Whats in a pseudonym?
The responses by R Michael Owen and Matang Dan Merdeka to Dr Jacob George's arrogant and infantile outburst against Malaysian human rights activists who seek international solidarity are equally well written and well justified. The fact that both George and Owen could use real names while Matang Dan Merdeka had to resort to using a pseudonym, speaks volumes of the state of democracy and human rights in Malaysia.
There is nothing heroic in Georges decision to use his real name. Since his views are pro-government and supportive of repressive measures, he is in no danger of being identified, harassed, persecuted or prosecuted. As a supporter of the government, he enjoys the human rights as Owen does in his liberal democratic country.
However, George's fellow Malaysian, Matang Dan Merdeka, has many legitimate reasons not to use his or her real name. Otherwise, he or she could be fired by the boss, harassed by the Police Special Branch, deprived of scholarships or bank credits, and/or disciplined by schools, colleges and universities.
Or even worse, he or she could just disappear one evening and end up with a black eye and other serious injuries in a solitary confinement cell, or be kept under the Internal Security Act (ISA) which allows indefinite detention without trial, like Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor and Tian Chua.
Matang Dan Merdeka and many other Malaysians who do not share the views of the government do not enjoy the human rights of Dr Jacob George. They are lesser citizens.
The greater problem is that pro-government elites do not seem to realise what the civilised and modern world has known about Malaysia under the reign of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's white and secular terror. It is a kind of arrogant ignorance that is so typical of our so-called elites who are highly literate but not really educated and enlightened in the real sense of the word.
It is time the Western world treat this kind of Third World elites with utter contempt and disdain.
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