Kamarazaman: Ex-student leader, ISA detainee, Zahid's roommate
INTERVIEW | It is common knowledge that the pro-tem president of Parti Kuasa Rakyat, Kamarazaman Yaakob, is the brother of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Yet, perhaps many are unaware that he is also a political observer.
The president of the Universiti Malaya Students' Union in the 1970s, Kamarazaman's name is no stranger to activist contemporaries such as Hishamuddin Rais, who was the union's secretary-general.
Kamarazaman, 72, was also a detainee under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after leading a demonstration challenging farmer poverty issues in Baling, having been detained along with many leaders of the...
INTERVIEW | It is common knowledge that the pro-tem president of Parti Kuasa Rakyat, Kamarazaman Yaakob, is the brother of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Yet, perhaps many are unaware that he is also a political observer and former student activist.
The president of the Universiti Malaya Students' Union in the 1970s, Kamarazaman's name is no stranger to activist contemporaries such as Hishamuddin Rais, who was the union's secretary-general then.
Kamarazaman, 72, was also a detainee under the Internal Security Act (ISA) after leading a demonstration over farmers' poverty issues in Baling, having been detained along with many leaders of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim).
Among those detained with him at the time were Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was the then Abim president, Putra president Ibrahim Ali, PKR veteran politician Syed Husin Ali, Adi Satria, Hamzah Kassim, CC Yong, Yong Ah Chit and Yeo Ben Foo.
As an activist on campus, Kamarazaman was a key leader in various student demonstrations on poverty issues in Baling, on the Universities and University Colleges Act (Auku) as well as the Yom Kippur War.
In an interview with Malaysiakini, Kamarazaman spoke about life after being released from ISA detention.
How long were you detained under the ISA and what was your experience throughout being a detainee without trial?
I was detained for almost two years on five charges that were never tried in court.
The first charge, (was because) I led UM students to demonstrate in front of the American Embassy at Jalan Ampang as well as in front of the Lincoln Centre near Padang Merdeka, opposing American intervention supporting Israel in the Ramadan or Yom Kippur war, where Israel was violent against Palestine. That was my first charge in prison.
In my second charge, I was accused of leading students on a large scale at UM on the issue of the Auku by besieging (former Umno minister) Aisyah Ghani.
Third, I was accused of leading a student demonstration related to the North Lake and UM coup on Sept 2, 1974.
The fourth charge was for leading students to demonstrate the Baling issue at Padang Merdeka which was attended by more than 5,000 people.
And on the fifth, I was accused of leading students and residents of Kampung Kerinchi to riot on the Federal Highway as a result of the arrests during the Baling demonstration.
How has your career been since your release?
When I was in the detention camp, we first discussed how to continue our idealism on campus. So, in the end, (we decided that) the best way is to help the children from poor families who have dropped out and allow them to continue their education by opening a private school.
I opened the Jaya Akademi school, it was supposed to be Akademi Jaya but I deliberately switched it around to attract (draw the attention of) people to the mistake (word).
Ibrahim Ali opened Kuala Lumpur Polytechnic, whereas Anwar Ibrahim (opened) Yayasan Anda Akademik, Abim school.
Among my second batch of students was Ismail Sabri, he was my student. I taught him History and General Studies until he qualified for university.
So, at its peak, my school had over 1,000 students, arguably the largest in Malay private schools. Every year I gave 40 scholarships to students from poor families who really couldn’t afford it. At that time I initially opened a school alongside some progressive friends on campus, not thinking much about the money.
That is why the fee for Form 3 (students) was RM5, Form 4 was RM26 and Form 6 was RM33. It was enough just to continue the agenda of the people's struggle.
A group of like-minded people with me on campus included Hassan Karim who today is the Pasir Gudang MP (from PKR).
Hassan is close to me, we fought together while on campus. So, when I contested under Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia in 1982, I was afraid that my school licence would be revoked. Many people depended on their livelihood at the school to support their families. So I handed over the school affairs to Hassan by appointing him the principal.
I later got involved in the socialist party. (This is) because in the university in 1973, I had already become a member of Parti Sosialis Rakyat Malaysia (PSRM) and I continued this journey until I became a candidate in 1982. I lost, but continued the rakyat’s movement and was finally a candidate in 1990 in the Temerloh P80 Parliament seat against Shabudin Chik on a Semangat 46 ticket.
That’s was the continuation of my political journey from campus politics to national politics.
Some say that you wrote about your detention for your thesis (during university). Is it true?
Yes, that is correct. It was my Master's thesis, about the struggles faced by UM students from 1972 to 1974. I also explained the clash of three ideologies that took place at UM at that time — socialism, nationalism and Islam.
When you first appeared in public in 1974, you were known as a student leader. How close were you to Anwar and Hishamuddin at the time?
Anwar led the UM Malay Students Association. Hishamuddin and I led the UM Students' Union and we were elected. Becoming the head of a Malay language (association) or the head of an Islamic association, elections took place in a hall by show of hands only. But, we were chosen by over 8,000 students at the time.
In terms of my relationship with Anwar, when I entered UM, Anwar was no longer there but he had Abim. However, Hishamuddin as my secretary-general led us to be close for a long time, and even until now, because of our similar paths.
The fight for the marhaen people — the struggle to defend the oppressed and get stabbed by the middlemen, to defend so that they get adequate health and get this free education, has been my battle along with Hishamuddin.
So, the battles continued within me even though I joined several opposition political parties. My path never changed. Only the platform was different because that platform determines our contribution to the party.
However, the thinking and ideology of my fight remained the same as my old campus days. Even now, I feel like a campus student in terms of the spirit of my fight for these poor people.
Although it has been over 40 years since I left this university, my battles were clear. I got support from students because our battles were clear.
Our struggle, made clear and certain, was for the interests of the poor, oppressed and chained by all the problems faced by the rakyat.
At that time, 74 percent of Malays were below the poverty line and that is why when I invited students to demonstrate, I got support and encouragement, and each of my demonstrations had the participation of over 2,000 students
Why? Because poverty at that time was a close issue to UM students.
You are said to have a good relationship with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi? What is the relationship with Zahid at this time?
That's right, Zahid was my roommate in 1973, 1974, and during my time as the UM students president.
Because he was my roommate, I saw that he is a good student. I also discussed with my secretary (Hishammuddin) that we need to shape this roommate of mine.
He (Zahid) had a religious school background, brought it into student politics. Initially, I took him to sit on the editorial board of the UM National Student newspaper and he wrote articles until he eventually became known as an editor.
Indeed, my relationship with him is close and not just a roommate. It just so happens that my late wife and Zahid's wife were also close. So, I have been close with Zahid until now.
He was brought before the Shah Alam Court before and I attended two, three times because he was my best friend. Although I used to be in the opposition party, I remained close to him. To this day, I am still close to him.
However, in my writings, I would advise him if he had made a mistake.
As a true friend, I have to state what is right. If he's wrong, I have to say he's wrong. But it is common, for people who have interests, to say it is right when it's wrong.
But I am a true friend and I want him to be a good leader. I reprimand him and he has no problem with me because he knows it is sincere, and just to give him awareness and not to discredit him.
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