COMMENT Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman, who arrived at the Malaysian High Commission in London on Sunday, was spoilt for choice.

There were two reception committees: The subdued official consular staff and directly opposite, the lively group of Internal Security Act (ISA) protesters. They were clad in black, holding placards and chanting slogans. Fifty candles marked the inauspicious anniversary of the security law.

 

Anifah (wear NONE ing grey jacket) deserves credit for engaging with the protesters. His impromptu meeting to receive their petition and press statement was civil, with a frank exchange of views. There was no jostling or shouting. It was a perfect photo-call and public relations coup for both parties.

It was, however, comical watching his entourage trailing him - like a duck and her newly-hatched ducklings crossing a busy road.

 

Perhaps the other reason Anifah deserves praise is that a fortnight ago, another prominent east Malaysian politician was embroiled in another demonstration. Anifah scored political mileage and showed willingness to speak, unlike the cowardly duck-and-run tactics adopted by Sarawak’s Taib Mahmud.

 

Will Malaysians ever drop their bad habits? The politician was excruciatingly late. If he cannot organise himself, how can he expect to run a country? The delay shows his lack of discipline.

 

Is this why meetings involving politicians always involve a makan afterwards - to reward the disgruntled crowd for its patience?

If what was served was ‘light refreshments’, then we must dread the cost of a proper meal. It is an inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money. Food is not just a woman’s way to a man’s heart. Food appears to be the Malaysian way to placate the electorate’s feelings and perhaps, gain votes.

When the minister appeared in the hall, he did not apologise for being one-and-a-half hours late.

 

If the consular s NONE taff had cared to announce to the restless crowd that the guest of honour was unavoidably detained, or that he was spending 20 minutes addressing protesters, this crowd would have been sympathetic.

 

The kudos gained by speaking to the protesters was cancelled by this, although someone did apologise for the inability of the hall to accommodate everyone.

 

Civil servants, both serving in Malaysia and abroad, forget their duty to serve the people. The consular staff was more concerned about the ‘protest outside’. Are staff relocated to remote, hostile postings, like Somalia or Afghanistan, if the visiting dignitary’s welcome is marred?

 

The staff were scurrying around like hunted rabbits, anxiously whispering and texting, crippled by the protesters outside. How they must have wished they were ‘back home’ where they could summon the riot squad and clear the streets.

The perturbed expressions on the faces of the consular staff, peering around the High Commission curtains, were photographed by the press and protesters.

Insult to intelligence

 

It would be pointless to repeat the finer points of the talk which have all been reported. It is what is conveniently left unsaid or avoided or given a certain political spin, that are most revealing.

 

Anifah sai anti isa vigil pj 010810 09 d he respects the rights of the ISA protesters. He claimed that the recent arrests in Malaysia were necessary because the police believed some people were ‘out to cause problems’.

He failed to elaborate and left us speculating that perhaps the six women in Amcorp Mall, arrested for being ‘rude and who told the police off’, were the troublemakers he alluded to.

 

Having talked about the necessity to ‘protect the public’, he slickly introduced Azahari Husin and Noordin Top - two of the world’s most wanted terrorists.

To an unsuspecting audience, this connection would cause alarm. He also mentioned the US Patriot Act, which he used to defend Malaysia’s use of the ISA.

 

Why insult our intelligence? Why avoid reference to unlimited detention without trial of journalists, opposition politicians, bloggers, human rights activists and other ordinary citizens who have dared to make a stand by peaceful means? The minister seeks to misinform. Although we can discern the difference, can he?

 

According to Anifah, intelligent, educated family men are attracted to the terrorist ideology because these young men are desperate about the Middle-East conflict.

The men, he said, believe there are two sets of laws - one for Israel and another for the rest, that resolutions on Israel are never enforced and that world governments are inactive.

 

azlan He mentioned how Israel’s attack on the Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla is no longer a religious issue but a humanitarian one.

 

He is right to condemn these attacks. However, ministers fail to acknowledge that in practice, Malaysia has two sets of laws - one for Umno (the privileged) and another for the less well connected. Even fewer ministers will admit that they should clean up their own house rather than look beyond Malaysia’s shores - they ignore our own humanitarian problems.

Repeated assurance

 

The minister would have added value to his talk if he had offered more convincing arguments and answers.

If he had addressed concerns about corruption, the quality of teachers/lecturers, the shortage of university places, the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled workers, foreign labour, race-based politics, the poor language skills of diplomats, the lack of infrastructure in remote areas of Sabah and Sarawak, and the decrease in foreign investment.

 

Anifah azlan was asked to comment on the accusation by MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek (left) that Umno and PAS are using religion to fish for Malay votes, and on his condemnation of Muslim countries for being backward, and the illiteracy of their women.

 

The minister’s response was that he had been flying for 17-20 hours and had “no access to the latest news”. Actually, he has been in England for 10 days and has only made short trips to Berlin and Moscow.

 

This is unacceptable. Is his retinue of advisers and political secretaries also uninformed? Foreign visits do not preclude receipt of information especially as Chua’s comments are causing tension.

 

What would he say if a foreign diplomat or reporter had asked this question? What if a Muslim diplomat took offence at these remarks?

 

His answer to another question, was more reassuring.

 

He had earlier confirmed that he “respects the right of people to protest”. So he was asked, “Can you guarantee that the Malaysians protesting outside will not be arrested, detained or questioned when they return to Malaysia?”

 

There were over 100 witnesses who heard him give the following unequivocal guarantee. Twice, he said, “I guarantee their safety, provided they are good citizens.”

 

Now, is this subject to further interpretation or is he is as good as his word?

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real–speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.