Members of the civil society presented Malaysia in its rawest form to US President Barack Obama during their nearly hour-long meeting with him yesterday.

Human rights group Hakam exco member Ambiga Sreenevasen, who was among those present, shared with Malaysiakini what was discussed during the historic session.

"Some of the issues (raised) were the divisive politics, religious and racial extremism, discrimination, authoritarianism of the government by way of repressive legislation, free and fair elections and the rule of  law...," Ambiga said.

Also highlighted were the charges against Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and the persecution of the opposition by way of sedition charges and charges under the Peaceful Assembly Act.

Obama, she said, was also briefed on how Malaysian authorities stifled the media.

"We made it clear that Malaysia was neither a  moderate Muslim nation nor was it a democracy in the true sense of the word," the former Bar Council president added.

Ambiga's views were similarly shared by Bersih 2.0 chairperson Maria Chin Abddullah, who said  Malaysia was neither a democratic nor a moderate country , and that old laws were used against the opposition, as highlighted by Bar Council president Christopher Leong, who were among those who met with Obama.

 

Earlier today, PKR vice-president N Surendran also pointed out that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had mislead the public by saying that the Sodomy II case against Anwar was private action when it was the attorney-general who initiated the charge.

Obama meets, Najib did not

Ambiga said Obama had put the civil society leaders at ease and that the meeting very informal, throughout.

“Obama was concerned about what we raised and agreed with us on the importance of upholding the rule of law and human rights. Interestingly, he had apparently earlier said, at the town hall meeting (at Universiti Malaya) that Malaysia cannot prosper as a nation if there was discrimination against the non-Muslims.

“This is a significant statement by him and needed to be said. Sadly, we decry such discrimination in other countries but do not fully appreciate the effects of such conduct on the future of our nation.” 

As what had been reiterated by Maria ( left ), Christian Federation of Malaysia general secretary Rev Dr Hermen Shastri and Leong, Ambiga said the US President indicated he would raise these concerns with the Malaysian government when he can.

Obama, Ambiga said, asked the NGOs to continue with their engagement on human rights issues.  

She pointed out that lawyer Honey Tan, one of the proponents of the Universal Periodic Review and one of the participants, made an interesting observation, that while the Prime Minister Najib has not met with these members of civil society groups despite requests made, the US president has.

“Hence, we are very appreciative of the time the US president spent with us. More importantly, I believe that this meeting sends out a powerful message that civil society plays a significant role in the advancement of democracy the world over,” Ambiga, a recipient of the  US International Women of Courage Award in 2009, said.

'A divided nation for the next generation'

In reference to Obama's statement at the state dinner that Malaysia should have, in the next generation, a better nation than the one given to us, Ambiga said in Malaysia's case, the next generation was not being handed over a better Malaysia.

“We are handing them a nation divided by religion and race. Ultimately we recognise this is our battle to fight. For us it was important the president knew about Malaysia as it is, and put the human rights on the agenda of cooperation with the Malaysian government.”

Ambiga said while Najib had stated the Peaceful Assembly Act for shoring his reform image, he failed to admit that this law prohibits street protests and that opposition members are facing charges on the matter.  

While Najib also declared that the government had nothing to do with Anwar's sodomy trial, he failed to admit that it was the government that appealed against the High Court's acquittal of Anwar.

She also described Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's immediate response to Obama by saying that Malaysia does not discriminate as not encouraging and Ambiga wondered whether there would be a change in the Malaysian government's attitude to human rights and civil society.