"What Suqiu demands is reformation," said an opposition leader today.

Keadilan president Wan Azizah said that what Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeal Committee) is demanding is basically social, economic and political reformation of the system.

"The rakyat should not be made to wage war against each other - as if it is to protect the rights and the dignity of the people - while the leaders continue to hoard wealth and behave arrogantly," said Wan Azizah in clarifying the controversy surrounding the Suqiu issue.

In a press statement, Keadilan president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said that the people should not be made donkeys by the corrupt leaders.

She urged the people not to be the "loud-hailers" ( tukang sorak ) of the leaders and condemn the Chinese before reading Suqiu's 17-point appeal.

Suqiu, with the endorsement of more than 2,095 Chinese organisations, forwarded its appeal containing 83 sub-points on various issues which was first submitted to the government before last year's general elections.

"The leaders claim to be fighters of the people but they are silent when the rights of the people are transgressed, corruption is rampant and the authorities are misusing their powers," said Wan Azizah.

'Anwar proud of Suqiu's appeal'

In the statement, it was said that jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim looked through the Suqiu demands in the court early last year and he expressed how proud he was of the brave intellectuals and more than 2,000 Chinese organisations in putting forward all their concerns.

Wan Azizah recalled that her husband, Anwar, had said he had not heard of these problems being discussed at cabinet or BN meetings.

"He said that it would have been most difficult for the topmost Chinese leaders to raise the issues of cronyism and corruption.

"On the whole, Suqiu demands democracy to be practised, economic growth to be encouraged and the efforts made to ensure the integrity of the judiciary.

"What angered the BN leaders is not the issue of the national language or the privileges of the Malays. It is more due to the fact that the demands touched on issues that are considered sensitive to them (BN leaders) - such as corruption, cronyism, nepotism, mega projects, wastage, the Internal Security Act and media sanctions.

"Anwar had much earlier urged the BA to look at Suqiu's demands in a positive manner as he was suspicious of the sincerity of BN in accepting the whole Suqiu demands without any question.

"It is said that the language issue and the Bumiputra rights are challenged. It must be made clear that it is the right of any group to voice their opinion even though we may not agree. The people's thinking should not be curbed," said Wan Azizah.

Abuse in implementation

According to the statement, the issues of national language and special privileges that were considered sensitive were raised due to the weakness and abuse of implementation.

"Such polemics are not only observed by the Chinese community but also by Malays who have become more conscious. The demands of Suqiu should be studied from a different perspective to avoid the sensitivity of the issues shrouding the main issues.

"We still uphold the spirit of the constitution on the issue of language and the privileges of the Bumiputra. However, we reject BN's excuse of 'social contract', an excuse that was made as a cover up of the abuse of the implementation.

"The efforts to train the Bumiputra and the rakyat are maimed when business contracts, privatisation projects and shares are distributed openly to family members and cronies. Billion ringgit funds from the treasury of the country and Petronas are used to salvage family companies and cronies. Is this what is meant by special privileges or affirmative action on the part of the government?

"Are these more important than the scholarships due to the poor students? Or the rural projects in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak, the Chinese new villages and Indian estates?" questioned Wan Azizah, stating that they demand more transparent policies and better management which will guarantee the opportunities of the Bumiputra as well as offering wide opportunities to other races.

Wan Azizah said that Anwar himself had mentioned how the Capital Investment Committee, before the formation of the Securities Commission, was misused to divide "free" shares of Chinese companies to the companies of chosen cronies. The billion ringgit fund was robbed by a small group of Malays in the name of the Bumiputra policy.

"It is true that many Chinese businessmen are not happy with this but the majority of the Malays also feel cheated with such corruption and cronyism.

"It is also the same case with the 10 percent discount policy for Bumiputra who can afford to buy luxury houses. Would it not be fair if the discounts were to be allocated to buyers of low cost and medium cost houses? This is the same situation as when a minister's child is given a scholarship while a teacher's child is denied one.

"Chinese students who achieved high results are not given opportunities for higher education. We talk of e-economy and information technology matters when computers are not even made available in rural schools."

Understanding and respect

Wan Azizah stressed that weaknesses in the implementation have to be acknowledged and rectified.

"A few family members of the cronies and non-Bumiputra have hoarded the opportunities. The interests of the small and middle class businessmen, farmers and fishermen are not taken properly into account. Supporters of lower integrity and qualifications are given the priority.

"The issues of language, education and vision schools is being manipulated by the Umno leaders. I reiterate my stand to uphold the national education policy and the guarantee of the teaching and learning of the mother tongue."

Wan Azizah claimed that the Vision School issue was blown out of proportion because the top leaders of the country were too much in a hurry and arrogant to force the rakyat to concede without any dialogue.

"Anybody who differs in opinion is labeled extremist, communist and as a threat.

"In actual fact, the Vision School concept was borne out of the idea of the integrated social system which was forwarded in 1986. In 1987, Anwar put aside the idea as it was disputed by the teachers' union and Dong Jiao Zong.

"We understand that unity cannot be achieved by force in a physical scheme. It has to be built through understanding and respect for each other based on the existing differences."