not enough wind, sorry guys! (Photo credit: PHT)

One of the questions raised was: “Carbon-0 is really carbon off-setting or carbon trading, isn’t it? Buy carbon reduction projects elsewhere (and) leave all the carbon emissions of PGCC in Penang?”

Patrick replied, “I don’t know about the carbon off-setting you are talking about.”

But on page 19 of the glossy PGCC launch booklet, it is clearly stated:

After efforts to reduce energy requirements and maximize renewable energy sources are exhausted, carbon offsetting can neutralise the remaining emissions associated with the city to achieve carbon zero status.

Can Media Prima take on Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?

Anil Netto

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29 Nov 2007

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This is a piece I wrote for Asia Times about Media Prima’s intention to plunge into the Internet in a big way, ostensibly to diversify its revenue base and tap into on-line advertising revenue. Telekom Malaysia is spending billions to prepare the ground with high-speed broadband around the country. Though the main focus of Media Prima – which owns TV3, ntv7, 8TV and TV9; yes all the private stations! – appears to be entertainment, it also recognises that news is going to be crucial. Will the combined resources of Harian Metro (the country’s top selling newspaper), Berita Harian and New Straits Times prove more than a match for independent websites such as Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini?

Malaysian media giant grasps for Internet By Anil Netto PENANG – The media battle for Malaysian hearts and minds, pitting the government-controlled print and electronic media against critical Internet websites and blogs, is heating up in the run-up to general elections. Now, Malaysia’s largest private media conglomerate, Media Prima, has unveiled big investment plans to generate Internet content, a revenue diversification strategy aimed at getting a larger slice of the growing on-line advertising pie. For the full article, click here.

When human rights activists let their hair down…

Anil Netto

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29 Nov 2007

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aliran singers

The Aliran Singers re-united and in full flow!

Aliran turns 30: A heart-warming celebration of justice It was all so different from the official Merdeka celebrations, monopolised and dominated by members of the ruling coalition, recalls Anil Netto, of a night to remember. Full article Why not support the cause of human rights and justice by subscribing to Aliran Monthly, Malaysia’s leading independent English-language current affairs journal.

Penang Global City Centre: Spot the difference!

Anil Netto

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28 Nov 2007

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This is the PGCC (based on Equine’s model of the 38 towers) (Patrick Lim is on the right)

And this isn’t? (The PGCC campaign group’s model of the PGCC which PGCC master planner Nasrine Seraji says is based on a “misunderstanding of the masterplan”) (photo credit: Sin Chew from Nasrine’s powerpoint presentation)

Err, pardon me… but what is the difference between the two?

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Bersih and Hindraf gatherings: An awakening of the marginalised

Anil Netto

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25 Nov 2007

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m96FCTKHNA8&rel=1] Two huge protest gatherings – or attempted gatherings – in the space of 15 days in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Amazing! But what does this tell us? A few things, actually: More and more Malaysians are casting off their fear of the repressive powers of the state. That was abundantly clear in the Bersih gathering calling for electoral reforms on 10 Nov, when 50,000 Malaysians converged in the heart of KL despite the warnings, the intimidation, the riot police and their water cannons…. and now 20,000-30,000 at the Hindraf demonstration. In both gatherings, it appears that the majority of those who were determined to show up were the disempowered and the disenfranchised and the marginalised. In other words, those left out from the development process. Positive GDP growth every year has not resulted in equitable development for all – rather, the wealth generated from economic growth has been concentrated in the hands of the upper class. To make matters worse, the system is now mired in corruption while affirmative action policies have not reached many of those who most need them. Many appear to be retreating to a fundamentalist worldview of religion out of disillusionment with the oppressive state, a sense of loss of identity due to the pervasive, homogenising effect of global corporate culture, and dissatisfaction that the fruit of economic growth has not been equitably distributed. Real participatory democracy has not been tried and found to be wanting. It has not been tried at all! Sadly, many Malaysians are still shackled by a communal world-view – largely due to years of being indoctrinated by a system of racial politics. They are still unable to extend their hands in solidarity with all those who are suffering, irrespective of ethnicity and religion. This was less evident in the Bersih gathering, which probably had a greater multi-ethnic representation (though the majority were Muslim-Malays). But in the Hindraf gathering, it appears that nearly all of those turning up were ethnic Indians/Hindus. The marginalised Indians, Malays, the Penan, the Orang Asli, and the exploited migrant workers still find it difficult to find common cause with one another. We need to break free from the barriers that divide the oppressed in our country. It is largely the poorer Indians who were likely to have been at the Hindraf gathering, just as it was largely Malays from the lower-income group that took part in the Bersih demonstration. Those at the Hindraf gathering may be unable to trace the roots of their own disillusionment and could be putting on the cloak of Hindu rights, finding solace in the security of their religion. In the same way, many poorer Malays, rebelling against a corrupt and exploitative system, are probably finding comfort in the embrace of conservative Islam. Maybe a common ethnicity and a sense of being discriminated against – and now a shared experience of a perceived sense of persecution (the result of temple demolitions and controversial sharia-related cases) – has been more successful in rallying the Indians together. In a sense, this is a pity because it suggests we are still trapped in a world-view that perceives suffering and marginalisation through ethnic or religious lenses. There are shortcomings in such a world-view. It ignores the exploitative nature of our economic system, in which a few (of all ethnic groups) with access to capital and connections lord it over the masses. For instance, why have richer Malays, Chinese, and Indians not showed up at these rallies? It is really because they have benefited from the system and they do not want to revamp something that has served them with wealth and position, titles and status, and the comforts of life. The exploitative dimension of corporate-led globalisation, which has concentrated wealth in the hands of this small group, has driven many ordinary Malaysians to despair. The introduction of neo-liberal policies, the slashing of taxes for the rich along with the removal of subsidies for basic goods and services – education, health care, fuel, higher education – have all made life more stressful, not only for the lower-income group but increasingly the middle-class. The suppression of local wages through a policy of importing migrant workers, the lack of a minimum wage, a weak trade union movement (only now coming to life), and racial and religious divisions have all meant that workers (of all ethnic groups) have been unable to achieve the critical mass needed to cast off the chains of exploitation that tie them down. I believe what we are witnessing now is the awakening of the economically marginalised and disempowered who are rebelling against the system, which has seen Big Business profiting at the expense of the people. I doubt there were many wealthy Hindus/ethnic Indians from the posh neighbourhoods of, for instance, Damansara and Bangsar at the Hindraf protest today… just as you didn’t see the wealthy bumiputera elite at the Bersih gathering on 10 Nov. Although it is heartening that the marginalised are stirring, it is important that we realise that their suffering cuts across ethnic barriers and has some common roots. Many have simply been pushed to the periphery by our model of development, which is relentlessly driven by Big Business tied closely to the vested interests of the political elite. More Malaysians must wake up from their slumber – and join hands with one another!

Asean embraces a rogue regime while inking a Charter for Big Business

Anil Netto

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21 Nov 2007

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-YVdpQHdqo&rel=1] So the Asean leaders have signed a Charter in the wonderfully democratic nation of Singapore in the company of leaders from Burma’s rogue regime. (Check out this excellent documentary “Burma’s Secret War”.) Each member nation now has to take the Charter back to their home countries so that it can be ratified by their respective parliaments – which shouldn’t be much of a problem, considering how democratic Asean member nations are and how much their governments have the interests of the people at heart. Which leads to the question: why not a referendum as this is a hugely important document that affects the peoples of 10 nations? That will be the day… Civil society groups that lament that the charter is too state-centred rather than people-centred are missing the point. It was never meant to be people-centred – even though that is what most ordinary people would have wanted, had they been consulted. That is why most of the work of drafting the charter was carried out behind closed doors – even though an Eminent Persons Group did briefly consult a sample of civil society groups. The EPG leader, Musa Hitam, had told civil society representatives that he considered the inclusion of a reference to a human rights mechanism or body as a great achievement. But such a body would predictably be toothless – if and when it is formalised – for some time to come. So let’s not get side-tracked by the lip-service paid to human rights or the sweet -sounding, but ultimately unenforceable, pledges about democracy. The Charter is not about protecting the rights of ordinary people including migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers. If it was, do you really think those undemocratic or authoritarian governments among the Asean member nations would have signed it? Instead, it’s all about facilitating the interests of Big Business as well as providing an institutionalised framework that would, among other things, pave the way for the EU-Asean FTA and further the “free trade” and neo-liberal agenda. How terribly, terribly sad for the people of Asean!

No need for institutional reform? You gotta be kidding!

Anil Netto

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18 Nov 2007

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Here is the Al Jazeera panel discussion (in two parts) on the 10 Nov rally to demand electoral reforms. The panelists were Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy, de facto Law Minister Nazri (Umno as well) and human rights lawyer Imtiaz. Here’s an excerpt. Nazri tries to keep up with the fast-paced discussion by repeating his mantra about democracy ala Umno/BN, putting words in the mouth of the moderator – and then forgetting what the question was. Amazing feat! What’s even more astonishing is his claim that there is no need for any institutional reform whatsoever.

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Beware those who want to hijack Malaysia’s People Power movement

Anil Netto

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17 Nov 2007

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In a parting shot, Thierry Rommel, the European ambassador who left his post on Tuesday, castigated the Malaysian government for its deplorable human rights record and the “discriminatory” New Economic Policy (NEP).

News reports quoted Rommel as saying the executive in Malaysia is “all-powerful and not accountable” while the judiciary remains beholden to the executive because the prime minister directly makes the appointments. He said Umno runs the country like its own backyard and that the Malaysia was “a one-party state”.

“The parliament (is) useless. No fair elections, no freedoms. Police is unaccountable. Internal checks and balances? Forget it. So where do you find characteristics that (represent) democracy?”

Malaysians struggling for greater democracy, who marched in the tens of thousands on 10 November, might be forgiven for thinking that they had found an influential ally in Rommel and the European Union.

Big mistake. Although most of Rommel’s remarks ring true, they must be seen in the context of the forthcoming negotiations for the EU-Asean FTA which begins next year. With this FTA, the EU hopes to prise open the Asean market for unfettered access by European multinational corporations. This will no doubt also accelerate the neo-liberal agenda across the region.

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“Iconic towers” or eyesores?

Anil Netto

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15 Nov 2007

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If our experience with “iconic towers” in Penang is any indication, then look out for what could happen with other towers in the pipeline.

Thanks to a reader for bringing these to my attention:

Sad-looking Komtar: Why has its viewing gallery become a store?

And here’s a blocked fire-escape

Cardboard on the windows of the keris-shaped Menara Umno (supposed to be another architectural masterpiece). Innovative way to reduce heat and cut air-con emissions, eh?

So if we have more “iconic towers”, do you really think our habits will improve? While on the subject of high-rise towers, a reader wrote this from England:

England’s problems are in the areas where there is high unemployment due to collapsed industries, steel shipbuilding, coal – where entire towns were employed in one industry. Also areas where many immigrant communities have settled – and worked hard to look after their families… It’s also in the areas were decent housing (albeit ramshackle) have been replaced with emotionless high-rise towers, set in dry hard landscapes – enough to send anyone around the bend. All sounds rather too familiar? Give Malaysia 20 years and you’ll see the same – unless there is some very sound social management. I was once talking to (someone in Malaysia) and described the social problems created by high-rise buildings. “Oh, not in Asia,” he said. Want to bet? The (consequences could be) worse in Asia where family and social connections are so very important and high-rise buildings will destroy them.