Press Release by the FreeAnwar Campaign Secretariat
Politics of Fear
Last night, a Malaysian national television station, TV3, ran a feature
on the May 13, 1969, racial riots. This primetime news coverage showed
footages of rioting on the streets, cars and buildings being burnt, and
chaos on the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
TV3, which is not only one of the leading Malaysian television stations,
but also one owned by UMNO, the leading coalition partner in the ruling
government, Barisan Nasional, should be more responsible in its
reporting.
Clearly the purpose of the news coverage was to raise the specter of
racial and religious differences that dominated Malaysia's past. If this
deed had been done by anyone other than UMNO, the government would have
arrested the parties involved and charged them in court, just like the
fate suffered by Marina Yusoff who is still fighting her sedition case
in the Penang courts. If found guilty, Marina Yusoff may face a still
jail sentence.
The TV3 news coverage tried to suggest that the arms heist in Gerik,
Perak, was due to the influence of the opposition parties and the
"danger" of Islam. It also tried to suggest that another totally
unrelated incident, someone running off with a police car, was also due
to the opposition parties. It suggested that the opposition parties had
influenced the people to be bold, and this had resulted in the various
incidences occurring.
The TV3 news coverage then stated that May 13 was the result of
demonstrations on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. They warned the people
that they run the risk of a repetition of the May 13 incident if they
take to the streets this Friday, 4 August 2000, in support of Anwar
Ibrahim.
Clearly the government wishes to keep Anwar Ibrahim's supporters off the
streets this Friday, 4 August 2000, and they are doing this through
threats of racial and religious riots. The government is again playing
politics of fear just like it did in November 1999 during the Tenth
General Elections.
The government's strategy is to insinuate that support for Anwar Ibrahim
means support for instability. Dr Mahathir has even suggested that Anwar
Ibrahim's modus operandi is street demonstrations, violence, and
creating instability in the country.
The Prime Minister has also stated that support for the opposition is
support for Islam, and Islam is a danger to the lives of the
non-Muslims. This is not only mischievous, but blasphemous as well. For
a Prime Minister, who tries to project himself as a leader of the Muslim
world, to say such a thing is uncalled for!
The FreeAnwar Campaign Secretariat urges the government to end this
politics of threats and stop trying to put the fear of racial and
religious riots into the hearts of the Malaysian people. While the
FreeAnwar Campaign does not condone violence and loss and human life and
property in meeting its objective, it however, supports the maxim that
it is the Constitutional right of the Malaysian people to express
themselves in any peaceful manner they so desire.
The FreeAnwar Campaign also urges the Malaysian people not to be
intimidated by these threats and exercise their Constitutional right as
enshrined in Article 10, that is to assemble peacefully in front of the
courthouse on Friday, 4 August, 2000.
Dr Abdul Rahim Ghouse
Official Spokesman & Representative of the FreeAnwar Campaign
