opinion

While the American people are trying to recover from the shock and distress of the attacks in the United States, the Malaysian government is quick to seize the opportunity to turn the event to its advantage. Not surprisingly, the government exploits the incident to justify the much criticised Internal Security Act.

The government argues that its authoritarian measure is now justified for the sake of preventing terrorism. Nothing can be further than the truth. Such an argument is not only illogical but also contradicts the government's own international stand .

Immediately after the attack, the Malaysian government pledged its full support for the US anti-terrorist effort. Prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia will cooperate with the US and other nations to counter terrorism.

However both the government and opposition appealed to the US to act cautiously. Malaysia aslo called upon the Bush administration not to launch an offensive until the culprits are positively identified.

One may accept that terrorist actions often originated from extreme oppression and the victims of oppression often have legitimate grievances. However, terrorism is indiscriminate :its violence is often directed at innocent people.

It is true that the US unjustly sides with Zionist Israel to oppress the Palestinians. But the retaliation on any individual is equally unjust. The crimes of the Zionist aggressors cannot be repaid by the blood of the innocent.

As we have witnessed in the tragedy, black, white, Muslims, Christians, Asians, perished in the blast.

Greater animosity

Similarly, the US administration must not act recklessly. Even if a handful of Arabs or Muslims are proven to be the conspirators of the terrorist act, the US government has no right to punish all Muslims or Arabs.

The Taliban regime should be blamed for sheltering and sponsoring terrors, but not the ordinary Afghan people.

It may be true that Osama Bin Laden is backing a series of terrorist activities. Yet he should not be punished unless a trial conclusively proves him guilty.

Any unilateral action by the US will only provoke greater animosity from Muslims through out the world. It would be wise for the US to consult the international community before any retaliation.

Coming back to the issue of detention without trial in Malaysia. The principle is the same. The so called preventive arrest is a gross transgression of justice. Nobody deserves to be imprisoned for unproven crimes. In ISA, one is presumed guilty without the right to a free and fair trial.

Moreover, the ISA is not an assurance for security. Instead it is a tool to perpetuate authoritarianism. We understand from history and the experiences of other countries that injustices breed turmoil and instability. Let justice prevail, we shall enjoy lasting peace and harmony.

Democratisation is the best answer to fanaticism. Rather than, repression, a society with openness and freedom to exchange ideas is most capable to resolve all forms of contradictions.

One should also be absolutely clear that terrorism is not the way to advance the struggle for justice.

Terrorism in reality never hits at the 'enemy'. Invariably people unconnected to the unjust deeds are the victims. If the intention behind the New York and Washington attacks was to target American imperialism, the action failed completely.

The effects of the attacks are the opposite. Islam and the Arabs become the casualty of heightened prejudices. Public insecurity only profits arm manufacturers, the defence industries, the intelligent services and other hawkish pro-war political lobby.

Security considerations may erode the standard of human rights and civil liberty worldwide. Religious or racial discriminatory practices may surface under the cover of national security.

President George W Bush's fantasy of 'Star Wars" defense system could be resurrected. And worse, the priority for welfare spending and productive investments will be shifted in favour of an arms build up.

Dictators pleased

The situation pleases dictators like Dr Mahathir. He is glad that the traumatic event in the US has overshadowed international criticism over his repressive regime.

Several international forums and his European trip have been rescheduled and he has succeeded in avoiding potentially embarrassing pressure from democratic leaders for his heavy-handed suppression of the opposition at home.

The new anti-terrorism international atmosphere gives the PM an opportunity to present himself as a moderate. Terrorism provides Dr Mahathir with a ready made bogeyman. Islam has been further demonised to implant seeds of fear within the multi-ethnic Malaysian society.

On the international arena, Dr Mahathir loudly and unequivocally condemns terrorism and vows to cooperate with the US. At home, the anti-terrorist campaign becomes the excuse for more crackdowns, and more repression of human rights.

The draconian ISA is justified in the name of preventing the rise of militant terrorists. This position is clearly projected in the government-controlled English language press such as the New Straits Times .

On the other hand. In the local Malay media, Malaysia joins the rank of Osama Bin Laden and Saddam, hypocritically reprimanding the US for its 'international police' role.

The US military mobilisation against the Taliban regime has been painted as a campaign against Islam. The government deliberately stirs up Muslim emotions in Malaysia in order to divert the people's attention from Dr Mahathir's domestic problems.

This is a double-faced game manipulated by Dr Mahathir. He intentionally undermines the opposition PAS through the terrorist scare.

Knowing that his authoritarianism is unpopular in the west, Dr Mahathir will trap PAS into an image of fundamentalism. In fact, he has been partially successful already.

Dr Mahathir finally got an appointment with Bush during the upcoming APEC meeting in Shanghai.

Previously, Bush rejected Dr Mahathir request's for a meeting. Now, we can be sure that a distorted description of the Islamic opposition will be presented in the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders.

'Machiavellian manipulator'

Yet, Dr Mahathir is not sincerely interested in cooperating with the US or any other Western democracy.

Just in case he fails to impress the West, he will instantly revert to his ultra-nationalist rhetoric and in the face of foreign criticism, Dr Mahathir will pose as a third world 'superhero' and whip up a vehement anti-foreign fervor.

In the juncture of turbulent international crisis, Dr Mahathir is showing his great endowment as a Machiavellian manipulator.

The Malaysian people and the world community must be watchful, let us not let Malaysian democracy become the unintended victims of the Sept 11 terrorist attack.

TIAN CHUA is Keadilan's vice-president and is currently being held under the Internal Security Act in Perak's Kamunting detention camp.