Calling, labelling, painting and punishing others who do not agree with the self-perceived 'mainstream' or 'correct' opinions as "extremists" seem to have become a political addiction of ruling politicians, and their petit bourgeois supporters.

For example, a few weeks ago, Umno president and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad publicly attacked some Chinese educationists who oppose the proposal to teach Science and Mathematics in English in all primary schools next year, notably Dong Zong chairperson, Quek Soon Hiong and adviser, Sim Mou Yu as "extremists".

Initially, the president of Gerakan, Dr Lim Keng Yaik seemed to echo him, causing a quiet and sullen fury in the Mandarin-educated community.

To defuse the negative reactions against him, Lim later clarified in the China Press on Aug 19 that his definition of "extremism" includes all races, and not only Chinese. However, to date, Mahathir Mohamad has yet to clarify or retract his allegation made in the public against Sim and Quek.

For those who follow Malaysian politics in recent years, they may have already discovered that for Mahathir to call, label, paint and punish others as "extremists" is nothing unusual, new or surprising.

Indeed, the word and concept of "extremism" is gradually and imperceptibly losing its original meaning in the political discourses in Malaysia. A few days ago, even errant taxi drivers who cheated tourists were labelled as "communists" and "traitors" by Culture, Arts and Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir.

Abdul Kadir's younger brother, Abdul Aziz is politically notorious for he once publicly threatened to raze the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall to the ground. Both are leaders of Umno which is seen as a "moderate" party of Muslims.

A similar illustration

It means that the term, word or concept of "extremism" is now regarded as meaning no more than any opinion or school of thought that is not accepted by, or acceptable to the paramount leader, its supporters and admirers.

Translated into a simpler illustration, it means that if they opine that Coca-Cola is the best soft drink on earth, then those who love Pepsi Cola or Sarsi are "extremists", or vice versa. Reasoned along this line, other examples could be added to the list ad infinitum .

In fact, if we read enough the political history of Malaysia, we would find that both Mahathir and Lim were also once the victims of such secularly intolerant labelling. Of course, both Mahathir and Lim were then not in power, or in opposition to the power-that-be.

For example, according to historian Heng Pek Koon, when the young and aggressive Lim was felt by the then MCA president Tan Siew Sin to be a political threat within MCA, he (Tan) began to believe that the group associated with Lim "had been infiltrated by left-wing and Communist elements and had become too narrowly chauvinistic". (see Heng Pek Koon, Chinese Politics in Malaysia - A history of the Malaysian Chinese Association , Singapore, Oxford University Press, 1988; p.266)

Heng also records that "Umno leadership formed a similar opinion (vis-a-vis Dr.Lim Keng Yaik and his reformist group in MCA), and denounced the movement (Perak Task Force led by Lim) as a security threat". (ibid)

The truth of the matter is that Lim was appointed, in the aftermath of the tragic 1969 general elections, by the second prime minister, Tun Abdul Razak to be a minister in charge of the affairs of the Chinese-predominated new villages where the bulk of the Mandarin or dialect-speaking Chinese working classes lived and worked. It was the shared opinion of both the top leadership of Umno and Lim that MCA lost the elections ignominiously because of the widespread discontent and alienation of the non-English educated segment of the Chinese community.

Psychological warfare

According to a UK defence studies researcher, David Hawkins who visited Malaysia in late 1970, Lim was responsible not only for the new villages, but also "for psychological warfare". (see David Hawkins, The Defence of Malaysia and Singapore - From AMDA to ANZUK , London, Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies, 1972; p.56)

That Lim was also "responsible for psychological warfare" as described by Hawkins, has never been known publicly in Malaysia and among the Chinese community.

Similarly, it is well-known that Mahathir was called an "ultra" in 1964 by Lee Kuan Yew and his People's Action Party (PAP) which still operated in Peninsula Malaysia as an opposition party.

Mahathir, to be sure, retorted that the English-educated Lee and PAP were "racists" and "Chinese chauvinists" hidden behind the seemingly meritocratic notion of "Malaysian Malaysia".

The label used by Lee and PAP against Mahathir was also conveniently shared by the more 'moderate' faction of Umno led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first prime minister whose allegedly "soft" leadership style was constantly challenged, and his pro-Western defence and foreign policies, opposed by Mahathir.

For example, in 1965, Tunku labelled the Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organisation with which Mahathir strongly identified, as a "communist set-up ... financed by Russia and China". The Afro-Asian People's Solidarity Organisation was an NGO opposing Tunku's pro-Western defence and foreign policies. ( see J.Saravanamuttu, The Dilemma of Independence: Two Decades of Malaysia's Foreign Policy , 1957-1977, Penang, USM, 1983; p. 72)

Of course, after the 1969 general election, Mahathir was not only defeated as a member of parliament by PAS, but also sacked as an Umno member for his "extremism" as perceived by the more 'moderate' Tunku and his supporters. Later, Tunku was ousted from the top leadership of Umno and the government.

Misused and abused

In 1982, the ex-"extremist" assumed the offices of the Prime Minister and Umno presidency. From that year onwards, he began to gain the "right" of calling, labelling, painting and punishing others as "extremists".

It seems, then, "extremism" is just another word to describe any groups that do not hold power and share opinions with the power-that-be, and are disliked by power-holders. The list of ISA detainees in the 1987 Operation Lallang is perhaps the best evidence of how the word and concept of "extremism" were misused and abused.

The list included Chinese educationists like the Chinese-educated Baba , Sim MouYu and the UK-trained social scientist, Dr.Kua Kia Soong, the then Opposition Leader and qualified lawyer, Lim Kit Siang and other elected members of parliament and state assembly representative from both the ruling and opposition parties, social activists of the Catholic and Protestant churches, environmentalists and advocates for genuine women's rights.

As Mahathir has rightly demanded the United States to come out with objective definitions of "terrorism" and "terrorist" in the aftermath of the Sept 11 tragedy, it is time for Malaysians to demand from Mahathir and the police Special Branch or other security establishments to produce objective, consistent and coherent definitions of "extremism" and "extremist" to cope with the complexities of a modern society.

JAMES WONG WING ON is chief analyst of Strategic Analysis Malaysia (SAM) which produces the subscriber-based political report, Analysis Malaysia . Wong is a former member of parliament (1990-1995) and a former columnist for the Sin Chew Jit Poh Chinese daily. He read political science and economics at the Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. While in Sin Chew , he and a team of journalists won the top awards of Malaysian Press Institute (MPI) for 1998 and 1999.